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Study Identifies Key Yield Traits in Complex Banana Genome

Banana breeding is notoriously difficult. Most cultivated bananas are sterile triploids with limited recombination and long growth cycles.

11 Jun 2025

A New Strategy for High-Fidelity CRISPR Editing in Tomatoes

Gene targeting (GT) via homologous recombination (HR) is a powerful tool for precise genome editing, but its application in plants is limited due to the dominance of canonical non-homologous end-joining (cNHEJ) in double-strand break (DSB) repair.

10 Jun 2025

Mapping the Genetic Blueprint of Flowering Chinese Cabbage

Flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis var. parachinensis), known for its tender stalks and vibrant greens, has long been a dietary mainstay in southern China and beyond.

9 Jun 2025

Zebrafish Model Offers Hope for Treating Ultra-Rare Muscle Disease

Can a small fish help identify possible treatments for an ultra-rare inherited disease found in an Alabama boy? The genetic disease is XMEA, which progressively weakens the muscles and can affect the liver and heart.

6 Jun 2025

Chitin Facilitates Gene Transfer Across Species Through Natural Transformation Among Vibrio cholerae

A study in PNAS reveals that chitin promotes gene transfer in marine environments by binding environmental DNA and enhancing natural transformation in Vibrio cholerae, with implications for microbial evolution and ecosystem diversity.

6 Jun 2025

UC Davis Study Links Specific microRNAs to Mental and Neurological Disorders

A study in Nature Aging from researchers at the UC Davis School of Medicine has identified specific microRNAs - non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression within cells - that likely contribute to bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Parkinson's disease.

5 Jun 2025

Base Editing Breakthrough Brings Hope for Genetic Disease Treatment

You may have seen it in the news recently: a baby in Pennsylvania with a rare genetic disorder was healed with a personalized treatment that repaired his specific genetic mutation.

5 Jun 2025

Novel RNAs from Jumping Genes Produce Reverse Transcriptase Activity in Aging Neurons

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and affects more than a tenth of Americans aged 65 and older.

5 Jun 2025

Cornell Unlocks Bacteria’s Power for Enhanced Rock Weathering

Gluconobacter oxydans is key in carbon capture and bioleaching, with genetic modifications improving metal extraction efficiency for sustainable technology.

5 Jun 2025

Infant Gut Bacteria Linked to Long-Term Viral Immunity

Findings reveal that early gut microbiome profiles in infants may protect against respiratory infections, paving the way for personalized health strategies.

5 Jun 2025

How Heterogeneous Antibody Immunity Shapes Strain Evolution

A new study found that person-to-person heterogeneity in antibody immunity influences which influenza (flu) strains dominate in a population.

4 Jun 2025

Blocking Viral Enzyme Boosts Brain Immunity Against HSV-1

Infections caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can lead to HSV-1 encephalitis-a rare but deadly condition that inflames the brain.

4 Jun 2025

Canine DNA Reveals New Genes Linked to Gastric Cancer In Humans

Dogs share our homes, our habits and sometimes, our diseases. Gastric cancer is rare in dogs, but when it does strike, it closely resembles gastric cancer in humans: subtle clinical signs, comparable tumor subtypes, late-stage diagnosis and poor outcomes.

3 Jun 2025

Evolution of Cancer Genomes During Metastasis

Research on cancer metastasis uncovers genetic complexities, showing that copy-number alterations play a key role in tumor evolution and treatment resistance.

3 Jun 2025

WVU Student Discovers Fungus with LSD-Like Therapeutic Potential

A WVU microbiology student discovered a new fungus, Periglandula clandestina, with potential therapeutic properties for addiction and depression treatments.

3 Jun 2025

New Genome Assembly Sheds Light on Tropical Vine's Invasive Success

Merremia boisiana, a member of the Convolvulaceae family, a fast-growing vine native to tropical rainforests and known for its vibrant golden flowers and astonishing climbing ability, grows at speeds exceeding 12 cm per day, often overwhelming native vegetation and disrupting forest ecosystems.

2 Jun 2025

Repairing DNA Double-Strand Breaks May Improve Genomic Stability by Limiting Organelle-to-Nucleus Gene Transfer

A new study in Nature Plants reveals that DNA double-strand break repair (DSBR) pathways help prevent gene transfer from organelles to the nucleus in plants. Disruption of DSBR increases the risk of genomic instability through endosymbiotic gene transfer (EGT).

2 Jun 2025