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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

Researchers Develop 3D Organoids that Reflect the Complexity of Brain Tumors

Efforts to identify and evaluate next-generation therapeutics for pediatric brain tumors are easily stymied by the quality and availability of laboratory models for research. To address this issue, scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital developed patient-derived tumor organoids and tumor organoid xenografts that accurately reflect the biologic underpinnings of embryonal brain tumors.

16 Apr 2026

New Technology Tracks Real-Time Gene Activity to Find Common Disease Targets

Diseases like cancer or neurodegeneration are known to arise from genetic misfires. But treating such complex conditions hasn't been simply a matter of identifying the malfunctioning genes involved. With hundreds of genetic mutations spanning diverse pathways at play, connecting the dots between a constellation of mutations and a specific outcome has proved to be enormously difficult.

16 Apr 2026

Researchers Map the Genetic History of Savanna and Forest Elephant Species

In the largest genomic mapping of Africa's elephants, an international team of researchers shows that elephant history is defined by the ability to move across large distances and exchange genes throughout the African continent. But as the elephants' living space is becoming increasingly patchy, the study documents the visible genetic consequences of isolation – and points to approaches that help to incorporate genomics into current and future elephant conservation.

16 Apr 2026

New Genomic Data Confirms a Single Pathway for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Scientists have found the strongest evidence to date that a condition known as Barrett's esophagus is the starting point for all cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma – the most common type of esophageal cancer in the developed world – even when telltale signs of this pre-cancerous stage are no longer visible.

16 Apr 2026

1,116 Genomes Mapped to Reveal Hidden Human DNA Variation

The 1KCP pangenome enhances genetic research by mapping diverse DNA variations, crucial for understanding disease risk and advancing population genetics.

16 Apr 2026

Genetic Barcodes Reveal Early Origins of Human Peripheral Nerves

Millions of neurons branch throughout our bodies, keeping them in close communication with our brains. This peripheral network begins to take shape long before birth, as the cells of a growing embryo move into position and adopt their specialized roles.

15 Apr 2026

Identifying Somatic Driver Mutations in Thyroid Autoimmune Disease

According to recent studies, immune cell DNA mutations that eliminate the immune system's natural brakes may be the cause of autoimmune disorders.

15 Apr 2026

Early Epigenetic Changes and Gut Microbiome Interact to Shape Neurodevelopment

The gut microbiome and epigenetics-molecular switches that turn genes on or off-are intertwined, and both contribute to neurodevelopment, finds a study publishing April 10 in the Cell Press journal Cell Press Blue.

13 Apr 2026

New Technology Uses Genetic Passcodes to Protect High-Value Engineered Cell Lines

In recent years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Homeland Security, and other authorities have flagged a record number of unauthorized shipments of biological materials.

11 Apr 2026

Single-Letter Insertion in Non-Coding DNA can Alter Sex Development in Mice

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have discovered that changing just one letter in DNA can completely alter sex development in mice.

11 Apr 2026

CU Boulder Study Shows Genetic Link Between Mental and Physical Illness

For centuries, mental illness and physical disease have been viewed as two distinct categories, each with its own field of study, its own doctors, and its own menu of treatments.

10 Apr 2026

New Experimental System Mimics Low-Grade Pediatric Glioma in 3D

A three-dimensional experimental system has been developed to study the response to drugs in low-grade glioma, a tumor of the central nervous system that often occurs in children.

10 Apr 2026

Redefining Cancer Therapy Through Selective Targeting of BET Protein Families

For over a decade, a class of drugs called BET inhibitors has been tested in cancer trials with high expectations.

10 Apr 2026

Vibrio cholerae Captures External DNA to Boost Its Antiviral Defenses

Like most bacteria, Vibrio cholerae lives under constant attack from viruses. To survive, bacteria equip themselves with antiviral immune systems.

10 Apr 2026

Non-Coding DNA Mutations Identified as Cause of Rare Neonatal Diabetes

Scientists have found new genetic causes for diabetes in babies – in a part of the genome that has historically been overlooked in genetic studies.

10 Apr 2026

Low Oxygen Triggers Latent Regenerative Programs in Embryonic Mouse Limbs

Certain animals are able to regenerate missing body parts. After amputation, salamanders and frog tadpoles are able to reconstruct entire limbs. Mammals are unable to. Biologists have been trying to figure out why for decades.

10 Apr 2026

New Method Reveals Genome Changes and Activity in Cancer

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have developed a new method called PARTAGE that provides a clearer picture of how the genome is regulated and disrupted in diseases like cancer.

9 Apr 2026

Single-Cell Mapping Uncovers Insights Into Pregnancy Complications

The biological connection between a pregnant woman and her developing baby has been mapped in unprecedented detail by UC San Francisco scientists, revealing new cell types and insights into conditions such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and miscarriage.

9 Apr 2026

RNU2-2 Variants Drive Most Common Recessive Neurodevelopmental Disorder

New findings on RNU2-2 syndrome highlight its role in neurodevelopmental disorders, emphasizing genetic counseling and early diagnosis for affected families.

9 Apr 2026

Plastisphere Microbes Display Unique Genetic Traits for Survival

Plastic pollution is a global problem. It damages ecosystems, endangers animals, and in the form of nanoplastic particles, can also have consequences for human health.

8 Apr 2026