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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).

Genetic Diversity in Wild Rice Offers Clues for Crop Improvement

A new study, seen in Nature Genetics and led by researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST; Saudi Arabia) and Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands), provides new insights on rice evolution, showing how the DNA of this valuable crop has changed across species.

29 Apr 2025

Reciprocal Regulatory Link Between ecDNA Maintenance and DNA Damage Response Revealed

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is a unique form of circular DNA that exists outside of normal chromosomes.

29 Apr 2025

Johns Hopkins Team Identifies Distinct Subtypes of Senescent Skin Cells

Senescent skin cells, often referred to as zombie cells because they have outlived their usefulness without ever quite dying, have existed in the human body as a seeming paradox, causing inflammation and promoting diseases while also helping the immune system to heal wounds.

29 Apr 2025

New Drug Combo Shows Promise Against Aggressive Leukemia in Landmark Study

A novel drug combination targeting LSD1 and GSK3 shows promise in treating acute myeloid leukemia by promoting cell differentiation and reducing tumor growth.

28 Apr 2025

Super Stem Cells Offer New Hope for IVF and Regenerative Medicine

The ‘super stem cells’ perform better than regular stem cells, being able to develop into many different cell types, researchers from the University of Copenhagen find, with many potential applications, including improved IVF treatment.

25 Apr 2025

Unraveling the Role of Long Noncoding RNAs in the Tumor Microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and dynamic network consisting of tumor cells, immune cells, stromal cells, extracellular matrix (ECM), cytokines, and growth factors, all interacting to influence tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis.

25 Apr 2025

Transitioning Pancreatic Cells Retain Cancer Linked Epigenetic Marks

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have found a pattern of so-called epigenetic "marks" in a transition state between normal and pancreatic cancer cells in mice, and that the normal cells may keep at least a temporary "memory" of those cancer-linked marks.

25 Apr 2025

Researchers Create DNA Editing Technique to Improve Lactobacillus Strains

A Kobe University team was able to edit the DNA of Lactobacillus strains directly without a template from other organisms.

24 Apr 2025

The Entropy of DNA Methylation States can Estimate Chronological Age

Recent findings link DNA methylation entropy to chronological age, offering insights into epigenetic changes that could inform age-related disease treatments.

24 Apr 2025

AI-Powered Protein Engineering for Precise and Scalable Gene Therapy

Genome editing has progressed rapidly, showing promising outcomes for the treatment of genetic disorders, yet there remains potential for enhancement.

23 Apr 2025

Study Reveals Shared Genetic Basis for Autism Spectrum Disorder and DM1

Researchers from the University of Las Vegas Nevada (UNLV) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have discovered a genetic connection between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), a rare genetic disorder.

23 Apr 2025

Guinea Pig Modeling To Study Human Preimplantation and Embryogenesis

Research on guinea pig embryos uncovers similarities to human embryogenesis, advancing understanding of preimplantation stages and reproductive techniques.

23 Apr 2025

DNA Organization Offers Clues for Advancing Stem Cell Therapy

Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, have discovered how adult stem cells retain their regenerative power. The researchers demonstrate in a paper published in the journal Genes & Development that these cells rely on a group of helper proteins called histone chaperones — organizers or guides known to help package our two-meter-long genome when cells need to divide or switch on specific genes.

22 Apr 2025