Gene Transfer News and Research

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Gene Transfer is the insertion of genetic material into a cell.

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

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

Study Reveals How Introns Multiply and Move Across Genomes

DNA is the genetic code that provides the biological instructions for every living species, but not every bit of DNA helps the species survive. Some pieces of DNA are more like parasites, along for the ride and their own survival.

24 May 2025

Environmental Nanoplastics Linked to Increased Foodborne Virus Severity

There are nanoplastics everywhere. These particles are found in water, food, and bodies; they are so small that they can build up on bacteria and be absorbed by plant roots.

20 May 2025

AI Model Predicts Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria

An AI model trained on large amounts of genetic data can predict whether bacteria will become antibiotic-resistant.

3 Apr 2025

Enhanced Embryo Screening Efficiency in Primate Genetic Modification

Genetic engineering in non-human primates has historically faced limitations due to the reliance on virus-based gene delivery methods.

26 Mar 2025

Researchers Develop RNA "Barcoding" Tool to Track Genetic Exchange in Bacteria

In the microscopic world of bacteria, gene transfer is a powerful mechanism that can alter cellular function, drive antibiotic resistance and even shape entire ecosystems.

19 Mar 2025

New Study Uncovers Evolutionary Link in B6 Metabolism

An investigation conducted by a group of scientists at the University of Kentucky’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has uncovered an unexpected biochemical link between the immune responses of plants and the neurological health of humans.

18 Feb 2025

The Antibiotic Arms Race: Can Science Stay Ahead of Rapidly Evolving Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria?

A study reveals alarming rates of antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, highlighting the urgent need for innovative strategies to combat this crisis.

10 Feb 2025

Genome Dynamics Reveals the Keys to Long-Term Survival in an Asexual Mite

An international group of researchers at the University of Cologne have explored the asexual reproduction of oribatid mites using genome sequencing methods.

27 Jan 2025

Understanding the Impact of Microbial Associations on Insect Evolution

The evolutionary success of leaf beetles, the most varied herbivores on Earth, was investigated by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Max Planck Institute of Biology in Tübingen, Germany, and a group of scientists from around the world.

20 Jan 2025

Fruit Flies Evolve New Defense Through Gene Transfer

In the continual arms race between parasites and their hosts, innovation was thought to be the key to a successful attack or defense that one-ups the competition.

26 Dec 2024

New Method for Discovering Antibiotics from Bacteria

Numerous natural products produced by microorganisms can be utilized as active ingredients to treat illnesses like cancer and infections.

16 Dec 2024

Coffee Wilt Fungus Gains New Abilities Through Genetic Theft

Subsequent outbreaks of coffee wilt disease were caused by the fungus that causes the disease repeatedly absorbing DNA segments from a related fungal pathogen.

6 Dec 2024

Unveiling the Hidden Role of Deep-Sea Viruses in Global Climate Dynamics

The significance of deep-sea virology and its impacts on global climate and biogeochemical structures is not unknown, though its importance might be understated.

4 Dec 2024

New Vector Systems Open the Door for Efficient Genetic Modification

A recent breakthrough in biotechnology promises to change the landscape of plant genetic engineering. Imagine a persistent invader-;Agrobacterium-;long used to deliver genes into plants. Despite its historical success, the journey has been fraught with setbacks, especially with crops that launch fierce immune defenses.

25 Nov 2024

Metagenomic Study Reveals the Most Ancient Dairy Remains Known to Date

The oldest method of producing food with microorganisms in human history is food fermentation. Cheese production and consumption dates back to 7000 before the present (BP) among Mediterranean populations, and milk fermentation, for instance, dates back to 6000–4000 BC in India.

26 Sep 2024