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Epigenetic Mechanism Controls Placental Blood Vessel Formation

If the development of blood vessels in the placenta is impaired, fetal growth retardation may result. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University discovered that the correct development of functioning blood vessels in the mouse placenta is controlled epigenetically: One of the enzymes that modify gene activity using methyl groups is responsible.

16 Jan 2025

Outer Ears Evolved From Fish Gills Through Unique Genetic Mechanism

The outer ear is unique to mammals, but its evolutionary origin has remained a mystery. According to a new study published in Nature from the USC Stem Cell lab of Gage Crump, this intricate coil of cartilage has a surprisingly ancient origin in the gills of fishes and marine invertebrates.

10 Jan 2025

Scientists Uncover Circuit Controlling Neuron Migration in Brain Development

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but for developing neurons, this first step relies on collaboration from multiple signaling pathways.

10 Jan 2025

Multi-Site Effort to Understand Viral Influences on Human Health

For more than ten years, researchers have been investigating the microbiome, the ecosystem of microorganisms that inhabit the body, and its impact on health and disease.

10 Jan 2025

New Discovery Sheds Light on How Monoamines Regulate Brain Rhythms

A collaborative effort between Mount Sinai and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has shed valuable light on how monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and now histamine help regulate brain physiology and behavior through chemical bonding of these monoamines to histone proteins, the core DNA-packaging proteins of our cells.

9 Jan 2025

Scalable Approach to Uncover Biological Discoveries from Single-Cell Data

To comprehend how even the smallest details affect human biology, researchers have compiled enormous single-cell gene expression databases.

9 Jan 2025

CryoSCAPE Enables Accurate Single-Cell Profiling in Diverse Populations

Human blood is a complex and delicate mixture, often used by researchers and clinicians to understand the body’s inner workings.

7 Jan 2025

NIH Study Reveals Potent Antibodies for Malaria Prevention

A novel class of antibodies that binds to a previously untargeted portion of the malaria parasite could lead to new prevention methods, according to a study from researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published today in Science.

6 Jan 2025

Researchers Discover Key Factor Behind Disease Resistance in Gene Carriers

New work by Columbia researchers has turned a textbook principle of genetics on its head and revealed why some people who carry disease-causing genes experience no symptoms.

3 Jan 2025

Researchers Create 3D Atlas of Brain-Spinal Cord Connections

Signals relayed to motor neurons from the brain enable muscle movement, but these signals typically pass through spinal interneurons before they reach their destination. How the brain and this highly diverse group of "switchboard operator" cells are connected is poorly understood.

24 Dec 2024

New Genetic Link to Autism Identified

New research published in The American Journal of Human Genetics has identified a previously unknown genetic link to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study found that variants in the DDX53 gene contribute to ASD, providing new insights into the genetic underpinnings of the condition.

20 Dec 2024

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies Presents Data on Automated Red Blood Cell Exchange to Treat Sickle Cell Disease at the American Society of Hematology

The abstracts highlight the potential to improve SCD treatment using aRBCX. The first poster presents data from U.S. insurance claims, examined in a study performed with researchers at University of Pittsburgh.

18 Dec 2024

"Molecular GPS" Developed to Guide Immune Cells into the Brain and Kill Tumors

Researchers have found a way to program immune cells to attack glioblastoma and treat the inflammation of multiple sclerosis in mice.

6 Dec 2024

Discovery of START Domain Reveals Secrets of Plant Development

Within all complex, multicellular living systems such as plants and humans, there exists a set of genetic elements that can be likened to the blueprints, tools, and specialized personnel at a construction site for an expanding development.

6 Dec 2024

Stem Cells' Ability to Respond to Physical Forces Uncovered

A new study from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Institut Curie reveals how stem cells sense and respond to their environment, with implications for inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.

4 Dec 2024

Single-Cell Analysis Sheds Light on Leukemia Cell Heterogeneity

Chromosomal instability plays a crucial role in the progression of cancer: it shapes the properties of tumor cells and drives the development of therapy resistance. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the Heidelberg Stem Cell Institute HI-STEM and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) used state-of-the-art single-cell analysis methods to analyze the cellular heterogeneity of a specific form of acute myeloid leukemia.

26 Nov 2024

Scientists Identify Gene Variant Linked to Early Miscarriages in Women

In what could be a major advance in understanding the genetic causes underlying human infertility, scientists led by researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick have identified a gene variant directly tied to early miscarriages in women.

23 Nov 2024

Immunotherapy Advances: CAR T Cells Targeting GD2 Offer Hope for Glioma Patients

Findings suggest GD2-specific CAR T-cell therapy is a viable option for H3K27M-mutant gliomas, with significant tumor shrinkage and clinical benefits observed.

22 Nov 2024

Brain Connectivity Surges at Birth, Study Reveals

Brain-imaging data collected from fetuses and infants has revealed a rapid surge in functional connectivity between brain regions on a global scale at birth, possibly reflecting neural processes that support the brain's ability to adapt to the external world, according to a study published November 19th, in the open-access journal PLOS Biology led by Lanxin Ji and Moriah Thomason from the New York University School of Medicine, USA.

20 Nov 2024

Novel Mechanism of Photoprotection in Marine Microalgae

A nice item in excess is not good at all. Living things prefer sunlight in fact, they require it to survive but they tend to shun excessively strong light. Humans take naps, animals seek refuge, and even plants have defenses against too much light.

19 Nov 2024