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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).

Protein RAD51 Acts as Guardian Against DNA Over-Replication

Every time a cell divides, its DNA is duplicated so that the two daughter cells have the same genetic material as their parent.

5 Mar 2024

New Research Supports Concept of "RNA World"

The Salk Institute’s most recent research offers new perspectives on the beginnings of life and strong evidence in favor of the RNA World theory.

5 Mar 2024

Researchers Identify Proteins to Reprogram Fibroblasts into Limb Progenitor Cells

In a collaborative study, researchers from Kyushu University and Harvard Medical School have identified proteins that can turn or "reprogram" fibroblasts -; the most commonly found cells in skin and connective tissue -; into cells with similar properties to limb progenitor cells.

5 Mar 2024

Evolutionary Mystery Identified in Genome of Plants

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has enabled the significant advancement of plant genomics through its involvement in sequencing the first plant genome. Now, the same research laboratory hopes to address why introducing the same mutation in different crops does not always result in the desired traits.

5 Mar 2024

3D Visualizations of the Copying Machinery Found in Chloroplasts

Plants have to carry out photosynthesis and ultimately synthesize oxygen and chemical energy with the assistance of sunlight to support life on Earth.

4 Mar 2024

DNA Analysis Uncovers 18 New Fern Species in the Amazon

Researchers have clarified the evolutionary history of a previously poorly known group of ferns from the tropical rainforests of America using DNA methods.

1 Mar 2024

Study Reveals Genomic Insights into Vocal Learning Across Mammals

The vocalizations of humans, bats, whales, seals and songbirds vastly differ from each other. Humans and birds, for example, are separated by some 300 million years of evolution.

1 Mar 2024

Paleogenomics Unveils the Evolutionary Journey of Modern Humans

Writing a commentary in the 50th anniversary issue of Cell, FU Qiaomei and E. Andrew Bennett, both of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explored the contribution of paleogenomics to our understanding of the evolution of modern humans.

1 Mar 2024

Microbial Viruses Found to be Key Players in Methane Cycling and Climate Change

In a new study, scientists have discovered that viruses that infect microbes contribute to climate change by playing a key role in cycling methane, a potent greenhouse gas, through the environment.

1 Mar 2024

Researchers Unveil a Key Gene with a Central Role in Learning and Memory Across Mammalian Brain Cells

Discoveries in mice could guide the quest for treatments aimed at addressing brain developmental disorders in children with SYNGAP1 gene mutations.

1 Mar 2024

Researchers Create Groundbreaking RNA and DNA Solutions to Shield Plants from Viral Attacks

Customized RNA or DNA molecules have been shown to effectively combat viral infections in plants, as demonstrated in a recent study conducted by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

1 Mar 2024

Breakthrough Studies Shed Light on Origins of Homochirality in Biology

Molecules often have a structural asymmetry called chirality, which means they can appear in alternative, mirror-image versions, akin to the left and right versions of human hands.

29 Feb 2024

Scientists Discover Dual Challenges in DNA Replication Process

Half a century ago, scientists Jim Watson and Alexey Olovnikov independently realized that there was a problem with how our DNA gets copied.

29 Feb 2024

Study Reveals Genetic Mechanism Behind Human Tail Loss

A genetic change in our ancient ancestors may partly explain why humans don't have tails like monkeys, finds a new study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

29 Feb 2024

Exploring Gene Behavior Patterns With Cutting-Edge Technology

In an effort to comprehend how the genetic makeup and environment interact to cause diseases, scientists have studied the structure, sequencing, and interactions of genetic material with proteins in great detail.

29 Feb 2024

Study unveils how our cells outsmart invaders without turning against us

The human immune system is a sophisticated network of cells and proteins created to defend against dangerous infections, and cells continuously repel invaders in a microscopic war raging inside human bodies.

29 Feb 2024

How Agriculture Shaped Malaria Resistance in Ancient Eastern Arabia

According to a recent study, people in ancient Eastern Arabia seem to have been resistant to malaria once agriculture arrived in the area about 5,000 years ago.

28 Feb 2024

'Synthetic tongue' identifies and kills oral bacteria

From the discomfort of plaque buildup on the teeth to the unpleasant condition of halitosis, bacteria play a significant role in oral health.

27 Feb 2024

Research Reveals Conserved Neutralizing Epitope in Herpesvirus gB Protein

Human herpesviruses comprise the alpha, beta, and gamma subfamilies and are a widely prevalent group of DNA-enveloped viruses, capable of establishing lifelong latent infections in humans and causing various diseases.

27 Feb 2024

Study Evaluates Primer Pairs and PNA Clamps for Plant-Associated Fungal Community Analysis

Fungi are frequently found both around and within plant tissues (especially in roots) and are involved in both plant nutrient acquisition and resistance to pathogens.

27 Feb 2024