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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).

Study uncovers mechanism where two transcription factors stabilize each other’s binding to DNA

Researchers have discovered an exclusive mechanism through which two transcription factors stabilize each other’s binding to DNA in fission yeast.

14 Sep 2021

Newly identified antibacterial mechanism could inspire novel strategies to combat bacterial pathogens

Similar to how a spider traps its prey, the cells of the human immune system cooperate to trap and “eat” bacteria.

14 Sep 2021

New approach to identify molecular targets for improved prostate cancer therapy

In a new study, researchers have introduced DSER, a technique for identifying molecular targets for enhanced therapy in prostate cancer.

14 Sep 2021

Study could help choose the ideal DNA extraction method for microbiome research

Let's face it, we are a results-driven society. Too focused on the outcome, people don't often think about the "how." For instance, did you think about "how" you got to work this morning or did you just get there? In microbiome studies the results are the graphs and the data but the "how," like commuting, is often just part of a routine.

13 Sep 2021

Smoking-related DNA methylation patterns explain the variation in BMI between individuals

Smoking-related DNA methylation patterns explain around a fifth of the variation in body mass index (BMI) between individuals, according to a study publishing September 9th in the open-access journal PLOS Genetics, led by Carmen Amador at the University of Edinburgh.

13 Sep 2021

Study reveals how autoimmune antibodies can predict severe cases of COVID-19

The presence of special immune system defense molecules, called autoimmune antibodies, has been strongly tied to how poorly people fare when hospitalized with COVID-19, a new study shows.

From New York University (NYU) 9 Sep 2021

Viruses buried in marsupials' DNA may help protect against future infections

Fossils of ancient viruses are preserved in the genomes of all animals, including humans, and have long been regarded as junk DNA. But are they truly junk, or do they actually serve a useful purpose?

From The University of New South Wales (UNSW) 9 Sep 2021

Study unearths previously unknown role of CTCF, the transcription regulator

Researchers discovered evidence that CTCF governs chromatin accessibility, the mechanism of opening tightly spooled DNA facilitating gene expression.

9 Sep 2021

Stem cell transplantation leaves no scars in the DNA of transplanted cells

Stem cell transplants do not lead to changes in the DNA of the donor cells. That's according to a new study, which provides important evidence for the safety of this procedure.

8 Sep 2021

Researchers discover the role of a retrotransposon in horizontal memory transfer in roundworms

When an organism encounters a threat in its environment, it is to the species' advantage to warn others of the peril.

6 Sep 2021

Miniature CRISPR-Cas system expands applicability and implications further

For the first time, Stanford researchers have miniaturized CRISPR for mammalian gene editing, which magnifies the scope of CRISPR technology.

3 Sep 2021

Researchers discover new pathway used by cells to remove cellular waste

In a new study, researchers have identified a new pathway that cells use to eliminate cellular waste that otherwise would damage the cell’s genes.

3 Sep 2021

UMSOM study suggests a genetic basis behind instantaneous human compatibility

Have you ever met someone you instantly liked, or at other times, someone who you knew immediately that you did not want to be friends with, although you did not know why?

2 Sep 2021

Experts decode the genetic mechanism governing the speed of mRNA translation

The genetic material of all eukaryotic organisms is stored in the cell nucleus in the form of DNA. The DNA is first transcribed into messenger RNA in the cell cytoplasm and later translated into protein using ribosomes for it to be used, where ribosomes are small machines capable of decoding messenger RNA to synthesize the relevant proteins.

1 Sep 2021

New approach to enhance cell-free biosynthesis with engineered yeast extracts

Think of cells as tiny factories: within their walls they have both the machinery to make products such as proteins, and the mechanisms for maintenance to keep processes running smoothly.

31 Aug 2021

New approach could lead to better treatments for mitochondrial diseases

Mutant DNA sequences inside cellular mitochondria can be eliminated using a bespoke chemical compound. The approach, developed by scientists at Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (iCeMS) in Japan, could lead to better treatments for mitochondrial diseases.

31 Aug 2021

Study reveals mechanisms promoting overall glioma tumor growth

Researchers from Northwestern Medicine unearthed the epigenetic processes involved in the regulation of multiple oncogenes in glioma cells.

31 Aug 2021

Researchers fabricate 3D-integrated nanopores to detect single DNA molecules

Detecting DNA from a single cell is vital for the identification of genetic disorders and diseases.

From Osaka University 31 Aug 2021

Massive study identifies 579 genomic locations linked to self-regulating behaviors

Researchers have identified 579 locations in the human genome associated with a predisposition to self-regulation-related behaviors, including addiction and child behavioral problems. With data from 1.5 million people of European descent, the effort is considered to be one of the largest genome-wide association studies to date.

27 Aug 2021

Researchers develop a method to engineer new functionalities into cells

Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed a method to engineer new functionalities into cells. The results were published today in the journal Cell in the article "Dual film-like organelles enable spatial separation of orthogonal eukaryotic translation".

26 Aug 2021