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Mapping Thousands of Conserved Gene Groups Across Grasses

A new computational biology pipeline has mapped out over 13,000 groups of protein-coding genes conserved across grasses, offering a powerful tool for researchers investigating gene function in these economically and ecologically vital species.

2 Jul 2025

New Clues Reveal How Multicellularity Evolved in Early Animals

Animals, from worms and sponges to jellyfish and whales, contain anywhere from a few thousand to tens of trillions of nearly genetically identical cells.

2 Jul 2025

New Chordata Olfactory Receptor Database Offers Insight into the Genetics of Scent

Olfactory receptors (ORs) are key to how animals perceive their surroundings, guiding behaviors like foraging, mating, and avoiding danger.

1 Jul 2025

Genetic Ancestry Tied to Immune Response in Dengue Infection

For the first time, the extreme variability in dengue fever has been linked to a biological mechanism, potentially opening doors to new treatments and vaccines for the most common mosquito-borne disease worldwide.

1 Jul 2025

Worm Species Reveal Deep Genetic Similarities Across Evolutionary Time

Two species of worms, separated by 20 million years of evolution, have been found to activate their genes in nearly identical ways as they develop from a single cell to a fully formed organism.

27 Jun 2025

Fusion Genes Emerge as Key Drivers in Cancer Development

Fusion genes, arising from abnormal chromosomal rearrangements, are gaining recognition as pivotal players in cancer development. These genetic alterations result in the creation of hybrid genes with altered functions, often driving tumor progression.

25 Jun 2025

Combating Tumor Resistance and Exhaustion in Lymphoma

The study reviews CAR-T cell advancements in lymphoma treatment, addressing T cell exhaustion and tumor immune evasion with next-generation CAR modifications.

24 Jun 2025

Quantifying Breast Cancer Heterogeneity Through Single-Cell Transcriptomics

Tumors are complex systems characterized by variations across genetic, transcriptomic, phenotypic, and microenvironmental levels.

18 Jun 2025

Placenta and Hormone Levels in the Womb May Have Been Key Driver in Human Evolution, Say Researchers

The placenta and the hormones it produces may have played a crucial role in the evolution of the human brain, while also leading to the behavioral traits that have made human societies able to thrive and expand, according to a new hypothesis proposed by researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford.

18 Jun 2025

Ant Evolution Traced Through Genomic Reshuffling Across 100 Million Years

Aristotle praised the political organization of ant colonies while ancient Chinese Daoists appreciated ants as illustrative symbols showing how ephemeral human ambitions and power are.

17 Jun 2025

Flipped DNA Segments Help Fish Rapidly Evolve into New Species

Researchers have found that chunks of 'flipped' DNA can help fish quickly adapt to new habitats and evolve into new species, acting as evolutionary 'superchargers'.

13 Jun 2025

Study Identifies Key Yield Traits in Complex Banana Genome

Banana breeding is notoriously difficult. Most cultivated bananas are sterile triploids with limited recombination and long growth cycles.

11 Jun 2025

The Role of Metabolism in Bacterial Survival and Resistance

Ciprofloxacin induces bioenergetic stress in E. coli, boosting survival rates and resistance development. Metabolic shifts challenge antibiotic effectiveness.

10 Jun 2025

A New Strategy for High-Fidelity CRISPR Editing in Tomatoes

Gene targeting (GT) via homologous recombination (HR) is a powerful tool for precise genome editing, but its application in plants is limited due to the dominance of canonical non-homologous end-joining (cNHEJ) in double-strand break (DSB) repair.

10 Jun 2025

Mapping the Genetic Blueprint of Flowering Chinese Cabbage

Flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis var. parachinensis), known for its tender stalks and vibrant greens, has long been a dietary mainstay in southern China and beyond.

9 Jun 2025

Cleaner Fish Stations and Their Effect on Reef Diversity

This study reveals how cleaner fish impact microbial diversity on coral reefs, highlighting their role in ecosystem health and potential pathogen transmission.

6 Jun 2025

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

New Study Details H9N2 Avian Flu’s Variability and Public Health Implications

Research on H9N2 avian influenza shows extensive genetic changes, raising public health concerns and emphasizing the need for enhanced monitoring and vaccines.

4 Jun 2025

How Heterogeneous Antibody Immunity Shapes Strain Evolution

A new study found that person-to-person heterogeneity in antibody immunity influences which influenza (flu) strains dominate in a population.

4 Jun 2025

Evolution of Cancer Genomes During Metastasis

Research on cancer metastasis uncovers genetic complexities, showing that copy-number alterations play a key role in tumor evolution and treatment resistance.

3 Jun 2025