Mutation News and Research

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New technology efficiently detects gene mutation in blood with low error rate

Next-generation gene sequencing (NGS) technologies --in which millions of DNA molecules are simultaneously but individually analyzed-- theoretically provides researchers and clinicians the ability to noninvasively identify mutations in the blood stream.

5 May 2021

Study reveals genetic mutation associated with exfoliation syndrome

A team of researchers from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*STAR) Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), as well as Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), have identified a genetic mutation (functionally defective CYP39A1 gene) associated with exfoliation syndrome, the most common cause of glaucoma.

5 May 2021

New therapeutic target for patients with acute myeloid leukemia

According to a new study, targeting a pathway that is critical for the survival of some cases of acute myeloid leukemia could open up a new therapeutic route for patients.

3 May 2021

New gene therapy could help treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Researchers from UT Southwestern used a new kind of gene therapy to successfully treat mice with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), distinctively employing CRISPR-Cas9-based tools to restore a large section of the dystrophin protein missing in several DMD patients.

3 May 2021

New gene editing tool helps analyze the mysterious quirk of bacteria

While the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system has become the poster child for innovation in synthetic biology, it has some major limitations.

3 May 2021

Bacterial species in the soil can evolve with climate change

While evolution is normally thought of as occurring over millions of years, researchers at the University of California, Irvine have discovered that bacteria can evolve in response to climate change in 18 months.

29 Apr 2021

Researchers discover new approach to reform plant breeding and genetics

The research was conducted at the Department of Food Science at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH FOOD) with professor emeritus Lars Munck as coordinator and builds on earlier work since 1963 at Svaloef Plant Breeding Institute and the Carlsberg Laboratory.

28 Apr 2021

New computer algorithm helps identify tumors with 'mismatch repair deficiencies'

A new way to identify tumors that could be sensitive to particular immunotherapies has been developed using data from thousands of NHS cancer patient samples sequenced through the 100,000 Genomes Project.

27 Apr 2021

Study shows how different organisms can prevent deadly DNA damage during evolution

Researchers from the University of Bergen discovered how species ranging from crops to corals can prevent harmful DNA damage during evolution.

26 Apr 2021

New gene editing approach bypasses disease-causing mutations

A new approach to gene editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system bypasses disease-causing mutations in a gene, enabling treatment of genetic diseases linked to a single gene, such as cystic fibrosis, certain types of sickle cell anemia, and other rare diseases.

22 Apr 2021

Antibodies may not inhibit SARS-CoV-2 variants from minks

It has been known for about a year that minks can become infected with SARS-CoV-2. The virus had been transmitted from humans to farmed mink and mutated in infected animals. Mutations were acquired in the spike protein, which is crucial for the entry of the virus into host cells and represents the central point of attack for antibodies.

20 Apr 2021

Supercomputer simulations reveal the behavior of dominant G form SARS-CoV-2 strain

Large-scale supercomputer simulations at the atomic level show that the dominant G form variant of the COVID-19-causing virus is more infectious partly because of its greater ability to readily bind to its target host receptor in the body, compared to other variants.

19 Apr 2021

“Expansion Hunter” approach can detect DNA errors

Researchers from Radboud University Medical Center have successfully detected hidden genetic defects by using an existing technique on existing datasets. The team demonstrated that the “Expansion Hunter” approach can detect DNA errors that cause repeat expansion diseases, like ataxia—a movement disorder.

16 Apr 2021

Gene therapy protects eye cells in mice with retinitis pigmentosa

A gene therapy protects eye cells in mice with a rare disorder that causes vision loss, especially when used in combination with other gene therapies, shows a study published today in eLife.

15 Apr 2021

New simpler, faster system for analyzing mutations in SARS-CoV-2

Although it is known that mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome occurred and spread, the effect of those mutations is not yet clear.

14 Apr 2021

CSHL investigator aims to predict the effects of mutations on different tomato varieties

Both people and tomatoes come in different shapes and sizes. That is because every individual has a unique set of genetic variations--mutations--that affect how genes act and function. Added together, millions of small genetic variations make it hard to predict how a particular mutation will impact any individual.

13 Apr 2021

Mitochondrial DNA mutations reduce death risk in patients with bowel cancer

According to a study, DNA defects in the energy “factories” of a cell increase the chance of survival in patients suffering from bowel cancer.

9 Apr 2021

PNA-based method is a key component of the gene editing toolkit

The Somatic Cell Gene Editing Consortium has given an update on the status of their initiative to design safer techniques to edit the genes of disease-relevant somatic cells.

8 Apr 2021

Eucalyptus can be genetically modified to prevent from invading native ecosystems

Eucalyptus, a pest-resistant evergreen valued for its hardy lumber and wellness-promoting oil, can be genetically modified not to reproduce sexually, a key step toward preventing the global tree plantation staple from invading native ecosystems.

8 Apr 2021

Scientists discover mutations that make cancer resistant to KRAS-targeted therapies

A gene called KRAS is one of the most commonly mutated genes in all human cancers, and targeted drugs that inhibit the protein expressed by mutated KRAS have shown promising results in clinical trials, with potential approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration anticipated later this year.

7 Apr 2021