Nucleotides News and Research

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“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

Inhibiting a specific protein could increase tumor sensitivity to PARP inhibitors

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have found that blocking a specific protein could increase tumor sensitivity to treatment with PARP inhibitors. Their work published in Science , suggests combining treatments could lead to improved therapy for patients with inheritable breast cancers.

9 Apr 2021

Study demonstrates how DNA-like molecules could have joined to form the origin of life

Nagoya University scientists in Japan have demonstrated how DNA-like molecules could have come together as a precursor to the origins of life.

7 Apr 2021

Researchers take a key step toward new drugs and vaccines for combating COVID-19

Scientists have achieved a huge step toward new vaccines and drugs for fighting against COVID-19.

6 Apr 2021

Supercomputer simulations help uncover the mechanism for HIV replication

Viruses lurk in the grey area between the living and the nonliving, according to scientists. Like living things, they replicate but they don't do it on their own. The HIV-1 virus, like all viruses, needs to hijack a host cell through infection in order to make copies of itself.

1 Apr 2021

New highly sensitive RNA detection method advances in situ transcriptomics

Human cells typically transcribe half of their roughly 20,000 genes into RNA molecules at any given time. Just like with proteins, the function of those RNA species not only relies on their abundance but also their precise localization within the 3D space of each cell.

18 Mar 2021

ADAR1 protein offers a potential therapeutic target for cancer

A research team has discovered a new role of ADAR1 and found that the ADAR1p110 isoform controls genome stability at the ends of chromosomes.

15 Mar 2021

Genomics study examines the impact of COVID-19 on care homes

Care homes are at high risk of experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Older people and those affected by heart disease, respiratory disease and type 2 diabetes - all of which increase with age - are at greatest risk of severe disease and even death, making the care home population especially vulnerable.

4 Mar 2021

Unusual DNA folding leads to higher mutation rates

DNA sequences that can fold into shapes other than the classic double helix tend to have higher mutation rates than other regions in the human genome.

10 Feb 2021

New bioinformatic tool allows scientists to digitally genotype sequenced populations

With the recently developed bioinformatic tool, called SSRgenotyper, scientists can now use simple sequence repeats to digitally genotype sequenced populations.

9 Feb 2021

Researchers identify a new way to stop COVID-19 virus

While the world awaits broad distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, researchers at Ohio University just published highly significant and timely results in the search for another way to stop the virus -- by disrupting its RNA and its ability to reproduce.

22 Jan 2021

New model helps assess the effect of epigenetic changes on gene expression

Researchers have developed a mathematical model to quantitatively assess the impacts of particular epigenetic changes on the transcription rates.

11 Dec 2020

Research shows magnesium contact ions stabilize complex folded structure of tRNA

In cells transfer RNA (tRNA) translates genetic information from the encoding messenger RNA (mRNA) for protein synthesis.

10 Dec 2020

New study refutes a major cellular process in bacteria

Despite explanations in textbooks, a new study has discovered and elucidated a cellular process that has continued to remain a mystery for researchers.

30 Nov 2020

Researchers discover new 'hidden' gene in SARS-CoV-2

Researchers have discovered a new "hidden" gene in SARS-CoV-2--the virus that causes COVID-19--that may have contributed to its unique biology and pandemic potential.

11 Nov 2020

Scientists identify potential targets against coronavirus

Scientists comprehensively studied the RNA genomic structure of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

11 Nov 2020

Scientists explain the role of transcription factors in genetic diseases

Transcription factor proteins can be described as the light switches of the human genome. These proteins bind to DNA and allow genes to turn “on” or “off.”

26 Oct 2020

Researchers develop new approach that uses DNA-synthesizing biological enzyme

According to current estimates, the amount of data produced by humans and machines is rising at an exponential rate, with the digital universe doubling in size every two years.

19 Oct 2020