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Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a biologically important type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.

Researchers develop RNA catalyst that sheds light on evolution

Enzymes enable biochemical reactions that would otherwise not take place on their own. In nature, it is mostly proteins that function as enzymes.

29 Oct 2020

Genetic predispositions affect the efficacy of COVID-19 drugs

A paper recently uploaded to bioRxiv* aimed to utilize genome-wide CRISPR screening to identify genes involved in modulating the activity of COVID-19 drugs.

29 Oct 2020

RNA-centric mechanism regulates microRNAs linked to cancer, neurological disorders

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs—that is, bits of genetic code that act as key gene regulators in various aspects of biological processes.

28 Oct 2020

Study shows genetic analysis with RNA sequencing can increase diagnostic yield

In the world of rare genetic diseases, exome and genome sequencing are two powerful tools used to make a diagnosis.

28 Oct 2020

Serologic testing of COVID-19 patients as an adjunct diagnostic method

A recent paper explored the possibility of using serologic testing as an adjunct diagnostic method in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

28 Oct 2020

Researchers develop new sensors to detect gene activity

A team of researchers have developed genetic sensors that are capable of detecting the activity of genes, instead of only the genes themselves.

From The University of Warwick 27 Oct 2020

Researchers identify new potential therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2 infection

To identify new potential therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2, a team of scientists at the New York Genome Center, New York University, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, performed a genome-scale, loss-of-function CRISPR screen to systematically knockout all genes in the human genome.

27 Oct 2020

Exploiting CRISPR systems for the fast detection of SARS-CoV-2

A paper published on medRxiv describes a repurposed type III CRISPR-Cas system that can detect the virus from nasopharyngeal swabs in less than an hour.

26 Oct 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

Genomic differences can help develop more personalized treatments for African American men

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among American men after skin cancer, but the disease does not affect all races equally.

22 Oct 2020

Scientists use molecular dynamics simulations to reveal the secrets of SARS-CoV-2 virus

The virus wreaking havoc on our lives is an efficient infection machine. Comprised of only 29 proteins (compared to our 400,000), with a genome 1/200,000 the size of ours, SARS-CoV-2 is expertly evolved to trick our cells to contribute its machinery to assist in its propagation.

22 Oct 2020

Ancient embedded elements in human DNA can activate powerful immune response to kill cancer cells

Ancient embedded elements in our DNA from generations past can activate a powerful immune response to kill cancer cells like an infection.

22 Oct 2020

New DNA-cutting tool could advance gene editing for novel treatments

Gene editing for the development of new treatments, and for studying disease as well as normal function in humans and other organisms, may advance more quickly with a new tool for cutting larger pieces of DNA out of a cell's genome, according to a new study by UC San Francisco scientists.

21 Oct 2020

Researchers identify “silent” mutations in the genetic code of COVID-19 virus

We know that the coronavirus behind the COVID-19 crisis lived harmlessly in bats and other wildlife before it jumped the species barrier and spilled over to humans.

19 Oct 2020

Researchers develop a new method for siRNA stabilization

In the gene controlling mechanism, known as RNA interference, the expression of particular genes is downregulated by siRNAs or endogenic microRNAs.

19 Oct 2020

Researchers develop model to encode established biochemical principles at cellular level

The most important components for the functioning of a biological cell are its proteins. As a result, protein production is arguably the most important process for cell growth. The faster the bacterial growth rate, the faster protein synthesis needs to take place.

19 Oct 2020

Small RNA molecule regulates the virulence factors of stomach bacteria

Over 50% of the global population carries the bacterium Helicobacter pylori in their stomach mucosa.

19 Oct 2020

Researchers discover how specific molecules promote cancer progression

The development of cancer is a highly complicated process, involving multiple genes and signaling pathways that become upregulated or downregulated throughout different stages of tumor growth and spread. Two of the most commonly altered genes in cancer are p53 and AKT.

16 Oct 2020

Scientists identify heart cells responsible for repairing damaged heart after infarction

A global study has discovered the heart cells responsible for repairing the damage induced to this vital organ following infarction.

15 Oct 2020

Researchers unravel molecular factors that drive severity of COVID-19

While most COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic or mild, severe complications associated with acute respiratory distress have led to more than one million deaths worldwide in just several months.

14 Oct 2020