Genomics

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Newly Discovered CRISPR System Activates Genes Without Cutting DNA

In back-to-back studies published in Nature, researchers from Purdue University and Columbia University report a naturally evolved gene-editing system that can activate genes, offering an advantage over existing CRISPR gene-editing systems that merely find and cut DNA.

26 Mar 2026

Synthetic Plasmid Design Enables Precise Control of DNA Replication

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," goes the old adage, which Rice University professor James Chappell completely ignored in a recent Nature Communications publication.

26 Mar 2026

Genetic Study Maps E. coli Capsules Behind Severe Infections

The first large-scale genetic study of E. coli's protective armor has identified the five capsule types that are responsible for 70 per cent of all multidrug-resistant bloodstream infections in Europe.

26 Mar 2026

Scientists Map Gene Sharing Networks in Wastewater Treatment Biofilms

Wastewater treatment systems are hotspots for mobile genetic elements proliferation and exchange, where dense biofilms create ideal conditions for horizontal gene transfer.

24 Mar 2026

Study Highlights Hidden Protist Diversity Through Single-Cell Genomics

Researchers from the Earlham Institute, in collaboration with The Department of Biology at the University of Oxford, discovered three previously unrecognised lineages of the protist Bodo, each with its own bacterial endosymbiont (a symbiotic organism living within the body of its host).

23 Mar 2026

Basecamp Research Selects PacBio HiFi Sequencing to Power Trillion Gene Atlas Initiative

PacBio, a leading provider of high-quality, long-read sequencing technologies, today announced that Basecamp Research, a frontier AI lab for therapeutic design, has selected PacBio HiFi sequencing on the Revio® system to generate large-scale environmental and host-associated metagenomic data for the Trillion Gene Atlas—a landmark scientific initiative designed to generate and model biological data at the trillion-gene scale.

From PacBio 23 Mar 2026

Mice Study Reveals Cholecystokinin as Key Driver of Obesity-Related Pancreatic Cancer

Obesity increases the body's need for insulin, forcing cells in the pancreas known as beta cells to ramp up insulin production to maintain blood sugar levels.

22 Mar 2026

New Base Editing Tool Reduces Unwanted DNA Bystander Mutations

The trajectory of base editing has been remarkable, progressing from the laboratory to patient care, treating debilitating or terminal illnesses, in less than a decade.

19 Mar 2026

New Computational Tool Streamlines Analysis of Massive Genomic Datasets

In a single experiment, scientists can decipher the entire genomes of many patient samples, animal models or cultured cells.

19 Mar 2026

Engineered Bacteria Deliver Targeted Anticancer Therapy in Tumors

Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with cancer globally; however, current treatments are limited by disease complexity.

18 Mar 2026

'Spiderman' Cells Trap Viral Genomes With Sticky Protein Webs

Scientists have identified a cell defense mechanism that mimics Spiderman shooting his web to ensnare enemies.

18 Mar 2026

Sheep Genome Study Identifies Key Regulatory DNA Elements

Livestock breeders could soon have more tools to improve the health and quality of their animals, thanks to a recent study that sheds new light on regulatory elements in the sheep genome.

17 Mar 2026

Study Uncovers How "Selfish Chromosomes" Cheat the Rules of Genetic Inheritance

A new University of Utah-led study has discovered the mechanism behind a decades-old evolutionary mystery-how "selfish chromosomes" cheat the rules of genetic inheritance.

16 Mar 2026

Epigenetic Switch Discovery Opens New Target for Cancer Therapy

Cancers emerge from many different paths. One path begins early, in embryonic development, when a protein complex called PRC2, which regulates cell differentiation, identity, and plasticity, becomes dysfunctional.

16 Mar 2026

4D Atlas Reveals Gene Activity During Embryo Development

How does a tiny cluster of cells become an embryo with a head, trunk, and tail? And how do thousands of genes coordinate this development? A new imaging method makes it possible to visualize the activity of thousands of genes simultaneously throughout the entire zebrafish embryo.

13 Mar 2026