Genomics

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Study Offers a New Perspective on the Evolution of Large Human Brains

Brain tissue is among the most energetically costly in the body, and as a result, larger-brained mammals require more energy to support brain growth and maintenance.

3 Dec 2024

Chimpanzees Show Early Stages of Cumulative Cultural Development

Chimpanzees are known for their remarkable intelligence and use of tools, but could their cultures also evolve over time like human cultures?

28 Nov 2024

Genetic Signatures Driving Early Type 2 Diabetes in South Asians Revealed

A genetic predisposition to having lower insulin production and less healthy fat distribution are major causes of early-onset type 2 diabetes in British Asian people.

28 Nov 2024

Study Reveals Molecular Mechanism Behind Neural Fate Commitment

The Wistar Institute's Alessandro Gardini, Ph.D., and lab have shed new light on how certain biological processes determine the development of neural cells. Their findings on a molecular "bridge" complex demonstrate a new level of detail in the understanding of early neural development -; which is fundamental for the further understanding of neurodevelopmental syndromes.

27 Nov 2024

Study Links MICOS10 Gene Defect to Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome

Mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MTDPS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a marked decrease in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

27 Nov 2024

Cyanobacteria Harness Pulse Amplitude Modulation to Control Biological Functions

Cyanobacteria, an ancient lineage of bacteria that perform photosynthesis, have been found to regulate their genes using the same physics principle used in AM radio transmission.

26 Nov 2024

Uncovering the Genetic Basis of Sex Determination in Amborella trichopoda

Although it is a complicated process, plant reproduction is essential to both ecological balance and the food chain. Some plants are hermaphrodites, some are either male or female, and some change sex during their lives.

26 Nov 2024

Novel Genetic Variant Associated with Severe Mitochondrial Dysfunction

The rare hereditary condition known as mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MTDPS) is typified by a significant reduction in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

26 Nov 2024

New Method for Understanding Brain Function and Dysfunction

An international group of researchers from FutureNeuro, the Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science, and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have created a novel technique to characterize gene activity in the living human brain.

26 Nov 2024

Overlapping Enhancers Challenge Traditional Genetic Models

The DNA of plants and animals contains their blueprint. However, genes, which are the instructions for generating proteins, are found in a very small portion of the genome roughly 2% in mammals.

25 Nov 2024

Self-Eliminating e-Drive System Reverses Insecticide Resistance in Fruit Flies

Insecticides have been used for centuries to counteract widespread pest damage to valuable food crops. Eventually, over time, beetles, moths, flies and other insects develop genetic mutations that render the insecticide chemicals ineffective.

25 Nov 2024

New Vector Systems Open the Door for Efficient Genetic Modification

A recent breakthrough in biotechnology promises to change the landscape of plant genetic engineering. Imagine a persistent invader-;Agrobacterium-;long used to deliver genes into plants. Despite its historical success, the journey has been fraught with setbacks, especially with crops that launch fierce immune defenses.

25 Nov 2024

Researchers Decode Complete Genome of Medicinal Plant Forsythia Suspensa

A recent study has decoded the complete genome of Forsythia suspensa, a plant renowned for its medicinal value and decorative appeal.

23 Nov 2024

Study Reveals Genetics Behind Dilated Cardiomyopathy

A potentially life-changing heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, can be caused by the cumulative influence of hundreds or thousands of genes and not just by a single "aberrant" genetic variant, as was previously thought, finds a new study led by researchers at UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences.

23 Nov 2024

Scientists Identify Gene Variant Linked to Early Miscarriages in Women

In what could be a major advance in understanding the genetic causes underlying human infertility, scientists led by researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick have identified a gene variant directly tied to early miscarriages in women.

23 Nov 2024

Mapping of Mouse Intestine Sheds Light on Immune Control and Adaptability

The intestine maintains a delicate balance in the body, absorbing nutrients and water while maintaining a healthy relationship with the gut microbiome, but this equilibrium is disrupted in parts of the intestine in conditions such as celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.

22 Nov 2024

Chromosome Abnormalities Found in Healthy Women’s Breast Cells

A new study from researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center finds that, in healthy women, some breast cells that otherwise appear normal may contain chromosome abnormalities typically associated with invasive breast cancer. The findings question conventional thinking on the genetic origins of breast cancer, which could influence early cancer detection methods.

22 Nov 2024

Researchers Map DNA Repair Protein Activity in Human Cells

New research from the Kind Group at the Hubrecht Institute sheds light on how cells repair damaged DNA. For the first time, the team has mapped the activity of repair proteins in individual human cells.

22 Nov 2024

Innovative Approach Reveals Brain Evolution Through Ancient DNA Methylation

This research introduces a novel method for inferring DNA methylation patterns in non-skeletal tissues from ancient specimens, providing new insights into human evolution.

21 Nov 2024

Ancient DNA Unlocks Secrets of European Genetic Adaptation

Leveraging a unique statistical analysis and applying it to ancient DNA extracted from human skeletal remains, a team of researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the University of California, Los Angeles has revealed new insights into how ancient Europeans adapted to their environments over 7,000 years of European history.

21 Nov 2024