Genetics and Genomics News and Research

Latest Genetics and Genomics News and Research

New study reveals how genes switch on and off in human cells

An international group of scientists has made a significant advancement in their understanding of the regulation of gene expression throughout the human genome.

17 Jan 2025

New Approach Aims to Make CRISPR Therapy Safer and More Effective

CRISPR is a powerful gene-editing tool that holds enormous potential for treating genetic diseases by allowing scientists to cut, replace, or delete mutations in DNA.

16 Jan 2025

Researchers Develop Strategy to Boost Pharmaceutical Production in CHO Cells

An international team of researchers led by the University of California San Diego has developed a new strategy to enhance pharmaceutical production in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which are commonly used to manufacture protein-based drugs for treating cancer, autoimmune diseases and much more.

16 Jan 2025

Researchers Develop Method to Visualize Nanocarriers at Single-Cell Level

How can we ensure that life-saving drugs or genetic therapies reach their intended target cells without causing harmful side effects? Researchers at Helmholtz Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) and Technical University Munich (TUM) have taken an important step to answer this question.

16 Jan 2025

Study Reveals Key Ion Channel in Extracellular Vesicles for Cargo Transport

Scientists have revealed the secret to the structural integrity of tiny particles that transport cargo from cell to cell through blood vessels and bodily fluids: special proteins that keep their membranes intact as they negotiate shifting electrical impulses in different biological environments.

16 Jan 2025

Epigenetic Mechanism Controls Placental Blood Vessel Formation

If the development of blood vessels in the placenta is impaired, fetal growth retardation may result. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University discovered that the correct development of functioning blood vessels in the mouse placenta is controlled epigenetically: One of the enzymes that modify gene activity using methyl groups is responsible.

16 Jan 2025

Long Reads Show Promise for Diagnosing Rare Genetic Disorders

The cause of rare diseases is increasingly being detected through genome sequencing, which involves reading the entire human DNA by first breaking it into small pieces-short reads.

16 Jan 2025

Protein Shapes Reveal Deeper Evolutionary Relationships

According to a study published in the journal Nature Communications, the three-dimensional form of a protein can be utilized to determine long-standing evolutionary relationships in the tree of life.

16 Jan 2025

Genetic Study Uncovers Growing Threat of Powdery Mildew to Blueberry Crops

The study on E. vaccinii uncovers its evolution and spread, linking genetic diversity to increased threats to blueberry crops and the role of human activities.

16 Jan 2025

Is Calcium Signaling the Bridge Between Unicellular and Multicellular Life?

Calcium-dependent signaling in S. rosetta uncovers mechanisms of cellular coordination, shedding light on the evolution of multicellularity and sensory systems.

16 Jan 2025

Unrepaired DNA Damage Can Persist for Years and Lead to Cancer Mutations

While most known types of DNA damage are fixed by our cells’ in-house repair mechanisms, some forms of DNA damage evade repair and can persist for many years, new research shows. This means that the damage has multiple chances to generate harmful mutations, which can lead to cancer.

15 Jan 2025

Genetic Analysis Sheds Light on How Staphylococcus aureus Evades the Immune System

The most detailed study to date on the mechanisms by which a common type of bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, adapts to living on the human body could help improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of certain infections.

15 Jan 2025

New Genetic Risk Factor Identified for SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Researchers have identified a novel genetic risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection, providing new insights into the virus' ability to invade human cells. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that spreads COVID-19.

15 Jan 2025

Base Editing Technique Extends Lifespan in Prion Disease Mouse Model

Researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have developed a gene-editing treatment for prion disease that extends lifespan by about 50 percent in a mouse model of the fatal neurodegenerative condition.

15 Jan 2025

Understanding RapA's Function in E. coli R-loop Control

From a genetic perspective, it is the worst-case scenario for a bacterium: during transcription, freshly created RNA adheres to its DNA template to form a three-stranded structure called an R-loop.

15 Jan 2025

The Role of Genetics and Environment in Plant Domestication

University of Southampton researchers have suggested that certain wild plant species possess specific traits that make them more suitable for human cultivation than others.

15 Jan 2025

Researchers Predict U.S. Dementia Cases Will Double by 2060

Unveiling a looming health crisis: how shifting demographics and genetic risks are driving a dramatic rise in dementia cases.

14 Jan 2025

A Novel Mechanism for Enhancing Root Growth in Response to Drought

Researchers have learned how drought causes plants to modify their root systems so they grow deeper into the ground to reach water reserves.

13 Jan 2025

Is it possible to predict a pathogen’s next move? Novel tool for detecting pathogen fitness says yes!

Phylowave reveals evolutionary dynamics in pathogens, identifying fitness-linked lineages and mutations, essential for effective public health interventions.

13 Jan 2025

Scientists Uncover Key Plant Metabolite to Block Biofilm Development

If your teeth have ever felt fuzzy after skipping a brushing, you've encountered biofilm-a slimy bacterial layer that clings to surfaces. In medical settings, biofilms make infections harder to treat when they form protective shields for bacteria on devices like catheters and implants.

13 Jan 2025