Health — DNA — Genetics — April 2nd, 2024

Gene analysis generates spatial map of intestinal cells and traces their trajectories during gut inflammation
Cells within the intestines perform various roles including nutrient absorption, sensing, and maintaining homeostasis. Certain chronic disorders are distinctly characterized by gut inflammation, which disrupts intestinal cells and can lead to a remodeling of the gut and the introduction of new immune cells.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Inside the new Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology, which uses DNA to 'record biology over time'
Researchers opened the doors Monday to the new Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology, a collaboration between the Allen Institute, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the University of Washington.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

New study maps a group of rare genetic diseases for the first time
Behind the term ectodermal dysplasia lies a wide range of genetic disorders that can have a major impact on patients' lives and quality of life. Some cannot sweat, others are born with missing or cone-shaped teeth, while others have very little hair, skeletal deformities, or abnormal nails. A total of 49 diagnoses fall under the term, but until now, we have not had an overview of how many Danes actually suffer from an ectodermal dysplasia disorder.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

YKT6 gene variants cause a new neurological disorder, finds study
A recent collaborative study has discovered rare variants in the YKT6 gene as the cause of a new neurological disorder characterized by developmental delays along with severe progressive liver disease and a potential risk for liver cancer.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 29th, 2024

Gene editing technology reveals molecular mechanisms governing diatom population density signals
The intricate dynamics of diatom blooms, influenced by a myriad of external factors and internal signals, continue to fascinate scientists. After recognizing the potential role of density perception and intracellular signaling in dictating these phenomena, researchers have begun to elucidate the molecular basis of diatom population density regulation.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Research reveals genetic factors in cerebral palsy development
A Canadian-led study has identified genes which may be partially responsible for the development of cerebral palsy.
March 29th, 2024 — Source or Source

Scientists discover a key quality-control mechanism in DNA replication
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March 29th, 2024 — Source

Structural and biochemical basis of methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase ALDH6A1
ALDH6A1, a member of the ALDH family, plays a crucial role in the catabolic pathways of valine and thymine. Dysregulation of ALDH6A1 expression has been linked to a variety of diseases. Methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (MMSDH deficiency), an autosomal recessive disorder, arises from mutations in the ALDH6A1 gene.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Single genomic test promises accelerated diagnoses for rare genetic diseases
A single genetic test could potentially replace the current two-step approach to diagnosing rare developmental disorders in children. This shift could enable earlier diagnoses for families and save vital resources.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 28th, 2024

Chemists develop method to confirm mRNA vaccine stability
University at Albany researchers at the RNA Institute have developed a new method to test COVID-19 vaccine integrity that could allow anyone with basic skills in vaccine handling to detect expired vaccines quickly and effectively, without specialized lab equipment.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Single genomic test promises accelerated diagnoses for rare genetic diseases
A single genetic test could potentially replace the current two-step approach to diagnosing rare developmental disorders in children. This shift could enable earlier diagnoses for families and save the NHS vital resources.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 27th, 2024

A genetic difference in THC metabolism may explain why some young adults have negative experiences with cannabis
Differences in how young adults metabolize THC, the main part of cannabis that makes people feel "high," can influence how they feel after taking the drug as well as their potential risk for developing cannabis use disorder, or CUD.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

How genes work together to shape how much you smoke
Take a puff of nicotine for the first time, and your DNA plays an important role, alongside social and environmental factors, in shaping what happens next.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Making long-term memories requires DNA damage, researchers discover
Just as you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have found that you can't make long-term memories without DNA damage and brain inflammation. Their surprising findings were published in the journal Nature in a paper titled "Formation of memory assemblies through the DNA sensing TLR9 pathway."
March 27th, 2024 — Source

New insights into the exacerbation of psoriasis through specific genetic defects NewsGuard 100/100 Score
In a recent study featured in Nature Communications, researchers created mice that carry a gain-of-function (GoF) mutation in the gene encoding the inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-b kinase subunit beta (IKBKB), known as the IKK2-encoding IKBKB gene. This was done to explore how this mutation works.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 25th, 2024

DNA nanotube rings: Research team develops important building block for artificial cells
During cell division, a ring forms around the cell equator, which contracts to divide the cell into two daughter cells. Together with researchers from Heidelberg, Dresden, Tübingen and Harvard, Professor Jan Kierfeld and Lukas Weise from the Department of Physics at TU Dortmund University have succeeded for the first time in synthesizing such a contractile ring with the help of DNA nanotechnology and uncovering its contraction mechanism.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Newly discovered beneficial mutation in mitochondrial DNA seems to help Alzheimer's gene carriers live longer
Researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology have discovered a genetic mutation in a small mitochondrial protein that may promote longevity, preserve cognitive function, and protect against Alzheimer's disease among carriers of APOE4, a gene associated with a dramatic increase in the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Unraveling epigenetic contributions to autoimmune skin diseases
The central dogma proposed that genetic information predominantly transfers from DNA to RNA during gene expression to make a functional product protein. This absolute theory has been debunked because of the influence of the environment on how genes are transcribed. According to the human genome sequencing and analysis, an extremely complex regulatory mechanism is required to regulate gene expression inside the human body, resulting in the activation or inhibition of pathways or molecules that may contribute to health or illness.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 22nd, 2024

Cops Running DNA-Manufactured Faces Through Face Recognition Is a Tornado of Bad Ideas
In keeping with law enforcement's grand tradition of taking antiquated, invasive, and oppressive technologies, making them digital, and then calling it innovation, police in the U.S. recently combined two existing dystopian technologies in a brand new way to violate civil liberties.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Messenger RNAs with multiple 'tails' could lead to more effective therapeutics, say researchers
Messenger RNA (mRNA) made its big leap into the public limelight during the pandemic, thanks to its cornerstone role in several COVID-19 vaccines. But mRNAs, which are genetic sequences that instruct the body to produce proteins, are also being developed as a new class of drugs. For mRNAs to have broad therapeutic uses, however, the molecules will need to last longer in the body than those that make up the COVID vaccines.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 20th, 2024

ALG6 acts as a modifier gene in the inherited genetic eye disease retinitis pigmentosa 59
Modifier genes add complexity to precision medicine. A modifier gene is one that has genetic variants such as single nucleotide changes that differ from the most common sequence in the population. These variants do not cause disease by themselves, but can lessen or exacerbate a different genetic disease phenotype by unknown mechanisms.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

E-cigarette users experience similar DNA changes to specific cheek cells as smokers NewsGuard 100/100 Score
E-cigarette users with a limited smoking history experience similar DNA changes to specific cheek cells as smokers, finds a new study led by researchers at UCL (University College London) and University of Innsbruck.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Experimental gene therapy for giant axonal neuropathy shows promise in NIH clinical trial
Treatment for rare childhood disease was well tolerated and slowed loss of motor function.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

New way for states to cover pricey gene therapies will start with sickle cell disease
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration late last year approved two breakthrough gene therapies for sickle cell disease patients. Now a new federal program seeks to make these life-changing treatments available to patients with low incomes—and it could be a model to help states pay for other expensive therapies.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Researchers roll out a more accurate way to estimate genetic risks of disease
Researchers have developed statistical tools called polygenic risk scores (PRSs) that can estimate individuals' risk for certain diseases with strong genetic components, such as heart disease or diabetes. However, the data on which PRSs are built is often limited in diversity and scope. As a result, PRSs are less accurate when applied to populations that differ demographically from the PRS training data.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 18th, 2024

Black individuals with a genetic mutation found to have increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation, heart failure
Physician--scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine led a nationwide genetic study examining the role of genetic mutations in the Titin, TTN, gene in Black individuals. In their study, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research they found that Black individuals carrying these genetic variants were at a high risk of developing atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Genes identified that allow bacteria to thrive despite toxic heavy metal in soil
Some soil bacteria can acquire sets of genes that enable them to pump the heavy metal nickel out of their systems, a study has found. This enables the bacteria to not only thrive in otherwise toxic soils but help plants grow there as well.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

How genetic therapies transformed the lives of sickle cell patients
Their stories are divided into before and after. First, those long years of pain which flooded every moment—school, relationships, work.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Illuminating a critical step in initiating DNA replication in eukaryotes
Brandt Eichman and Walter Chazin, professors of biochemistry, have worked together to provide a better understanding of how exactly DNA replication is initiated in eukaryotes. Using Vanderbilt's state-of-the-art instrumentation in the Center for Structural Biology's Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility, Eichman, Chazin, and their colleagues provided detailed visualizations of a multi-functional protein in action, which sheds light on how DNA replication is initiated in humans.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation points to new potential treatment for an intractable genetic disease
A research team led by CiRA Professor Junya Toguchida in collaboration with Assistant Professor Yonghui Jin and graduated student Liping Sun at the Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, has identified a promising therapeutic target for an intractable genetic disease, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP).
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Shining a light on the genetic underpinnings of a rare disease impacting children
A team from the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine has completed a new study that reveals the inner workings of gene mutations that result in an ultra-rare syndrome with fewer than 100 reported cases since its first description in the early 1960s.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals the inner workings of gene mutations linked to ultra-rare syndrome
A team from the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine has completed an exciting new study that reveals the inner workings of gene mutations that result in an ultra-rare syndrome with fewer than 100 reported cases since its first description in the early 1960s.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 15th, 2024

Genome-wide transcriptome profiling and development of age prediction models in the human brain
A new research paper was published in Aging entitled "Genome-wide transcriptome profiling and development of age prediction models in the human brain."
March 14th, 2024 — Source

DNA origami-based vaccines toward safe and highly-effective precision cancer immunotherapy
Therapeutic cancer vaccines are a form of immunotherapy in the making that could not only destroy cancer cells in patients, but keep a cancer from coming back and spreading. Multiple therapeutic cancer vaccines are being studied in clinical trials, but despite their promise, they are not routinely used yet by clinical oncologists to treat their patients.
March 14th, 2024 — Source or Source

DNA parasite now plays key role in making critical nerve cell protein
An RNA has been adopted to help the production of myelin, a key nerve protein.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Large-scale study explores genetic link between colorectal cancer and meat intake
In one of the largest ever gene-environment interaction studies of red meat and colorectal cancer, which explored the impact of red meat consumption on a person's cancer risk based on their genotype, researchers have identified two genetic markers that may help explain the association between the two and explain why some people face a higher cancer risk.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 14th, 2024

FRYL gene variants linked to a new neurological disorder
A recent study from the lab of Dr. Hugo J. Bellen, distinguished service professor at Baylor College of Medicine and investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) links the FRYL gene to a new neurodevelopmental disorder in humans. The researchers used fruit flies to establish that the loss of a functional copy of the FRY-like transcription coactivator (FRYL) gene is the underlying cause of this new disorder in fourteen individuals.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Research reveals the genetic code behind non-identical twins
A QIMR Berghofer-led international team of scientists has unlocked the genetic secrets behind why some mothers are more likely than others to conceive twins.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

New genes implicated in uterine fibroid development
Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified new genes implicated in the development of uterine fibroids, according to a study published in Nature Communications.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

New simpler and cost-effective forensics test helps identify touch DNA
Television dramas like CSI and NCIS make criminal investigations look easy. In real life, DNA testing can be challenging and requires expensive equipment, special facilities, and extensive training to identify DNA from a crime scene and determine which belongs to a potential suspect and which may have been transferred from someone who was never there.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Team performs the first gene therapy tests in a whole human liver
In a worldwide first-of-its-kind study published in the journal Nature Communications this week, a team of scientists from Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) have tested novel gene therapies in a whole human liver, with the goal of developing more effective treatments for life-threatening inherited diseases.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 11th, 2024

New insights into the silencing of X chromosome genes passed on from fathers to daughters
Daughters inherit two X chromosomes (one from the mother and one from the father), while sons inherent an X chromosome only from the mother. In new research published in Molecular Cell, investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) discovered that a large part of the X chromosome that a father passes on to his daughter is silent, even before fertilization.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 8th, 2024

Study finds microRNA can predict severe Crohn's disease in children
When comparing intestinal samples of children with Crohn's disease and healthy children, one molecule stands out: the microRNA (miRNA) miR-29, which shows significant differences between the two groups, researchers found.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 6th, 2024

Black people half as likely to be evaluated for genetic testing as white people, finds study
Genetic testing has become a more common way to diagnose and manage many neurologic conditions including dementia, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, but a new study has found not everyone may have the same level of access to these tests.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Gene discovered that can protect against severe muscle disease
A specific gene may play a key role in new treatments that prevent muscle in the body from breaking down in serious muscle diseases, or muscular dystrophies.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Key gene found to prevent muscle breakdown in muscular dystrophy
Protein expressed by the gene naturally prevents the muscles around the eye from being affected when other muscles in the body are broken down during muscular dystrophies. In the study, the so-called genetic scissors were used and the gene is expressed in all muscles. The effects were that muscular dystrophin was alleviated throughout the body.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Living heart muscle slices drive RNA research into heart failure
Researchers from Hannover Medical School (MHH) have placed living human heart tissue in a nutrient solution and used it to test new drugs and innovative approaches to combat heart failure.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Research team uncovers novel receptor function in fragile X syndrome
Fragile X syndrome is one of the most commonly inherited forms of autism and intellectual disability, and no treatment currently exists. But a team of University of Illinois researchers led by Vipendra Kumar, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, has discovered a novel receptor function that may be used in a therapeutic approach to treatment.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Silicon nanotube bundles facilitate efficient RNA therapy delivery in cells
Precisely modulating gene expression within cells represents a powerful frontier in treating diseases at their roots, rather than merely managing symptoms. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules have emerged as a versatile tool capable of silencing specific genes by disrupting production of their protein products. However, safely and effectively delivering these delicate RNA strands into cells has remained an obstinate challenge, hindering the broad clinical translation of RNA therapeutics.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Synthetic DNA sheds light on mysterious difference between living cells at different points in evolution
"Random DNA" is naturally active in the one-celled fungi yeast, while such DNA is turned off as its natural state in mammalian cells, despite their having a common ancestor a billion years ago and the same basic molecular machinery, a new study finds.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 4th, 2024

Genetic germline variations influence expression of cancer cell genes, finds study
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine's Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and Human Genome Sequencing Center investigated the extent to which forms of genetic variation called germline or inherited structural variation influence gene expression in human cancers.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Newly discovered protein prevents DNA triplication
Every time a cell divides, its DNA is duplicated so that the two daughter cells have the same genetic material as their parent. This means that, millions of times a day, a biochemical wonder takes place in the body: the copying of the DNA molecule.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Researchers discover how "leaky" mitochondria can drive harmful inflammation
Researchers have discovered how "leaky" mitochondria -- the powerhouses of our cells -- can drive harmful inflammation responsible for diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Scientists may be able to leverage the findings to develop better treatments for those diseases, improve our ability to fight off viruses and even slow aging.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — March 1st, 2024

Early vocabulary size is genetically linked to ADHD, literacy, and cognition
Early language development is an important predictor of children's later language, reading and learning skills. Moreover, language learning difficulties are related to neurodevelopmental conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Weight loss solution inspired by space shuttles: New mRNA delivery breakthrough
Inspired by the design of space shuttles, Penn Engineering researchers have invented a new way to synthesize a key component of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the revolutionary delivery vehicle for mRNA treatments including the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, simplifying the manufacture of LNPs while boosting their efficacy at delivering mRNA to cells for medicinal purposes.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 28th, 2024

How to make mRNA therapeutics safe from the start
The success of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 has unleashed a flood of interest in using the technology to create more vaccines and treatments for everything from rare diseases and infections to cancer.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

New findings could be life-changing for genetic syndrome sufferers
An international research team led by QIMR Berghofer and Peter MacCallum Cancer Center has discovered that people with the hereditary cancer disorder Li Fraumeni syndrome are at greater risk of a much broader spectrum of cancers than previously thought.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Research identifies genetic change associated with human tail loss
A genetic change in our ancient ancestors may partly explain why humans don't have tails like monkeys, finds a new study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Understanding genetic risk could save sight and predict multiple sclerosis earlier in young people
Young people could be spared from going blind by a new genetic risk tool that could also help diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) earlier, to start effective treatments.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Whole genome sequencing reveals new genetic marker for cardiomyopathy
In the first study to use whole genome sequencing to examine tandem repeat expansions in heart conditions, scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have laid the groundwork for early detection of and future precision therapies for cardiomyopathy.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 26th, 2024

Human stem cells coaxed to mimic the very early central nervous system
The first stem cell culture method that produces a full model of the early stages of the human central nervous system has been developed by a team of engineers and biologists at the University of Michigan, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and the University of Pennsylvania.
February 26th, 2024 — Source or Source

RNA-sequencing analysis reveals key genes behind eggplant peel variation
Anthocyanins give fruits and vegetables their red, purple, and blue colors, offering health benefits. Their biosynthesis involves specific enzymes and is regulated by the MBW complex of transcription factors. Research has linked color variations in plants to anthocyanin content and structure, with transcriptomic analyses revealing genes involved in these differences.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Ultima announces UG 100™ and reveals disruptive cost and accuracy profile to enable the era of the $100 genome and beyond
Ultima Genomics, Inc., a developer of a revolutionary new ultra-high throughput sequencing architecture, announced the full commercial availability of the UG 100TM sequencer today. The UG 100TM system, Ultima's first commercial product, leverages Ultima's unique sequencing architecture featuring an open silicon wafer substrate to replace the traditional flow cells and enable the $100 genome and beyond.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 23rd, 2024

Advancing gene regulatory network inference with causal discovery and graph neural networks
Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) depict the regulatory mechanisms of genes within cellular systems as a network, offering vital insights for understanding cell processes and molecular interactions that determine cellular phenotypes. Transcriptional regulation, a prevalent type for regulating gene expression, involves the control of target genes (TGs) by transcription factors (TFs).
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Genes affect your blood pressure from early childhood, data show
Certain genes associated with hypertension affect blood pressure from early in life, and they increase the risk of cardiovascular disease as you get older. But you can do something about it.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Key link discovered between spread of antibiotic resistance genes and drug resistance evolution
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have uncovered a key link between the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and the evolution of resistance to new drugs in certain pathogens.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 21st, 2024

Digital DNA melting analysis can be a faster and more reliable tool for pathogen detection
A new analysis method can detect pathogens in blood samples faster and more accurately than blood cultures, which are the current state of the art for infection diagnosis. The new method, called digital DNA melting analysis, can produce results in under six hours, whereas culture typically requires 15 hours to several days, depending on the pathogen.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Physical inactivity and inflammation drive age-related gene changes in skeletal muscles
New research indicates that some age-related changes in gene and protein expression in the skeletal muscles of older individuals may be affected more by physical inactivity and chronic inflammation than primary aging, or intrinsic maturational processes.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 19th, 2024

Analysis identifies more than 275 million previously unreported genetic variations
An analysis of genomic data from nearly 250,000 participants in the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program has identified more than 275 million previously unreported genetic variations, nearly 4 million of which have potential health consequences.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Genetic risk prediction for ten chronic diseases moves closer to the clinic
By analyzing millions of small genetic differences across a person's genome, researchers can calculate a polygenic risk score to estimate someone's lifetime odds of developing a certain disease. Over the past decade, scientists have developed these risk scores for dozens of diseases, including heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer, with the hope that patients could one day use this information to lower any heightened risk of disease.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Husker research duo selected as Phase 1 winners in the NIH's Targeted Genome Editor Delivery Challenge
A Husker research duo was named a first-round winner in a National Institutes of Health competition aimed at generating solutions for delivering genome-editing technology to the cells of people with rare and common diseases.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Identification of genetic determinants of micronucleus formation
In a recent study published in Nature, researchers identified the genetic determinants of micronuclei formation (MN).
February 19th, 2024 — Source

New technique for revealing genetic repeats yields surprising insights into Huntington's disease
Neurodegenerative diseases are among the most complex human ailments, and their exact causes and mechanisms are the subject of ongoing research and debate. When it comes to Huntington's disease, steadily accumulating evidence over the past 30 years has led to a model of molecular events that explains several key features of the disease, including why it has an earlier onset in some people and why it causes symptoms such as involuntary movements and mood swings.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Newly discovered genetic markers help pinpoint diabetes risks, complications
In the largest genome-wide association study to date on type 2 diabetes, a team of international researchers, co-led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst genetic epidemiologist, has located 1,289 genetic markers associated with type 2 diabetes (145 of which are newly identified) and generated risk scores for diabetes complications.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Researchers optimize genetic tests for diverse populations to tackle health disparities
To prevent an emerging genomic technology from contributing to health disparities, a scientific team has devised new ways to improve a genetic testing method called a polygenic risk score. Since polygenic risk scores have not been effective for all populations, the researchers recalibrated these genetic tests using ancestrally diverse genomic data.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Study highlights importance of genetic sequencing to diagnosis of growth disorders
In an article published in the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers based in Brazil describe the case of a nine-year-old boy admitted to hospital with multiple symptoms and overlapping conditions that made diagnosis difficult, such as short stature, thin tooth enamel (dental enamel hypoplasia), moderate mental deficiency, speech delay, asthma, mildly altered blood sugar, and a history of recurring infections in infancy.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 16th, 2024

Data science shown to expedite return of ancestral Indigenous remains
The return of the ancestral human remains of Australian and other Indigenous peoples held in anthropological collections could be sped up using machine-based deep learning according to a new study led by QUT computer scientists.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Behold, a giant AI-generated rat penis
The anatomically incorrect ratwurst was somehow published in a scientific journal.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Nature versus nurture: Twin study sheds light on heritable brain activity
The way our brain processes different emotional and cognitive tasks may be underpinned by common factors, find scientists from UNSW and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA).
February 16th, 2024 — Source

New genetic therapy shows promise for motor neuron disease and frontotemporal dementia
Macquarie University neuroscientists have developed a single-dose genetic medicine that has been proven to halt the progression of both motor neuron disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in mice—and may even offer the potential to reverse some of the effects of the fatal diseases.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Stabilizing mRNA vaccines for delivery to cells
Vaccines and therapies based on messenger RNA could be more readily delivered due to a non-toxic polymer that protects RNA and controls its release inside cells.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 14th, 2024

Genetic and therapeutic landscapes in cohort of pancreatic adenocarcinomas using NGS and machine learning
A new research paper titled "Genetic and therapeutic landscapes in cohort of pancreatic adenocarcinomas: next-generation sequencing and machine learning for full tumor exome analysis" has been published in Oncotarget.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Key genes linked to DNA damage and human disease uncovered
More than one hundred key genes linked to DNA damage have been uncovered through systematic screening of nearly 1,000 genetically modified mouse lines in a new study published in Nature.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 12th, 2024

CRISPR could be used for faster monkeypox testing
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a rare viral disease that is spread through physical contact between people. Currently, testing for mpox requires lab equipment and can take a few hours to get test results. But new research suggests a way for faster testing that could be done in any clinic soon.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Differential expression of Mad2 gene in human esophageal cancer
A new research paper titled "Differential expression of Mad2 gene is consequential to the patterns of histone H3 post-translational modifications in its promoter region in human esophageal cancer samples" has been published in Oncotarget.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

How the quantum world can help scientists engineer biology
(Nanowerk News) CRISPR-Cas is a tool that allows scientists to make targeted changes to an organism’s DNA. This tool consists of two parts. The first is a microscopic substance called a nuclease Cas protein (e.g., Cas9) that can cleave DNA. The second is an RNA molecule (also called guide RNA or gRNA) that determines where these edits are made.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

New biotech startup targets genes to treat skin diseases
Alys Pharmaceuticals has launched today with $100M seed funding
February 12th, 2024 — Source

New study finds that pregnancy complications can also affect child's health later in life
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and gestational diabetes (GDM) are two of the most common pregnancy complications and put pregnant people at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Scandinavia's first farmers slaughtered the hunter-gatherer population, DNA analysis suggests
Following the arrival of the first farmers in Scandinavia 5,900 years ago, the hunter-gatherer population was wiped out within a few generations, according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden, among others. The results, which are contrary to prevailing opinion, are based on DNA analysis of skeletons and teeth found in what is now Denmark.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Understanding how natural genetic variation contributes to adaptive responses to low oxygen
Humans are still evolving, and Tatum Simonson, PhD, founder and co-director of the Center for Physiological Genomics of Low Oxygen at University of California School of Medicine, plans to use evolution to improve healthcare for all.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 9th, 2024

Researchers discover one million new components of the human genome
Researchers at the University of Toronto's Donnelly Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research have found nearly one million new exons—stretches of DNA that are expressed in mature RNA—in the human genome.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 7th, 2024

Mitochondria on the move: New discovery could revolutionize treatment of brain diseases
The human brain is an organ that takes nearly from 20 to 25% of the energy the body needs. This high energy demand for neuronal functions depends on the transport and precise distribution of mitochondria — the energy-generating cell organelles — in each neuron.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

New sex-specific genetic variants for chronic kidney disease identified
Working with an international consortium, scientists at Leipzig University have identified new genes that may play a role in chronic kidney disease. They analyzed data from more than 900,000 people and found effects that in some cases differed between men and women.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Researchers introduce new approach for accurately assessing cell composition in the pancreas
Research introduces new DNA methylation-based method for accurately assessing cell composition in the human pancreas, addressing a critical gap in diabetes research. By overcoming limitations of traditional protein marker-based approaches, the study provides a more precise means to identify specific cell types.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

The MagBinder® Fit24 nucleic acid purification system
Omega Bio-tek, an innovator of nucleic acid purification applications for 25 years, announces the 2024 debut of the MagBinder® Fit24 at SLAS 2024, its first piece of hardware for labs isolating DNA or RNA from various sample types for downstream analysis.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 5th, 2024

Chinese genetic study seeks to make generational medical discoveries
A team of medical researchers at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, working with colleagues from several other institutions in China, has conducted a large-scale genetic study. Publishing in the journal Nature, the group analyzed genetic sequencing data from thousands of Chinese participants.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Computer-engineered DNA to study cell identities
All the cells in our body have the same genetic code, and yet they can differ in their identities, functions and disease states. Telling one cell apart from another in a simple manner, in real time, would prove invaluable for scientists trying to understand inflammation, infections or cancers.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 2nd, 2024

Gene editing offers hope for people with hereditary disorder
A group of patients with a hereditary disorder have had their lives transformed by a single treatment of a breakthrough gene-editing therapy, according to the lead researcher of a trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Gene editing precisely repairs immune cells
Some hereditary genetic defects cause an exaggerated immune response that can be fatal. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, such defects can be corrected, thus normalizing the immune response, as researchers led by Klaus Rajewsky from the Max Delbrück Center now report in Science Immunology.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Identifying genomics markers to predict radiation sensitivity
As the effectiveness of radiotherapy varies greatly between tumors, finding gene signatures to predict the radiation response could better guide clinicians to personalize treatment plans.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

SPT Labtech Appoints New Chief Commercial Officer
SPT Labtech is pleased to announce the appointment of Morten Frost Norgreen as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) as of February 1st, 2024. 
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — February 1st, 2024

A nanotechnology‐based CRISPR/Cas9 delivery system for genome editing in cancer treatment
In a study published in MedComm—Biomaterials and Applications Professor Changyang Gong and his Ph.D. student Shiyao Zhou elaborate on the mechanism of CRISPR/Cas9 system. The CRISPR/Cas9 system consists of Cas9 protein and single stranded directing RNA (sgRNA).
February 1st, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 31st, 2024

Groundbreaking genome editing tools unlock new possibilities for precision medicine
A team of researchers at the Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology Dresden, led by Prof. Frank Buchholz, has achieved a major breakthrough in genome editing technology. They've developed a cutting-edge method that combines the power of designer-recombinases with programmable DNA-binding domains to create precise and adaptable genome editing tools.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Meta-analysis of ACE inhibitor--induced angioedema identifies novel risk locus in genome
Angioedema is a rare but potentially life-threatening adverse reaction to ACE inhibitors. In a joint analysis of eight European study collectives, researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn and the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) for the first time conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with more than 1,000 affected individuals.
January 31, 2024 — Source

New genome editing tools unlock possibilities for precision medicine
A team of researchers at the Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology Dresden, led by Prof. Frank Buchholz, has achieved a major breakthrough in genome editing technology. They've developed a cutting-edge method that combines the power of designer-recombinases with programmable DNA-binding domains to create precise and adaptable genome editing tools.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 29th, 2024

Gene variant linked to increased miscarriage risk through disrupted chromosome pairing
Scientists at deCODE genetics, a subsidiary of Amgen and their collaborators from Iceland, Denmark and USA published a study today in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology titled "Variant in the synaptonemal complex protein SYCE2 associates with pregnancy loss through effects on recombination".
January 29, 2024 — Source

Real-time magnetic resonance imaging during convective gene therapy in brain
Real-time magnetic resonance (MR) imaging during gene therapy in the nervous system provides foundational impact on optimizing the effectiveness, safety and efficiency of gene therapy delivery to the nervous system.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Researchers report on ctDNA-based detection of residual disease prognostic for resected CRC
For patients with radically resected, stage II to IV colorectal cancer (CRC), circulating tumor (ct)DNA-based detection of molecular residual disease (MRD) in response to adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) is prognostic of outcomes, according to a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, held from Jan. 18 to 20 in San Francisco.
January 29, 2024 — Source

RNA sequencing analysis may yield better diagnosis, targeted treatment of pediatric B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer, representing more than 30% of all pediatric cases. A pilot study in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics confirms the feasibility of implementing an RNA sequencing analysis (RNA-Seq) workflow for clinical diagnosis of molecular subtypes in pediatric B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).
January 29, 2024 — Source

Should doctors who are public officials have the right to spread medical misinformation to the general public?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration say the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risks.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 26th, 2024

Discovery of a third RNA virus lineage in extreme environments
There are numerous RNA virus species on Earth. However, their diversity and evolution as well as roles in the ecosystem remain unclear.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Genomic 'butterfly effect' explains risk for autism spectrum disorder
Researchers in the RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) examined the genetics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by analyzing mutations in the genomes of individuals and their families. They discovered that a special kind of genetic mutation works differently from typical mutations in how it contributes to the condition.
January 26, 2024 — Source

New tool improves the search for genes that cause diseases
A new statistical tool developed by researchers at the University of Chicago improves the ability to find genetic variants that cause disease. The tool, described in a new paper published January 26, 2024, in Nature Genetics, combines data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and predictions of genetic expression to limit the number of false positives and more accurately identify causal genes and variants for a disease.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Scientists develop high-precision droplet printing platform for single cell phenotype screening
With the rapid development of genome synthesis and editing technologies, droplet-based single-cell phenotype screening has become increasingly important. However, precise and high-throughput distribution of target droplets into specific macroscopic media for downstream multi-omics analysis remains a technical challenge.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Stem cell study shows how gene activity modulates the amount of immune cell production in mice
As people age or become ill, their immune systems can become exhausted and less capable of fighting off viruses such as the flu or COVID-19. In a new mouse study published in Science Advances, researchers from the USC Stem Cell lab of Rong Lu describe how specific gene activity could potentially enhance immune cell production.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 24th, 2024

Can genetics affect the need for surgery in patients with thumb osteoarthritis?
Rhizarthrosis, also known as trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, is a type of osteoarthritis that affects the thumb, and treatments range from splints to surgery. Investigators have uncovered various genetic differences between individuals with rhizarthrosis who undergo surgery for their condition versus those who opt for nonsurgical treatments.
January 24, 2024 — Source

How a timekeeping gene affects tumor growth depends entirely on context
A new study has found that the circadian clock—which synchronizes physiological and cellular activities with the day-night cycle and is generally thought to be tumor suppressive—in fact has a contextually variable role in cancer.
January 24, 2024 — Source

mRNA therapy revives p53 to combat ovarian tumors
Ovarian cancer is often very aggressive and responds poorly to the therapies currently available. A recent study by Goethe University Frankfurt and University Hospital Frankfurt offers hope that this could change in the medium term. The researchers used an mRNA as a therapeutic. With its help, the tumor cells produced a protein again that prevents their own uncontrolled proliferation or induces cell death. The mRNA therapeutic successfully combated cancerous cells and tumors in vitro as well as metastases in mice.
January 24, 2024 — Source

New study illuminates the genetics of thumb arthritis treatment
Rhizarthrosis, also known as trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, is a type of osteoarthritis that affects the thumb, and treatments range from splints to surgery. Investigators have uncovered various genetic differences between individuals with rhizarthrosis who undergo surgery for their condition versus those who opt for nonsurgical treatments.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Retinal imaging and genetics data used to predict future disease risk
The retina is said to provide a window into a person's systemic health. In a new study published January 24 in Science Translational Medicine, physician-researchers from Mass Eye and Ear, a member of Mass General Brigham, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard combined retinal imaging, genetics and big data to estimate how likely a person is to develop eye and systemic diseases in the future.
January 24, 2024 — Source

RNA Therapies in Liver Disease: Insights from Ochre Bio's CEO
In this interview, we speak with Jack O'Meara, co-founder and CEO of Ochre Bio, a pioneering force in liver disease treatment. O'Meara shares insights into Ochre Bio's innovative RNA therapies, their approach to tackling liver disease, and the company's vision for the future.
January 24, 2024 — Source

UKHSA unveils groundbreaking Pathogen Genomics Strategy for pandemic preparedness
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today published its Pathogen Genomics Strategy, laying out a 5 year plan for the organization's role in the wider delivery of pathogen genomics to prepare for and respond to infectious disease threats to public health.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 22nd, 2024

CRISPR off-switches: A path towards safer genome engineering?
Using CRISPR, an immune system bacteria use to protect themselves from viruses, scientists have harnessed the power to edit genetic information within cells. In fact, the first CRISPR-based therapeutic was recently approved by the FDA to treat sickle cell disease in December 2023. That therapy is based on a highly studied system known as the CRISPR-Cas9 genetic scissor.
January 22, 2024 — Source

DNA becomes our 'hands' to construct advanced nanoparticle materials
Significant leap forward in assembling polyhedral nanoparticles
January 22, 2024 — Source

Industrial vegetable oils show dangerous levels of toxic elements, surpassing traditional oils
In a recent study published in the journal BMC Public Health, a team of researchers analyzed samples of industrially and traditionally made edible vegetable oils, such as sunflower, sesame, olive, and peanut oil, to determine whether they contained potentially toxic elements such as cadmium, lead, iron, arsenic, and zinc.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Mouse study finds genetic variation determines the actions of gene regulatory factors
A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that genetic variation determines chromatin accessibility and the binding of transcription factors. Chromatin consists of DNA and proteins attached to it. The density of this packaging is regulated by transcription factors, and DNA accessibility is required for gene expression. The research is published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Scientists unravel key steps in the road to DNA repair
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have been studying DNA repair by homologous recombination, where the RecA protein repairs breaks in double-stranded DNA by incorporating a dangling single-strand end into intact double strands, and repairing the break based on the undamaged sequence.
January 22, 2024 — Source

'Shredding' unique genetic features of cancer cells with CRISPR-Cas3
Cornell researchers have taken an important step toward harnessing CRISPR gene editing in "targeted, safe and potent" cancer treatment, according to Ailong Ke, professor of chemistry and chemical biology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
January 22, 2024 — Source

'Water bear' genomes reveal the secrets of extreme survival
Tardigrades may be nature's ultimate survivors. While these tiny, nearly translucent animals are easily overlooked, they represent a diverse group that has successfully colonized freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments on every continent, including Antarctica.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 19th, 2024

DNA origami folded into nanoscale electromotor
Scientists have created the world's first working nanoscale electromotor, according to research published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology ("A DNA turbine powered by a transmembrane potential across a nanopore"). The science team designed a turbine engineered from DNA that is powered by hydrodynamic flow inside a nanopore, a nanometer-sized hole in a membrane of solid-state silicon nitride.
January 19, 2024 — Source

New discovery sheds light on the genetic basis of a rare skeletal disorder
A McGill-led team of researchers have made an important discovery shedding light on the genetic basis of a rare skeletal disorder. The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals that a defect in a specific gene (heterozygous variants in the matrix Gla protein, or MGP) may cause a disorder that affects the structure of connective tissues that supports the body.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Using DNA origami to show how an important cell receptor can be activated in a previously unknown way
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have used DNA origami, the art of folding DNA into desired structures, to show how an important cell receptor can be activated in a previously unknown way. The result opens new avenues for understanding how the Notch signalling pathway works and how it is involved in several serious diseases.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 16th, 2024

Cryo-microscopy reveals nano-sized copy machine implicated in origin of life
How the intricate molecular machinery of life arose from simple beginnings has been a long-standing question. Several lines of evidence point towards a primordial "RNA world," where an "RNA copy machine" (a so-called replicase) started making copies of itself and other RNA molecules to kick-start evolution and life itself.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Meet pAblo·pCasso: A new leap in CRISPR technologies for next-gen genome engineering
A new CRISPR-Cas toolkit, dubbed "pAblo·pCasso," is set to transform the landscape of bacterial genome editing, offering unprecedented precision and flexibility in genetic engineering. The new technology, developed by researchers at The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain), expands the range of genome sites available for base-editing and dramatically accelerates the development of bacteria for a wide range of bioproduction applications.
January 16, 2024 — Source

We must not rush to implement new genetic screening programs, experts warn
There is a danger that population genetic screening programs may be introduced without the necessary scrutiny and rigor that is usually applied when screening programs are put into effect, experts have warned.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 15th, 2024

Ancient genomes reveal origins of multiple sclerosis risk in Europe
In a recent study published in Nature, researchers investigated the variables contributing to geographical heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence and the impact of genetic and environmental factors on the disease's development.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Engineers uncover new mechanism for gene transfer
If you still remember that "Dear King Phillip Came Over For Good Spaghetti," you'll likely also recall the corresponding taxonomic ranks of biology: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. The domains include prokaryotes, single-celled organisms such as bacteria and archaea, and eukaryotes, which include fungi, plants and animals.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Pioneering Genomic Progress: An Interview with Rami Mehio, Illumina's Software and Informatics Expert
In this interview, Rami Mehio, head of software and informatics at Illumina, shares his experiences and contributions to major genomic projects like the UK Biobank's whole genome sequencing. He discusses the challenges and innovations in genomic data analysis, highlighting Illumina's role in advancing genetic research and precision medicine.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 12th, 2024

Building trust and saving lives: A community approach to genetic education
Changes to DNA, known as mutations, can increase the likelihood of developing cancer. Specifically, people with mutations in their BRCA 1 and 2 genes are substantially more likely to develop hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. But how do people know if they have these mutations?
January 12, 2024 — Source

New genetic findings offer therapeutic approaches for incurable autoimmune disease SLE
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system that normally protects the body from invading microbes, turns against the body's own cells. This autoimmune attack can affect any organ and patients commonly develop skin rashes, joint inflammation, blood clots, kidney failure, heart disease, fatigue and psychiatric problems.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Researchers trace a form of lupus back to a single mutation
Sometimes a single mutation in our genetic make-up is enough to cause disease. This is also the case with the autoimmune disease lupus. Lupus causes severe inflammation throughout the body and can have a serious impact on the lives of those affected. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin have now discovered a mechanism that can trigger lupus in children.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Scientists develop noninvasive way to monitor gene expression dynamics in the brain
In a recent study published in Nature Biotechnology, a group of researchers introduced a non-invasive, sensitive method for monitoring gene expression in the brain using engineered reporters called released markers of activity (RMAs), which can exit the brain into the blood for easy detection.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Team explores role of 'stimulator of interferon genes' in body's innate immune system
When pathogens attack the body, the innate immune system goes to work protecting against the invading disease. The innate immune system is the first line of defense. It detects precisely what the virus or bacteria is and then activates the proteins that fight the pathogens. Wanting to better understand how the body's innate immune system works, a team of scientists undertook a study of STING, a protein that plays a vital role in innate immunity.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 11th, 2024

Revolutionary blood test monitors gene expression dynamics in the brain
The brain is the most protected organ in the body, sheathed in a complex and nearly impenetrable barrier of specialized blood vessels. While this particular anatomical setup protects it from outside invaders, it also makes it difficult for researchers to study how specific genes are expressed ⎯ and how such changes in gene expression may lead to disease.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Study shows genetically modified pluripotent stem cells may evade immunological rejection after transplantation
One of the biggest barriers to regenerative medicine is immunological rejection by the recipient, a problem researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences are one step closer to solving after genetically modifying pluripotent stem cells to evade immune recognition.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 10th, 2024

Ancient DNA reveals reason for high multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's rates in Europe
Researchers have created the world's largest ancient human gene bank by analyzing the bones and teeth of almost 5,000 humans who lived across western Europe and Asia up to 34,000 years ago.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Genetics may influence the body's response to low oxygen, study finds
University of Pittsburgh Schools of Medicine researchers uncovered a fundamental mechanism that controls the body's response to limited oxygen and regulates blood vessel disease of the lung.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Research finds one of the deleted genes linked to Williams syndrome is responsible for mitochondrial function in brain
In a first, Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered that the production and regulation of mitochondrial organelles in the brain's nerve cells (neurons) becomes significantly impaired with the deletion of a gene called Gtf2i, one of the 25 genes deleted in Williams syndrome.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Scientists use blood test to track gene expression in the brain
The brain is the most protected organ in the body, sheathed in a complex and nearly impenetrable barrier of specialized blood vessels. While this particular anatomical setup protects it from outside invaders, it also makes it difficult for researchers to study how specific genes are expressed ⎯ and how such changes in gene expression may lead to disease.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 9th, 2024

Largest genetic study of gestational diabetes discovers nine novel genetic regions linked to severe and common pregnancy complication
In a recent study published in Nature Genetics, a group of researchers investigated the genetic underpinnings of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and its relationship with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) through a genome-wide association study ((GWAS), identifying distinct and shared genetic factors.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — January 8th, 2024

Engineered virus-like particles power up gene editing, correcting blindness in mice
Prime editing, a versatile form of gene editing that can correct most known disease-causing genetic mutations, now has a new vehicle to deliver its machinery into cells in living animals.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Research discovers gene that links deafness to inner ear cell death
Researchers have found a gene that links deafness to cell death in the inner ear in humans—creating new opportunities for averting hearing loss.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Targeting the mRNA of 'undruggable' proteins in the fight against Parkinson's disease
Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute, Florida, have developed a new method to counteract α-synuclein protein levels by targeting the mRNA that forms them. The strategy unlocks many research doors with potential therapeutic approaches for addressing neurodegenerative diseases.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning and its applications
Transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning represents a unique tool to selectively and efficiently recover a given chromosomal segment up to several hundred kb in length from complex genomes (such as animals and plants) and simple genomes (such as bacteria and viruses). The technique exploits a high level of homologous recombination in the yeast Sacharomyces cerevisiae.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Health — General Information — January 4th, 2024

Study reveals new genetic link between anorexia nervosa and being an early riser
Individuals with the eating disorder often wake early and experience insomnia
January 4, 2024 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 29th, 2023

Unraveling the evolutionary origins of umami and sweet taste preferences
The perception of taste is one of the most important senses and helps us identify beneficial foods and avoid harmful substances. For instance, our fondness for sweet and savory foods results from our need to consume carbohydrates and proteins. Given their importance as an evolutionary trait, researchers around the world are investigating how taste receptors originated and evolved over a period of time.
December 29, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 28th, 2023

Genetic sequencing uncovers unexpected source of pathogens in floodwaters
Researchers report that local rivers and streams were the source of the Salmonella enterica contamination along coastal North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2018 -- not the previously suspected high number of pig farms in the region.
December 28, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 27th, 2023

A study of genetics of pericarditis increases understanding of newly approved drug treatment
Sequence variants that protect against pericarditis have been discovered at a genomic locus encoding interleukin-1 immune cytokines. A newly approved drug treatment for pericarditis inhibits these cytokines, according to a new study.
December 27, 2023 — Source

Histone acetylation, transcription factor dynamics contribute to gene expression in brain development
No man is an island, and no neuron is either: complex, intricate connections between and among brain cells are needed for the brain to do its job correctly. Now, researchers from Japan have uncovered a fundamental mechanism that lets neurons know when and how to form these connections.
December 27, 2023 — Source

Researchers uncover unexpected molecular pattern in fragile X syndrome
Researchers have found new disrupted genes and an unexpected molecular pattern—dubbed BREACHes—related to fragile X syndrome (FXS), a genetic disorder estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to impact about 1 in 7,000 males about 1 in 11,000 females.
December 27, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 26th, 2023, 2023

New model links RNA editing glitch to early-stage type 1 diabetes
Hebrew University study proposes a new model suggesting that disrupted RNA editing within pancreatic beta cells might initiate an inflammatory response akin to early-stage type 1 diabetes. This new perspective challenges the long-held belief of viral involvement, offering potential implications for treatments and cures.
December 26, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 21st, 2023

Perfluoroalkyl acids found to accelerate DNA degradation, highlighting potential ecological risks
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), infamous for their persistence and widespread environmental presence, have long been a concern due to their toxicological impacts. However, the specific ecological consequences of their interaction with environmental DNA (eDNA) have remained largely unexplored. eDNA, the environmental gene pool, plays a crucial role in monitoring ecosystem biodiversity and assessing the ecotoxicological effects of pollutants.
December 21, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 19th, 2023

Groundbreaking genome-editing technique holds promise for treating Charcot--Marie--Tooth disease
Scientific advances in the last century have changed our world significantly. For example, the world of genetics has opened doors to a myriad of possibilities: augmented human capabilities, cures for diseases, and even changes to the course of evolution.
December 19, 2023 — Source

Key Charpentier/Doudna CRISPR patent upheld by Japanese Patent Office
ERS Genomics Limited, which was formed to provide broad access to the foundational CRISPR/Cas9 intellectual property co-owned by Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, today announced its second Japanese Patent (JP6692856) was upheld for the second time, in response to an invalidation challenge.
December 19, 2023 — Source

Kyoto scientists map double whammy gene clusters for anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders (ADs) affect more than 280 million people worldwide, making them one of the most common mental health conditions. ADs have a genetic basis as seen from inheritance in families, and people with one subtype of AD tend to have another subtype, suggesting a shared genetic basis. Although the brain circuitry involved in ADs has been identified, its link with gene expression remains unclear.
December 19, 2023 — Source

Sirtuin 6 activation rescues the age-related decline in DNA damage repair in chondrocytes: Study
A new research paper titled "Sirtuin 6 activation rescues the age-related decline in DNA damage repair in primary human chondrocytes" has been published in Aging.
December 19, 2023 — Source

'X-ray vision' for investigation of mRNA nanomedicines
A new technology co-developed at EMBL Hamburg provides new insights into mRNA pharmaceuticals and other nanomedicines, which can be helpful for the development of new products
December 19, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 18th, 2023

Chia genome sequenced, revealing potential health benefits
In a recent study published in Frontiers in Plant Science, researchers presented the assembly of the chia reference genome.
December 18, 2023 — Source

Genomic data shed light on how lymphoma can turn lethal
A study by researchers at Columbia and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is helping to clarify how low-grade lymphoma changes as it develops into a more aggressive tumor, which could lead to the development of new treatments.
December 18, 2023 — Source

How shortened telomeres heighten risk of serious lung disease
In 2017, Cindy Sutherland caught a nasty cold she couldn't shake. After coughing nonstop for weeks, she went to urgent care and got a chest X-ray. When the doctor shared the results with her, he asked, "Have you ever heard of pulmonary fibrosis?" Cindy started to cry because she knew what those words meant.
December 18, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 14th, 2023

A CRISPR pioneer looks back as the first gene-editing therapy is approved
In 2007, Luciano Marraffini struck out on what was then a scientifically lonely path: to understand CRISPR, which had been discovered in bacteria only about a decade before.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Association of genetically proxied PDE5 inhibition with measures of fertility, sexual behavior, and wellbeing
In a recent study published in BMJ, researchers performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the associations between genetically proxied (via a surrogate biomarker) suppression of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), a recognized pharmacological target for erectile dysfunction, fertility, subjective wellness, and sexual behavior.
December 14, 2023 — Source

CRISPR and other new technologies open doors for drug development, but which diseases get prioritized?
Prescription drugs and vaccines revolutionized health care, dramatically decreasing death from disease and improving quality of life across the globe. But how do researchers, universities and hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry decide which diseases to pursue developing drugs for?
December 14, 2023 — Source

Parse Biosciences raises $50M for single cell sequencing tech
Parse Biosciences. a Seattle biotech startup developing single cell sequencing products used by more than 1,000 labs worldwide, raised $50 million as part of a Series C equity round and a debt facility.
December 14, 2023 — Source

RNA binding protein IGF2BP2 identified as key player in stress-induced dilated cardiomyopathy
A new study has unveiled a discovery regarding the role of RNA binding protein IGF2BP2 in stress-induced heart conditions. Researchers from Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical Center and Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenburg have uncovered the critical role of IGF2BP2.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Sickle cell affects more families in Africa and India, but new gene therapies are out of reach
Gautam Dongre's two children in India and Pascazia Mazeze's son in Tanzania live with an inherited blood disorder that turns blood cells into instruments of pain.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Unlocking the human genome: Innovative machine learning tool predicts functional consequences of genetic variants
In a novel study, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have introduced LoGoFunc, an advanced computational tool that predicts pathogenic gain and loss-of-function variants across the genome.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 12th, 2023

Bottlenecks in Nucleic Acid Extraction: A Multi-Industrial approach with HiMedia Labs
Join us in an engaging interview with Dr. Rajas Warke, Director of Molecular Biology and Virology at HiMedia Labs. Dr. Warke plays a pivotal role for HiMedia Labs, focusing on innovative molecular biology solutions and automation.
December 12, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 11th, 2023

Genetic safeguard protects some who are considered high risk for kidney disease
Many Black Americans who are thought to have a high risk of developing kidney disease possess a protective genetic variant that nullifies the extra risk, a new study from Columbia researchers has found. The work is published in the journal Nature Communications.
December 11, 2023 — Source

Nanoparticle-delivered RNA reduces neuroinflammation in lab tests
Some COVID-19 vaccines safely and effectively used lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver messenger RNA to cells. A new MIT study shows that different nanoparticles could be used for a potential Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy. In tests in multiple mouse models and with cultured human cells, a newly tailored LNP formulation effectively delivered small interfering RNA (siRNA) to the brain's microglia immune cells to suppress the expression of a protein linked to excessive inflammation in Alzheimer's disease.
December 11, 2023 — Source

Optothermal Nanotweezers Unlock Single Molecule Level CRISPR Detection
Optothermal nanotweezers, an innovative optical manipulation technique over the past decade, have revolutionized classical optical manipulation by efficiently capturing a broader spectrum of nanoparticles. While this technique has been primarily used for in-situ manipulation of nanoparticles, its potential for identifying bio-nanoparticles remains largely unexplored. Herein, based on the synergistic effects of optothermal manipulation and CRIPSR-based bio-detection, authors developed CRISPR-powered optothermal nanotweezers (CRONT).
December 11, 2023 — Source

Unlocking the secrets of synthetic biology: Host physiology over phylogeny in genetic circuit performance
Broad host range (BHR) synthetic biology aims to capitalize on a wide range of microbial phenotypes to expand biodesign applications not confined to traditional model organisms. Despite the ever-expanding genetic toolkit, reliance on a small number of model hosts has limited innovation, as highlighted by the "chassis effect," where identical genetic circuits perform differently in various organisms.
December 11, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 8th, 2023

CRISPR-based gene editing therapy approved by the FDA for the first time
Authorities have greenlit two new drugs that treat sickle cell disease.
December 08, 2023 — Source

Potentially targetable fusion RNAs may be more common in metastatic breast cancer than previously realized
Comprehensive profiling of fusion RNAs present in a large cohort of metastatic breast tumors revealed unique fusion mutations that may be therapeutically targetable, according to results presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held December 5--9, 2023.
December 08, 2023 — Source

US approves sickle cell breakthrough with gene editing therapy
The United States on Friday approved a breakthrough therapy that uses revolutionary gene editing tool CRISPR to treat the debilitating blood disorder sickle cell disease.
December 08, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 6th, 2023

Accelerating drug development for lung diseases: New insights from single-cell genomics
Drug development for lung diseases is complicated. Most clinical trials that test novel drugs fail due to the fact that laboratory models cannot accurately replicate human physiology.
December 06, 2023 — Source

Evonetix Announces Agreement for Revolutionary Gene Synthesis Platform With Analog Devices
EVONETIX LTD, the company developing semiconductor scale technology to improve access to gene synthesis, today announces the signing of a joint development agreement and commercial supply agreement with Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a global semiconductor leader. This agreement signals the continuation of the long-standing combined work of both companies, bringing efforts to the next stage in producing a new technology benchmark that will help meet the global demand for better gene synthesis.
December 06, 2023 — Source

Researchers redesign future mRNA therapeutics to prevent potentially harmful immune responses
Researchers have discovered that misreading of therapeutic mRNAs by the cell's decoding machinery can cause an unintended immune response in the body. They have identified the sequence within the mRNA that causes this to occur and found a way to prevent 'off-target' immune responses to enable the safer design of future mRNA therapeutics.
December 06, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — December 4th, 2023

23andMe admits hackers accessed 6.9 million users' DNA Relatives data
23andMe put a number to the millions of users affected by a recent data breach.
December 4, 2023 — Source or Source

MicroRNA holds clues to why some mammals are cancer-prone
Researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) have identified an important pathway that reveals why some mammals, like humans, dogs, and cats, regularly develop mammary cancer while others, such as horses, pigs, and cows, rarely do.
December 4, 2023 — Source

More than 260,000 Penn Medicine patients have agreed to share their DNA for research
Any changes in your medications or allergies? Check. New health issues since your last visit? Check.
December 4, 2023 — Source

New discovery unveils an additional layer of the CRISPR-Cas antiviral defense system
The recent publication in Science by Mogila, Tamulaitiene et al. represents a continuation of the successful scientific research conducted by Gintautas Tamulaitis' group. In this study, the Vilnius University researchers using bioinformatic analysis, biochemical, and structural studies characterized a novel family of effector proteins, named Cami1. They showed that when a virus attacks a bacterium, CRISPR-Cas10 signaling molecules activate Cami1 — a ribosome-dependent ribonuclease.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Personalizing treatment for colorectal cancer patients by combining tissue-based biomarkers and ctDNA
Combining artificial intelligence-generated digital pathology tools, conventional histopathological assessment and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis can improve treatment stratification of patients with colorectal cancer after surgery. David Kerr and colleagues outline this novel paradigm for personalized adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer in a study in Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Researchers characterize translation inhibition in CRISPR-Cas antiviral defense system
A recent study in Science uses bioinformatic analysis as well as biochemical and structural studies to characterize a novel family of effector proteins, named Cami1. The research shows that when a virus attacks a bacterium, CRISPR-Cas10 signaling molecules activate Cami1—a ribosome-dependent ribonuclease.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 30th, 2023

Direct-to-consumer businesses promoting unproven stem cell and gene-based interventions, researchers warn
While stem cell therapy has been used to successfully generate and repair tissues that have been damaged due to certain conditions and diseases, such as leukemia, it is far from a cure-all.
November 30, 2023 — Source

Study uses genetic data to support use of thiazide diuretics for kidney stone prevention
Kidney stones affect nearly 10% of the global population. For more than three decades, thiazide diuretics, a common medication used for high blood pressure, have been the standard of care for kidney stone prevention because they reduce the excretion of urinary calcium.
November 30, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 29th, 2023

DNA sequencing reveals clonal evolution of tumor in childhood leukemia
Researchers at the RUDN Laboratory of Biology of Single Cells have studied the possibilities of DNA sequencing at the level of individual cells in patients with a rare form of childhood leukemia. The study revealed the mechanisms of the clonal evolution of the tumor and its transformation into a more aggressive form of leukemia at the level of individual subclones. It has also been shown that this technology can also be used as a very accurate tool for assessing the response of the disease to the treatment.
November 29, 2023 — Source

Genetic study unlocks new connections between sleep problems and mental health
A massive genetic study involving almost 800,000 participants has uncovered genetic factors that contribute to the use of sleep medications, shedding new light on the intricate relationship between sleep problems and psychiatric conditions.
November 29, 2023 — Source

Investigating how genetic and environmental factors influence the risk and course of eating disorders
Eating disorders are debilitating conditions characterized by dysregulated eating and/or weight-control behaviors leading to significant impairment of psychosocial functioning and/or physical health. Both environmental factors and variation in multiple genetic variants influence eating disorder etiology and maintenance.
November 29, 2023 — Source

Researchers introduce CRISPR-mediated genome and cancer shredding as a conceptual paradigm to treat recurrent gliomas
In a recent study published in SourceCell Reports, researchers demonstrated clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-mediated elimination of glioblastoma (GBM) cells.
November 29, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 28th, 2023

Researchers identify three genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders
An international study group led by researchers of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have identified how three novel genes cause neurodevelopmental disorders. Researchers now have a better sense of the genes' roles in human brain development and function and their ability to serve as potential therapeutic targets in the future. The findings were recently published online by the a href="https://www.jci.org/articles/view/171235" target="new" class="RM1">Journal of Clinical Investigation.
November 28, 2023 — Source

The double-edge sword of CRISPR application for in vivo studies
A new editorial paper titled "The double-edge sword of CRISPR application for in vivo studies (PDF)" has been published inOncotarget.
November 28, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 27th, 2023

CRISPR enhanced nanotweezers for ultra-precise DNA manipulation and detection
Since the concept of optical trapping was first proposed in the 1960s and 1970s by Arthur Ashkin, researchers have pursued innovative techniques to precisely manipulate and analyze individual biomolecules like DNA. Such capabilities would revolutionize genetics, molecular biology, and medicine by enhancing our understanding of biological systems and enabling ultra-sensitive biosensing. However, progress has been hindered by the difficulty of selectively capturing nanoscale particles in liquid and identifying them.
November 27, 2023 — Source

CRISPR-powered optothermal nanotweezers
Optothermal nanotweezers are an innovative optical design method that has revolutionized classical optical techniques to capture a broad range of nanoparticles. While the optothermal temperature field can be employed for in situ regulation of nanoparticles, challenges remain in identifying their potential for regulating bionanoparticles.
November 27, 2023 — Source

CRISPR-powered 'cancer shredding' technique opens new possibility for treating most common and deadly brain cancer
The gene-editing technology CRISPR shows early promise as a therapeutic strategy for the aggressive and difficult-to-treat brain cancer known as primary glioblastoma, according to findings of a new study from Gladstone Institutes.
November 27, 2023 — Source or Source

Infant face preference linked to genetics
Whether infants at five months of age look mostly at faces or non-social objects such as cars or mobile phones is largely determined by genes. This has now been demonstrated by researchers at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet. The findings suggest that there is a biological basis for how infants create their unique visual experiences and which things they learn most about. The study has been published in the scientific journal Nature Human Behaviour.
November 27, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 24th, 2023

Examining the biodistribution and function of polymer-DNA origami nanostructures
The capacity to regulate the biodistribution of therapeutics is a highly desired feature that can limit the side effects of many drugs. In a new study in Scientific Reports, Noah Joseph, and a team of biotechnology and nanoscience scientists in Israel, describe a nanoscale agent developed from a coupled polymer-DNA origami hybrid capable of exhibiting stability in serum and slow diffusion through tissues.
November 24, 2023 — Source

New human gene cluster sequence discovered
Investigators from the laboratory of Ali Shilatifard, Ph.D., the Robert Francis Furchgott Professor and chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, have discovered a new repeat gene cluster sequence that is exclusively expressed in humans and non-human primates.
November 24, 2023 — Source

New therapy may be able to treat rare and hereditary diseases
Much research has been conducted over many decades on diseases that are widespread in large parts of the population, such as cancer and heart disease. As a result, treatment methods have improved enormously thanks to long-term research efforts on diseases that affect many people.
November 24, 2023 — Source

Programmable DNA origamis enable targeted drug delivery
For decades, researchers have sought improved control over the distribution and activity of therapeutic drugs to minimize adverse side effects while maximizing efficacy. Most approved drugs like small molecules and monoclonal antibodies operate systemically with little innate precision over where they accumulate in the body and how long they persist. This lack of precision triggers toxic reactions and discourages high dosing, constraining progress.
November 24, 2023 — Source

Reactivating silenced fetal hemoglobin genes could counter sickle cell--related diseases
Researchers from multiple institutions in China have found a way to use gene editing to reactivate dormant fetal oxygen-transporting proteins in adult blood cells to potentially reverse a wide range of blood disorders.
November 24, 2023 — Source

The Y-chromosome and its impact on digestive diseases
A major breakthrough in human genetics has been achieved with the complete decoding of the human Y chromosome, opening up new avenues for research into digestive diseases. This milestone, along with advancements in third-generation sequencing technologies, is poised to revolutionize our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of digestive disorders and pave the way for more personalized and effective treatment strategies.
November 24, 2023 — Source

Where DNA copying into RNA starts could determine whether cancer cells are receptive to treatment
In research published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, researchers from the University of Birmingham have found that transcription start sites (TSS) have a significant role in determining cancer cell behavior.
November 24, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 22nd, 2023

CRISPR-powered optothermal nanotweezers allow targeted manipulation of single DNA molecules
For decades, researchers have sought ways to precisely manipulate and identify individual molecules like DNA in liquid environments. Such capabilities could revolutionize areas ranging from disease diagnosis to drug development. However, the randomness of molecular movements in fluids has hindered progress.
November 22, 2023 — Source

Low-pH-dependent RNA binding and oligomerization of SID-1 transmembrane family proteins: Implications for RNA transport
In C. elegans, the protein SID1 plays a crucial role in the systemic RNA interference process by facilitating the transport of exogenous double-stranded RNA into the cytoplasm. Previously, Chen-Yu Zhang's group has already demonstrated that intact plant miRNA found in dietary sources can be absorbed through the mammalian digestive system and mediate cross-kingdom gene regulation.
November 22, 2023 — Source

Researchers develop new method for prenatal genetic testing
A team of investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have developed a non-invasive genetic test that can screen the blood of pregnant individuals to survey all genes for fetal DNA sequence variants.
November 22, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 20th, 2023

BGI Genomics report uncovers knowledge gaps and barriers to thalassemia screening
According to Thailand's Ministry of Public Health, approximately 18-24 million or 30-40 percent of the Thai population carries the thalassemia gene, with moderately severe thalassemia patients requiring regular treatment, including blood transfusion and chelation therapy to remove excess iron from the blood.
November 20, 2023 — Source

Gene linked to persistent stuttering into adulthood uncovered
A new study led by University of Melbourne researchers has discovered a link between a new gene pathway and structural brain anomalies in some people who stutter into adulthood, opening up promising research avenues to enhance the understanding of persistent developmental stuttering.
November 20, 2023 — Source

Predicting the response of fungal genes using a new machine-learning approach
Signals from the environment set off a cascade of changes that affect different genes in different ways. Therefore, traditionally, it has been difficult to study how such signals influence an organism. In a new study, researchers have developed a machine-learning approach called FUN-PROSE to predict how genes react to different environmental conditions.
November 20, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 17th, 2023

Beyond insulin: Medi-Cal expands patient access to diabetes supplies
June Voros sprang from her couch as a high-pitched beep warned her that she needed a quick dose of sugar.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Consumption of UPFs increases the risk of cancer and cardiometabolic multimorbidity
In a recent study published in The Lancet Regional Health, researchers investigated the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and the risk of multimorbidity from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
November 17, 2023 — Source

New study reveals the genetics of human head shape
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and KU Leuven have discovered a suite of genes that influence head shape in humans. These findings, published this week in Nature Communications, help explain the diversity of human head shapes and may also offer important clues about the genetic basis of conditions that affect the skull, such as craniosynostosis.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Research investigates music's effects on cells with implications for diabetes treatment
Could music affect cells? According to a recent life science project, it is possible. The results may be a first step to using music to treat diabetes.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Study identifies the top three genes responsible for traumatic brain injury complications
The severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been underscored in the last decade as doctors seek to understand its role in neurological diseases like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive and fatal brain disorder caused by repeated head injury that gained notoriety for its markedness among NFL pros including Mike Webster and Aaron Hernandez.
November 17, 2023 — Source

World-first CRISPR gene-editing therapy approved in UK
Landmark decision for blood disorders opens treatment potential for other genetic diseases
November 17, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 16th, 2023

3D folding of the genome: Theoretical model helps explain how cell identity is preserved when cells divide
Every cell in the human body contains the same genetic instructions, encoded in its DNA. However, out of about 30,000 genes, each cell expresses only those genes that it needs to become a nerve cell, immune cell, or any of the other hundreds of cell types in the body.
November 16, 2023 — Source

MaxCyte joins the Alliance for mRNA Medicines (AMM) as a founding member
MaxCyte, Inc., a leading, cell-engineering focused company providing enabling platform technologies to advance the discovery, development and commercialization of next-generation cell-based therapeutics and innovative bioprocessing applications, today announced that it has joined the Alliance for mRNA Medicines (AMM), as a founding member.
November 16, 2023 — Source

Novel predictor of prediabetes in Latino youth identified in new study
A team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC have identified two metabolites, substances produced by the body during metabolism, that may help predict which young Latino people are most likely to develop prediabetes, a precursor to developing type 2 diabetes.
November 16, 2023 — Source

Researchers developed a gene-editing technology that reduces 'bad' cholesterol
CRISPR was used to edit genes in trial participants' livers.
November 16, 2023 — Source

Researchers use magnetic fields for non-invasive blood glucose monitoring
The steel, boxy-looking device uses low-field magnets and low-frequency radio waves to deliver readings.
November 16, 2023 — Source

UK authorizes first gene therapy for treating sickle cell disease
This is the first time CRISPR has been approved by any regulatory agency for general use.
November 16, 2023 — Source

UK becomes first country to approve Crispr gene-editing therapy
Sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia are covered by the approval.
November 16, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 15th, 2023

Colliding ribosomes activate RNA repair
Researchers discover how ribosomes contribute to the recognition and removal of RNA crosslinking damage.
November 15, 2023 — Source

Crispr gene editing shown to permanently lower high cholesterol
Folks with hereditary high cholesterol would be able avoid lifelong medication.
November 15, 2023 — Source

Researchers identify the variants responsible for a rare and serious disorder
Many disorders are caused by genetic variants; to make matters worse, the genetic origin of most disorders remains unknown. Now, in a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Immunology, researchers have shed light on the specific variants responsible for one rare and serious disorder: "RAD50 deficiency/Nijmegen breakage syndrome-like disorder."
November 15, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 14th, 2023

Lipid nanoparticles that deliver mRNA to T cells hold promise against autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune disorders are among the most prevalent chronic diseases across the globe. Emerging treatments for autoimmune disorders focus on "adoptive cell therapies," or those using cells from a patient's own body to achieve immunosuppression. These therapeutic cells are recognized by the patient's body as "self," therefore limiting side effects, and are specifically engineered to localize the intended therapeutic effect.
November 14, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 13th, 2023

Advances and challenges in gene therapy for rare diseases
A new review article in Human Gene Therapy summarizes the significant milestones in the development of gene therapy medicinal products that have facilitated the treatment of a significant number of rare diseases. The article also describes the challenges in the progress of gene therapy for rare diseases.
November 13, 2023 — Source

Early life stress circumstances alter more genes in the brain than head injuries
A surprising thing happened when researchers began exploring whether early-life stress compounds the effects of a childhood head injury on health and behavior later in life: In an animal study, stress changed the activation level of many more genes in the brain than were changed by a bump to the head.
November 13, 2023 — Source

Key clues to DNA repair mechanism might lead to new cancer treatments
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have identified key factors in the mechanism behind DNA repair in our bodies. For the first time, they showed that the "proofreading" portion of the DNA replicating enzyme polymerase epsilon ensured safe termination of replication at damaged portions of the DNA strand, ultimately saving DNA from severe damage.
November 13, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 9th, 2023

Concurrent RNA and DNA sequencing improves variant detection
Performing RNA sequencing concurrently with DNA sequencing improves detection of novel variants and classification of existing variants, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in JAMA Oncology to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, held from Nov. 1 to 5 in Washington, D.C.
November 9, 2023 — Source

SMU Nanotechnology Expert Receives $1.8 Million for Research Related to Gene Therapy
SMU nanotechnology expert MinJun Kim and his team have been awarded a $1.8 million, R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research related to gene therapy — a technique that modifies a person's genes to treat or cure disease.
November 9, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 7th, 2023

Processor made for AI speeds up genome assembly
A hardware accelerator initially developed for artificial intelligence operations successfully speeds up the alignment of protein and DNA molecules, making the process up to 10 times faster than state-of-the-art methods.
November 7, 2023 — Source

Lario Therapeutics receives "Company Making a Difference Award" from CDLK5 Forum, recognising its unique approach to precision medicine for genetic epilepsies
Lario Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class precision medicines that are targeting disease-modifying treatments for severe neurological disorders, has received the "CDLK5 Forum Award for Excellence — Company Making a Difference 2023 Pre-clinical" from the Loulou Foundation at the annual CDKL5 Forum. The award is in recognition of its development of a validated, precision medicine approach in genetic epilepsies.
November 7, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 6th, 2023

AAV-based gene therapies in non-human primates suggest integration into human DNA is unlikely to drive cancer mutations
Gene therapy adeno-associated viruses (AAVs)--viruses that can be engineered to deliver DNA to target cells--are unlikely to cause cancer-triggering insertions in humans or monkeys and may contribute to long-term efficacy, according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania's Gene Therapy Program (GTP).
November 6, 2023 — Source

Ancestry versus 23andMe: Which DNA Testing Kit Is Better for You?
AncestryDNA and 23andMe are two of the most popular at-home DNA kits you can buy. We tested them to compare their cost, privacy and results.
November 6, 2023 — Source

People whose genotype supports physical activity found to have lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease
In a study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä's Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, it was found that individuals with a genetic predisposition for higher levels of physical activity have fewer risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and a reduced risk of developing hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes
November 6, 2023 — Source

Q&A: Researcher discusses genetics and biomarkers of frailty thesis
Frailty is an age-related state of physiological decline and is a strong predictor of disability and mortality. Researchers are trying to improve our understanding of the biology of frailty and to find ways of identifying frail older adults with the aim to improve individualized management of frailty.
November 6, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 3rd, 2023

Nanoparticle quasicrystal constructed with DNA
Nanoengineers have created a quasicrystal--a scientifically intriguing and technologically promising material structure--from nanoparticles using DNA, the molecule that encodes life.
November 3, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — November 2nd, 2023

Automated, cost-effective production of mRNA vaccines as well as cell and gene therapeutics
mRNA-based vaccines and gene/cell therapeutics open up new possibilities for medical practitioners in the fight against cancer and infectious or hereditary diseases. However, manufacturing these innovative pharmaceuticals is an expensive and time-consuming process.
November 2, 2023 — Source

How a specific metabolite tells cells whether to repair DNA
Metabolites called nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA and can impact cancer's sensitivity or resistance to chemotherapy and radiation in brain cancer. Findings from researchers at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center, published in Cancer Discovery, show how a specific nucleotide metabolite, called GTP, controls responses to radiation and chemotherapy in an unexpected way.
November 2, 2023 — Source

Nanoengineers create a quasicrystal from nanoparticles using DNA
Nanoengineers have created a quasicrystal--a scientifically intriguing and technologically promising material structure--from nanoparticles using DNA, the molecule that encodes life.
November 2, 2023 — Source

PacBio announces HiFi Solves, a global consortium of clinical genomics research leaders
PacBio, a leading developer of high-quality, highly accurate sequencing solutions, today announced the creation of the HiFi Solves consortium. This global consortium brings together researchers from 15 leading genomics research institutions across 11 countries to study the value HiFi-based human genome sequencing may have in clinical research applications and to further our understanding of genetic diseases.
November 2, 2023 — Source

Researchers develop gene editing approaches for phenylketonuria treatment
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare newborn genetic disease that impacts between 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 20,000 people, depending on the individuals' genetic ancestry. PKU causes an amino acid--called phenylalanine (Phe)--to build up in the bloodstream. Uncontrolled PKU can lead to intellectual disability, psychiatric issues, and seizures.
November 2, 2023 — Source

Researchers engineer colloidal quasicrystals using DNA-modified building blocks
A team of researchers from the Mirkin Group at Northwestern University's International Institute for Nanotechnology in collaboration with the University of Michigan and the Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials- CIC biomaGUNE, unveils a novel methodology to engineer colloidal quasicrystals using DNA-modified building blocks.
November 2, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 30th, 2023

First ever gene therapy trial for children with Hunter syndrome opens
The UK regulatory authorities have approved the first ever trial of a revolutionary gene therapy for young children diagnosed with Hunter syndrome, a devastating rare lysosomal storage disorder.
October 30, 2023 — Source

Researchers demonstrate how genetics play a role in the development of hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is known to be more prevalent in men than in women. The reasons for this difference are not completely understood. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine reviewed nationwide data encompassing more than 200,000 individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to assess the role of genetics in the sex differences in hypertension in a recent study published in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.
October 30, 2023 — Source

Scientists create special 'telomouse' with human-like telomeres
In an exciting scientific breakthrough, a team of researchers led by Professor Yehuda Tzfati from the Institute of Life Science at the Hebrew University and Professor Klaus Kaestner from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, has introduced the "Telomouse." This discovery involves changing just one tiny building block in one gene of ordinary lab mice, Mus musculus, to make their telomeres (our chromosome caps) look much more like the telomeres in humans.
October 30, 2023 — Source

University of Oklahoma scientist secures nearly $1 million award to advance research in computational genomics
Marmar Moussa, Ph.D., an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Oklahoma, has secured a nearly $1 million award from the National Institutes of Health to advance her work in computational genomics.
October 30, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 27th, 2023

DNA origami nanoturbine sets new horizon for nanomotors
A collaborative team of researchers led by Prof. Cees Dekker at Delft University of Technology, in partnership with international colleagues, have introduced a pioneering breakthrough in the world of nanomotors--the DNA origami nanoturbine. This nanoscale device could represent a paradigm shift, harnessing power from ion gradients or electrical potential across a solid-state nanopore to drive the turbine into mechanical rotations.
October 27, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 26th, 2023

DNA Origami nanoturbine sets new horizon for nanomotors
A collaborative team of researchers led by prof. Cees Dekker at TU Delft, in partnership with international colleagues, introduces a pioneering breakthrough in the world of nanomotors — the DNA origami nanoturbine. This nanoscale device could represent a paradigm shift, harnessing power from ion gradients or electrical potential across a solid-state nanopore to drive the turbine into mechanical rotations.
October 26, 2023 — Source or Source

Genomic screening encourages people with hemochromatosis to seek treatment and relevant management
Genomic screening to identify hemochromatosis-;a disorder that causes iron levels in the body to rise to dangerous levels-;encourages people with the condition to seek treatment and ongoing management, a Geisinger study found.
October 26, 2023 — Source or Source

Genomic insights for prenatal screening: The advantages of low-pass genome sequencing
The importance of accurate prenatal diagnosis in preventing birth abnormalities cannot be overstated. Traditional karyotyping (a test to examine chromosomes in a sample of cells) dates back to the late 1960s and is well-established, but advancements in technology offer new options.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Maternal vaccination rates increasing steadily in NSW, but coverage inequalities remain
A new population-based study published in the journal Vaccine, has shown that 54% of women who gave birth in NSW in 2020 were found to have received both maternal influenza and pertussis vaccines during pregnancy, up from 18% in 2016.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Making genetic prediction models more inclusive
While any two human genomes are about 99.9% identical, genetic variation in the remaining 0.1% plays an important role in shaping human diversity, including a person's risk for developing certain diseases.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Researchers identify key genes in the development of the primate brain
The development of the brain requires an elaborate, tightly organized chain of events that are jumpstarted by neural stem cells, which give rise to increasingly specialized cells that carry out all brain functions. But what molecular events occur during this process that account for differences in the brains of primates and mice?
October 26, 2023 — Source

Study shows endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome share genetic risk factors
University of Queensland researchers have shown that endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share genetic risk factors, explaining why patients with one condition may also have the other.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 24th, 2023

Finding the genes that help kingfishers dive without hurting their brains
Scientists studied the genomes of 30 kingfisher species to try to identify the genes that allow kingfishers to dive headfirst into water without huring their brains. The researchers found that the diving birds have unusual mutations to the genes that produce tau: a protein that helps stabilize tiny structures in the brain, but which can build up in humans with traumatic brain injuries or Alzheimer's disease.
October 24, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 23rd, 2023

Researchers develop DANGER analysis tool for the safer design of gene editing
A team of researchers has developed a software tool called DANGER (Deleterious and ANticipatable Guides Evaluated by RNA-sequencing) analysis that provides a way for the safer design of genome editing in all organisms with a transcriptome.
October 23, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 19th, 2023

International team develops novel DNA nano engine
An international team of scientists has recently developed a novel type of nano engine made of DNA. It is driven by a clever mechanism and can perform pulsing movements. The researchers are now planning to fit it with a coupling and install it as a drive in complex nano machines. Their results have been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
October 19, 2023 — Source

New study provides 'genetic fingerprint' indicating disease spread by sand flies may be on the rise in US
Scientists have new evidence that a tropical disease once seen almost exclusively in returning travelers is now being detected in the United States in people with no international travel history--and caused by a Leishmania parasite strain that's distinctly different from "imported" cases, according to an analysis from researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presented today at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene .
October 19, 2023 — Source

Researchers pursue three gene therapies for rare inherited disease
When neurobiologist David Corey showed up at a rare disease conference in 2017, he had no idea that he would enter a race against time to develop a treatment for it.
October 19, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 18th, 2023

BabySeq 2.0: Bringing equity to genomic sequencing in newborns
Today, nearly 900 disorders caused by a single gene are known to be treatable. Yet the recommended "heel stick" testing for newborns only covers about 60 inherited, treatable disorders, and many individual states screen for fewer. What if newborns could instead have their entire genome sequenced at birth, with the results shared and acted on as appropriate?
October 18, 2023 — Source

Bat genes found to be key against COVID, cancer
Bats have acquired remarkable traits throughout their evolution. They're the only mammals that can fly, and they live much longer than other animals their size. But perhaps most impressive is their robust immune system. It protects bats from viruses that wreak havoc in humans, like COVID-19 or Ebola. It also keeps bats relatively cancer-free. How?
October 18, 2023 — Source

Reducing double-strand DNA break repair exacerbates vascular aging, study finds
One underexplored hypothesis is that DNA damage within arteries leads to this dysfunction, yet evidence demonstrating the incidence and physiological consequences of DNA damage in arteries, and in particular, in the microvasculature, in advanced age is limited.
October 18, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 17th, 2023

Art with DNA — digitally creating 16 million colors by chemistry
The DNA double helix is composed of two DNA molecules whose sequences are complementary to each other. The stability of the duplex can be fine-tuned in the lab by controlling the amount and location of imperfect complementary sequences. Fluorescent markers bound to one of the matching DNA strands make the duplex visible, and fluorescence intensity increases with increasing duplex stability.
October 17, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 16th, 2023

Rational design of mRNA nanovaccine for cancer immunotherapy
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are revolutionizing the therapy of cancer. They can be flexibly developed in a short period of time, allowing transient expression of multiple antigens for safe and efficient immunization. A diversity of mRNA vaccines is being explored in clinic to benefit patients with cancer.
October 16, 2023 — Source

The best dog DNA testing kits for learning all about your pooch
Break down the breed mix and possible health issues.
October 16, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 13th, 2023

DOT1L gene variants associated with a new neurological disorder
A study from the laboratory of Dr. Hugo J. Bellen, a distinguished service professor at Baylor College of Medicine and a principal investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children's Hospital, has discovered that gain-of-function variants in the DOT1L gene cause a new disorder.
October 13, 2023 — Source

In a first, genetically modified silkworms produced pure spider silk
The feat is a key step toward someday mass-producing the strong, lightweight fiber
October 13, 2023 — Source

Thousands of programmable DNA-cutters found in algae, snails, and other organisms
A diverse set of species, from snails to algae to amoebas, make programmable DNA-cutting enzymes called Fanzors--and a new study from scientists at MIT's McGovern Institute for Brain Research has identified thousands of them. Fanzors are RNA-guided enzymes that can be programmed to cut DNA at specific sites, much like the bacterial enzymes that power the widely used gene-editing system known as CRISPR.
October 13, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 11th, 2023

Diagnosing serious geriatric diseases with glutamine sensor
In 2023, life expectancy in Korea will be 83.6 years, the third highest among OECD countries, and it is steadily increasing every year. As the proportion of the elderly population increases, the social cost of treating various geriatric diseases is also increasing rapidly, and there is a growing interest in early diagnosis of diseases.
October 11, 2023 — Source

First-ever gene therapy trial to cure form of deafness begins
Researchers hope to transform treatment of auditory neuropathy.
October 11, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 10th, 2023

Comprehensive pan-genome analysis of lactic acid bacteria unveils new avenues for food industry and health care
The new study represents a crucial leap in understanding the genetic capabilities of 26 LAB species, in the first of it's kind family-wide pangenome analysis. By analyzing over 2,400 publicly available genomes of high quality, the researchers successfully mapped the functional genetic capabilities, metabolic pathways, and biosynthetic gene clusters of individual strains across 26 species in the Lactobacillaceae family.
October 10, 2023 — Source

Discovery reveals fragile X syndrome begins developing even before birth
Fragile X syndrome, the most common form of inherited intellectual disability, may be unfolding in brain cells even before birth, despite typically going undiagnosed until age 3 or later.
October 10, 2023 — Source

Gene-edited chickens in the fight against bird flu
Scientists have used gene editing techniques to identify and change parts of chicken DNA that could limit the spread of the bird flu virus in the animals.
October 10, 2023 — Source

STAT3 as a target in H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas
Pediatric H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs), including those formerly classified as diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), are uniformly lethal central nervous system malignancies. Children diagnosed with these tumors have an extremely poor prognosis, with a median survival of approximately 12 months.
October 10, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 6th, 2023

3D genome architecture influences SCID-X1 gene therapy success
Patients with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency disorder (SCID-X1), sometimes called "bubble boy disease," are born with a defective gene that prevents them from producing immune cells. Gene therapy from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital restored the immune system in multiple infants with SCID-X1 in 2019 by supplying copies of the corrected gene.
October 6, 2023 — Source

BIOVECTRA signs service agreement with Acuitas Therapeutics for unique lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery system used in manufacturing mRNA-based therapies
BIOVECTRA and Acuitas Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that they have entered into a technology transfer service agreement under which BIOVECTRA will accept, on a non-exclusive basis, Acuitas' best-in-class LNP technology platform for manufacturing mRNA-based therapeutics.
October 6, 2023 — Source

Kidney disease gene found to also have a protective mutation
African Americans have long been known to be at increased risk of kidney disease due to a dangerous genetic mutation that creates a hole in the kidney cells, but Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) researchers have now discovered a protective genetic mutation that covers the hole to eliminate the risk.
October 6, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 5th, 2023

Researchers identify new potential treatments for children with rare genetic conditions of blood vessels
A research team at the Francis Crick Institute and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH)/UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health have identified new potential treatments for children with rare genetic conditions of blood vessels, which cause severe, lifelong, and disabling symptoms like seizures and impaired development.
October 5, 2023 — Source

New genetic markers may predict who will have 'miracle' improvement of rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy
When women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) plan to become pregnant, many anguish over whether to stop their medications, risking a flareup in their disease, or continue with medication and risk possible harm to the baby.
October 5, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 3rd, 2023

Bioengineering breakthrough increases DNA detection sensitivity by 100 times
UMass Amherst researchers have pushed forward the boundaries of biomedical engineering one hundredfold with a new method for DNA detection with unprecedented sensitivity.
October 3, 2023 — Source or Source

From A to Z: An alternative base modification for mRNA therapeutics
Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology has become popular in the last few years due to its use in COVID-19 vaccines. This technology has been so groundbreaking that it recently won the 2023 Nobel Prize in medicine "for discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19."
October 3, 2023 — Source

Gene discoveries open door to preventing deadly coronary artery disease
An international team of scientists that includes a University of Virginia scientist has identified nearly a dozen genes that contribute to calcium buildup in our coronary arteries that can lead to life-threatening coronary artery disease, a condition responsible for up to 1 in 4 deaths in the United States.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Genetic testing of one thousand embryos provides insights into human development and IVF
By genetically testing nearly one thousand embryos, scientists have provided the most detailed analysis of embryo fate following human in vitro fertilization.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Scientists Create Ultra-Strong, Lightweight Material Using DNA and Glass
Working on the nanoscale gives researchers a lot of insight and control when fabricating and characterizing materials. In larger scale manufacturing, as well as in nature, many materials have the capacity for flaws and impurities that can disrupt their complex structure. This creates several weak points that can easily break under stress. This is common with most glass, which is why it is thought of as such a delicate material.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — October 2nd, 2023

A better method to predict polygenic inheritance across multiple ancestries
New methods of analysis and novel markers are currently being identified to predict conditions with polygenic inheritance. These include polygenic risk scores (PRS), which are based on the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in several genes. However, their utility is limited, as PRS are largely based on data derived from European populations.
October 2, 2023 — Source

Study: Gene expression signatures of human senescent corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells
In this new study, researchers Koji Kitazawa, Akifumi Matsumoto, Kohsaku Numa, Yasufumi Tomioka, Zhixin A. Zhang, Yohei Yamashita, Chie Sotozono, Pierre-Yves Desprez, and Judith Campisi from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory aimed to investigate the senescent phenotypes of human corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells.
October 2, 2023 — Source

Using DNA as glue to hold nanostructures together and build ultra-strong colloidal crystal metamaterials
A team of chemical and biological engineers working with a group of nanotechnologists at Northwestern University in Illinois has developed a type of super-strong colloidal crystal metamaterial by gluing together metal nanostructures using strands of DNA.
October 2, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 29th, 2023

More young, healthy people should be getting Paxlovid when they get Covid
US providers are underusing the drug — and not just in high-risk people.
September 29, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 28th, 2023

Advances in gene therapy for CLN2 batten disease
A new study shows that delivery of gene therapy to correct the gene mutations that cause CLN2 disease, or Batten disease, directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has potential therapeutic effects. The study, conducted in nonhuman primates, is published in the journal Human Gene Therapy.
September 28, 2023 — Source

Genomic sequencing method may help curtail syphilis spread
Syphilis rates in the United States are surging. Rates jumped nearly 32% in 2020-21 alone, while rates of congenital syphilis, which causes stillbirth and infant death, rose more than 219% from 2017 to 2021.
September 28, 2023 — Source

Research team discovers dual effects of chelerythrine in fighting mobile colistin resistance
A research team from China has made an innovative discovery in the fight against mobile colistin resistance. Their study, published in Engineering, reveals the dual effects of feed-additive-derived chelerythrine in combating the spread of the mcr-1 gene, which poses a challenge to the use of colistin, a last-resort antibiotic.
September 28, 2023 — Source

Researchers uncover why a gene mutant causes young children to have strokes
A discovery of a mutation in the gene ACTA2 has given researchers, led by Dianna Milewicz, MD, Ph.D., with UTHealth Houston, insight into understanding the cause of a rare and progressive problem with arteries in the brain and a cause of strokes in young children, called moyamoya disease.
September 28, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 27th, 2023

Genetic variation with MASLD reveals subtypes and potential therapeutic avenues
An astounding 30% of Americans currently have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, which is formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, and many are unaware that they have it.
September 27, 2023 — Source

UKHSA donates advanced genomic surveillance equipment to CARPHA
This is a significant stride towards strengthening global genomic surveillance to track new variants and pathogens of pandemic and epidemic potential.
September 27, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 25th, 2023

Nanopore sequencing and DNA barcoding method gives hope of personalized medicine
With the ability to map dozens of biomarkers at once, a new method could transform testing for conditions including heart disease and cancer.
September 25, 2023 — Source or Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 21st, 2023

New nanopore tech for quicker, more thorough mRNA quality checks
Researchers at The University of Queensland are harnessing the latest sequencing technology developed by UK-based biotech Oxford Nanopore Technologies to analyse mRNA vaccines and therapies.
September 21, 2023 — Source or Source

Researchers develop first method to study microRNA activity in single cells
MicroRNAs are small molecules that regulate gene activity by binding to and destroying RNAs produced by the genes. More than 60% of all human genes are estimated to be regulated by microRNAs, therefore it is not surprising that these small molecules are involved in many biological processes including diseases such as cancer.
September 21, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 20th, 2023

DeepMind's new AI tool can predict genetic diseases
AlphaMissense's predictions could help speed up research, diagnosis, and treatment
September 20, 2023 — Source

DNA damage-induced senescence model in osteoarthritic chondrocytes
Senescent cells (SnCs) have been described to accumulate in osteoarthritis (OA) joint tissues in response to injury, thereby participating in OA development and progression. However, clinical therapeutic approaches targeting SnCs using senolysis, although promising in preclinical OA models, have not yet proven their efficacy in patients with knee OA. This pitfall may be due to the lack of understanding of the mechanisms underlying chondrocyte senescence.
September 20, 2023 — Source

Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis reveals immune cell heterogeneity in five autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases are a group of diseases caused by abnormal immune attacks on healthy cells, tissues or organs. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology provides transcriptomic information at the single-cell resolution, thus offering a new way to study autoimmune diseases.
September 20, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 18th, 2023

Knowing the genetic cause of high cholesterol predicts disease risk better than cholesterol levels alone, study finds
An estimated 6% to 13% of Americans have very high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as severe hypercholesterolemia. These high LDL levels increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
September 18, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 14th, 2023

Enhancing neonatal health: Genomic sequencing as a primary screening tool
Newborn screening (NBS) is routinely performed across the world using biochemical testing methods. Recent advancements in genetic sequencing are a potential game-changer for newborn screening, swiftly assessing a comprehensive range of monogenic disorders. Yet, the effectiveness of genetic sequencing as an alternative method for NBS has not previously been studied.
September 14, 2023 — Source

Lego-like gene editing tool lets researchers improve cancer immunotherapy
In recent years, scientists have used gene modification technologies to reprogram immune cells into therapeutics that can attack cancers. But such immunotherapies don't work for all patients or all cancer types, and screening through every possible combination of genetic changes that might improve these reprogrammed immune cells is a daunting and slow task.
September 14, 2023 — Source

NIH awards $3.2 million to study how unique DNA circles drive deadly pediatric brain tumors
Lukas Chavez, Ph.D., has received $3.2 million from the National Institutes of Health to study how unique DNA circles found in cancer cells drive deadly pediatric brain tumors. The research aims to expose how the circular pieces of DNA contribute to therapy resistance and open new therapeutic avenues to improve the lives of people affected by these devastating diseases.
September 14, 2023 — Source

Researchers publish national guidelines for ALS genetic testing, counseling
Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine have led the creation of evidence-based consensus guidelines for genetic testing and counseling for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that affects the cells in the brain and spine.
September 14, 2023 — Source

Variants in the genome interact with each other and with the environment to affect cardiovascular disease risk
Scientists at deCODE genetics, a subsidiary of Amgen, and collaborators from the Icelandic health care system and Copenhagen University, have published a study in the journal Cell titled "Complex effects of sequence variants on lipid levels and coronary artery disease."
September 14, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 12th, 2023

Comprehensive insulin signaling map shows interplay between genes and diet
Researchers have produced a comprehensive picture of insulin signaling in mice and suggest that it is shaped by entangled effects of genetics and diet.
September 12, 2023 — Source

New Method Combines DNA Nanoballs and Electronics to Enable Simple Pathogen Detection
Researchers at Karolinska Institute have developed a novel method using DNA nanoballs to detect pathogens, aiming to simplify nucleic acid testing and revolutionize pathogen detection. The study's results, published in Science Advances, could pave the way for a straightforward electronic-based test capable of identifying various nucleic acids in diverse scenarios quickly and cheaply.
September 12, 2023 — Source

Novel DNA Nanoball Method Could Revolutionize Pathogen Detection
Researchers at Karolinska Institute have developed a novel method using DNA Nanoballs to detect pathogens, aiming to simplify nucleic acid testing and revolutionize pathogen detection. The study's results, published in Science Advances, could pave the way for a straightforward electronic-based test capable of identifying various nucleic acids in diverse scenarios quickly and cheaply.
September 12, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 11th, 2023

Sir Ian Wilmut, who cloned Dolly the sheep, has died
The embryologist kicked off a global firestorm in the mid-90s.
September 11, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 8th, 2023

Genes and environmental factors behind severe headache identified
The article deals with genetics and cluster headache and is the first publication within the International Consortium for Cluster Headache Genetics (CCG) network, which describes it as the largest genetic study on cluster headache. Eight regions (loci) in our genome have been identified as linked to cluster headache and smoking is a causative risk factor. Understanding these genetic findings could lead to better treatments.
September 8, 2023 — Source

New genetic variants associated with resting heart rate and cardiovascular disease risk
"This is the largest study of its kind to-date. Besides adding to the list of variants linked to heart rate, the research provides robust causal relationships between heart rate and cardiovascular health," said Marilyn Cornelis, Ph.D., associate professor of Preventive Medicine in the Division of Nutrition and a co-author of the study.
September 8, 2023 — Source

Research team predicts drug approvals based on gene perturbation effects with the assistance of machine learning
Developing new drugs is paramount in discovering innovative treatments and preventing diseases. This is vital not only for advancing medicine but also for the overall health and well-being of humanity. Yet, even when drugs demonstrate safety and efficacy in cell and animal models, they frequently encounter hurdles in human clinical trials.
September 8, 2023 — Source

Researchers uncover novel physiological functions of CRISPR-Cas guard RNA
How the expression of Cas proteins in bacterial CRISPR-Cas immune system adapts to the constantly changing CRISPR structures and crRNA expression levels has been a long-standing unresolved question.
September 8, 2023 — Source

Study shows microRNAs in immune cells help protect against metabolic defects in obesity
Vanderbilt researchers have demonstrated that a cluster of microRNAs--small pieces of RNA that regulate gene expression--work in a type of immune cells called macrophages to help protect against metabolic defects in obesity.
September 8, 2023 — Source

These worms have rhythm: New imaging technique to observe active gene expression in real time
There's a rhythm to developing life. Growing from a tiny cell cluster into an adult organism takes precise timing and control. The right genes must turn on at the right time, for the right duration, and in the correct order. Losing the rhythm can lead to diseases like cancer. So, what keeps every gene on beat?
September 8, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 7th, 2023

DNA analyses show St Helena's 'liberated' Africans came from West Central Africa between northern Angola and Gabon
Between 1840 and 1867, thousands of enslaved Africans who had been "liberated" from slave ships intercepted by the British Royal Navy were taken to the South Atlantic island of St Helena. But little is written in history books or otherwise known about the lives of these individuals.
September 7, 2023 — Source

CRISPR-Equipped Bacteria Detect Tumors
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have created a bacterial sentinel system that can alert clinicians to the presence of tumors. The technology takes advantage of the specificity of the CRISPR system and the tendency of bacteria to uptake fragments of DNA from their environment. Termed "Cellular Assay for Targeted CRISPR-discriminated Horizontal gene transfer" (CATCH), the system has been created to detect gastrointestinal tumors in its first iteration.
September 7, 2023 — Source

Electronic detection of DNA nanoballs enables simple pathogen detection
Researchers at Karolinska Institute have developed a novel method using DNA Nanoballs to detect pathogens, aiming to simplify nucleic acid testing and revolutionize pathogen detection. The study's results, published in Science Advances, could pave the way for a straightforward electronic-based test capable of identifying various nucleic acids in diverse scenarios quickly and cheaply.
September 7, 2023 — Source or Source

Researchers identify genes associated with addiction to psychostimulant drugs
Psychostimulant drugs like methamphetamine (METH) and cocaine (COC) affect the brain and nervous system by boosting alertness, attention, and energy levels of the individual. However, their persistent use results in drug addiction, compromising the life of the individual and burdening the health care, social, and legal systems as a consequence.
September 7, 2023 — Source

Study links epigenetic changes to historic trauma in Alaska Native communities
Researchers investigated the relationship between historical traumatic events experienced by Alaska Native communities and epigenetic markers on genes that previous studies have linked to trauma. The new study found a similar pattern among Alaska Native participants, with specific epigenetic differences observed in those who reported experiencing the most intense symptoms of distress when reflecting on historic losses.
September 7, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 6th, 2023

Study illuminates mechanism that annotates genetic information passed from fathers to offspring
Scientists have identified a key part of a mechanism that annotates genetic information before it is passed from fathers to their offspring. The findings shed new light on genomic imprinting, a fundamental, biological process in which a gene from one parent is switched off while the copy from the other parent remains active.
September 6, 2023 — Source or Source

Study reveals importance of gene MOF in skin development
While previous studies have suggested that the gene MOF is known to be involved in many mammalian processes related to histone modification and gene expression control, this study is the first to demonstrate the importance of the gene in skin development, said Rui Yi, Ph.D. the Paul E. Steiner Research Professor of Pathology and professor of Dermatology.
September 6, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 5th, 2023

Illumina's board appoints Jacob Thaysen, Ph.D. as its new Chief Executive Officer
llumina, Inc., a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Jacob Thaysen, Ph.D., senior vice president of Agilent Technologies and president of its Life Sciences and Applied Markets Group, as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 25, 2023.
September 5, 2023 — Source

Montana's New Genetic Privacy Law Caps Off Ten Years of Innovative State Privacy Protections
Over the last 10+ years, Montana has, with little fanfare or national attention, steadily pushed to protect its residents' privacy interests through sensible laws that recognize the unique threats posed by new technologies. Now Montana has passed one of the nation's most protective consumer genetic privacy laws--the Genetic Information Privacy Act. Could this law and the state's bipartisan approach become a model for the rest of the country?
September 5, 2023 — Source

Yourgene Health launches MagBench Automated DNA Extraction Instrument and Kit for NIPT workflows
Yourgene Health plc ("Yourgene"), a leading international molecular diagnostics group, today launched the Yourgene® MagBench™ Automated DNA Extraction Instrument and Kit. MagBench solution is available to Sage™ customers across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. MagBench offers a simple, fast, and cost-efficient, bench-top robotic cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extraction workstation optimized for Yourgene's Sage 32 NIPT Workflow.
September 5, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — September 4th, 2023

First-in-class targeted microRNA therapy slows cancer tumor growth
A new cancer therapy developed by Purdue University researchers attacks tumors by tricking cancer cells into absorbing a snippet of RNA that naturally blocks cell division. As reported in Oncogene, tumors treated with the new therapy did not increase in size over the course of a 21-day study, while untreated tumors tripled in size over the same time period.
September 4, 2023 — Source

New genes and natural toxins offer hope for cancer patients unresponsive to chemotherapy
Scientists have discovered two new genes that cause head and neck cancer patients to be resistant to chemotherapy, and that silencing either gene can make cancer cells previously unresponsive to chemotherapy subsequently respond to it.
September 4, 2023 — Source or Source

Researchers develop a new reagent and method to create DNA and RNA polymer biohybrids
Researchers in Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Chemistry have developed a reagent that opens new possibilities for creating DNA and RNA-based materials that could be used in ultra-stable and smart sensors for biomedical applications. The work was published on Aug. 22 in the journal Chem.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Study explores the role of sex on mRNA and protein levels and its genetic regulation in brain
In a recent study published in Nature Medicine, researchers investigated the impact of biological sex on protein levels and its genomic control by analyzing 1,277 proteomes of the human brain.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Uncovering thalassemia diversity in southern China through next-generation sequencing
Around 5.2% of the global population carries abnormal hemoglobin genes. Each year, 300,000 to 500,000 children are born with severe hemoglobinopathies worldwide, with approximately 80% of these cases occurring in developing countries. Thalassemia is the most common hereditary hemoglobinopathy and occurs in 4.4 out of every 10,000 live births. It is prevalent in Mediterranean coastal areas, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and southern China.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 31st, 2023

Excess ceramide and disrupted iron metabolism in neuronal mitochondria found to be the cause for MEPAN syndrome
A recent study published in Nature Metabolism has revealed the pathogenic mechanism underlying a rare pediatric neurodegenerative disorder known as mitochondrial enoyl reductase protein-associated neurodegeneration (MEPAN) syndrome.
August 31, 2023 — Source

Largest genetic study of epilepsy finds new risk genes
The largest genetic study of its kind, coordinated by the International League Against Epilepsy, including scientists from FutureNeuro at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, has discovered specific changes in our DNA that increase the risk of developing epilepsy.
August 31, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 30th, 2023

Validation of a comprehensive genomic profiling assay
In this new research paper, researchers Juan-Sebastian Saldivar, Jason Harris, Erin Ayash, Manqing Hong, Prateek Tandon, Saloni Sinha, Patricia Miranda Hebron, Erin E. Houghton, Kaleigh Thorne, Laurie J. Goodman, Conan Li, Twinkal R. Marfatia, Joshua Anderson, Massimo Morra, John Lyle, Gabor Bartha, and Richard Chen from Personalis, Inc. describe the analytic validation of NeXT Dx, a comprehensive genomic profiling assay to aid therapy and clinical trial selection for patients diagnosed with solid tumor cancers.
August 30, 2023 — Source or Watch Video

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 29th, 2023

A dynamic matrix with DNA-encoded viscoelasticity to support the development of organoids and other biological tissues
Over the past few decades, material scientists and chemists have been working on designing increasingly sophisticated materials for a wide range of technological and scientific applications. These materials include synthetic polymers and hydrogels that could be introduced inside the human body as part of medical interventions.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Dual CRISPR-Cas3 is a promising tool to induce a gigantic genomic deletion and restore dystrophin protein
DMD is a severe muscle degeneration disorder caused by genomic mutations causing a dystrophin gene frameshift. Exon skipping is a promising approach to restoring the dystrophin protein, with the CRISPR-Cas9 system emerging as an emerging approach.
August 29, 2023 — Source

In monkey trial, gene therapy shows promise in curbing severe problem drinking
For people with severe alcohol use disorder, a new gene therapy trial could lead to an effective treatment that would involve chemically rebalancing the area of the brain associated with addiction.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Novel gene therapy significantly reduces hearing loss linked to rare disease in mouse model
An international team led by researchers at UCL and the NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre have developed in mice a gene therapy that significantly reduces the hearing loss associated with Norrie disease.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 28th, 2023

Biochemist unravels the secrets of a novel DNA enzyme linked to infertility and certain cancers
Scientific research requires patience. The rewards are not always immediate, and the technology needed does not always exist. Michael A. Trakselis, Ph.D., professor and director of graduate affairs for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Baylor University, understands this.
August 28, 2023 — Source

Key human bladder cancer genes pinpointed in cats and dogs
Key bladder cancer genes have been uncovered through studying the cancers in cats and dogs, in a significant stride for finding which of many mutations are the most important in the cancer's development.
August 28, 2023 — Source

Research explores first defense against devastating ToCSV tomato virus at a molecular genetics level
How tomato plants defend themselves against a devastating 'young' Southern African virus has now been investigated at a molecular genetics level for the first time by researchers at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
August 28, 2023 — Source

The physics of fat droplets reveal DNA danger
Fat is a normal and necessary part of the body. Fat cells store and release energy, as well as play significant roles in hormonal regulation and immunity.
August 28, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 25th, 2023

CRISPR-Cas3 gene editing system restores dystrophin function in stem cells derived from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a muscle degeneration disorder caused by mutations affecting the dystrophin gene. Researchers show how a dual CRISPR RNA method restored dystrophin protein function in induced pluripotent stem cells derived from DMD patients. The approach worked by removing large sections of the dystrophin gene, allowing the cells to skip faulty or misaligned sections of the genetic code.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Discovery of differences in gene expression between white rust resistant and susceptible cultivars in B. rappa
Dr. Miyaji Naomi, who is currently a researcher at Iwate Biotechnology Research Center) and Arjina Akter, who is a Ph.D. student in the same doctorate program with their colleagues, elucidated that the alterations to gene expression induced after infection of Japanese mustard spinach by white rust disease were different in disease-resistant cultivar and disease-susceptible cultivar.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Gene Therapy Targets Chronic Pain
Scientists at New York University have developed a gene therapy for chronic pain. The technology works by targeting the NaV1.7 sodium ion channel present on neurons, which is an important component of the pain response.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Mitochondria pore emerges as potential key to managing muscular dystrophies
Ever since the Jerry Lewis telethons began in the 1960s, millions of people have become familiar with an otherwise rare disease called muscular dystrophy (MD).
August 25, 2023 — Source

Researchers unveil mechanism of nucleosome assembly by chromatin assembly factor-1
Chromatin inheritance during cell division involves the replication of DNA and assembly of nucleosomes onto the replicated DNA, because passage of the DNA replication fork disrupts nucleosomes on the DNA. Half of the histones for the replication-coupled nucleosome assembly comes from the disrupted parental nucleosomes, and the other half is newly synthesized.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Two small molecule inhibitors can help improve precision, efficiency of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing
A new study published in Nature Communications demonstrates how small molecule inhibitors can be used to improve the precision and efficiency of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. The results demonstrate how this groundbreaking technique can be enhanced by using two inhibitors to boost insertion rates and reduce off-target effects. Their findings are key to advancing the use of CRISPR techniques in research and clinical applications using a wide range of cell lines.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 24th, 2023

3D-BRICKS: using DNA to create a new family of 3-dimensional nanotransistors
Using DNA technologies to create a new generation of tiny electronics components at low production costs: this is the main goal of the European-funded project 3D-BRICKS, coordinated by Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) in Genoa (Italy), and involving an interdisciplinary team of top researchers from Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Gene editing system restores dystrophin function in stem cells from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a muscle degeneration disorder caused by mutations affecting the dystrophin gene. On August 24 in the journal Stem Cell Reports, researchers show how a dual CRISPR RNA method restored dystrophin protein function in induced pluripotent stem cells derived from DMD patients.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Gene therapy targets the brain vasculature
Researchers have developed an engineered adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector that yields high transduction of brain vascular pericytes and smooth muscle cells. The study describing the characterization of this novel AAV capsid is published in the journal Human Gene Therapy.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Disruption of FOXA2 expression in congenital hyperinsulinism: The role of chromosome 20p11.2 deletions
Deletions in large genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) regions can influence both rare and common diseases. For instance, removing portions or entire coding sequences of a single gene can lead to monogenic diseases.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Parkinson's disease gene variant found in some people of African ancestry
A gene variant found almost exclusively in the genomes of people of African ancestry increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to an international study of nearly 198,000 participants with this genetic background.
August 24, 2023 — Source

SCALAR: A microchip designed to transform the production of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines
Following the global COVID-19 pandemic, the development and rapid deployment of mRNA vaccines highlighted the critical role of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in the context of pharmaceuticals. Used as the essential delivery vehicles for fragile RNA-based therapies and vaccines, LNPs protect the RNA from degradation and ensure effective delivery within the body.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Study outlines what challenges need to be overcome to make DNA chips more applicable as storage media
The hereditary molecule DNA can store a great deal of information over long periods of time in a very small space. For a good 10 years, scientists have therefore been pursuing the goal of developing DNA chips for computer technology, for example for the long-term archiving of data. Such chips would be superior to conventional silicon-based chips in terms of storage density, longevity, and sustainability.
August 24, 2023 — Source

The 'weird' male Y chromosome has finally been fully sequenced. Can we now understand how it works, how it evolved?
The Y chromosome is a never-ending source of fascination (particularly to men) because it bears genes that determine maleness and make sperm. It's also small and seriously weird; it carries few genes and is full of junk DNA that makes it horrendous to sequence.
August 24, 2023 — Source

What challenges need to be overcome to make DNA chips more applicable as storage media
The hereditary molecule DNA can store a great deal of information over long periods of time in a very small space. For a good ten years, scientists have therefore been pursuing the goal of developing DNA chips for computer technology, for example for the long-term archiving of data. Such chips would be superior to conventional silicon-based chips in terms of storage density, longevity, and sustainability.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 15th, 2023

Genetic determinants of retinol circulation and their impact on health
Vitamin A, essential for vision and immunity, comprises compounds like retinol (found in animal products), retinoids, and carotenoids (plant-based precursors). Retinoic acid, a potent signaling molecule derived from these, controls gene expression.
August 15, 2023 — Source

New genetic relations between irritable bowel syndrome and psychiatric diseases discovered
We have all felt the workings of the so called "brain-gut-axis," how our intestines get affected, for example, by stress. But still, researchers don't know a lot about the relation between our gut and our brain.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Programmable DNA hydrogels for advanced cell culture and personalized medicine
In-vitro culture of biological cells plays an important role in advancing biological research. However, currently available cell culture materials have significant drawbacks. Many of them are derived from animal sources, leading to poor reproducibility and making it difficult to fine-tune their mechanical properties. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new approaches to create soft and biocompatible materials with predictable properties.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Researchers study the intricate processes underpinning gene expression
A new study led by University of Maryland physicists sheds light on the cellular processes that regulate genes. Published in the journal Science Advances, the paper explains how the dynamics of a polymer called chromatin--the structure into which DNA is packaged--regulate gene expression.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Satellites and DNA reveal new insights into the western Pacific's rapidly declining hawksbill turtle population
For the first time, a new study reveals that many hawksbill turtles satellite-tagged in Papua New Guinea's (PNG) Conflict Islands swam more than 1,000 km to reach the Great Barrier Reef to forage, a journey taking more than a month.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 14th, 2023

Breathing patterns found to influence memory retention in mice
A team of Japanese neurologists and physiologists has found that momentarily suspending breathing in mice during a learning exercise can inhibit memory retention. In their study, reported in the journal Nature Communications, the group genetically altered test mice to control their breathing
August 14, 2023 — Source

Exposing the hidden genetic diversity of an ecologically harmful microbe
A microscopic species of algae is causing toxic algal blooms around the world, affecting two dozen states in the U.S., especially Texas. New research into the genetic diversity of the responsible organism, Prymnesium parvum, could help authorities predict when blooms will occur.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Gene therapy may offer a new treatment strategy for alcohol use disorder
Gene therapy might offer a one-time, sustained treatment for patients with serious alcohol addiction, also called alcohol use disorder, according to a new study led by a researcher at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Scientists identify genes linked to high production of key antibody
A collaboration led by UCLA and the Seattle Children's Research Institute has yielded new knowledge about the genes responsible for the production and release of immunoglobulin G, the most common type of antibody in the human body.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Researchers uncover mysteries behind immune response to hemophilia A treatment
Patients with the genetic disorder hemophilia A receive factor VIII protein replacement treatments to replenish this clotting protein in their blood, thus preventing dangerous bleeding. Unfortunately, about 30% of these patients develop antibodies against the treatment and until now, despite more than 80 years of clinical experience with this complication, little has been known about its mechanism.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Weaker transcription factors are better when they work together
Bioengineers can tailor the genomes of cells to create "cellular therapies" that fight disease, but they have found it difficult to design specialized activating proteins called transcription factors that can throw the switch on bioengineered genes without occasionally turning on some of the cell's naturally occurring genes.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 11th, 2023

Researchers reveal Gasdermin D's hidden power in maintaining food tolerance
A research team led by Prof. Zhu Shu from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) illustrated the role of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) protein in immunity tolerance to food in the small intestine.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Team identifies 169 genes associated with production of melanin in the skin, hair and eyes
A team of geneticists and systems biologists at Stanford University has associated 169 genes that with the production of melanin in the skin, hair and eyes. In their study, reported in the journal Science, the group conducted a flow cytometry analysis and genome-wide CRISPR screen of cell samples.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 9th, 2023

Isothermal self-assembly of multicomponent and evolutive DNA nanostructures
In a new study now published in Nature Nanotechnology, Caroline Rossi-Gendron and a team of researchers in chemistry, materials science and biology in France and Japan used a magnesium-free buffer containing sodium chloride, complex cocktails of DNA strands and proteins to self-assemble isothermally at room temperature or physiological temperature into user-defined nanostructures including nanogrids, DNA origami and single-stranded tile assemblies.
August 9, 2023 — Source

Neuronal migration: How neurons make room for growth in a developing organ
Researchers at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC, Oeiras) and Max Planck Institute of Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG, Dresden) identified a new mechanism that exposes some of the multitasking abilities embryos need to build a functional retina.
August 9, 2023 — Source

Research team makes surprising discovery of low-noise genes
While engaging in cell division research, Silke Hauf and members of her lab made a surprisingly quiet discovery. When cells express RNA, there is always some fluctuation, or noise, in how much RNA is produced. Hauf's group found several genes whose noise dips below a previously established threshold, known as the noise floor, during expression.
August 9, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 8th, 2023

Ancient DNA reveals an early African origin of cattle in the Americas
Cattle may seem like uniquely American animals, steeped in the lore of cowboys, cattle drives and sprawling ranches. But cattle didn't exist on the American continents prior to the arrival of the Spanish, who brought livestock with them from Europe by way of the Canary Islands.
August 8, 2023 — Source

Canine Tumor Genome Atlas will map DNA in pets to help people with cancer
Pioneering work in comparative oncology continues at UC Davis with the launch of a Canine Tumor Genome Atlas, the first genomic data bank of its kind outside of one developed by the National Cancer Institute. Eventually it may store hundreds of gene samples from companion dogs diagnosed with osteosarcomas, oral melanomas and gliomas.
August 8, 2023 — Source

Size matters: Genome size dynamics driven by copy number variation in a green alga
A new study challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding genome stability within closely related organisms and sheds new light on the mechanisms underlying extensive genome size variation.
August 8, 2023 — Source

Nationwide Children's Hospital pioneers new gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
In a landmark moment for the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's, a 5-year-old from Bellefontaine, Ohio, received the first dose of a recently approved gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, where the therapy was invented and initially tested.
August 8, 2023 — Source

The 'unknome': A database of human genes we know almost nothing about
Researchers from the United Kingdom hope that a new, publicly available database they have created will shrink, not grow, over time. That's because it is a compendium of the thousands of understudied proteins encoded by genes in the human genome, whose existence is known but whose functions are mostly not.
August 8, 2023 — Source

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Health — DNA — Genetics — August 7th, 2023

Gene grants powerful resistance to resurging plant disease
While wrapping oneself in 100% Egyptian cotton bedsheets is a delightful luxury on a warm summer night, cotton provides much more than breathable, soft fabric. In addition to textiles, the cotton plant is grown for food, fuel, and daily-use consumer products—such as coffee filters, currency, and moisturizers.
August 7, 2023 — Source

The genetics of resting heart rate and its connection to cardiovascular disorders
Studies have linked RHR to cardiovascular disease and mortality, but these are possibly influenced by disease status and various confounding factors. Mendelian randomization (MR) uses genetic variants associated with RHR as proxies, reducing the risk of confounders and reverse causation.
August 7, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 4th, 2023

A fantastical world of potential giant viruses lurks beneath the soil
Haircut. Gorgon. Turtle. These all describe shapes of newfound viruslike particles
August 4, 2023 — Source

Genetic reasons behind Raynaud's phenomenon discovered
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London's Precision Healthcare Research Institute (PHURI) and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charite — Universitätsmedizin Berlin have identified the genetic causes of Raynaud's phenomenon. Their findings, published today in Nature Communications, could lead to the first effective treatments for people with Raynaud's.
August 4, 2023 — Source

Settlement with family of Henrietta Lacks is an opportunity to reflect on inequalities in genetic research
Aug. 1, 2023 would have been Henrietta Lacks's 103rd birthday. It was also the day the Lacks family reached a settlement with Thermo Fisher Scientific, the biotech company that used and profited from her "HeLa" cells.
August 4, 2023 — Source

The impacts and implications of virtual consultations in cancer genetics amid the COVID-19 pandemic
In a recent review published in BJC reports, a group of authors assessed the opportunities and challenges brought on by the swift transition to virtual consultations (VC) in the United Kingdom (UK) cancer genetics services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, promoting an integrated approach to optimize patient outcomes.
August 4, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — August 3rd, 2023

A mother's diet can protect her grandchildren's brains, genetic model study shows
Mothers who eat apples and herbs in early pregnancy could be protecting the brain health of their children and grandchildren, a Monash University study using genetic models has found.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Biological factors modulate eating disorder risk in early adolescents
Genetic and neurobiological factors shape the development of eating disorders much earlier than previously thought, with evidence emerging in children as young as nine years old, Yale-led research reveals.
August 3, 2023 — Source

DNA tilts and stretches underlie differences in mutation rates across genomes
Each cell in the body stores its genetic information in DNA in a stable and protected form that is readily accessible for the cell to carry on its activities. Nevertheless, mutations--changes in genetic information--occur throughout the human genome and can have a powerful influence on human health and evolution.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Dopamine neurons may play a bigger role in motor control than previously thought
In a new Northwestern University-led study, researchers identified and recorded from three genetic subtypes of dopamine neurons in the midbrain region of a mouse model.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Genetic evidence supports causal effect for diastolic BP on benign prostatic hyperplasia
There is genetic evidence supporting a causal effect of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), according to a study published online July 16 in The Prostate.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Genetic predisposition to atrial fibrillation accelerated by air pollution, research suggests
Research led by the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, has connected the effects of air pollutants on the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). In a paper, "Air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and the risk of atrial fibrillation: A large prospective cohort study," published in PNAS, the team finds long-term exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of AF, particularly among individuals with high genetic susceptibility.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Historical DNA study connects living people to enslaved and free African Americans at early ironworks
A first-of-its-kind analysis of historical DNA ties tens of thousands of living people to enslaved and free African Americans who labored at an iron forge in Maryland known as Catoctin Furnace soon after the founding of the United States.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Researchers discuss the ethical challenges of studying DNA from a 18th--19th century African American community
A population genetics team recently identified the genetic relationship between over 40,000 23andMe users and a population of enslaved and free African Americans that lived in Catoctin Furnace, Maryland between 1776--1850.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — July 28th, 2023

Researchers develop method to predict gene expression across different tissues and cell types
In recent years, a virtual tidal wave of studies linking the expression of certain genes to complex diseases as varied as cancer and diabetes has raised hopes for major advances in medical treatment and drug discovery.
July 28, 2023 — Source

Researchers find an epigenetic key that unlocks common deadly cancers
Early on, every stem cell faces a fateful choice. During skin development, for instance, the embryonic epidermis begins as a single layer of epidermal progenitor cells. Their choice is to become a mature epidermal cell or switch to becoming a hair follicle cell. This so-called fate switch is governed by the transcription factor SOX9. If the progenitor cell expresses SOX9, hair follicle cells develop.
July 28, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — July 27th, 2023

Gene therapy treats chronic pain by dialing down sodium
Researchers at NYU College of Dentistry's Pain Research Center have developed a gene therapy that treats chronic pain by indirectly regulating a specific sodium ion channel, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
July 27, 2023 — Source

Henry Ford Health researcher wins grant to study circulating cell-free DNA methylation as a tool for glioma detection
Houtan Noushmehr, Ph.D., a researcher at Henry Ford Health, has been awarded a prestigious R01 grant of nearly $2.9M from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support a research project titled, "Circulating cell-free DNA methylation as an accurate tool for detection and clinical follow-up of glioma."
July 27, 2023 — Source

It's time to close the gene synthesis loophole that could lead to a human-made pandemic
Congress is grappling with the security concerns of the DNA synthesis revolution.
July 27, 2023 — Source

Improperly processed genetic material in Fragile X syndrome--correctly cutting RNA offers a potential treatment
Fragile X syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in a gene that lies at the tip of the X chromosome. It is linked to autism spectrum disorders. People with fragile X experience a range of symptoms that include cognitive impairment, developmental and speech delays and hyperactivity.
July 27, 2023 — Source

New DNA identification approach could improve monitoring for chronic diseases
Investigators led by Shana Kelley, Ph.D., the Neena B. Schwartz Professor of Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, and of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, have developed a novel approach for identifying sequences of artificial DNA with differing levels of binding to other small molecules.
July 27, 2023 — Source

New lipid nanoparticle-mRNA therapy combats melanoma in mouse models
Investigators at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have designed an innovative RNA-based strategy to activate dendritic cells--which play a key role in immune response--that eradicated tumors and prevented their recurrence in mouse models of melanoma.
July 27, 2023 — Source

Your genetic code has lots of 'words' for the same thing--information theory may help explain the redundancies
Nearly all life, from bacteria to humans, uses the same genetic code. This code acts as a dictionary, translating genes into the amino acids used to build proteins. The universality of the genetic code indicates a common ancestry among all living organisms and the essential role this code plays in the structure, function and regulation of biological cells.
July 27, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — July 25th, 2023

Beating a running personal best could come down to genetics, research reveals
Struggling to shave seconds off your Park Run personal best? Don't worry, scientists have revealed it could all be down to your genetics.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Down Syndrome Treatment: New Nanomaterial Shows Promise
Scientists at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center have discovered that a nano-sized carbon material derived from the oxidation of carbon-rich sources could be used to treat Down syndrome and other disorders associated with high levels of hydrogen sulfide.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Extraordinarily strong, lightweight material combines DNA and glass
Materials that are both strong and lightweight could improve everything from cars to body armor. But usually, the two qualities are mutually exclusive. Now, University of Connecticut researchers and colleagues have developed an extraordinarily strong, lightweight material using two unlikely building blocks: DNA and glass.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Machine learning enables discovery of DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters
DNA can do more than pass genetic code from one generation to the next. For nearly 20 years, scientists have known of the molecule's ability to stabilize nanometer-sized clusters of silver atoms.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Researchers build a DNA structure and coat it with glass, creating a very low density, very strong material
Materials that are both strong and lightweight could improve everything from cars to body armor. But usually, the two qualities are mutually exclusive. Now, University of Connecticut researchers and colleagues have developed an extraordinarily strong, lightweight material using two unlikely building blocks: DNA and glass.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Single target, multiple possibilities: microRNA holds promise for epilepsy treatment
Epilepsy affects millions of individuals worldwide, and current antiseizure medications (ASMs) target VGSCs. However, some forms of epilepsy, like Dravet syndrome, are treatment-resistant due to loss of VGSC function. To develop better therapies, researchers are exploring miRNAs that regulate gene expression.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — July 21st, 2023

Examining the dark part of the genome to find developmental causes for facial disorders
Elizabeth Engle, MD, has devoted her career to finding genetic and developmental causes for disorders of eye, eyelid, and facial movement. From common conditions like strabismus to very rare disorders, these conditions can impact a person's appearance and impair social communication, making it hard to shift one's eyes up, down, or sideways or adjust facial expressions.
July 21, 2023 — Source

Hundreds of proteins and mRNA molecules mislocated in ALS nerve cells
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL have shown that hundreds of proteins and mRNA molecules are found in the wrong place in nerve cells affected by Motor Neuron Disease, also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
July 21, 2023 — Source

Metformin could promote healthy aging based on genetics
A research team from the School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, provides genetic evidence that metformin might promote healthy aging using a cohort study of more than 300,000 participants of European descent.
July 21, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — July 20th, 2023

AI-powered study pinpoints genes that shape bones
Using artificial intelligence to analyze tens of thousands of X-ray images and genetic sequences, researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and New York Genome Center have been able to pinpoint the genes that shape our skeletons, from the width of our shoulders to the length of our legs.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Fueled by new chemistry, algorithm mines fungi for useful molecules
A newly described type of chemistry in fungi is both surprisingly common and likely to involve highly reactive enzymes, two traits that make the genes involved useful signposts pointing to a potential treasure trove of biological compounds with medical and chemical applications.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Hitting reset to start a new embryo
New work by scientists in the U.S. and China shows how a fertilized egg cell, or zygote, hits "reset" so that the newly formed embryo can develop according to its own genetic program.
July 20, 2023 — Source

How cell-free RNA could revolutionize preeclampsia diagnosis
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy disorder, marked by high blood pressure and the presence of proteins in urine, affecting between 2% and 4% of pregnant women worldwide, leading to about 46,000 maternal deaths and about 500,000 fetal and newborn deaths each year.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Marijuana use linked to epigenetic changes
Marijuana is the most used drug in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with roughly 48.2 million people (about 18% of all Americans) having used it at least once in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Researchers develop new method to study RNA-drug interactions
How active compounds affect RNA and thus the expression of genes is of great interest for the development of potential therapeutics. Innsbruck chemists have now used a method they recently developed to study the binding of the aminoglycoside Neomycin B to a so-called mRNA riboswitch.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Researchers improve RNA diagnostics to provide more certainty for genetic testing
Findings from a new international study look set to improve rates of diagnosis for patients undergoing genetic testing in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Scientific breakthrough harnesses mRNA technology to develop powerful malaria vaccine
Victoria University of Wellington's Ferrier Research Institute and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in New Zealand, and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Australia have developed an mRNA-based vaccine that can effectively target and stimulate protective immune cell responses against the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium in preclinical models.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Spiritual people more likely to be skeptical about science, study finds
Scientists surveyed 600 Dutch people on what they think and believe about certain topics and how that affects their opinions on science. Specifically, it involved what they thought about nanotechnology, human genome editing and artificial intelligence.
July 20, 2023 — Source

These bones were made for walking: Study uncovers genetic changes that made bipedalism possible
Perhaps the most profound advance in primate evolution occurred about 6 million years ago when our ancestors started walking on two legs. The gradual shift to bipedal locomotion is thought to have made primates more adaptable to diverse environments and freed their hands to make use of tools, which in turn accelerated cognitive development.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Using a LEGO robot as a gradient mixer to purify DNA origami nanostructures
A team of bioengineers at Arizona State University has found a way to use a LEGO robot as a gradient mixer in one part of a process to create DNA origami nanostructures. In their paper published on the open-access site PLOS ONE, the group describes how they made their mixer and its performance.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Health — DNA — Genetics — July 19th, 2023

Can we predict if a plant species will become exotic?
Plant species become exotic after being accidentally or deliberately transported by humans to a new region outside their native range, where they establish self-perpetuating populations that quickly reproduce and spread.
July 19, 2023 — Source

CRISPR-Cas13 Test Inexpensively and Rapidly Reveals HIV Viral Load
Scientists at Penn State have developed an assay that lets them to directly measure HIV viral load in a drop of blood. The technology is also faster and less expensive than current approaches. At present, RT-PCR is typically used to assess HIV levels in a patient's blood, requiring genetic material to be amplified before it can be measured.
July 19, 2023 — Source

Epigenetic formatting of satiety gene may increase risk of obesity in women
A new study by Charite — Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Science Translational Medicine shows that a kind of formatting of the DNA code in one gene that is associated with satiety is implicated in a slightly elevated risk of excess body weight — at least in women. This "epigenetic marking" is established early on during the embryonic stage.
July 19, 2023 — Source

Gene mutation may explain why some don't get sick from COVID-19
People who contract COVID-19 but never develop symptoms--the so-called super dodgers--may have a genetic ace up their sleeve. They're more than twice as likely as those who become symptomatic to carry a specific gene variation that helps them obliterate the virus, according to a new study led by UC San Francisco researchers.
July 19, 2023 — Source or Source

Genetic study finds evidence for early contact between farmers and pastoralists in Black Sea region
Recent archaeogenetic studies have shown that human migrations and individual mobility played a bigger role in prehistory than previously anticipated. With the movement of people, also culture, technical know-how, language and social practices were often spreading, leading to sometimes fundamental changes in lifestyle and genetic ancestry.
July 19, 2023 — Source

Molecular biologists identify framework for understanding RNA editing in a disease-causing parasite
As molecular biologists at Boston University and as husband and wife, Ruslan Afasizhev and Inna Afasizheva have worked together for decades. Together, they have published dozens of papers on the mechanics of mitochondrial DNA and RNA in a single-celled, disease-causing parasite called Trypanosoma brucei.
July 19, 2023 — Source or Source

Mosquito-friendly gene drive may lead to a malaria-free future
Research led by the Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, has developed a gene drive solution for mitigating malaria transmission from mosquitoes.
July 19, 2023 — Source

Scientists Use CRISPR Gene Editing to Breed Poplars for More Sustainable Fiber Production
Reducing the trees' lignin concentration makes for more easily-processed fiber.
July 19, 2023 — Source

Unraveling the molecular basis of Dmc1 filament assembly in homologous recombination
Homologous recombination (HR) is an important process that plays multiple crucial roles during meiosis, a type of cell cycle dedicated to sexual reproduction. During HR, homologous DNA molecules exchange their genetic material. During the meiotic prophase, DNA are clipped throughout the genome, forming numerous DNA double-strand breaks.
July 19, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — Numbers

4,000-year-old plague DNA found — the oldest cases to date in Britain
Researchers have identified three 4,000-year-old British cases of Yersinia pestis, the bacteria causing the plague — the oldest evidence of the plague in Britain to date.
May 30, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — A

A gene therapy shot might keep cats from getting pregnant without being spayed
The experimental therapy targets a hormone that prevents ovulation
June 6, 2023 — Source

A method to access genetic information in blood samples and find correlations with mental health problems
Using blood samples to study diseases that originate in the brain is a difficulty faced by psychiatric genetics in the search for markers of mental health disorders.
May 2, 2023 — Source

Age prediction from human blood plasma using proteomic and small RNA data: A comparative analysis
A new research paper titled "Age prediction from human blood plasma using proteomic and small RNA data: a comparative analysis" has been published in Aging.
July 3, 2023 — Source

AI combined with CRISPR precisely controls gene expression
Artificial intelligence can predict on- and off-target activity of CRISPR tools that target RNA instead of DNA, according to new research published in Nature Biotechnology.
July 3, 2023 — Source or Source

AI predicts on- and off-target activity of RNA-targeting CRISPRs
The study by researchers at New York University, Columbia Engineering, and the New York Genome Center, combines a deep learning model with CRISPR screens to control the expression of human genes in different ways-;such as flicking a light switch to shut them off completely or by using a dimmer knob to partially turn down their activity.
July 3, 2023 — Source

AI tool decodes brain cancer's genome during surgery
Real-time tumor profiling can guide surgical, treatment decisions
July 7, 2023 — Source

Alternative gene splicing can impact the risk for alcohol use disorder
Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered alternative gene splicing, which occurs during gene expression, can impact a person's risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD). They recently published their findings in Molecular Psychiatry.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Analytical methods for preclinical stage gene therapy programs
Using a process confirmation vector, researchers developed and optimized a size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with UV and multi-angle light scattering (MALS) method to measure the level of empty capsids during manufacturing.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Anomalous DNA hybridisation kinetics on gold nanorods revealed via a dual single-molecule imaging and optoplasmonic sensing platform
Observing the hybridisation kinetics of DNA probes immobilised on plasmonic nanoparticles is key in plasmon-enhanced fluorescence detection of weak emitting species, and refractive index based single-molecule detection on optoplasmonic sensors.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Application of CRISPR-based rapid detection technology has potential to transform oral health
No one likes getting stuck with a needle, and hopefully in the future you won't have to. Imagine going to the dentist for a cleaning, giving a sample of your saliva, and coming out of the appointment with comprehensive information on your oral health--your risk for cavities and gum disease--and on systemic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Artificial intelligence catalyzes gene activation research and uncovers rare DNA sequences
Artificial intelligence has exploded across our news feeds, with ChatGPT and related AI technologies becoming the focus of broad public scrutiny. Beyond popular chatbots, biologists are finding ways to leverage AI to probe the core functions of our genes.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Assessing gene supplementation in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa
A new study shows that total RPE65 protein levels in mice with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa were doubled following subretinal delivery of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-RPE65 gene supplementation.
May 23, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — B

Billion-year-old grease hints at long history of complex cells
Our ancestors once thrived on cholesterols that are now just reaction intermediates.
June 9, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — C

Camena Bioscience closes $10m Series A financing as demand for DNA synthesis technology increases
Camena Bioscience, a synthetic biology company providing genes to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, today announced it has closed a $10m Series A financing round, led by Mercia.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Cancer may lurk in 'normal looking' skin
A University of Queensland study has found skin with few visible freckles or blemishes may still carry sun-damaged DNA mutations that can trigger cancer. Researchers from UQ's Frazer Institute Dermatology Research Center investigated the relationship between the number of mutations found in 'normal looking' skin and the number of a person's past skin cancers.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Cellular 'cruise control' system safeguards RNA levels in Rett syndrome nerve cells
Every cell in our body is able to turn genes (DNA) on or off, producing RNA, but when genes are "turned on" to the wrong level it can result in a variety of health conditions.
May 2, 2023 — Source

Cognitive correlations to gene expression found in large UK cohort
A multi-institution study led by researchers at Biogen Inc. has identified eight genes linked to adult cognitive function through rare protein-coding variants with high-impact effects.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Complete chloroplast genomes clarify phylogenetic placement of six polygonatum species
Polygonatum Miller is highly valued for its medicinal properties with the horizontal creeping fleshy roots. Previous studies have mainly focused on the size and gene content of the plastid genome, with insufficient studies on the comparative genomic analysis.
June 8, 2023 — Source

Contraception ends same-sex sexual behavior's genetic maintenance in modern societies
Evolution depends on genes being passed down through the generations via reproduction, and same-sex sexual behavior does not result in offspring.
May 23, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — D

Daphne Martschenko is a champion for ethical, inclusive genomics research
A bioethicist focused on the DNA revolution, she fosters open discussion through "adversarial collaboration"
June 20, 2023 — Source

Decoding the dark matter of our DNA: Study links genetic variants to blood pressure regulation
Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) are delving deep into the non-coding genome to unravel the complex genetics that underlie blood pressure regulation and hypertension (high blood pressure)--the leading cause of cardiovascular disease affecting 1.25 billion people worldwide.
June 6, 2023 — Source

Deep neural network provides robust detection of disease biomarkers in real time
Sophisticated systems for the detection of biomarkers--molecules such as DNA or proteins that indicate the presence of a disease--are crucial for real-time diagnostic and disease-monitoring devices.
May 2, 2023 — Source

DNA barcoding identifies the plants a person has eaten
What people say they've eaten and what they've actually eaten are often two very different lists of foods. But a new technique using DNA barcoding to identify the plant matter in human feces may get at the truth, improving clinical trials, nutrition studies and more.
June 27, 2023 — Source or Watch Video

DNA discovery may assist in fight against aggressive cancer
In a significant development in the fight against fatal cancers, University of Otago researchers have pinpointed a key feature that leads to the aggressive spread of colon cancer.
June 27, 2023 — Source

DNA organization in real-time
Performing cutting-edge science requires thinking outside the box and bringing together different scientific disciplines. Sometimes this even means being in the right place at the right time.
June 30, 2023 — Source

DNA region that directs development of craniofacial structures identified
Craniofacial birth defects, including cleft lip and palate, are among the most common human congenital malformations. Now, FMI researchers have identified a DNA region containing multiple regulatory elements that interact with genes across distant chromosomal neighborhoods, ensuring that specific facial structures develop in the right place.
June 6, 2023 — Source

DNA study sheds light on how we maintain healthy blood sugar levels after meals
A study of the DNA of more than 55,000 people worldwide has shed light on how we maintain healthy blood sugar levels after we have eaten, with implications for our understanding of how the process goes wrong in type 2 diabetes.
June 8, 2023 — Source or Source

DNA test results may enhance prevention and treatment of alcohol use disorder
Today's substance use prevention efforts ignore individual genetic risk, but Rutgers research suggests DNA test results may eventually enhance prevention and treatment and improve outcomes.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Do children inherit parents' stressful experiences?
Most of us learned in high school that people get half their genes from their father and half from their mother. That's true, but it turns out the way parents contribute to their offspring's genetics is more complicated--and more intriguing.
June 27, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — E

Editing a snake genome to stop production of dorsal scales
A team of geneticists and evolutionary specialists at the University of Geneva working with a colleague from the University of Zurich report that the hexagonal patterns seen on the backs and sides of some snakes are not self-organizing. In their study, published in the journal Science Advances, the group used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool to create the first genetically modified snake.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Embryoids shed light on a complex genetic mechanism
Researchers from EPFL and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have gained new insights into a mechanism regulating the early-stage development of mouse embryos. Instead of using an animal model, the team carried out their research on pseudo-embryos grown in the lab from stem cells.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Evidence of ice age human migrations from China to the Americas and Japan
Scientists have used mitochondrial DNA to trace a female lineage from northern coastal China to the Americas. By integrating contemporary and ancient mitochondrial DNA, the team found evidence of at least two migrations: one during the last ice age, and one during the subsequent melting period.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Extreme DNA resolution: Researchers slow down and scan multiple times individual DNA molecules
Aleksandra Radenovic, leader of the Nanoscale Biology Laboratory in the Engineering School, has dedicated years to enhancing nanopore technology, wherein a molecule such as DNA is guided through a minuscule aperture in a membrane to assess an ionic flow.
June 27, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — F

FDA approves first gene therapy for severe hemophilia A
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a costly single-dose gene therapy for patients with severe hemophilia A, a life-threatening hereditary bleeding disorder.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Fire regimes can change genetic patterns of animal species, study finds
Monash University scientists have called for the increased integration of genetic research into the field of fire ecology to ensure that conservation management decisions are well-informed.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Fission yeast study sheds new light on gross chromosomal rearrangement
When creating a computer program, errors in the code can introduce bugs to the software. Similarly, errors in our body's genetic code, DNA, which is stored in structures known as chromosomes, can bring about mutations in the body. These mutations are the cause of many deadly diseases — including cancer.
May 26, 2023 — Source

Focus on function helps identify the changes that made us human
Research sheds light on human evolution, and demonstrates an approach for identifying significant differences in how genes are used between closely-related species.
June 20, 2023 — Source

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Gene therapy helps combat some forms of blindness--clinical trials are applying these treatments to other diseases
An estimated 295 million people suffer from visual impairment globally. Around 43 million of those people are living with blindness. While not every form of blindness can be cured, recent scientific breakthroughs have uncovered new ways to treat some forms of inherited blindness through gene therapy.
May 12, 2023 — Source

Gene therapy rescues hearing for the first time in aged mouse models
By 2050, one in 10 individuals are expected to live with some form of hearing loss. Of the hundreds of millions of cases of hearing loss affecting individuals worldwide, genetic hearing loss is often the most difficult to treat.
May 26, 2023 — Source

Gene-edited calf may reduce reliance on antimicrobials against cattle disease
Cattle worldwide face major health threats from a highly infectious viral disease that decades of vaccinations and other precautions have failed to contain. Federal, private-sector and University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientists are collaborating on a new line of defense, by producing a gene-edited calf resistant to the virus.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Gene-editing technique could speed up study of cancer mutations
Genomic studies of cancer patients have revealed thousands of mutations linked to tumor development. However, for the vast majority of those mutations, researchers are unsure of how they contribute to cancer because there's no easy way to study them in animal models.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Generation game: Gene-edited mosquitos to fight malaria
Population-level changes in the genetic make-up of one of the world's deadliest animals could provide a key in the fight against malaria, proponents of a radical new technology argue.
June 8, 2023 — Source

Genes for learning and memory are 650 million years old
Scientists have discovered that the genes required for learning, memory, aggression and other complex behaviors originated around 650 million years ago.
July 14, 2023 — Source or Source

Genetic clues could predict leukemia patients' risk of treatment failure
New research led by UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to predict which childhood leukemia patients are at higher risk of not responding well to chemotherapy could allow clinicians to refine treatment strategies to give the best chance of success.
May 5, 2023 — Source

Genetic discovery could help prevent irreversible blindness in people with glaucoma
International research led by QIMR Berghofer has found hundreds of new genes linked to a person's risk of developing glaucoma, including key genetic targets that could, for the first time, pave the way for treatments that prevent the retinal damage that causes blindness.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Genetic risk information may help people avoid alcohol addiction, suggests study
Today's substance use prevention efforts ignore individual genetic risk, but new Rutgers University research suggests that DNA test results may eventually enhance prevention and treatment and improve outcomes.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Genetics and concussion--why a minor knock can be devastating for some people
Concussion and head trauma is a real and serious risk for many Australians. While most people suffer acute and relatively short-lived effects, such as dizziness and headache, in some cases symptoms persist for weeks, months or years. It can result in long-term and debilitating neurological impairment.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Genomes of 233 primate species sequenced
New insights into the genetic diversity and evolution of our closest relatives and the genetic causes of human diseases
June 2, 2023 — Source

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How a genetic mutation can cause individuals with normal cholesterol to develop heart disease at a young age
A novel molecular pathway to explain how a mutation in the gene ACTA2 can cause individuals in their 30s—with normal cholesterol levels and no other risk factors—to develop coronary artery disease has been identified, according to researchers with UTHealth Houston.
July 7, 2023 — Source

How gene-edited microbiomes could improve our health
Scientists are engineering microbes to make healthier compounds. They hope they'll help treat disease and save the planet.
June 30, 2023 — Source

Human ancestry has been shaped by mixing and matching alleles, show two recent studies
The course of human history has been marked by complex patterns of migration, isolation, and admixture, the latter a term that refers to gene flow between individuals from different populations.
May 19, 2023 — Source

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Improving the study of sex-based differences in complex traits and disease
Phenotypic sex differences are common in many aspects of health and disease. Despite the success of genome-wide association studies in improving the understanding of how genetic variation contributes to the manifestation of complex traits or diseases, there has been little use of this data to investigate sex differences in the underlying mechanisms.
May 12, 2023 — Source

Inhibiting a single gene leads to extended motor function longevity in C. elegans
Research led by Sichuan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, has revealed genetic mechanisms that could prolong healthy aging. In the paper, titled "Partial inhibition of class III PI3K VPS-34 ameliorates motor aging and prolongs health span," published in PLOS Biology, the team details the methods they used to narrow down the potential genomic pathways to a single gene that could be critical to extending healthy human longevity.
July 14, 2023 — Source

Inhibition of stimulator of interferon genes protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in diabetic mice
Although the past decade has witnessed substantial scientific progress with the advent of cardioprotective pharmacological agents, most have failed to protect against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetic hearts.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Is there an association between muscle-building supplements and DNA damage in resistance training practitioners?
Resistance training enhances muscle strength, endurance, and power and is popular among individuals involved in recreational sports. The proportion of recreational athletes using nutritional supplements for performance and body composition enhancements has increased.
June 27, 2023 — Source

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Lauren Schroeder looks beyond natural selection to rethink human evolution
Paleoanthropologists have long focused primarily on adaptive processes
July 11, 2023 — Source

Laws needed to prevent gene-based life insurance discrimination, says report
Laws are needed to protect Australians from life insurance discrimination based on genetic tests that identify increased risk of certain medical conditions, a report has found.
June 30, 2023 — Source

Lessons learned from first genetically-modified pig heart into human patient
A new study has revealed the most extensive analysis to date on what led to the eventual heart failure in the world's first successful transplant of a genetically-modified pig heart into a human patient.
June 30, 2023 — Source

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m6A mRNA modification potentiates Th17 functions to inflame autoimmunity
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most extensive studied RNA modification across various species, and the important effect of m6A modification in immune systems has been revealed in distinct contexts, including mRNA metabolism, cell differentiation, proliferation and response to stimulation.
July 14, 2023 — Source

Mechanisms for removal of strong, replication-blocking lesions generated by the human HMCES protein
Researchers at Nagoya University and Osaka University in Japan have found novel repair pathways of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites of DNA. Repair of the base excision, which repairs AP sites, is an essential mechanism for cell survival.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Missing link explains mRNA delivery in brain cells
Brain cells manufacture proteins in every corner, including their long branches. Neurons missing this ability cause severe neurological disorders like disability and epilepsy. The groups of Marino Zerial, Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, and Stefan Raunser, MPI of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund, together with colleagues from the MPI for Brain Research in Frankfurt am Main and the MPI for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen have discovered a new delivery mechanism that brings messenger RNA (mRNA), the proteins' blueprint, to the point of need in neurons.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Molecular 'hub' regulates gene-silencing proteins
To keep their vital functions in balance, many organisms use small snippets of RNA to "silence" messenger RNAs that code for certain proteins. New research from FMI scientists has revealed a molecular hub that integrates the activities of different protein complexes involved in such RNA silencing.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Mutated gene protects the kidney from hypertension-induced damage
A mutation that causes severe hypertension also protects the kidneys from being damaged, reports a team led by Enno Klußmann of the Max Delbrück Center and the DZHK in "Kidney International". The researchers are now exploring how the effects of the mutated gene can be used therapeutically.
May 30, 2023 — Source or Source

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New approach addresses the challenge of directly connecting genetic variants to human traits, health
A major challenge in human genetics is understanding which parts of the genome drive specific traits or contribute to disease risk. This challenge is even greater for genetic variants found in the 98% of the genome that does not encode proteins.
May 5, 2023 — Source

New genetic discovery set to boost disease-resistant rice
Rice that is resistant to some of the worst crop-destroying diseases but can still produce large yields could soon become a reality for farmers worldwide.
June 20, 2023 — Source

New Nanopore Method Achieves Near-Perfect Control of Individual DNA Molecules
Aleksandra Radenovic, head of the Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology in the School of Engineering, has worked for years to improve nanopore technology, which involves passing a molecule like DNA through a tiny pore in a membrane to measure an ionic current. Scientists can determine DNA's sequence of nucleotides — which encodes genetic information — by analyzing how each one perturbs this current as it passes through.
June 20, 2023 — Source

New NIH program seeks to discover and catalog the breadth of somatic mosaicism in human tissues
The National Institutes of Health is launching a new program, the Common Fund's Somatic Mosaicism Across Human Tissues (SMaHT) Network, that aims to transform our knowledge of how much genetic variation there is in the cells and tissues throughout our bodies.
May 11, 2023 — Source

New pathway discovered for RNA degradation in iron-rich environments
RNA, an essential biomolecule for life, has been used in environmental applications including monitoring microbial communities, developing pesticides, and quantifying the abundance of pathogenic viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, in water and wastewater systems. Understanding how quickly RNA breaks down in given conditions is critical to harnessing the molecule in these and other emerging technologies.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Novel approach prevents liver damage in animal models of Alagille syndrome
Alagille syndrome, a genetic disease estimated to affect 1 in 30,000 individuals, is caused by mutations in the gene JAG1 in most cases.
April 7, 2023 — Source

Novel approach that stimulates cells' DNA repair mechanisms may combat a leading cause of autism spectrum disorders
New research has identified a potential method for treating fragile X syndrome, a leading cause of autism spectrum disorders that is characterized by an inherited repeat of certain nucleotides within the DNA sequence of the FMR1 gene.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Novel gene therapy shows promise in sickle cell patient clinical trial
Researchers presenting preliminary data from a clinical trial aimed at discovering a cure for sickle cell disease reveal positive results among its first patients.
June 9, 2023 — Source

Novel genetic screen provides clues on how Toxoplasma behaves within a host
While the presence of harmful critters in your home may be addressed by a call to the exterminator, harmful parasites in the body can be much harder to expel. A single-celled parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii (hereafter Toxoplasma) commonly infects humans and other animals, and the resulting condition, known as toxoplasmosis, can cause severe health issues in people with weakened immune systems.
June 6, 2023 — Source

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Olaparib plus ceralasertib may benefit pediatric cancer patients with DNA-repair-deficient tumors
A combination of the PARP inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) and the investigational ATR inhibitor ceralasertib showed clinical benefit in pediatric patients with solid tumors exhibiting DNA replication stress and/or DNA repair deficiencies, according to results from the phase I portion of the phase I/II AcSe-ESMART trial presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2023, held April 14--19.
April 18, 2023 — Source

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Precise genome editing approach can correct mutation that causes sickle cell disease
A mutation in the gene that encodes a subunit of the oxygen-carrying molecule, hemoglobin, causes the disease. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard showed a precise genome editing approach, prime editing, can change mutated hemoglobin genes back to their normal form in SCD patient cells, which restores normal blood parameters after transplantation into mice.
April 18, 2023 — Source

Protein from a round worm may unlock a cellular 'fountain of youth'
Working with tiny, nematode worms called C. elegans, a USask research team has identified a pair of genes responsible for clearing cells of the toxins which accumulate in the body and are responsible for aging.
May 2, 2023 — Source

Pulling its weight: Team identifies protein key to chromosome movement during cell division
During cell division, chromosomes, i.e., molecules containing our genetic material, must be properly replicated and segregated so that each daughter cell receives a complete and accurate set. Now, in an article published in Molecular Cell, a team led by researchers at Osaka University have identified a protein central to this critical process.
June 8, 2023 — Source

Pulling the plug on viral infections: CRISPR isn't just about cutting
CRISPR claimed scientific fame for its ability to quickly and accurately edit genes. But, at the core, CRISPR systems are immune systems that help bacteria protect themselves from viruses by targeting and destroying viral DNA and RNA.
April 27, 2023 — Source

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RNA editing guides immune cells to areas of tissue injury
A team of international scientists led by the Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Mannheim, and the Newcastle University (Great Britain) has succeeded in decoding a new mechanism of immune cell trafficking by examining vascular diseases.
April 25, 2023 — Source

RNA folding may be key to potential new antiviral targets in HIV-1
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) folds into complex structures, which allow it to interact specifically with other molecules in the cell. In HIV-1, minute differences in RNA folding can be crucial in determining whether viral RNA is "packaged" and thus leads to viral replication.
April 27, 2023 — Source

Research examines the role of genetics in opioid use disorder
New research out of the University of Cincinnati examines the association between genetics and the presence of opioid use disorder (OUD). The study identified six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or genetic variants that are linked to OUD.
April 27, 2023 — Source

Research on the first-ever human pangenome reference helps better understand chromosome biology
Researchers from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center have made a foundational discovery about chromosome biology through their work on the first-ever human pangenome reference.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Research provides new insights into the underlying disease mechanisms for polycystic kidney disease
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common potentially lethal genetic disease-;about a half million people in the United States alone suffer from the condition. There is no cure, but new research could open the door to new gene therapies for treating most cases of the disease.
April 4, 2023 — Source

Researchers advance DNA nanostructure stability
Researchers at the University at Albany's RNA Institute have demonstrated a new approach to DNA nanostructure assembly that does not require magnesium. T
June 6, 2023 — Source or Source

Researchers can learn a lot with your genetic information, even when you skip survey questions
Imagine you agreed to be part of a new and exciting long-term research study to better understand human health and behavior. For the past few years, you've been visiting a collection site where you fill out some questionnaires about your health and daily activities.
June 30, 2023 — Source

Researchers design an innovative strategy to fight obesity through gene therapy
A scientific team from the University of Barcelona and the CIBERobn has designed a strategy to fight obesity and diabetes in mice through ex vivo gene therapy which consists of implanting cells that have been manipulated and transformed in order to treat a disease.
May 30, 2023 — Source or Source

Researchers develop new method for precisely quantifying systemin, a plant peptide hormone
In a study published in Plant Communications, Chu Jinfang's team from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has proposed a new method for high-accuracy measurement of tomato systemin (TomSys), an important plant peptide hormone.
June 30, 2023 — Source

Researchers discover a way to improve nonviral gene editing as well as a new type of DNA repair
Gene editing is a powerful method for both research and therapy. Since the advent of the Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR/Cas9 technology, a quick and accurate tool for genome editing discovered in 2012, scientists have been working to explore its capabilities and boost its performance.
May 11, 2023 — Source or Source

Researchers discover mechanism responsible for genome rearrangements
The goal of every dividing cell is to accurately segregate its genome into two genetically identical daughter cells. However, this process often goes awry and may be responsible for a new class of chromosomal abnormalities found in cancers and congenital disorders, UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists report in a new study.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Researchers discover missing link between risk genes associated with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be divided into rare early onset familial AD (fAD) and common late onset sporadic AD (sAD) that impairs the memory and cognitive functions of older people worldwide.
April 14, 2023 — Source

Researchers discover molecular fail-safe that keeps bladder tissues from turning cancerous
Over the decades, scientists have revealed many strategies our cells use to keep normal cells from becoming cancerous. Now, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center scientists have discovered a completely new--and counterintuitive--emergency brake that bladder cells use to stave off tumors even when cancer-promoting genes are turned on.
April 20, 2023 — Source

Researchers discover novel receptors for SARS-CoV-2 and their age-dependent expression
A study led by Mount Sinai researchers Dr. Bin Zhang, the Willard T.C. Johnson Research Professor of Neurogenetics, and Dr. Christian Forst, an Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, has identified potential novel receptors for SARS-CoV-2 and unveiled their tissue-specific and age-dependent expression.
April 11, 2023 — Source

Researchers discover that various species share a similar mechanism of molecular response to nanoparticles
Researchers at FHAIVE (Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches), Tampere University, have discovered a new response mechanism specific to exposure to nanoparticles that is common to multiple species.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Researchers devise genetically encoded DNA origami for targeted and precise gene therapy in vivo
As genetic information carriers, nucleic acid molecules have been developed as gene therapeutic drugs. On the basis of complementary base pairing, nucleic acid can not only encode functional genes, but also precisely self-assemble into nanostructures with specific sizes and shapes.
April 25, 2023 — Source

Researchers explore the role of the epigenome in non-genetic disease inheritance
The nature versus nurture debate has a new talking point, with research into the role of the epigenome in non-genetic disease inheritance.
April 27, 2023 — Source

Researchers find evolutionary support for induced defenses
Graduate student Reese Martin and his doctoral advisor, Ann Tate, assistant professor of biological sciences, used theoretical modeling to identify a potential relationship between genetic pleiotropy and the evolution of immune responses. The pair has authored a paper titled, "Pleiotropy promotes the evolution of inducible immune responses in a model of host-pathogen coevolution," published in PLOS Computational Biology.
April 14, 2023 — Source

Researchers Have Created a Biological Camera That Stores Images onto DNA
In an attempt to experiment with the idea of using biological materials to store digital data, researchers have created a method where they were able to capture light patterns — photos — and store them onto DNA.
July 7, 2023 — Source

Researchers identify genetic makeup of new strains of West Nile
Researchers at Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) located in UConn's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources identified the genetic makeup of strains of West Nile virus found in an alpaca and a crow.
June 6, 2023 — Source

Researchers reveal a map to study novel form of cell-to-cell communication
An international team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine with the National Institutes of Health Extracellular RNA Communication Consortium and the Bogdan Mateescu laboratory at the ETH Zürich and University of Zürich has developed a new powerful resource to study extracellular RNA (exRNA), a novel form of cell-to-cell communication.
April 20, 2023 — Source

Researchers shed new light on the motor of DNA replication
DNA replication is the process whereby cells make an exact copy of their DNA before cell division. A key part of the intricate DNA replication machinery is a molecular motor called CMG, which has the vital task of separating the two strands of the DNA double helix so that they can be copied.
April 20, 2023 — Source

Researchers unveil long-sought noncanonical cleavage mechanism in miRNA biogenesis
To discover and thoroughly demonstrate the newly identified noncanonical cleavage mechanism, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) research team, led by Prof. Tuan Anh Nguyen, Assistant Professor of the Division of Life Science, used several sophisticated techniques, such as miRNA sequencing, pri-miRNA structure analysis, and high-throughput pri-miRNA cleavage assays for approximately 260,000 pri-miRNA sequences.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Revealing how an embryo's cells sync up
Scientists have known that when a mouse embryo is developing, the cells that will become its spine and muscles switch specific genes on and off repeatedly, in a synchronous fashion. However, there are deep mysteries about how these cells synchronize.
May 2, 2023 — Source

Reviewing the role of a gene involved in brain functions and disorders
Leucine-rich repeats containing 4 (LRRC4)--a gene abundantly found in the brain and located on human chromosome 7q31--32--plays a pivotal role in memory formation, autism, spinal cord injury, as well as in determining the malignant potential, development, and progression of glioblastoma (GB), an aggressive cancer involving the brain and/or spinal cord.
May 9, 2023 — Source

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Scientists Are Trying to Clone the Extinct Siberian Bison
A bison carcass preserved in Russian permafrost might help researchers resurrect the species--if its DNA is still intact.
April 11, 2023 — Source

Scientists create the first CRISPR-based drug candidate targeting the microbiome
Many people have experienced infections from E. coli, which are primarily seen as inconvenient and unpleasant. For some patients, like those with blood cancer, however, there is a risk that the bacteria will travel into the bloodstream. In those cases, an E. coli infection is too often fatal. The mortality rate is 15-20%.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Scientists deliver siRNA therapy to lung
Scientists at UMass Chan Medical School have developed a technology to deliver gene therapy directly to lung tissue through intranasal administration, a development that could potentially create a new class of treatments for lung disease.
May 2, 2023 — Source

Scientists develop gene silencing DNA enzyme that can target a single molecule
Researchers from the University of California, Irvine have developed a DNA enzyme — or DNAzyme — that can distinguish between two RNA strands inside a cell and cut the disease-associated strand while leaving the healthy strand intact.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Scientists identify broad-spectrum antiviral agents that can target multiple RNA virus families
A new study has identified potential broad-spectrum antiviral agents that can target multiple families of RNA viruses that continue to pose a significant threat for future pandemics.
April 28, 2023 — Source

Scientists identify gene crucial for male meiosis during homologous pairing and synapsis
Meiotic recombination-related gene (e.g., DMC1, HFM1, MEIOB, MAJIN, C14ORF39/SIX6OS1, STAG3, SYCE1, SYCP2-3, TERB1-2) mutations have been identified in human subfertility or infertility. Surprisingly, most patients have been found to have aberrant splicing of genes such as MEIOB, C14ORF39/SIX6OS1, STAG3, and SYCE1. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the mechanism of alternative splicing (AS) and its role in human reproduction to provide new insights for clinical diagnosis.
June 30, 2023 — Source

Scientists narrow down pool of potential height genes
When it comes to height, our fate is sealed along with our growth plates--cartilage near the ends of bones that hardens as a child develops. Research published April 14 in the journal Cell Genomics shows that cells in these plates determine the length and shape of our bones and can hint at our stature.
April 14, 2023 — Source

Several Down syndrome features may be linked to a hyperactive antiviral immune response, finds new research
People with Down syndrome, or trisomy 21, a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of human chromosome 21, experienced a remarkable increase in life expectancy during the 20th century.
June 6, 2023 — Source

Sex and the single gene: New research shows a genetic 'master switch' determines sex in most animals
In humans and other animals, sex is usually determined by a single gene. However, there are claims that in some species, such as platyfish, it takes a whole "parliament" of genes acting together to determine whether offspring develop as a male or female.
April 21, 2023 — Source

Should All U.S. Newborns Undergo Genomic Testing?
While newborns are only screened for about 60 treatable conditions, there are hundreds of genetic disorders that have targeted treatments.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Simple but revolutionary modular organoids created with hydrogels
A team led by Masaya Hagiwara of RIKEN national science institute in Japan has developed an ingenious device, using layers of hydrogels in a cube-like structure, that allows researchers to construct complex 3D organoids without using elaborate techniques.
April 7, 2023 — Source

Single-celled alga found to harbor seven genomes
An international team of oceanographers, parasitologists and biologists has found that the single-celled alga Cryptomonas gyropyrenoidosa harbors seven genomes in its one cell. In their study, reported in the journal Current Biology, the group explored how one cell could hold more than one set of DNA and isolated seven of them in C. gyropyrenoidosa.
April 28, 2023 — Source

Smart yet simple: Creating uniform DNA-encapsulating microgels that mimic a living cell
The living cell harbors physiologically relevant components such as the genetic material (DNA) and proteins in a "self-organized" setting. Understanding this process of self-assembly can reveal the underlying mechanism of self-organization of living matter.
June 23, 2023 — Source

Sneaking past the blood-brain barrier to usher in the age of gene therapy for neurodegenerative disease
In a paper titled "BBB opening with focused ultrasound in nonhuman primates and Parkinson's disease patients: Targeted AAV vector delivery and PET imaging," published in Science Advances, researchers led by the University CEU-San Pablo in Spain report on a method of safely traversing the blood-brain barrier.
April 27, 2023 — Source

Sophisticated gene memory: Researchers develop new method to genetically compare hundreds of animal species
Thanks to great technological advances, the genetic material of living beings can now be sequenced at a rapid rate. Comparisons of genomes, whether of closely related or completely different species, reveal particularly interesting findings.
April 27, 2023 — Source

Source of common kidney disease lies outside the kidney, study suggests
The cause of a common kidney disease likely lies outside the kidney, according to a new study led by Columbia University researchers. The study, which uncovered 16 new locations in the genome linked to immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, confirms an earlier hypothesis that the immune system has an important role in driving the disease and points toward new strategies for detecting and treating it.
June 23, 2023 — Source

SPG-15: A Mother's Fight for a Gene Therapy Cure, Maddi's Story
News Medical spoke to the CEO and founder of the Maddi Foundation at the Charles River Gene and Cell Therapy Summit to gain a patient perspective on the impact gene therapy research can have. Maddi Thurgood is the only person in the UK diagnosed with Spastic paraplegia 15 (SPG-15) and is one of 100 worldwide.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Storing Data in DNA Microcapsules may be Possible Soon
Storing data in DNA sounds like science fiction, yet it lies in the near future. Professor Tom de Greef expects the first DNA data center to be up and running within five to ten years. Data won't be stored as zeros and ones in a hard drive but in the base pairs that make up DNA: AT and CG. Such a data center would take the form of a lab, many times smaller than the ones today.
May 5, 2023 — Source

Stress Can Speed Aging, but Recovery Can Slow It Again: Study
Measuring biological aging has become so precise with DNA-based technology that researchers showed that trauma or stressful life events can rapidly speed up the pace of aging. But they also found that recovery from the experience can return aging to its baseline.
April 25, 2023 — Source

Structural insight into process of gene regulation
In the cell nucleus, numerous proteins bind to the DNA molecule in order to regulate the activity of certain genes. One of these is the TATA-box binding protein (TBP), which binds to a specific DNA sequence and constitutes an initial signal for the reading of DNA.
April 28, 2023 — Source

Study assesses risk of mutation due to residual radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster
Ionizing radiation from nuclear disasters are known to be harmful to the natural environment. The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant meltdown that occurred in 2011 is a prominent example of such a disaster in recent memory. Even a decade after the incident, concerns remain about the long-term effects of the radiation.
April 7, 2023 — Source

Study describes a novel, non-destructive method to extract DNA from ancient bone and tooth artifacts
In a recent study published in the Nature Journal, researchers described a new method to safely release deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) trapped inside the ancient tooth and bone artifacts, which was used to analyze and identify the wearer or maker of a deer tooth pendant from the Upper Paleolithic period found in Denisova Cave, Russia.
May 5, 2023 — Source

Study describes mechanism that regulates activity of memory gene
The protein PKMzeta is known to be associated with long-term memory formation. Neurological disorders such Alzheimer's disease, as well as depression and aging, correlate with reduced levels of this protein in the brain. Researchers affiliated with institutions in Brazil and the United States have now discovered a mechanism that helps explain the link and could pave the way to future medical innovations.
April 18, 2023 — Source

Study discovers novel region for BRD4 transcription and potential therapeutic target
A team of investigators in the laboratory of Ali Shilatifard, Ph.D., the Robert Francis Furchgott Professor and chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, have discovered a novel protein region responsible for regulating DNA transcription elongation.
July 14, 2023 — Source

Study examines sustainability of grocery delivery
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a marked surge of e-commerce and online grocery delivery services that persisted past lockdown conditions.
July 14, 2023 — Source

Study finds the gene Atoh1 is critical for establishing diversity of pontine nuclei neurons
A recent study published in Science Advances by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital has discovered six distinct neuronal lineages in the pons region of the brainstem and revealed new insights into their differential vulnerability to the partial loss of Atoh1, a gene crucial for the development of pontine neurons.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Study finds some motor neuron disease and dementia patients share genetic defects
New research has discovered that some patients with motor neuron disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) carry the same rare genetic defects that cause other neurodegenerative diseases.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Study gives insight into cause of severe inflammatory bowel disease
Cedars-Sinai investigators have identified a genetic variant that increases people's risk of developing perianal Crohn's disease, the most debilitating manifestation of Crohn's disease.
April 20, 2023 — Source

Study investigates genetic and DNA methylation variation in four Chinese ethnic groups
A paper titled "Genome-wide DNA methylation landscape of four Chinese populations and epigenetic variation linked to Tibetan high-altitude adaptation" has been published online in Science China Life Sciences.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Study links tree genetics to biodiversity patterns
It's easy to think of trees as part of the landscape. But what if the trees were the landscape?
June 30, 2023 — Source

Study reports a shared genetic basis for cannabis use and psychiatric disorders
A new study from the University of Oslo published in the Lancet Psychiatry, reported a shared genetic basis for cannabis use and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These findings may indicate that a subset of the population is at high risk for both cannabis use and psychiatric disorders, based on their genetic propensity.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Study reports cost-effectiveness of population genetic testing
An exhaustive cost-benefit analysis of population genetic testing published in Annals of Internal Medicine concludes with a recommendation to U.S. health policymakers to adopt routine testing of adults ages 40 and under for three genetic conditions posing high risk of life-threatening illness.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Study reveals epigenetic vulnerability of acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive blood cancer that causes uncontrolled accumulation of white blood cells. Because of the poor outcomes of this disease, researchers across the globe have been on the hunt for new ways to treat AML, while preserving normal blood development.
April 4, 2023 — Source

Study reveals first genetic locus for voice pitch
In a paper published in Science Advances, an international team led by deCODE genetics, a subsidiary of Amgen, reveals the discovery of sequence variants in the gene ABCC9 that influence the pitch of voices.
June 9, 2023 — Source or Watch Video

Study reveals genetic mechanism of divergent thermo-tolerance in penaeid shrimp
As worldwide economical aquaculture species, penaeid shrimp is vulnerable to temperature, and different species exhibit divergent thermo-tolerances.
April 11, 2023 — Source

Study shows accuracy of genetically based disease predictions varies from individual to individual
Polygenic scores--estimates of an individual's predisposition for complex traits and diseases--hold promise for identifying patients at risk of disease and guiding early, personalized treatments, but UCLA experts found the scores fail to account for the wide range of genetic diversity across individuals in all ancestries.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Study shows more mutations likely with genetically engineered synthetic DNA
Unlocking the potential of laboratory-crafted DNA, known as synthetic DNA, holds the key to groundbreaking advancements across multiple domains, according to quantum biologists from the University of Surrey.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Study suggests catalyst for human brain evolution
More than a million years ago, large chunks of the human genome were rearranged--a chance event during egg or sperm formation that led to the deletion, duplication, or reversal of sections of DNA.
April 27, 2023 — Source

Study suggests long-lived tree species play greater role in generating genetic diversity
A study of the relationship between the growth rate of tropical trees and the frequency of genetic mutations they accumulate suggests that older, long-lived trees play a greater role in generating and maintaining genetic diversity than short-lived trees.
June 6, 2023 — Source

Study suggests people who should receive genetic screening are being missed
Findings from a recent UW Medicine study suggest that a large proportion of people who should receive genetic screening according to published guidelines are being missed.
April 18, 2023 — Source

Study to measure the impact of whole genome sequencing in patients with cardiovascular disease
Henry Ford Health research teams are launching a series of clinical studies in partnership with Illumina Inc., a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, to assess the impact of comprehensive genomic testing in various disease areas. The first study launched today, CardioSeq, will include 1,500 patients receiving care from the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Henry Ford Health.
April 11, 2023 — Source

Study unveils mysterious nature of RNA editing in plants
RNA (ribonucleic acid) editing is an important process for maintaining essential functions of encoded proteins at the RNA level. Recent studies show that RNA editing is a widespread phenomenon that occurs in various land plants, including the liverworts, mosses, hornworts, lycopods, ferns, and flowering plants.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Study using eDNA provides comprehensive picture of wildlife in southern California's waves
What's living beneath the waves? It's a question many Southern California swimmers and surfers ponder when they visit the beach.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Supposedly rare diseases aren't as rare as previously thought, suggests study
Rare diseases are often caused by defects in genetic material. If children inherit a defective gene from only one parent, they often are asymptomatic "carriers"--or at least that was the previous assumption. However, a research team from the University of Basel and the University Hospital Basel is now reporting that such carriers can also suffer from life-threatening diseases--and that rare hereditary diseases are therefore probably more common than previously thought.
May 23, 2023 — Source

Synthetic DNA could help scientists modify genes and create new biofuels
Unlocking the potential of laboratory-crafted DNA, known as synthetic DNA, holds the key to groundbreaking advancements across multiple domains, according to quantum biologists from the University of Surrey.
June 2, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — T

Targeting a unique metabolic pathway might starve pancreatic cancer
Much of the research on new cancer treatments in the last two decades has focused on genetic targets that allow cancers to grow and spread by altering cell signaling or shutting off tumor suppressors. There is a growing body of evidence that unique features of cancer cell metabolism, though, could provide new opportunities for developing treatments that impact tumors in a direct way while leaving healthy cells relatively untouched.
April 7, 2023 — Source

The beginning is the end: How promoters predefine where genes end
Each gene in our DNA has a beginning and an end. Defining the gene's extremities properly is crucial in producing functional protein. Much research has been done to identify what determines when, where, and at which site on the DNA a gene "starts." But where a gene ends is a different story--selection of transcription termination sites has been assumed to depend on downstream elements and extrinsic factors.
May 12, 2023 — Source

The FDA just approved rub-on gene therapy that helps "butterfly" children
Biotech companies are getting creative with how they deliver DNA fixes into people's bodies.
May 19, 2023 — Source

The genome of the smallest baleen whale provides insight into evolution and tumor resistance
The pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata) is the smallest of all baleen whales although it can grow to six meters in length and weigh up to three tons. The species occurs circumpolar in the Antarctic waters of the Southern Hemisphere, and only a handful of sightings have ever been reported.
April 20, 2023 — Source

The Wonder of DNA: Reflections from Dr. Francis Collins on the 20th Anniversary of the Human Genome Project
Every year on the 25th of April, the world celebrates National DNA Day; an awareness day celebrating the discovery of the DNA double helix. This year however, commemorates the 70th anniversary of the discovery of the DNA double helix alongside the 20th anniversary of the completion of the Human Genome Project making it extra special.
April 25, 2023 — Source

Top-Down Proteomics: Bridging the Genotype-to-Phenotype Gap
In this interview conducted at Pittcon 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we spoke to this year's recipient of the Pittsburgh Analytical Chemistry Award, Neil Kelleher.
May 26, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — U

UM researcher launches new project to identify the full range of RNA building blocks inside human cells
University of Michigan pediatric neurologist Vivian Cheung is launching an international project to identify the full range of RNA building blocks inside human cells.
April 18, 2023 — Source

Uncovering the mechanism of photoexcited nucleobases: Is decay fast or suppressed?
When the ultraviolet component in the sunlight irradiates these molecules, the electrons in the molecules will be excited, and the excited nucleobase molecules may result in irreversible changes or even damages to the DNA and RNA chains, leading to the "sunburn" of organisms at molecular level.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Urine tests identify brain tumors by capturing cancer DNA using nanowires
A group led by researchers at Nagoya University in Japan has developed a technology to capture and release cell-free DNA (cfDNA) on nanowire surfaces from urine. By extracting this DNA, they were able to successfully detect IDH1 mutation, a characteristic genetic mutation of gliomas, a type of brain tumor.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Using CRISPR to make phages more deadly to E. coli
A team of bioengineers at SNIPR BIOME ApS, in Denmark, working with one colleague from AFRAL, Ljubljana, in Slovenia and another with JMI Laboratories in the U.S., has developed a way to use the gene editing tool CRISPR to edit viruses in a way that makes phages more deadly to a range of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Using machine learning applications to predict patients' risk of developing COPD
A team of medical researchers, engineers and computer scientists affiliated with multiple institutions across the U.S. has found that machine learning technology can help doctors predict which patients are at risk of developing COPD. In their study, reported in the journal Nature Genetics, the group trained a deep-learning network using patient spirogram data to predict the development of COPD.
April 18, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — V

Variants of MRTFB gene linked to novel neurodevelopmental disorder
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have linked specific variants or mutations of the gene myocardin-related transcription factor B (MRTFB) with a novel neurodevelopmental disorder.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Vernal Biosciences Announces Partnership With REPROCELL
Vernal Biosciences, a leader in mRNA and LNP manufacturing, and REPROCELL Inc., Japan's first induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) company, have partnered to provide mRNA services in Japan at scale for research and clinical applications.
July 11, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — W

WHO hails Africa's first mRNA vaccine hub
Africa's first mRNA vaccine hub was ceremonially launched on Thursday to acclaim from the UN's global health chief, who hailed it as a historic shift to help poor countries gain access to life-saving jabs.
April 20, 2023 — Source

Whole-genome sequencing used to track down genes behind familial glioma
A team of gene therapists, oncologists, genetic sequencing experts and neurosurgeons affiliated with a host of institutions in the U.S. and one in Sweden has uncovered gene variants that appear to be responsible for passing on familial glioma from parent to offspring.
May 2, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — X

X-file cracked: Mini-key determines DNA shape
We finally know why our DNA has an X shape. This finding by researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute may have much broader implications for how our cells behave. "It looks like we have uncovered a universal mechanism by which cells determine the shape of their DNA."
April 20, 2023 — Source

Xeroderma pigmentosum study tests artificial antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutic
Genetic researchers at Nagoya University, Japan, have delved into the genetic underpinning of a rare skin condition affecting children that is unusually common in Japan.
June 30, 2023 — Source

DNA — Genetics — Resources — Y

Yellow crazy ant males have two sets of DNA
A small international team of molecular and evolutionary scientists has discovered that male yellow crazy ants (also known as long-legged ants) have two sets of DNA throughout their bodies. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes the unique find and discusses possible reasons for it.
April 7, 2023 — Source