Genetics News and Research

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Genetics is the study of genes and heredity. Heredity is the passing of genetic information and traits (such as eye color and an increased chance of getting a certain disease) from parents to offspring.

Study: South African Leopards Exhibit Exceptional Genetic Diversity

Researchers say the discovery of very high genetic diversity in leopards found in the Highveld region of South Africa has increased the need for conservation efforts to protect leopards in the country.

16 May 2024

Genetic Analysis Sheds Light on the Role of Ribosomal DNA Copy Number in Inflammation and Disease

Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is present in hundreds of copies in the genome, but has not previously been part of genetic analyses.

16 May 2024

Discovery of Novel Adrenal Cell Type Linked to Monogamy in Oldfield Mice

What makes the oldfield mouse steadfastly monogamous throughout its life while its closest rodent relatives are promiscuous? The answer may be a previously unknown hormone-generating cell, according to a new study published online today in Nature from scientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute.

16 May 2024

Glycosylation and its Role in Human Health and Disease

The current understanding of glycosylation genetics in mammals and the consequences of mutations that impact glycosylation.

16 May 2024

Unlocking the Genetics of Coral-Destroying Crown-of-Thorns Starfish

Scientists are one step closer to combatting coral-destroying crown-of-thorns starfish, following a University of Queensland study into the pest's genetics.

15 May 2024

Unlocking the Secrets of Childhood Cancer Genetics

Scientists have revealed a fresh insight into the genetic pathway of childhood cancer, providing new potential for personalized treatment.

15 May 2024

Researchers Uncover More Genes Linked to Clonal Hematopoiesis

Researchers have identified 17 more genes that cause the aberrant proliferation of blood cells with mutations as humans age. The results were published in the journal Nature Genetics.

15 May 2024

Decoding Chromatin Modifications: A Breakthrough in Epigenome Editing

An epigenome editing platform and a method to program nine major chromatin modifications.

14 May 2024

New Tool Precisely Edits Epigenetic Modifications

Powerful epigenetic editing technology was developed as a result of research by the Hackett group at EMBL Rome. This technology allows for the precise programming of chromatin modifications.

10 May 2024

Researchers Identify Natural Compounds for Parasitic Worm Treatment

An international team led by researchers at the University of Toronto has found a family of natural compounds with potential as new and more effective treatments for parasitic worms.

9 May 2024

Researchers Uncover New Genetic Mutation Linked to Rare Form of Congenital Thyroid Abnormality

A team of researchers from the University of Chicago, in collaboration with the Free University of Brussels and the University of Washington, have uncovered a genetic mutation in a non-coding region of DNA that alters the regulation of the thyroid, leading to a rare form of congenital thyroid abnormality.

9 May 2024

Rice University Develops AI-Powered Tools for Unraveling Microbial Genomes

Since the first microbial genome was sequenced in 1995, scientists have reconstructed the genomic makeup of hundreds of thousands of microorganisms and have even devised methods to take a census of bacterial communities on the skin, in the gut, or in soil, water and elsewhere based on bulk samples, leading to the emergence of a relatively new field of study known as metagenomics.

8 May 2024

Harnessing Gut Microbiome Compounds to Reduce Inflammation

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found naturally occurring compounds in the gut that can be harnessed to reduce inflammation and other symptoms of digestive issues.

6 May 2024

New Study Sheds Light on Genetic Adaptations of Papua New Guinean Populations

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a wide range of environments, each presenting unique challenges to human survival. Highlanders and lowlanders of PNG are striking examples of populations facing distinct environmental stress.

2 May 2024

Understanding How Genetic Drivers Influence the Evolution of Photosynthesis Mechanism in Tillandsia

Researchers at the University of Vienna, along with collaborators from France, Germany, Switzerland and the USA, have achieved a major breakthrough in understanding how genetic drivers influence the evolution of a specific photosynthesis mechanism in Tillandsia (air plants).

2 May 2024

Investigating Enhancer Function in Pluripotent Stem Cells

As embryos, all complex organisms are partially made up of pluripotent stem cells, a term for cells that have the capacity to differentiate into any kind of cell: nerve cells, muscle cells, blood cells, skin cells, and the like.

30 Apr 2024

New Organoid Model Offers Opportunities to Study Thymus Function

Researchers from the Organoid group have developed a new organoid model that can be used to study the thymus.

30 Apr 2024

Barley Varieties Influence Soil Microbial Communities, Finds Study

Different types of barley recruit distinct communities of soil microbes to grow around their roots by releasing a custom mix of sugars and other compounds, according to a new study led by Jacob Malone of the John Innes Center, UK, publishing April 25th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.

26 Apr 2024

Ancient Gene Holds Key to Mammalian Gliding

People say "When pigs fly" to describe the impossible. But even if most mammals are landlubbers, the ability to glide or fly has evolved again and again during mammalian evolution, in species ranging from bats to flying squirrels.

25 Apr 2024

First Comprehensive Map of Protein Movement in Yeast Cell Cycle Revealed

An international team led by researchers at the University of Toronto has mapped the movement of proteins encoded by the yeast genome throughout its cell cycle.

23 Apr 2024