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A gene is a unit of heredity in a living organism. It normally resides on a stretch of DNA that codes for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. All living things depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains.

Researchers Uncover Hundreds of New Potential Cancer Driver Genes

Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) have discovered hundreds of potential new cancer driver genes.

4 Sep 2024

Alternative Splicing Shapes Biological Complexity through Gene Expression Modulation

A genetic process known as “alternative splicing” involves cutting out specific gene segments and joining the remaining segments to form messenger RNA (mRNA) during transcription.

4 Sep 2024

CRISPR/Cas System Revolutionizes Tumor Variant and Biomarker Detection

The CRISPR-Cas system is transforming tumor biomarker detection, enabling ultra-sensitive diagnostics and improving accuracy in cancer detection and monitoring.

4 Sep 2024

New AI Tool Deciphers Cellular Metabolism

Biology depends on humans' ability to comprehend metabolism, the process by which cells use resources and create energy.

2 Sep 2024

Unexpected RNA Mechanism Controls Black Pigment in Butterfly Wings

A team of international researchers has uncovered a surprising genetic mechanism that influences the vibrant and complex patterns on butterfly wings.

2 Sep 2024

New Insights into Python Cardiac Biology Could Inform Human Heart Disease Research

Study of python cardiac responses to feeding uncovers structural and epigenetic changes, enhancing understanding of heart disease and therapeutic applications.

2 Sep 2024

A Landmark Study Reveals the Widespread Existence of DNA i-Motifs

Innovative study of DNA's hidden structures may open up new approaches for treatment and diagnosis of diseases, including cancer.

30 Aug 2024

Bacterial Protein Utilizes DNA for Target Recognition and Plasmid Elimination

Scientists who have described in a new study the step-by-step details of a bacterial defense strategy see the mechanism as a promising platform for development of a new genome-editing method.

30 Aug 2024

Comparative Genomics Identifies a Novel Gene Involved in Spider Patterning

An ancient gene is crucial for the development of the distinctive waist that divides the spider body plan in two, according to a study publishing August 29th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Emily Setton from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, US, and colleagues.

30 Aug 2024

The Molecular Process That Causes MS and Autoimmune Diseases

A human immune system suppressor known as “regulatory T cells” was first identified more than 20 years ago by a research team working in the lab of Yale researcher David Hafler, who was at Harvard at the time.

29 Aug 2024

Evolution of Blood Sugar Regulation in Neotropical Bats

Humans must regulate blood sugar concentrations to stay healthy and to fuel our cells. Too little or too much can cause serious health complications, and high blood sugar is a hallmark of the metabolic condition, diabetes. New research from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research may enable potential solutions to metabolic disease by turning to evolution and to bats.

29 Aug 2024

Bifidobacterium in Maternal Gut Found to Alter Fetal Brain Growth

Bifidobacterium breve supplementation in pregnant mice alters fetal brain metabolism, highlighting its role in enhancing gestational health and development.

29 Aug 2024

Illuminating Plant Defense Mechanisms Through Light-Activated Ion Channels

When it comes to survival, plants have a huge disadvantage compared to many other living organisms: they cannot simply change their location if predators or pathogens attack them or the environmental conditions change to their disadvantage.

29 Aug 2024

Bacterial Cells Pass on Non-Genetic Traits Across Generations

Bacterial cells can "remember" brief, temporary changes to their bodies and immediate surroundings, a new Northwestern University and University of Texas-Southwestern study has found.

29 Aug 2024

The Influence of 'Silent' Mutations on Genetic Disorders

Genetic disorders -; like cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease -; are considered incurable, with gene mutations occurring in essentially every cell of the body.

29 Aug 2024

Clock Genes Drive Evolutionary Split in Two Moth Species

Investigating moth speciation, this research highlights the impact of clock genes on behavior, providing a rare glimpse into evolutionary processes.

28 Aug 2024

Stem Cell Research Sheds Light on Rare Pediatric Condition

Scientists have identified mutations in the DENND5A gene that cause severe neurodevelopmental issues in infants, leading to improper brain cell division during development.

28 Aug 2024

RNA Interference Drugs Offer Faster, More Effective Alternative to Traditional Drug Discovery

Alnylam's RNA interference platform accelerates drug discovery by targeting RNA transcripts, addressing complex diseases with innovative therapeutic strategies.

28 Aug 2024

CDCA7's Role in DNA Methylation Maintenance Revealed in Recent Study

DNA methylation is a process in which a methyl group is attached to the cytosine base of the DNA molecule, and a major way that DNA is epigenetically marked. Epigenetic modifications can act as on-off switches to regulate gene expression and help generate diverse cell types without changing the underlying DNA sequence. It is how the body ensures that brain-related genes don't get turned on in heart cells, for example.

28 Aug 2024

High-Resolution Structures Illuminate the Chloroplast Protein Import Machinery in Plants

Two groundbreaking studies published in the journal Cell shed light on the assembly, function and evolutionary diversity of the chloroplast protein import system.

28 Aug 2024