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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

Genetically edited form of herpes simplex virus outperforms key vaccine candidate

A genetically edited form of a herpes simplex virus -- rewired to keep it from taking refuge in the nervous system and eluding an immune response -- has outperformed a leading vaccine candidate in a new study from the University of Cincinnati, Northwestern University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

9 Nov 2020

Researchers show how encapsulated viruses hijack biosynthetic pathways in cells

Researchers from the Universities of Melbourne, York, Warwick and Oxford have shed light on how encapsulated viruses like hepatitis B, dengue and SARS-CoV-2 hijack the protein manufacturing and distribution pathways in the cell - they have also identified a potential broad spectrum anti-viral drug target to stop them in their tracks.

9 Nov 2020

Plastic pollution and ocean acidification have significant impacts on species living in oceans

The combined environmental threat of plastic pollution and ocean acidification are having significant impacts on species living in our oceans, according to new research.

9 Nov 2020

Unrelated mutations can lead to false positive results in men with advanced prostate cancer

Unrelated mutations, when present in the blood, can lead to false positive results in men with advanced prostate cancer who are undergoing liquid biopsies.

6 Nov 2020

Highly automated device rapidly detects the presence of COVID-19

Throughout the pandemic, infectious disease experts and frontline medical workers have asked for a faster, cheaper and more reliable COVID-19 test.

6 Nov 2020

Study sheds new light on key protein implicated in tumor development

A study headed by the University of Colorado Boulder has revealed a specific protein that is crucial for regulating the growth, proliferation, and function of cells, and how these cells were long implicated in the development of tumors.

5 Nov 2020

Study examines how extremophilic microbes can tolerate drastic space conditions

Since the dawn of space exploration, humankind has been fascinated by survival of terrestrial life in outer space. Outer space is a hostile environment for any form of life, but some extraordinarily resistant microorganisms can survive.

5 Nov 2020

Study shows effectiveness of eDNA metabarcoding for monitoring deep-sea fish diversity

A new study demonstrates the effectiveness of a novel method for using DNA in seawater samples to determine which fish species are present in a given part of the deep sea.

5 Nov 2020

Researchers use AI tool to study the dynamics behind cancer, Alzheimer’s disease

With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), scientists from the University of Copenhagen have solved a crucial issue that, to date, has been a major barrier to significant protein research into the dynamics behind various diseases, like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and also in the development of novel gene-editing techniques and sustainable chemistry.

4 Nov 2020

Novel computational method quantifies the coordination level between different genes

Although all humans share similar changes during aging such as gray hair, wrinkles, and a general decline in function, aging is considered to be the result of a cellular wear-and-tear process due to accumulated random damage, such as genetic mutations or DNA structural damage.

4 Nov 2020

Computational method reveals a new hallmark of aging

While all human beings share changes during aging, like wrinkles, gray hair, and a general drop in function, aging is assumed to be the outcome of a cellular process.

4 Nov 2020

Pancreatic cancer cells avert starvation by signaling to nerves, shows study

Pancreatic cancer cells avert starvation by signaling to nerves, which grow into dense tumors and secrete nutrients. This is the finding of a study with experiments in cancer cells, mice, and human tissue samples published online on November 2 in Cell.

3 Nov 2020

Study reveals proteins that enable SINEUPs to increase protein production

Scientists from an international group led by the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences and Yokohama City University have discovered that a pair of proteins play a key role in allowing an important type of functional non-coding RNA, known as SINEUPs, to act to promote their target messenger RNA.

2 Nov 2020

Gut microbes mitigate radiation exposure, repair GI tract

A new study by scientists at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and colleagues published Oct. 30, 2020, in Science, showed that mice exposed to potentially lethal levels of total body radiation were protected from radiation damage if they had specific types of bacteria in their gut.

2 Nov 2020