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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.

Stem cells that promote bone repair can also generate arthritic bone spurs

The same stem cells that heal broken bones can also generate arthritic bone spurs called osteophytes, according to a new study in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

13 Oct 2020

Enzyme SSH1 impairs disposal of damaged tau and mitochondria leaking toxins

In a healthy brain, the multistep waste clearance process known as autophagy routinely removes and degrades damaged cell components - including malformed proteins like tau and toxic mitochondria.

13 Oct 2020

Scientists identify molecular mechanisms of IFN responses in COVID-19 disease

SARS-CoV-2 continues to cause an ongoing pandemic as of October 2020, with over 35 million reported cases and over 1 million deaths around the world.

13 Oct 2020

Researchers identify mechanism that silences “parasitic” DNA-elements in pluripotent stem cells

Every eukaryotic organism contains the so-called transposons, which are abundant DNA-elements.

13 Oct 2020

Oncopig fulfills the unmet clinical modeling needs for hepatocellular carcinoma

Volume 11, Issue 28 of Oncotarget features "Development and comprehensive characterization of porcine hepatocellular carcinoma for translational liver cancer investigation" by Gaba et, al. which reported that reliable development of Oncopig HCC cell lines was demonstrated through hepatocyte isolation and Cre recombinase exposure across 15 Oncopigs.

12 Oct 2020

Scientists discern molecular mechanisms underlying plant parasitism and cross-species grafting

Using the model Orobanchaceae parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum, scientists from Nagoya University and other research institutes from Japan have discerned the molecular mechanisms underlying plant parasitism and cross-species grafting, pinpointing enzyme β-1,4-glucanase (GH9B3) as an important contributor to both phenomena.

12 Oct 2020

Scientists develop UK Crop Microbiome Cyrobank to facilitate sustainable yield improvement

Scientists from the UK's foremost agricultural research institutes have teamed up to create a new UK Crop Microbiome Cyrobank (UK-CMCB) to safeguard future research and facilitate the sustainable yield improvement of the UK's six major food crops including barley, oats, oil seed rape, potato, sugar beet and wheat.

12 Oct 2020

Genomes provide insights into fig-wasp coevolution

Banyan trees are fig trees that begin their life as an epiphyte. The most noticeable feature of banyan Ficus species is their extraordinary aerial roots, which enable them to live as hemi-epiphytes, as do the strangler figs often seen in tropical forests.

12 Oct 2020

Study shows thymoquinone compound selectively kills prostate cancer cells

According to a new study reported in the Oncogene journal, the thymoquinone (TQ) compound selectively destroys prostate cancer cells at advanced phases.

9 Oct 2020

Newly developed biodegradable microneedles deliver genes into the skin

Gene therapy offers an excellent potential for treating specific types of genetic defects and cancer, immunological diseases, infections, and wounds.

9 Oct 2020

Researchers identify specific neurons that may contribute to epileptic seizures

Epilepsy, results from impairment in brain cells and is often treated with drugs that counteract or control the seizures.

9 Oct 2020

Study confirms genetic link in cerebral palsy

A research team has found further evidence that rare gene mutations can cause cerebral palsy, findings which could lead to earlier diagnosis.

8 Oct 2020

Microneedles For Therapeutic Gene Delivery

There is great potential in gene therapy for treating certain types of cancer and genetic defects, immunological diseases, wounds and infections.

7 Oct 2020

New machine learning algorithms to analyze reams of RNA-based 'toehold' sequences

DNA and RNA have been compared to "instruction manuals" containing the information needed for living "machines" to operate.

7 Oct 2020

Cyanobacteria As "Green" Catalysts In Biotechnology

Cyanobacteria are known as "blue-green algae", and convert light energy into chemical energy effectively thanks to their active photosynthetic cells.

7 Oct 2020

Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in trees for a bio-based economy

Researchers led by prof. Wout Boerjan (VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology) have discovered a way to stably finetune the amount of lignin in poplar by applying CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

7 Oct 2020

Researchers investigate the role of auxin in regulating pathogen gene expression

Scientists have long known that the plant hormone auxin controls many aspects of plant growth, development, and responses to the environment. Only more recently have they begun to understand that there is also a link between auxin and leaf spotting diseases.

7 Oct 2020

CAR T cell therapy can predict treatment outcomes in patients with large B-cell lymphoma

Scientists have identified cellular and molecular features of anti-CD19 CAR T cell infusion products that are correlated with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL).

6 Oct 2020

Researchers identify gene related to seed dispersal in green millet

For years, Elizabeth (Toby) Kellogg, PhD, member and Robert E. King Distinguished Investigator and other researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (Danforth Center) drove up and down the highways of the continental United States, occasionally pulling over to the side of the road to collect small weedy plants and bring them back to the lab.

6 Oct 2020

Study reveals process for regenerating neurons in the eye and brain

The death of neurons, whether in the brain or the eye, can result in a number of human neurodegenerative disorders, from blindness to Parkinson's disease.

6 Oct 2020