DNA News and Research

RSS

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).

Xinjiang Cotton Fields Show Lasting Benefits From Mulched Drip Irrigation

Long-term mulched drip irrigation enhances soil health, reduces salinity, and increases cotton yields, showcasing its sustainability in water-scarce areas.

3 Oct 2024

New Insights into U1 Snrnp Functions in Plant Splicing Mechanisms Using Arabidopsis

U1 snRNP interactions in Arabidopsis highlight its dual role in splicing and mRNA regulation, essential for maintaining transcript integrity and growth.

2 Oct 2024

Targeting the TCA Cycle to Reduce Post-TB Mortality

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions have discovered a mechanism that causes the long-term decline in immune response observed after tuberculosis (TB) is successfully treated.

1 Oct 2024

A Novel Genetic Inference Method for Detecting Rare Disease Variants

Undiagnosed cases of Long QT syndrome have been found, thanks to an inventive examination of shared genomic sequences, which is a sign of distant “relatedness” and can cause irregular heart rhythms, fainting, and sudden cardiac death.

30 Sep 2024

Huntington's Disease Protein Disrupts DNA Repair

Researchers at McMaster University have found that the mutated protein in Huntington's disease patients disrupts DNA repair as it should, which affects the capacity of brain cells to regenerate.

30 Sep 2024

Study: Vaping Alters DNA in Ways Similar to Smoking

Young adults who vape show chemical changes in their DNA similar to those found in young adults who smoke -; changes known to be linked to the development of cancer -; according to a new study just published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.

26 Sep 2024

Metagenomic Study Reveals the Most Ancient Dairy Remains Known to Date

The oldest method of producing food with microorganisms in human history is food fermentation. Cheese production and consumption dates back to 7000 before the present (BP) among Mediterranean populations, and milk fermentation, for instance, dates back to 6000–4000 BC in India.

26 Sep 2024

Bacteria Can Recode Their Genetics With a Single Flip

Envision being a single cartwheel away from altering looks. The brown locks will turn platinum blond with just one flip. That is similar to what occurs in certain prokaryotes, or single-celled creatures like bacteria when they go through a process known as inversions.

26 Sep 2024

Stem Cell Study Reveals Developmental Dance Behind Individual Variation

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the variations present in human stem cells. This study sheds light on how the unique “developmental dance” at the molecular level within an individual's cells can shape the formation of the brain and the body.

26 Sep 2024

Enhancing Global Nutrition Through Gene-Edited High-Protein Crops

A Mississippi State biologist's groundbreaking research in improving global nutrition and sustainability is featured this week in New Phytologist, a leading plant biology journal.

26 Sep 2024

The Evolutionary Secrets of Human Hearts

A team from the Max Delbrück Center's Hübner and Diecke Labs demonstrated the genetic differences between human and non-human primate hearts.

25 Sep 2024

Neutron Scattering Reveals Enzyme Secrets

Scientists have uncovered amazing information about the role of an enzyme that could assist in the development of drugs for aggressive cancers in just two neutron experiments.

25 Sep 2024

Human Urine Recycling Promotes Agricultural Sustainability

Bacterial communities in soil are as resilient to human urine as synthetic fertilizers – making recycling the bodily fluid as a fertilizer for agricultural crops a viable proposition, according to a new study.

24 Sep 2024

New Insights into Recessive Genetic Causes of Developmental Disorders

Researchers have carried out the most extensive and varied investigation to date regarding the role that recessive genetic alterations play in developmental disorders.

24 Sep 2024

New Gene Editing Tool Shows Promise for Treating Diseases

Bacterial and archaeal CRISPR-Cas systems, comprising protein and RNA components, were initially developed as a natural defense mechanism against invading viruses.

24 Sep 2024

A Novel Function for STING in DNA Damage Response

A study published in the journal Molecular Cell has shed light on the multifaceted role of STING, a protein previously implicated in antiviral signaling pathways. The study reveals that STING also plays a crucial part in facilitating cellular stress resolution and promoting cell survival.

23 Sep 2024

A New Method to Correct Misplaced Proteins in Cells

Cells are highly controlled spaces that rely on every protein being in the right place. Many diseases, including cancers and neurodegenerative disorders, are associated with misplaced proteins. In some cancers, for instance, a protein that normally stands watch over DNA replicating in the nucleus is sent far from the DNA it is meant to monitor, allowing cancers to grow.

23 Sep 2024

A New Understanding of the Effects of Fever on Immune Cells

Fever temperatures rev up immune cell metabolism, proliferation and activity, but they also -; in a particular subset of T cells -; cause mitochondrial stress, DNA damage and cell death, Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers have discovered.

23 Sep 2024

DNA Duplication Determines Horse Coat Color and Melanoma Risk

Scientists from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) and Uppsala University in Sweden now understand why some gray horses turn completely white as they age, while others remain an eye-catching "dappled" gray color.

23 Sep 2024

Novel Tool Helps Identify Snake Venom Genes Across Species

Only about ten percent of the world's roughly 4,000 snake species have venom strong enough to seriously hurt a human, but that's enough for snake bites to be an important public health concern.

20 Sep 2024