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Two Genes Control Explosive Taste Bud Growth in Cavefish

Over thousands of years, cavefish evolved and lost their vision, earning the moniker "the blind cavefish," but some cavefish also developed an inordinate number of taste buds on the head and chin.

16 Aug 2024

Study Uncovers Biomarkers for Low Muscle Mass, Offering Insights for Personalized Prevention

Machine learning models to analyze computed tomography (CT) images of the chest and a proteomics approach to determine blood protein biomarkers.

15 Aug 2024

New Approach for Targeted Genome Editing in Wild Populations

Researchers from Macquarie University and the California Institute of Technology have discovered a novel method that, when published in Nature Communications on August 13th, 2024, might make it easier and more controllable for scientists to modify the genetic composition of wild populations than when using gene drives.

14 Aug 2024

New Breast Cell Atlas Enhances Understanding of Cancer Origins

Scientists at the Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center at Indiana University have finished the largest mapping of healthy breast cells to date.

13 Aug 2024

New Insights into How Cell Nuclei Shape Tissue Architecture During Development

In work conducted both at UC Santa Barbara and the Physics of Life Excellence Cluster of TU Dresden, biophysicist Otger Campàs and his research group have found that cell nuclei control the architecture and mechanics of eye and brain tissues during embryonic development.

13 Aug 2024

Utah Scientists Begin New Project to Map Epigenetic Changes Across the Human Genome

The Human Genome Project changed everything. A map of the entire human sequence of DNA was the starting point for an enormous number of discoveries, from disease genes to how humans evolved.

12 Aug 2024

Bacterial Defense Mechanism Revealed Through RNA-Derived Gene Synthesis

Researchers have uncovered a surprising way bacteria defend themselves: when a bacterium is infected, bacterial enzymes that copy genetic information from RNA into DNA synthesize genes whose protein products help shut down cell growth.

12 Aug 2024

Discovery of Largest Protein Sheds Light on Toxin Production in Marine Algae

While seeking to unravel how marine algae create their chemically complex toxins, scientists at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography have discovered the largest protein yet identified in biology.

12 Aug 2024

Peers' Genetic Traits Impact Long-Term Risk for Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders

Mom always said, "Choose your friends wisely." Now a study led by a Rutgers Health professor shows she was onto something: Their traits can rub off on you – especially ones that are in their genes.

12 Aug 2024

Exploring Retrotransposon-Derived DNA Zip Codes in Myeloma Cell Internalization

A new editorial was published in Oncoscience (Volume 11) on July 13, 2024, entitled, "Unveiling retrotransposon-derived DNA zip code for myeloma cell internalization."

12 Aug 2024

Discovery of Free-Floating Genes in Bacteria Challenges Genetic Code Assumptions

Since the genetic code was first deciphered in the 1960s, our genes seemed like an open book. By reading and decoding our chromosomes as linear strings of letters, like sentences in a novel, we can identify the genes in our genome and learn why changes in a gene's code affect health.

12 Aug 2024

CRISPR-Cas: A Promising Tool For Combatting Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Using CRISPR-Cas systems in various studies to detect and treat Staphylococcus aureus.

12 Aug 2024

From CRISPR-Cas to Fanzor system: New frontiers in gene editing

The features of various CRISPR-Cas systems, including CRISPR-associated transposons (CASTs) and the eukaryotic equivalent of CRISPR-Cas systems, Fanzor systems.

9 Aug 2024

Emerging Treatments and Drug Repositioning for NAFLD and NASH

The current research on drug candidates and molecular targets being clinically tested for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and NAFLD.

9 Aug 2024

Scientists Develop AI-Powered Tool to Optimize Gene Delivery

Gene therapy could potentially cure genetic diseases but it remains a challenge to package and deliver new genes to specific cells safely and effectively. Existing methods of engineering one of the most commonly used gene-delivery vehicles, adeno-associated viruses (AAV), are often slow and inefficient.

9 Aug 2024

Gene Editing Creates Prickle-Free Eggplants for Easier Farming

Eggplants, a staple crop globally, present significant challenges in cultivation and harvesting due to their prickles. These prickles, which serve as a natural defense mechanism, complicate handling and reduce efficiency in agricultural practices. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving farming outcomes. Consequently, researchers are focused on understanding the genetic basis of prickle formation to develop prickle-free eggplant varieties. Based on these challenges, there is a pressing need to conduct in-depth research and identify solutions for more efficient eggplant cultivation.

9 Aug 2024