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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).

Large Study Finds 187 New Genetic Variants Linked to Prostate Cancer

A globe-spanning scientific team has compiled the most comprehensive list of genetic variants associated with prostate cancer risk -; 451 in all -; through a whole-genome analysis that ranks as the largest and most diverse investigation into prostate cancer genetics yet.

10 Nov 2023

Dissecting the Mechanisms Behind Selective Genomic Editing

A new study is in progress to unravel a fascinating biological mystery of how certain animals can naturally eliminate more than half of their genetic information during embryonic development.

10 Nov 2023

Examining the Link Between Sleep Alteration and Aging in Jewel Wasps

Parents of newborns might sense a rapid aging effect during the early months of sleepless nights. Currently, researchers at the University of Leicester are exploring the intriguing possibility that the key to a long and healthy life lies in a restful night's sleep and human DNA.

10 Nov 2023

Seventh Annual NSF-Funded Solicitation for Tissue Engineering Research Utilizing the ISS National Lab Now Open

For the seventh consecutive year, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is funding a solicitation seeking projects that utilize the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory to advance tissue engineering and mechanobiology research. Through this solicitation, NSF will provide up to $1.6 million in funding for multiple projects intending to leverage the orbiting laboratory.

10 Nov 2023

Unleashing the Power of Melanin in Space for Next-Gen Biomaterials

Exploring the mysteries of the natural pigment melanin in the unique microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS) could lead to groundbreaking advances in biomaterial production on Earth and beyond.

9 Nov 2023

Distinctive Taste Receptors Between a Moth’s Larval and Adult Stages

New research reveals that the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) employs distinct sugar-sensing mechanisms in its larval and adult stages to fulfill its dietary preferences.

8 Nov 2023

Unearthing Beal’s Time Capsule: The 144-Year-Old Seed Experiment

In April of 2021, a clandestine gathering took place on the Michigan State University campus, where four plant scientists from the university unearthed a bottle filled with seeds that had been buried over 144 years ago by the renowned MSU botanist, William J. Beal.

8 Nov 2023

Genomic Sequencing Reveals Songbird’s Secrets

Researchers have deciphered the genetic foundation responsible for the striking diversity in body size that is evident among song sparrows, a cherished and widely recognized species of North American songbirds.

8 Nov 2023

Unlocking the Secrets of Bacterial Transcription

Bacterial transcription serves as an assembly line for duplicating genetic directives from double-stranded DNA into RNA molecules.

7 Nov 2023

Unveiling the Role of Foxp3 in Shaping Chromatin Architecture of Regulatory T Cells

Regulatory T cells, or Tregs, represent a specialized class of immune cells dedicated to quelling immune responses and safeguarding the body against self-attack.

7 Nov 2023

Epigenetic Changes Drive Cancer Development

Every cell makes its own proteins by accessing the genetic information on its genes. Changes in this information, called mutations, may ruin the function of the affected proteins.

7 Nov 2023

Plants Exploit Randomness to Avoid Mitochondrial Damage

Humans wouldn't last long without plant mitochondria and chloroplasts. These essential compartments of plant cells famously capture sunlight and power plant life – and so, ultimately, provide all the food we eat.

7 Nov 2023

Dendritic Cells Reprogram Their Genes to Enhance Immune Response

Scientists at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), under the leadership of Professor Francisco Sánchez-Madrid, have discovered that dendritic cells, responsible for triggering targeted immune responses, possess the ability to modify their genes in order to enhance their immune reactivity.

6 Nov 2023