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IL-22BP Protein's Influence on Gut Microbiota and Infection Response Revealed

A study reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) shows how the presence of a specific protein called IL-22BP affects the composition of the gut microbiota and the body's response to bacterial infection.

30 Jul 2024

Transposable Elements Influence Genome Size and Gene Expression in Rosaceae Plants

Transposable elements are mobile DNA sequences that play a crucial role in plant genome architecture and gene regulation.

30 Jul 2024

Scientists Find Way to Regulate Bacterial Mutation Rates to Combat Antibiotic Resistance

Scientists have discovered a way to control mutation rates in bacteria, paving the way for new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.

29 Jul 2024

Researchers Discover Link Between Neolithic Farming and Brucellosis

Scientists believe the bacterial infection brucellosis, which affects millions of people every year and causes significant harm to the welfare of livestock, may have evolved along with the development of farming. They came to this conclusion after performing analyses of ancient DNA extracted from an 8,000-year-old sheep bone, in which the Brucella melitensis pathogen was detected.

29 Jul 2024

New RNA Sequencing Dataset Reveals Genetic Diversity Across Global Populations

An open-access dataset of RNA sequences from lymphoblastoid cell lines of 731 individuals spanning 26 populations and five continental groups.

24 Jul 2024

Genomic Insights into Prunus Species Evolution and Traits

The Prunus genus, encompassing apricots, peaches, plums, and mei, is vital due to its economic and nutritional value.

22 Jul 2024

UNC Charlotte Study: SARS-CoV-2 Variants BA.2.86 and JN.1 Show Minimal Immune Evasion

New research from UNC Charlotte's Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks (CIPHER) has found that the two recent and prevalent strains of the virus that cause COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 variants BA.2.86 and JN.1, are not significantly better than their predecessor Omicron at evading immune responses and causing infections despite having a high number of mutations compared to Omicron.

22 Jul 2024

How Tiny Freshwater Animals Utilize Bacterial DNA to Fight Fungal Infections

A group of small, freshwater animals protect themselves from infections using antibiotic recipes "stolen" from bacteria, according to new research by a team from the University of Oxford, the University of Stirling and the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), Woods Hole.

19 Jul 2024

Ginseng Genome Map Unlocks New Possibilities for Medicinal Applications

A landmark study has successfully decoded the complete ginseng genome, unveiling the genetic mechanisms that govern saponin biosynthesis. This detailed genetic map illuminates the evolutionary and metabolic pathways of Panax ginseng, a staple in traditional medicine.

19 Jul 2024

Global Gene Expression Data Improves Precision in Genetics

The majority of human genetics research has traditionally concentrated on individuals with European ancestry, a long-standing bias that may reduce the precision of scientific predictions for individuals from other populations.

18 Jul 2024

Reawakened Endogenous Retroviruses can Play a Critical Role in Helping Cancer Survive

Peek inside the human genome and, among the 20,000 or so genes that serve as building blocks of life, you'll also find flecks of DNA left behind by viruses that infected primate ancestors tens of millions of years ago.

18 Jul 2024

Fossils in Our Genes: Giant Viruses Leave Mark on Animal Relative

Recent research published in Science Advances uncovers an unexpected twist in the evolutionary history of complex life.

17 Jul 2024

Earliest Ancestors of Life Explored in Latest Scientific Study

A digital representation illustrating how LUCA was already under attack from viruses even at 4.2 billion years ago. Image Credit: Science Graphic Design

15 Jul 2024

Advancing the Understanding of Circadian Regulation with Melanopsin DNA Aptamers

DNA aptamers of melanopsin that regulate the clock hands of biological rhythms were developed by the Toyohashi University of Technology and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) group.

15 Jul 2024

Advancing Equitable and Inclusive DNA Research in Africa: A Vision for the Future The American Journal Of H...

Today, the American Journal of Human Genetics published a perspective piece on the need for an equitable and inclusive future for DNA and ancient DNA (aDNA) research in Africa.

12 Jul 2024

Selfish No More: Genetic Elements Give Phages a Competitive Edge

Curious bits of DNA tucked inside genomes across all kingdoms of life historically have been disregarded since they don't seem to have a role to play in the competition for survival.

7 Jul 2024

Study Reveals Key Genetic Interaction for Enhanced Drought Tolerance in Plants

Drought significantly impacts agricultural productivity and plant survival. Traditional methods for improving drought resistance, such as selective breeding and genetic modification, have had limited success.

5 Jul 2024

New Genetic Circuit Forces Cancer Cells to Self-Destruct

Treating cancer can sometimes feel like a game of Whac-A-Mole. The disease can become resistant to treatment, and clinicians never know when, where and what resistance might emerge, leaving them one step behind.

5 Jul 2024

Bowel Cancer Cells Use Genetic On-Off Switch' to Evade the Immune System

Bowel cancer cells have the ability to regulate their growth using a genetic on-off switch to maximize their chances of survival, a phenomenon that's been observed for the first time by researchers at UCL and University Medical Center Utrecht.

4 Jul 2024

Unveiling the Role of Exons in Protein Foldability and Evolution

A new study led by Rice University's Peter Wolynes offers new insights into the evolution of foldable proteins. The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

4 Jul 2024