Genetics News and Research

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Genetics is the study of genes and heredity. Heredity is the passing of genetic information and traits (such as eye color and an increased chance of getting a certain disease) from parents to offspring.

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

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

Researchers Decode Impact of Every Possible Alteration in Critical Cancer Gene

Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute have mapped all possible outcomes of changes to a tumor-suppressing gene called VHL, as the first step in a massive research project to unravel the consequences of tens of thousands of genetic variations in genes linked to cancer.

4 Jul 2024

TRPC5 Gene Alterations: A Key Player in Obesity and Postpartum Depression

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Cambridge and collaborating institutions have discovered that alterations in the human gene TRPC5 cause obesity and postpartum depression.

3 Jul 2024

Study Offers Insights Genetic Variants Influencing Pubertal Timing

Genes can indirectly influence the age at which girls have their first period by accelerating weight gain in childhood, a known risk factor for early puberty, a Cambridge-led study has found.

2 Jul 2024

PepFlow: Deep-Learning Model Unveils Multi-Conformational Peptide Structures

Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a deep-learning model, called PepFlow, that can predict all possible shapes of peptides – chains of amino acids that are shorter than proteins, but perform similar biological functions.

1 Jul 2024

Mice Studies Shed Light on Serotonin and Memory

Memory regulation in humans and animal models is regulated by the serotonin 2C receptor in the brain, according to research from Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, and affiliated institutions.

1 Jul 2024

One Size Doesn't Fit All: Study Reveals Stark Sex Differences in Mitochondrial Activity

Study comparing the genetic activity of mitochondria, the cell’s power plants, in males and females finds extreme differences, suggesting certain disease therapies must be tailored to each sex.

26 Jun 2024

CRISPR-Derived Protein Controls Exon Inclusion and Exclusion

The University of Toronto researchers have successfully and precisely controlled the process of RNA splicing by using CRISPR, a bacterial immune defense system.

25 Jun 2024

Unlocking the Role of Antisense RNA as a Gene Expression Booster

The function of non-coding RNA in the cell has long been a mystery to researchers. Unlike coding RNA, non-coding RNA does not produce proteins – yet it exists in large quantities.

25 Jun 2024

Unlocking the Spatial Dynamics of Amino Acid Metabolism in Tea Plants

Amino acids are vital for plant growth and significantly influence tea flavor and health benefits. Tea plants, particularly Camellia sinensis, exhibit unique amino acid profiles that contribute to their distinctive taste and nutritional value.

25 Jun 2024

Genomic Insights into Glucosinolate Biosynthesis in Broccoli

A detailed genomic study of broccoli has revealed the genetic foundations for the production of glucosinolates (GSLs), compounds celebrated for their health benefits, including anti-carcinogenic properties.

24 Jun 2024

Genetic Insights into Coffee Consumption and Health Implications

Coffee drinking is a heritable habit, and one that carries a certain amount of genetic baggage.

20 Jun 2024

Understanding Collective Cell Behavior in Constrained Environments

Looking under the microscope, a group of cells slowly moves forward in a line, like a train on the tracks.

20 Jun 2024

Study Uncovers Huge Untapped Genetic Potential in Modern Wheat Varieties

A decade-long collaborative study has discovered huge genetic potential that is untapped in modern wheat varieties.

18 Jun 2024

New Gene Drive System Offers Hope for Sustainable Agriculture

The Chinese Academy of Sciences and Peking University, along with Wenfeng Qian from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB), have collaborated to create a plant gene drive system known as CRISPR-Assisted Inheritance utilizing NPG1 (CAIN).

18 Jun 2024