Molecular Biology News and Research

RSS

Molecular biology is the study of biology at a molecular level. The field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry. Molecular biology chiefly concerns itself with understanding the interactions between the various systems of a cell, including the interactions between DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis as well as learning how these interactions are regulated.

Research Provides a Comprehensive Set of Genomic Resources for Pangolins

A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution, published by Oxford University Press, for the first time provides a comprehensive set of genomic resources for pangolins, sometimes known as scaly anteaters, that researchers believe will be integral for protecting these threatened mammals.

5 Oct 2023

Study Highlights Cellular and Molecular Characteristics of Senescent Ocular Surface Cells

A new priority research paper was published on the cover of Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 18, entitled, "Gene expression signatures of human senescent corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells."

4 Oct 2023

Genomic Surveillance Finds Malaria-Causing Parasites Resistant to Treatments

Scientists have discovered new strains of malaria-causing parasites in Ethiopia that are both resistant to current treatments and evade detection by common diagnostic tests—a development that could increase malaria cases and deaths while making eradicating the disease even more difficult.

12 Sep 2023

Bats' Navigation Brain Cells Also Encode Social Information

The same neurons that help bats navigate through space may also help them navigate collective social environments, finds a new study published today in the journal Nature.

31 Aug 2023

HydRegen Secure BBSRC, EPSRC and IUK Grant Funding to Unlock Sustainable Biocatalytic Hydrogenation

HydRegen, the biotechnology company enabling sustainable chemical manufacturing, and researchers from the University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Engineering collaborate in a project to unlock sustainable biocatalytic hydrogenation and receive grant funding from BBSRC, EPSRC and IUK to complete the feasibility study.

30 Aug 2023

Changes in RNA Induced by Different Chemical Modifications

RNA is essential for protein synthesis in the cell. According to a new study, RNA can be modified by numerous chemical modifications, the purpose of which is unknown to most people.

28 Aug 2023

DNA Data Storage: The Next Frontier in Computer Technology

The hereditary molecule DNA can store a great deal of information over long periods of time in a very small space. For a good ten years, scientists have therefore been pursuing the goal of developing DNA chips for computer technology, for example for the long-term archiving of data.

25 Aug 2023

The “Unknome” Dataset Contains Protein Sequences That Are Still Unknown

Researchers from the UK anticipate that a new, freely accessible database they have developed will get smaller rather than bigger over time. This is due to the fact that it is a compilation of the many understudied proteins that are encoded by genes in the human genome, whose existence is recognized but whose activities are mostly unknown.

9 Aug 2023

Unique Molecular Structure Has Effects on Age-Related Diseases

The mitochondria, sometimes known as the “powerhouses of the cell,” are widely recognized for their function as energy producers, but these organelles are also essential for preserving general health.

8 Aug 2023

Bacteria Have Complex Circadian Clocks, Study Finds

Bacteria make up more than 10% of all living things but until recently we had little realization that, as in humans, soil bacteria have internal clocks that synchronize their activities with the 24-hour cycles of day and night on Earth.

7 Aug 2023

Researchers Elucidate STING Protein's New Role in Immune Defense

A signaling protein known as STING is a critical player in the human immune system, detecting signs of danger within cells and then activating a variety of defense mechanisms.

7 Aug 2023

Leveraging Nature's Blueprint: The Impact of Directed Evolution in Protein Engineering

In this interview conducted at SLAS EU 2023 in Brussels, Belgium, we spoke to Miguel Alcalde, a Research Professor at the CSIC, about directed evolution in enzymology and the wider biotechnology sector.

From Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) 4 Aug 2023

Do Host Social Interactions Influence Gut Bacteria Evolution?

A recent study demonstrates how host social interactions can have a significant influence on the development of gut bacteria in the gut microbiome. The study, carried out by a group of researchers from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, sought to investigate the impact of host-to-host bacterial transmission on Escherichia coli (E. coli) evolution in mammalian guts.

3 Aug 2023

New Gene Editing Technique Reduces Chalkiness in Rice

As global temperatures continue to rise, maintaining the quality and yield of crops adapted to lower temperatures will increasingly become a challenge.

31 Jul 2023

Analyzing DNA Damage-Induced NF-κB Targeted by Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy aim to destroy cancer cells by inducing DNA double-strand breaks – damage that, once inflicted, usually causes the cells to die. But damage to a cell's genetic material also activates a signaling pathway called IKK/NF-κB that helps prevent cell death, thus limiting the success of these treatments in patients.

28 Jul 2023

New Method Creates Embryo-Like Structure That Mimics Gastrulation

Gastrulation, the process where an embryo reorganizes itself from a hollow sphere into a multilayered structure, is considered a "black box" of human development.

21 Jul 2023

Gene Recognition of CRISPR-Cas Visualized With New Method

A novel technique has been devised by researchers from the University of Leipzig and the University of Vilnius in Lithuania to monitor the smallest twists and torques of molecules in milliseconds.

13 Jul 2023

First 'Living Digital Camera' Stores Images in DNA

In a world first, a 'biological camera' bypasses the constraints of current DNA storage methods, harnessing living cells and their inherent biological mechanisms to encode and store data.

12 Jul 2023

Researchers Uncover Astonishing Diversity of Protein Structures Previously Unexplored

The astounding variety of protein structures and their folds in nature has been further illuminated by a ground-breaking discovery. Researchers wanted to know how much of the huge range of potential protein structures nature had examined.

12 Jul 2023

New Insights Into How Genes Are Activated

Genetic information contained within DNA has to be read by specific proteins that enable the process of gene activation to begin – but in many cases, these proteins can't access their targets because DNA strands are bundled up to control what genes are used in the wide range of different cell types.

12 Jul 2023