DNA News and Research

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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).

Scientists unravel the proteins that trigger some cancerous tumors

Even on a good day, DNA is constantly getting damaged. Nicks, scratches, breaks: the delicate strands that carry life's genetic code take a beating as they jumble about in the course of their work. If left untreated, errors accumulate, with fatal consequences -- such as cancerous tumors -- for the cell and the organism.

11 Jun 2021

Novel platform may lead to more improved gene therapies

Researchers from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed polypeptide-based materials that serve as effective vectors in delivering gene therapies.

11 Jun 2021

New “phase separation” protects against premature aging, neurological disorders

According to a new study, a mechanism through which an RNA, called NORAD, drives the Pumilio protein to create liquid droplets in cells—similar to oil in water—appears to closely control the activity of this protein.

11 Jun 2021

Study reveals key molecule involved in myelin repair

New research works indicate that new brain cells are continuously formed in response to physical exercise, injury, and mental stimulation.

9 Jun 2021

Consuming large amounts of daily caffeine may increase the risk of glaucoma

Consuming large amounts of daily caffeine may increase the risk of glaucoma more than three-fold for those with a genetic predisposition to higher eye pressure according to an international, multi-center study.

8 Jun 2021

Harmful DNA mutations play a key role in the conservation of threatened species

Researchers in Lund, Copenhagen, and Norwich have demonstrated that detrimental mutations in DNA play a vital—but often overlooked—role in vulnerable species translocation and conservation initiatives.

8 Jun 2021

Study describes the impact of DNA methylation on the 3D structure of genome

Although all cells in an organism share the same DNA sequence, their shapes, roles, and even lifespans differ drastically.

4 Jun 2021

Researchers develop DNA-based switching circuits

The myriad processes occurring in biological cells may seem unbelievably complex at first glance. And yet, in principle, they are merely a logical succession of events, and could even be used to form digital circuits.

4 Jun 2021

Scientists generate first-ever maps of genome's motions before and after cell differentiation

The organization of the human genome relies on physics of different states of matter - such as liquid and solid - a team of scientists has discovered.

3 Jun 2021

Study measures the mass of human chromosomes using X-rays for the first time

In a recent study led by UCL researchers, the mass of human chromosomes was quantified using X-rays for the first time.

From University College London 3 Jun 2021

New method can help diagnose unsolved cases of rare diseases across Europe

Experts in rare diseases have recently described the results of a collaboration to diagnose individuals living with unsolved cases of rare disorders throughout Europe.

3 Jun 2021

Understanding molecular determinants of liver cancer in patients with Indigenous American ancestry

Oncotarget published "Global DNA hypermethylation pattern and unique gene expression signature in liver cancer from patients with Indigenous American ancestry" which reported that contrasting with this pattern, the age structure of HCC in Andean people displays a bimodal distribution with half of the patients developing HCC in adolescence and early adulthood.

2 Jun 2021

First real-time observation of DNA-histone interactions

The genetic material of most organisms is carried by DNA, a complex organic molecule. DNA is very long -- for humans, the molecule is estimated to be about 2 m in length.

2 Jun 2021

Biologists use eDNA technique to find invasive snails

Invasive species, beware: Your days of hiding may be ending. Biologists led by the University of Iowa discovered the presence of the invasive New Zealand mud snail by detecting their DNA in waters they were inhabiting incognito.

2 Jun 2021

Study examines if myoDN improves myoblast differentiation exacerbated by diabetes

Skeletal muscle makes up 30% to 40% of body weight and serves multiple functions like heat production and energy metabolism.

1 Jun 2021

Researchers develop a new way for pollution remediation

Phosphate pollution in rivers, lakes and other waterways has reached dangerous levels, causing algae blooms that starve fish and aquatic plants of oxygen. Meanwhile, farmers worldwide are coming to terms with a dwindling reserve of phosphate fertilizers that feed half the world's food supply.

1 Jun 2021

New sunscreen is coral-safe and offers higher UVB/UVA protection

According to a new study reported in Nature Scientific Reports, Methylene Blue, a century-old medication, can be a very efficient, broad-spectrum UV irradiation protector that absorbs UVA and UVB, repairs ROS and UV irradiation-induced DNA damage, and is safe for coral reefs.

31 May 2021

New study shows why some children get secondary leukemia after neuroblastoma treatment

Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge discovered that in children with neuroblastoma—a tumor of immature nerve cells—platinum chemotherapy created mutations in the genome that might lead to leukemia in some children later on.

31 May 2021

“Topologically tunable” DNA-based material has potential applications in drug delivery, tissue regeneration

DNA is usually idealized as the “molecule of life,” but it is also a highly advanced polymer that can be used for cutting-edge materials. Apart from storing information, other interesting aspects of DNA are its topological and geometrical properties, like super-coiling and knotting.

31 May 2021

Researchers discover new genes and functionalities in bovine genome

Modern genetic research often works with what are known as reference genomes. Such a genome comprises data from DNA sequences that scientists have assembled as a representative example of the genetic makeup of a species.

27 May 2021