Dopamine in the brain influences movement, learning, motivation and sleep. In humans, problems with dopamine are linked to conditions like Parkinson's disease, depression and sleep disorders.

14 Jan 2026

Intelectin-2: A Dual-Action Lectin Fortifies Gut Barrier and Fights Bacteria

The mucosal surfaces that line the body are embedded with defensive molecules that help keep microbes from causing inflammation and infections.

14 Jan 2026

Marsupial Gut Microbiomes Show Diet Adaptations, Antibiotic Resistance Risks

Marsupials are a group of mammals that encompass many of Australia's most iconic animals, unique because of their geographically isolated evolution.

14 Jan 2026

New Pangenomic Approach Enables Unprecedented Scaling for Genetic Data

Researchers at the University of California have created a novel data structure and compression method that allows pangenomics to process genetic information at previously unattainable scales.

14 Jan 2026

Giant Virus with A Massive Genome and Unusual Infection Strategy

Ushikuvirus, a newly identified giant virus, showcases unique cytopathic effects and structural features, enhancing knowledge of viral evolution and diversity.

14 Jan 2026

New Technique Measures How Effectively Antibiotics Kill Bacteria

Drugs that act against bacteria are mainly assessed based on how well they inhibit bacterial growth under laboratory conditions.

12 Jan 2026

New Algorithms Automate Counting of Sister Chromatid Exchanges in Microscope Images

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a suite of algorithms to automate the counting of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in chromosomes under the microscope. Conventional analysis requires trained personnel and time, with variability between different people.

12 Jan 2026

Giant Virus Uses Unique Codon Strategy to Optimize Host Resource Usage

A virus relies on the host's translation machinery to replicate itself and become infectious. Translation efficiency partially depends on the usage of a codon, or sequence of three nucleotides, that matches the cellular pool of tRNA, key molecules in translation.

12 Jan 2026

Immune Cell Atlas of Multiple Myeloma Could Guide Future Treatment Strategies

Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in partnership with the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and in collaboration with leading institutions across the country, have helped generate the largest single-cell immune cell atlas of the bone marrow in patients with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that, while treatable, remains incurable.

12 Jan 2026

Scientists Uncover How Cell Growth and Pressure Shape Pancreatic Ducts

Researchers discovered that pressure and cell division rate influence the form of fluid-filled cavities in the developing pancreas.

12 Jan 2026

Population-Specific Proteomic Analysis Advances Precision Medicine for Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers have conducted the most comprehensive analysis to date linking plasma proteins to genetic variation in individuals from continental Africa.

9 Jan 2026

Synthetic RNA Platform Converts Viral Replication Into Detectable Cellular Signals

The technology, called the Viral-Engineered RNA-based Activation System (VERAS), hijacks the virus's own replication machinery to switch on reporter or therapeutic genes precisely in infected cells.

9 Jan 2026

Deep Learning–Based Codon Optimization Framework Boosts Protein Expression in E. coli

By combining Transformer-based sequence modeling with a novel conditional probability strategy, the approach overcomes long-standing trade-offs between maximizing expression metrics and maintaining translational features critical for proper protein folding.

9 Jan 2026

Parallel Molecular Routes Ensure Accurate Centromere Specification During Cell Division

Despite the immense amount of genetic material present in each cell, around three billion base pairs in humans, this material needs to be accurately divided in two and allocated in equal quantities.

9 Jan 2026

Ancient WUS Genes and Expression Thresholds Shape Shoot Regeneration

Unlike animals, plants generate most organs after embryogenesis through stem cell–driven meristems, enabling lifelong growth and regeneration.

9 Jan 2026

Giant Ushikuvirus Discovery Sheds Light on the Origins of Life

The origin of life on Earth becomes even more fascinating and complex as we peer into the mysterious world of viruses.

8 Jan 2026

Genetic Study Links Expanding DNA Repeats to Aging and Disease Risk

An analysis of genetic data from over 900,000 people shows that certain stretches of DNA, made up of short sequences repeated over and over, become longer and more unstable as we age.

8 Jan 2026

Molecular Switch Found to Control Single-Celled to Multicellular Transitions

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have identified the genes that allow an organism to switch between living as single cells and forming multicellular structures.

8 Jan 2026

Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering Drive Microbial L-Tryptophan Biomanufacturing

This review synthesizes progress in pathway optimization, regulatory rewiring, and microbial cell factory design that has driven L-Trp titers to industrially relevant levels while enabling the biosynthesis of downstream products ranging from neurotransmitters and plant hormones to dyes and complex alkaloids.

8 Jan 2026