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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).

Long-read sequencing revolutionizes diagnosis of rare diseases

One in every 10 people worldwide is impacted by a rare genetic disease but about 50% of them remain undiagnosed despite rapid increases in genetic technology and testing.

24 Jan 2025

Mapping the human virome to improve disease prevention and treatment

You, my friend, are what scientists call a "holobiont"- an organism made up of human cells and the multiplicity of microscopic species living inside you and on your body.

24 Jan 2025

NUS researchers develop DNA barcoded nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy

A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a novel method to enhance the precision of cancer treatment using gold nanoparticles tagged with DNA barcodes.

24 Jan 2025

Review highlights the role of mitochondrial Ca2+ imbalance in neurodegenerative diseases

Mitochondria are crucial organelles for cellular homeostasis, regulating processes such as ATP production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) management and Ca2+ signaling.

24 Jan 2025

Study reveals new mechanism behind gene expression regulation in animal cells

A research team at KAIST has identified the core gene expression networks regulated by key proteins that fundamentally drive phenomena such as cancer development, metastasis, tissue differentiation from stem cells, and neural activation processes.

24 Jan 2025

Decades of DNA expansion linked to Huntington’s disease neurodegeneration

Researchers uncover how slow CAG repeat expansions in neurons drive Huntington’s disease over decades.

24 Jan 2025

A global look at the gut: Scientists highlight microbiome diversity

Researchers analyzed 168,464 samples to uncover how geographic and technical factors shape global gut microbiome variation, highlighting underrepresented regions and technical biases.

23 Jan 2025

New discovery sheds light on how bacteria use plasmids to build resistance

An international collaboration has achieved an important breakthrough in understanding the genetic mechanisms that allow bacteria to build resistance to drugs.

23 Jan 2025

New $20 million NIH grant aims to uncover the secrets of the human virome

Unlocking knowledge about the vast and varied collection of viruses that live in and on our bodies is the goal of a $20 million grant from the Common Fund of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to researchers, including a team at UTHealth Houston.

23 Jan 2025

Crick researchers identify key Y chromosome genes influencing sperm development

Researchers at the Crick have uncovered which genes on the Y chromosome regulate the development of sperm and impact fertility in male mice.

23 Jan 2025

Boosting BCL6 may counteract muscle loss from GLP-1 medications

About one in eight adults in the United States has tried or currently uses a GLP-1 medication, and a quarter of those users cite weight loss as their main goal.

23 Jan 2025

Researchers map genetic differences across children with Wilms tumor

Genetically tailored treatment plans for children with a type of kidney cancer could help provide the most effective care while minimizing side effects as much as possible.

23 Jan 2025

New genomic insights could transform bipolar disorder treatment

Study published in Nature identifies nearly 300 genomic regions associated with bipolar disorder, and 36 key genes involved in the disease.

23 Jan 2025

Complete map of human DNA recombination unlocks secrets of genetic diversity

Scientists at deCODE genetics/Amgen have constructed a complete map of how human DNA is mixed as it is passed down during reproduction.

23 Jan 2025

Maternal vitamin D deficiency may accelerate fetal aging and impact newborn health

Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is linked to accelerated epigenetic gestational age in infants at birth, suggesting improper fetal development influenced by low vitamin D levels. The study also found associations between maternal age, birth height, and epigenetic aging, though cord blood vitamin D showed no significant impact.

22 Jan 2025

U.S. mosquito species show minimal risk of spreading Oropouche virus, study finds

US mosquito species exhibit minimal competence for transmitting Oropouche virus (OROV), with low infection and transmission rates across tested populations, suggesting limited potential for local outbreaks despite rising imported cases.

22 Jan 2025

Study reveals how gut bacteria influence immune cell training and inflammation

A study led by David Sancho at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) in Madrid reveals how an increase in intestinal permeability allows the natural gut bacteria to cross the intestinal barrier and reach the bone marrow, where they induce epigenetic changes-modifications that alter gene activity without affecting DNA sequence-in the stem cells that give rise to immune cells.

22 Jan 2025

APOBEC proteins linked to DNA repeat expansion in Huntington's disease

People genetically susceptible to Huntington's disease often see their movement, mood, and cognition decline slowly over time.

22 Jan 2025

Scientists discover critical factor in bone remodeling process

Bones are the living tissue on which the human skeleton is constructed and play a key role in enabling physical movements.

21 Jan 2025

Breakthrough study links genetic mutations to epigenetic changes in aging

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have published results that shed new light on an old question: what causes aging at the molecular level? Their findings, published in Nature Aging, describe a never-before-seen link between the two most accepted explanations: random genetic mutations and predictable epigenetic modifications.

21 Jan 2025