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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 pinpoint regions and species fueling coronavirus evolution in bats

Study uncovers the evolution, transmission, and geographic spread of bat coronaviruses in China, revealing key insights into hotspots and the origins of SARS-CoV-2.

1 Jan 2025

Exploring new ways to improve treatment options for kidney cancer patients

A Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center researcher is exploring new ways to improve treatment options for kidney cancer patients.

30 Dec 2024

Advancements in DNA storage through epi-bit technology

In the era of big data, global mass data flow has presented data storage systems with a looming challenge. As DNA has incredibly high storage density – a single gram of DNA can store 215,000 terabytes, the same size as 10 million hours of high-definition video (Imburgia & Nivala, 2024)– and long-term stability, it is an attractive medium for data storage.

26 Dec 2024

Complex interactions between nucleic acid sensors and enzymes in immune cells explained

Adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) has been identified as a regulator of toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) activation in response to nucleic acids, according to a recent study.

26 Dec 2024

Fruit flies steal bacterial defense to survive parasitic wasps

In the continual arms race between parasites and their hosts, innovation was thought to be the key to a successful attack or defense that one-ups the competition.

24 Dec 2024

The "Goldilocks" zone: A key to cellular adaptability and resilience

In a discovery that could redefine how we understand cellular resilience and adaptability, scientists at Scripps Research have unlocked the secret interactions between a primordial inorganic polymer of phosphate known as polyphosphate (polyP), and two basic building blocks of life: DNA and the element magnesium.

24 Dec 2024

New insights into the developmental trajectory of social behaviors in fragile X syndrome

In a comprehensive Genomic Press Interview, researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Hirosaki University have uncovered critical new insights into the developmental trajectory of social behaviors in fragile X syndrome, the leading genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder.

24 Dec 2024

SPLICER shows promise in Alzheimer's and other diseases

A new gene editing tool that helps cellular machinery skip parts of genes responsible for diseases has been applied to reduce the formation of amyloid-beta plaque precursors in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report.

23 Dec 2024

Linker histones found to regulate DNA transcription in apple cells

A cell protein previously believed only to provide a scaffolding for DNA has also been shown to directly influence DNA transcription into RNA – the first step of the process by which an organism's genetic code expresses itself.

23 Dec 2024

New method detects human fecal contamination in water

The presence of human waste in sewage overflow or stormwater runoffs that ultimately find their way into rivers and lakes is a major public health hazard.

23 Dec 2024

Study unveils NAD's link to aging and disease development

UiB researchers are behind a new discovery that tells us how associated neurodegenerative diseases might develop.

23 Dec 2024

New research project aims to uncover molecular factors behind malaria’s deadliest strain

Nearly half the world's population lives in regions where malaria is endemic, with the parasite Plasmodium falciparum accounting for approximately 95% of malaria-related deaths globally.

20 Dec 2024

A new link between brain health and mitochondrial function

New findings in mice have uncovered a crucial mechanism linking neuronal activity to mitochondrial function, researchers report, revealing a potential pathway to combat age-related cognitive decline. Mitochondria play a pivotal role in meeting the dynamic energy demands of neuronal activity, producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) primarily via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS).

19 Dec 2024

New insights into glioblastoma resistance to temozolomide

In spite of intensive research, glioblastoma remains one of the most lethal types of brain cancer. Temozolomide (TMZ) is used as the front-line medicine in its treatment.

19 Dec 2024

Unleashing the potential of biological timekeeping

Living organisms monitor time – and react to it – in many different ways, from detecting light and sound in microseconds to responding physiologically in pre-programmed ways, via their daily sleep cycle, monthly menstrual cycle, or to changes in the seasons.

19 Dec 2024

Understanding the mechanisms behind alcohol-associated liver disease

A newly published review in eGastroenterology compiles recent research on alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), offering an overview of its pathogenesis and efforts to better understand this condition.

19 Dec 2024

Nasal fungi differ in people with allergies and asthma

This study identifies key differences in nasal fungi composition in asthma and allergy patients, offering insights into their role in airway disease dynamics.

19 Dec 2024

The role of phytochemicals in combating metabolic diseases

This editorial reviews the impact of phytochemicals on metabolic diseases, emphasizing their potential in reducing inflammation and improving health outcomes.

19 Dec 2024

Syphilis family traced to Pre-Columbian Americas

In spring 1495, the Italian campaign of Charles VIII of France was interrupted by an intense outbreak of an apparently unknown illness – a disease of high mortality that quickly engulfed the whole of Europe and left its survivors with life changing impairments to their bodies and minds.

18 Dec 2024

Study offers a promising regenerative therapy for osteoarthritis

A new research paper was published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 16, Issue 21 on November 22, 2024, entitled, "Anti-aging effect of extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stromal cells on senescence-induced chondrocytes in osteoarthritis."

18 Dec 2024