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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).

New study sheds light on the molecular basis of gene expression

An international research collaboration has shed new light on the molecular basis of gene expression, the fundamental biological process that underpins how all organisms use their genetic information.

2 Dec 2024

Great ape museum specimens reveal secrets of DNA virus evolution

Scientists screened great ape museum specimens for DNA viruses, revealing insights into viral evolution and host-virus associations spanning decades.

2 Dec 2024

Spatial transcriptomics uncovers new treatment paths for triple-negative breast cancer

Study uses spatial transcriptomics to map intratumoral heterogeneity and microenvironmental dynamics in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The findings identify nine spatial archetypes and gene signatures linked to immunotherapy response and patient outcomes.

2 Dec 2024

Natural proteins may offer new way to treat covid-19 and autoimmune disorders

Some people naturally have higher levels of proteins that protect them from covid-19. New studies at Umeå University of our immune system may pave the way for more personalized treatments of both covid-19 and autoimmune disorders.

2 Dec 2024

Study highlights the health risk of PM2.5 exposure for pregnant women

For pregnant women, exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) was associated with altered immune responses that can lead to adverse birth outcomes, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

29 Nov 2024

Bacteria modify their ribosomes in response to the antibiotics

Bacteria modify their ribosomes when exposed to widely used antibiotics, according to research published today in Nature Communications. The subtle changes might be enough to alter the binding site of drug targets and constitute a possible new mechanism of antibiotic resistance.

29 Nov 2024

STAG2 loss linked to increased aggression in Ewing sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma is a tumor of the bones and soft tissues that occurs in children and young people. Like all childhood cancers, it is rare – 9 to 10 cases per million inhabitants per year – but it is very aggressive. 25% of patients do not respond well to regular therapy and they often experience relapses.

29 Nov 2024

Advanced microscopy reveals how ribosomes attach to mRNA for protein synthesis

Within a cell, DNA carries the genetic code for building proteins. To build proteins, the cell makes a copy of DNA, called mRNA.

28 Nov 2024

Stanford team uses natural cell death mechanism to kill cancer cells

Our bodies divest themselves of 60 billion cells every day through a natural process of cell culling and turnover called apoptosis.

27 Nov 2024

DNA-based nanorobotic hand could block viruses and enable rapid diagnostics

A tiny, four-fingered "hand" folded from a single piece of DNA can pick up the virus that causes COVID-19 for highly sensitive rapid detection and can even block viral particles from entering cells to infect them, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers report.

27 Nov 2024

Study reveals protein mobility defect as a key factor in chronic diseases

Chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and inflammatory disorders have a huge impact on humanity. They are a leading cause of disease burden and deaths around the globe, are physically and economically taxing, and the number of people with such diseases is growing.

27 Nov 2024

Fungus found in the mouse stomach may hold a key to fungal evolution in the gut

A fungus discovered in the mouse stomach may hold a key to fungal evolution within the gastrointestinal tract, according to new research led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

27 Nov 2024

Can fasting improve diabetes outcomes? Ramadan offers insights

A study during Ramadan shows intermittent fasting improves liver health, gut microbiota richness, and metabolic markers in T2DM patients. However, benefits fade quickly after fasting ends, highlighting the need for sustained interventions.

27 Nov 2024

New gold-based drug proves to be more potent than standard chemotherapy

A new gold-based drug can slow tumour growth in animals by 82% and target cancers more selectively than standard chemotherapy drugs, according to a study by Australian and Indian researchers.

27 Nov 2024

Epigenetic profiles of blood cancer cells could aid in diagnosis and treatment

Research in biomedical laboratories has been changing significantly in recent years, to the point that test tubes have given way to computers on many occasions.

27 Nov 2024

McMaster University develops fast and easy test for bacteria detection in fluids

A novel new test for bacteria in fluids makes it as easy as observing a color change to confirm the presence of disease-causing pathogens, promising much easier diagnostic tests and greater food safety.

26 Nov 2024

WHO and partners announce grants to boost pathogen genomic surveillance

The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners announced 10 projects that will receive almost US$ 2 million in grants to improve capacities in pathogen genomic surveillance.

26 Nov 2024

Placental defects linked to congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects are the most common form of human birth defect, but we still don't fully understand what causes them.

26 Nov 2024

Genetic factors drive early onset and complications of type 2 diabetes in British Asians

A genetic predisposition to having lower insulin production and less healthy fat distribution are major causes of early-onset type 2 diabetes in British Asian people.

26 Nov 2024