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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).

CRISPR-Cas orchestrates a layered defense network to fight bacterial viruses

All cellular life-from humans to bacteria-possesses two layers of immunity: innate and adaptive. Scientists have long understood how these two types of immunity work together in higher organisms but not in the microbial world.

23 Jul 2026

Compact genetic switch enables targeted gene therapy for epilepsy

Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide, making it one of the most common neurological disorders.

23 Jul 2026

Study reveals unexpected mechanism driving extreme antibiotic resistance

A patient with a severe infection is prescribed a potent antibiotic. Hopes for improvement are high, but just after treatment is given, resistance to the drug increases thousands of times. How could this happen?

23 Jul 2026

Thymulin curbs age-related inflammation and slows breast tumors in mice

Thymulin reduced age-associated inflammatory myeloid cells and slowed breast-tumor growth in aged mice by suppressing NF-κB signaling. The peptide also restored anti-PD-L1 responsiveness in aged mouse models, while human cell and tumor data supported an age-linked inflammatory myeloid profile.

23 Jul 2026

DNA enhancer hubs control cancer genes in prostate tumors

Enhancers are pieces of DNA that act like switches, regulating when genes are turned on and off and how strongly they are activated.

22 Jul 2026

SuperAgers retain exceptional memory through mechanisms beyond genetics

Many people assume that some memory decline is an inevitable consequence of getting older. But a select group of older adults, known as SuperAgers, reach their 80s and 90s while retaining memory performance as good as or better than people in their 50s and 60s.

22 Jul 2026

Senolytic drugs rejuvenate blood stem cells in sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease causes premature aging of blood stem cells, which scientists may be able to address with a special class of drugs, according to a new study from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

22 Jul 2026

Excess tubulin disrupts tissue organization and cell survival

A UNIGE study shows that even a slight overproduction of tubulin, a protein essential for cell structure, is enough to disrupt tissue organization, highlighting the need for tight regulation of protein levels.

22 Jul 2026

Red meat intake emerges as a potential pancreatic cancer risk factor

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies involving nearly 2 million participants found that higher red meat intake was associated with a modestly higher risk of pancreatic cancer. Processed meat intake showed no statistically significant association, although variation between studies means a small effect cannot be excluded.

22 Jul 2026

SynGenSys makes key appointments to strengthen senior commercial and scientific teams

SynGenSys, a biotechnology company designing synthetic gene promoter systems to address critical bottlenecks in biopharma manufacturing and enhance cell and gene therapy development, today announced the expansion of its senior commercial and scientific teams with the appointments of several heads of departments.

From SynGenSys Ltd. 22 Jul 2026

Five epigenetic clocks reveal shared and distinct signals of aging

Researchers linked five epigenetic clocks to distinct blood gene-expression patterns and biological pathways in 3,227 Health and Retirement Study participants. TAGS derived from these patterns often showed stronger associations with frailty, functional measures, morbidity, and mortality than their parent clocks, although further validation is needed.

22 Jul 2026

New blood test improves colorectal cancer recurrence risk prediction

A single preoperative blood sample may help improve the prediction of recurrence or metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer.

21 Jul 2026

UVA researcher wins federal grant to develop tools for studying rare circulating cells

A University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science faculty researcher earned a major new federal grant to develop emerging tools to work with some of the rarest circulating cells in the human body, a step toward better treatments for diseases such as cancer and infection.

21 Jul 2026

Automated workflow speeds bacterial sample preparation for genetic sequencing

Biomedical engineers at Brown University have developed a fully automated workflow that simplifies and accelerates the preparation of bacterial samples for genetic sequencing.

21 Jul 2026

Wistar scientists develop new bispecific T cell engager to target ovarian cancer

Wistar scientists have developed a new type of bispecific T cell engager, or BTE, that is effective against ovarian cancer in preclinical studies.

21 Jul 2026

City of Hope launches trial to map how tumors change during immunotherapy resistance

City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States with its National Medical Center ranked among the nation's top cancer centers by U.S. News & World Report, has opened an innovative Phase 2 clinical trial designed to map how tumors change as they begin to resist immunotherapy, treatment that improves the immune system's ability to fight disease.

21 Jul 2026

Tailored gene therapy dramatically reduces childhood epilepsy seizures in trial

SCN2A‑related developmental epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) is a rare, severe form of childhood epilepsy and one of the most common causes of monogenic autism.

21 Jul 2026

Scientists link genetic spelling mistakes to sudden cardiac death

Scientists have found that the 'sudden' cardiac death condition related to high profile deaths or major medical episodes of sports stars including Fabrice Muamba, Christian Erikson and Mark-Vivian Foe has numerous linked gene variations, or "spelling mistakes", which highlights a potentially treatable vulnerability.

21 Jul 2026

Machine learning tool improves accuracy of genome mapping studies

University of Virginia School of Medicine scientists have identified a widespread source of error in a popular method for studying the genome – our genetic instructions – and created a machine-learning tool to correct it.

20 Jul 2026

New tumor organoids strengthen precision oncology research

Significant advances have been made in the development of patient-derived tumor "organoids" for preclinical research, in two new studies led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

20 Jul 2026