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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).

Microplastics accelerate aging and inflammation in fat tissue, increasing risk of chronic disease

Researchers investigate the effects of microplastic exposure on the normal aging and function of adipose tissue.

16 Oct 2024

Transposons play essential role in early human development

A critical transition in early human development is regulated not by our own genes, but by DNA elements called transposons that can move around the genome, Sinai Health researchers have found.

16 Oct 2024

Researchers develop decision tree to help clinicians predict genetic diagnoses in neurodevelopmental cases

A study identifies motor delay and hypotonia as key predictors of genetic diagnoses, aiding clinicians in neurodevelopmental care and genetic testing decisions.

16 Oct 2024

Genetic risk factors for long-COVID uncovered in a large multi-ethnic study

Researchers identified genetic loci and phenotypes linked to long-COVID in the largest multi-ethnic GWAS, revealing increased risk factors for chronic conditions like fatigue, depression, and fibromyalgia.

16 Oct 2024

Gene editing restores treatment sensitivity in melanoma

In a potential advance for melanoma patients, researchers at ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute have used CRISPR gene editing tools to disable a gene mutation often seen in aggressive forms of this dangerous skin cancer that renders promising treatments ineffective.

16 Oct 2024

DNA changes from high potency cannabis use may signal psychosis risk

Published in Molecular Psychiatry, this is the first study to suggest that the use of high potency cannabis leaves a distinct mark on DNA, providing valuable insights into the biological impact of cannabis use.

15 Oct 2024

New study reveals mechanism of inflammation in lupus

Immune cells called monocytes produce a key inflammatory protein called interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) through an unconventional pathway in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly referred to as lupus, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

15 Oct 2024

New insights into pain mechanisms related to viral infections

An article published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity reports the findings of a study by researchers based in Brazil, the United States and South Korea who set out to understand how viral infections cause pain and to contribute to the search for novel ways of relieving it.

15 Oct 2024

Genetics identified as key factor in gout development

A major international study has found gout is a chronic illness where genetics is a major cause, rather than lifestyle choices of the sufferer.

15 Oct 2024

Scripps Research identifies binding site on challenging cancer protein

Hormone-driven cancers, like those of the breast and prostate, often rely on a tricky-to-target protein called Forkhead box protein 1 (FOXA1). FOXA1 mutations can enable these types of cancers to grow and proliferate.

15 Oct 2024

Breakthrough in understanding microtubule formation in cells

Inside every cell, a network of tiny filaments, called the microtubule cytoskeleton, helps maintain the cell's shape, allows it to divide, and transports vital materials from one part of the cell to another.

15 Oct 2024

Extrachromosomal DNA in more aggressive cancers could be targets for future therapies

Research published in Nature Genetics on Oct.14, by Yale Cancer Center researchers at Yale School of Medicine, found a higher concentration of a specific kind of DNA — extrachromosomal or ecDNA — in more aggressive and advanced cancers that could mark them as targets for future therapies.

15 Oct 2024

Study warns of increasing Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases among children in California

Recent cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in children underscore the effectiveness of mcf-NGS for early detection and timely treatment in non-endemic areas.

15 Oct 2024

Genomic findings shed light on ancient Japanese population origins

A joint research group led by Jonghyun Kim and Jun Ohashi of the University of Tokyo has demonstrated that the majority of immigration to the Japanese Archipelago in the Yayoi and Kofun periods (between 3000 BCE and 538 CE) came from the Korean Peninsula.

14 Oct 2024