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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).

Breakthrough study identifies mechanisms behind glucocorticoid resistance in pediatric B-ALL

Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute B-ALL is the most common paediatric cancer and, over the years and thanks to a very effective treatment based on glucocorticoids, its 5-year survival rates have reached 85% and beyond.

5 Aug 2024

Unraveling the role of neo-sex chromosomes in mitigating sexual conflict

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have taken a big step in solving the mystery around why animals evolve sex chromosomes.

4 Aug 2024

Study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of melanoma progression

Cong Peng et al., at Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China, conducted a study titled "NETO2 promotes melanoma progression via activation of the Ca²⁺/CaMKII signaling pathway" that investigates the role of Neuropilin and tolloid-like 2 (NETO2) in melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.

2 Aug 2024

How machine learning is accelerating research in structural biology

For Lucas Farnung, there is no question more fascinating than how a single fertilized egg develops into a fully-functioning human.

2 Aug 2024

Decreasing folate intake can support healthier metabolisms in aging animal models

In a study published in Life Science Alliance, Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists found that decreasing folate intake can support healthier metabolisms in aging animal models, challenging the conventional belief that high folate consumption universally benefits health.

2 Aug 2024

Mast cells found to capture and employ neutrophils during allergic reactions

Known for their role in allergic reactions, mast cells have long been recognised as key players in our immune system.

2 Aug 2024

Using advanced CRISPR to boost efficiency of CAR-T cell therapies

CAR-T cells are highly effective in treating selected blood cancers. However, challenges remain with this new therapy, which was first approved in 2017 in the USA and a year later in Europe for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

2 Aug 2024

Triptolide-based treatment prolongs symptom-free survival in preclinical medulloblastoma models

A drug that was developed to treat pancreatic cancer has now been shown to increase symptom-free survival in preclinical medulloblastoma models – all without showing signs of toxicity.

1 Aug 2024

New lab technique captures aging effects in Alzheimer's disease development

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a way to capture the effects of aging in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

1 Aug 2024

New studies reveal common DNA replication mechanisms in humans and yeast

Humans and baker's yeast have more in common than meets the eye, including an important mechanism that helps ensure DNA is copied correctly, reports a pair of studies published in the journals Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

1 Aug 2024

Researchers develop highly reactive RNA building blocks for enhanced chip production

An international research team led by the University of Vienna has succeeded in developing a new version of RNA building blocks with higher chemical reactivity and photosensitivity. This can significantly reduce the production time of RNA chips used in biotechnological and medical research. The chemical synthesis of these chips is now twice as fast and seven times more efficient. The results of the research were recently published in the prestigious journal Science Advances.

1 Aug 2024

UC San Diego develops AI tool for rapid, low-cost detection of genomic alterations in cancer

A new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to allow rapid, low-cost detection of clinically actionable genomic alterations directly from tumor biopsy slides has been developed by a team led by engineers and medical researchers at University of California San Diego.

1 Aug 2024

Study reveals serotonin's role in ependymoma tumor growth

Do neurons play a role in brain tumor growth and development? Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine have evidence showing that, for childhood ependymomas, they do.

31 Jul 2024

Advanced technology and AI used to diagnose rare diseases and birth abnormalities

Researchers at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Lawson Health Research Institute are using advanced technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose rare diseases and prenatal exposure-related birth abnormalities in two studies published today in American Journal of Human Genetics and Genetics in Medicine.

31 Jul 2024

Vegan diet may slow aging

Vegan diets showed short-term benefits on epigenetic aging compared to omnivorous diets in healthy twins, with reduced epigenetic age metrics observed in the vegan group. However, telomere length and overall mitotic clock values remained unchanged for both diets.

31 Jul 2024

New discovery unveils key process in DNA repair pathway

An elegant collaboration between researchers in the UK's two core-funded Medical Research Council Research Institutes, the Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) in London and the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, has solved a decades-old mystery which could pave the way to better cancer treatments in the future.

31 Jul 2024