Cytosine News and Research

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New AI-informed method accelerates protein engineering

A team of Chinese researchers led by Prof. GAO Caixia from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a groundbreaking method that could transform the field of protein engineering.

7 Jul 2025

Cannabis smoking changes your DNA, leaving epigenetic scars

Long-term, persistent weekly or more frequent cannabis smoking leaves a distinct and partially reversible epigenetic footprint on blood DNA. These methylation changes strongly overlap with those from tobacco and may serve as biomarkers of smoke exposure.

30 Jun 2025

Study reveals vitamin C’s role in strengthening aging skin

The skin acts as the body's first line of defense against external threats. However, as we age, the epidermis-the outermost layer of skin-gradually becomes thinner and loses its protective strength.

25 Jun 2025

Scientists use base editing to repair mitochondrial DNA mutations

In a step toward treating mitochondrial diseases, researchers in the Netherlands have successfully edited harmful mutations in mitochondrial DNA using a genetic tool known as a base editor.

25 Jun 2025

Epigenetic dysregulation drives hepatocellular carcinoma development

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

19 Jun 2025

Can scientists predict life longevity from a drop of blood?

This study presents an intrinsic capacity clock, using blood samples to predict mortality risk and enhance understanding of aging and lifestyle impacts.

8 Jun 2025

Understanding how base editing tools work at the molecular level

You may have seen it in the news recently: a baby in Pennsylvania with a rare genetic disorder was healed with a personalized treatment that repaired his specific genetic mutation.

4 Jun 2025

Personalized gene editing corrects fatal infant metabolic disorder in world-first treatment

Researchers have used a personalised base-editing gene therapy to successfully treat an infant with carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency, a rare and life-threatening inborn error of metabolism. This pioneering approach chemically corrects the underlying mutation without cutting DNA, showing promise for precision treatment of ultrarare genetic disorders.

20 May 2025

Study reveals opposing roles of two proteins in Huntington's disease

A decade ago, University at Buffalo researchers shed some light on an enduring neuroscience mystery: How exactly does a mutated huntingtin protein (HTT) cause Huntington's disease?

5 May 2025

UCLA study reveals key role of mismatch repair genes in Huntington’s disease

A new UCLA Health study has discovered in mouse models that genes associated with repairing mismatched DNA are critical in eliciting damages to neurons that are most vulnerable in Huntington's disease and triggering downstream pathologies and motor impairment, shedding light on disease mechanisms and potential new ways to develop therapies.

11 Feb 2025

Long-read sequencing revolutionizes diagnosis of rare diseases

One in every 10 people worldwide is impacted by a rare genetic disease but about 50% of them remain undiagnosed despite rapid increases in genetic technology and testing.

24 Jan 2025

APOBEC proteins linked to DNA repeat expansion in Huntington's disease

People genetically susceptible to Huntington's disease often see their movement, mood, and cognition decline slowly over time.

22 Jan 2025

Androgen clock reveals how hormones shape aging and health

Scientists unveil the androgen clock, a precise epigenetic tool to measure long-term androgen exposure and its role in aging and health.

16 Jan 2025

Researchers uncover molecular mechanisms driving RNA processing defects in Huntington's disease

A University of California, Irvine-led research team has discovered intricate molecular mechanisms driving the RNA processing defects that lead to Huntington's disease and link HD with other neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal lobar dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

8 Jan 2025

Histone markers predict human age with accuracy comparable to DNA methylation clocks

Researchers unveil histone-based age predictors, offering a new window into epigenetic aging and its shared patterns across tissues.

2 Jan 2025

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

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

Researchers gain new insights into the molecular changes leading to Rett syndrome

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children's Hospital and collaborating institutions have gained new insights into the molecular changes leading to Rett syndrome, a severe neurological disorder caused by mutations in the MeCP2 gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2).

16 Dec 2024

New hepatitis B vaccine offers superior protection for people with HIV

A newer vaccine against hepatitis B virus was clearly superior to an older vaccine type in inducing a protective antibody response among people living with HIV who didn't respond to prior vaccination, according to the results of an international study led by a Weill Cornell Medicine investigator.

11 Dec 2024

Scientists map cancer mutations in EGFR gene, revealing drug resistance paths

Researchers used base and prime editing to uncover new EGFR gene mutations that affect cancer progression and drug resistance, paving the way for personalized treatment strategies.

14 Nov 2024