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Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a biologically important type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.

RNAConnect launches the UltraMarathonRT Direct RNA‑Seq Kit to advance nanopore-based native RNA sequencing

RNAConnect, a life science company providing next generation tools to the RNA community, today announced the commercial availability of the UltraMarathonRT® Direct RNA‑Seq (uMRT DRS) Kit, a native‑RNA library preparation solution for Oxford Nanopore Technologies® direct RNA sequencing (SQK-RNA004).

From RNAConnect 17 Dec 2025

Researchers uncover how a gene influences cell size across various cell types

What keeps our cells the right size? Scientists have long puzzled over this fundamental question, since cells that are too large or too small are linked to many diseases. Until now, the genetic basis behind cell size has largely been a mystery.

17 Dec 2025

Urine-based microRNA clock predicts biological aging without a blood test

Researchers developed and validated a non-invasive urinary microRNA aging clock using extracellular vesicle miRNAs from more than 6,000 adults. The model predicts age with about 4 to 5 years error and links accelerated aging signals to type 2 diabetes.

16 Dec 2025

Opposing protein forces fine tune mRNA stability in human cells

A newly revealed molecular tug-of-war may have implications for better understanding how a multitude of diseases and disorders - including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and immune disorders - originate, as well as how to potentially treat them, according to researchers at Penn State.

16 Dec 2025

First-of-its-kind mRNA system switches on therapeutic genes inside targeted cells

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a first-of-its-kind mRNA system that switches on therapeutic genes preferentially inside targeted cells-an advance demonstrated in studies in mice that could lay the groundwork for safer, more precise treatments for cancer and other diseases.

16 Dec 2025

SARS-CoV-2 evolves after jumping from humans to zoo animals

Research on SARS-CoV-2 in zoo tigers, lions, and hyenas shows rapid viral evolution and adaptation, offering insights into cross-species transmission dynamics.

16 Dec 2025

How brain cells manage long distance genetic instructions

Scientists found that messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules that carry genetic instructions to the far reaches of neurons in the brain tend to cluster together mostly because they are abundant, not because they move in coordinated groups.

15 Dec 2025

Researchers develop powerful tools for microbiome research advancement

The microscopic organisms that fill our bodies, soils, oceans and atmosphere play essential roles in human health and the planet's ecosystems. Yet even with modern DNA sequencing, figuring out what these microbes are and how they are related to one another remains extremely difficult.

13 Dec 2025

Single-cell RNA-seq reveals FBLN7's role in adipose tissue fibrosis

Fibrosis, resulting from excess extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, is a feature of adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction and obesity-related insulin resistance.

13 Dec 2025

New research reveals the impact of DNA-histone cross-links on genome stability

DNA–protein cross-links (DPCs) represent a severe form of DNA damage that can disrupt essential chromatin-based processes. Among them, DNA–histone cross-links (DHCs) occur frequently within nucleosomes, yet their structural and functional consequences remain poorly understood due to their instability and low natural abundance.

13 Dec 2025

Virus shells use asymmetry to control RNA release and infection

Viruses are typically described as tiny, perfectly geometric shells that pack genetic material with mathematical precision, but new research led by scientists at Penn State reveals a deliberate imbalance in their shape that helps them infect their hosts.

12 Dec 2025

Over-contracted gut muscles drive gastrointestinal symptoms in myotonic dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy, affecting about 1 in 8,000 people. While it is well known for causing muscle weakness and stiffness, DM1 also affects other organs, including the brain, heart and gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

12 Dec 2025

Distinct transcriptomic profiles guide early development of maxillary and mandibular teeth

The interaction between genetics and tissue environment shapes how individual teeth form in different regions of the jaw.

12 Dec 2025

Review highlights emerging role of tumor MHC-II in shaping cancer immunotherapy outcomes

Cancer immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, yet many patients experience limited or short-lived responses due to immune evasion, tumor heterogeneity, and immune-related adverse events.

11 Dec 2025

Disrupted genome architecture drives lymphoma development

Cancer isn't just about broken genes-it's about broken architecture. Imagine a city where roads suddenly vanish, cutting off neighborhoods from essential services.

10 Dec 2025

Study elucidates novel mitochondrial mechanisms underlying anti-aging and longevity

As life expectancy continues to climb globally, the focus of many people has moved from longevity alone to living in good health.

10 Dec 2025

Researchers unravel why mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 can cause heart damage

Stanford Medicine investigators have unearthed the biological process by which mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 can cause heart damage in some young men and adolescents - and they've shown a possible route to reducing its likelihood.

10 Dec 2025

AI model improves recurrence risk stratification in HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer

An artificial intelligence (AI) model created by integrating clinical, molecular, and histopathological data significantly improved recurrence risk stratification in hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, according to results presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025.

10 Dec 2025

Machine learning models can help diagnose ALS earlier from a blood sample

Using machine learning models, researchers at Michigan Medicine have identified a potential way to diagnose amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, earlier from a blood sample, a study suggests.

10 Dec 2025

Small molecule discovery could open the door to new class of treatments for hard-to-treat cancers

Researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a small molecule that can inhibit a cancer-driving protein long considered impossible to target with drugs - a discovery that could open the door to a new class of treatments for leukemia and other hard-to-treat cancers.

9 Dec 2025