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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).

Researchers test novel gene regulation approach to treat brain diseases

Researchers at the DZNE (Germany), at Massachusetts General Hospital (USA) and at the genomic medicine company Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. tested a novel gene regulation approach to treat brain diseases such as Alzheimer's in laboratory studies.

22 Mar 2021

Chaotic genetic changes drive the growth of melanomas

Melbourne researchers have revealed how melanoma cells are flooded with DNA changes as this skin cancer progresses from early, treatable stages through to fatal end-stage disease.

22 Mar 2021

Ubiquitous microplastics can become 'hubs' for antibiotic-resistant bacteria

It's estimated that an average-sized wastewater treatment plant serving roughly 400,000 residents will discharge up to 2,000,000 microplastic particles into the environment each day.

22 Mar 2021

Blocking folate metabolism could reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in infected cells

The novel beta-coronavirus virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and coronaviruses, in general, alter the host's cellular metabolism to support massive production of ~30 kB viral genomes and subgenomic viral RNAs. However, how this is achieved is largely unknown.

21 Mar 2021

Genetic engineering strategy dramatically reduces tau levels in Alzheimer's animal model

Researchers have used a genetic engineering strategy to dramatically reduce levels of tau--a key protein that accumulates and becomes tangled in the brain during the development of Alzheimer's disease--in an animal model of the condition.

21 Mar 2021

Acute exposure of lung tissue to vape aerosol has lesser impact on gene expression than cigarette smoke

A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Toxicological Research & Application shows acute exposure of a 3D human bronchial tissue model to e-cigarette aerosol has minimal impact on gene expression compared to smoke from combustible cigarettes.

21 Mar 2021

Study maps structure and mechanism of a membrane enzyme that plays role in inflammation, cancer

Most drugs operate via the membranes that surround the body's cells. A study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has now mapped the structure and mechanism of MGST2, a membrane enzyme that, amongst other things, plays a part in chronic inflammation and cancer.

20 Mar 2021

Underrepresentation in genomic databases may affect therapy selection for minority patients

Low representation of minority groups in public genomic databases may affect therapy selection for Black patients with cancer, according to new Mayo Clinic research published in npj Precision Oncology.

19 Mar 2021

DNA spike-ins increase reliability of amplicon-based sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes

In the interests of cost-effectiveness and rapidity, amplicon-based sequencing of the viral genome has been used to provide a sensitive means of genomic surveillance. A new preprint, which was released on the bioRxiv* server, shows how this can be tweaked to make it a reliable source of genomic data by reducing the known potential for contamination.

19 Mar 2021

Researchers characterize regions of DNA that impact MECP2 expression

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital (NRI) have identified and characterized two regions of DNA required for the proper expression of Mecp2/MECP2 in mice and humans.

19 Mar 2021

Identifying druggable targets on an essential SARS-CoV-2 protein

In a research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Newman et al. (March 15th, 2021) the structure and role of one such protein: NSP13, is investigated, with two appealingly druggable targets being identified, possibly opening a new route towards a novel SARS-CoV-2 antiviral agent.

18 Mar 2021

Study investigates how genetic variants contribute to increased risk of lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for both men and women. While risk for this disease can be influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors like smoking, studies estimate that 18% of lung cancer cases are due to inherited genetic variants.

18 Mar 2021

Antidiabetic drug could help reduce chronic inflammation in people living with HIV

Metformin, a drug used to treat type-2 diabetes, could help reduce chronic inflammation in people living with HIV (PLWH) who are being treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre.

18 Mar 2021

Could cinnamon modulate the immune response in severe COVID-19?

A new study describes the potential for two common plant products to make a difference in the management of severe COVID-19.

18 Mar 2021

GMP-Ready Helper Plasmids for AAV Production

Manufactured in dedicated clean-rooms with mandated changeovers before new production cycles - AMSBIO introduces new pHelper-Kan plasmid DNA optimized for Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) manufacturing.

18 Mar 2021

Long noncoding RNA plays a vital role in mobilizing immune response after organ transplantation

A long noncoding RNA whose function was previously unknown turns out to play a vital role in mobilizing the immune response following a bone marrow transplant or solid organ transplantation.

17 Mar 2021

Beneficial effects of gene therapy can be seen in SCID-X1 patients decades after treatment

An international collaboration between Great Ormond Street Hospital, the UCL GOS Institute for Child Health and Harvard Medical School has shown that the beneficial effects of gene therapy can be seen decades after the transplanted blood stem cells has been cleared by the body.

17 Mar 2021

Insights into elusive protein complex can help find novel treatments for chromosomal disorders

The cells in our body are constantly fighting off the threat of cancer by repairing damaged DNA. In a new study, scientists from Tokyo University of Science investigate the structure of an elusive protein complex that plays a key role in the activation of the "Fanconi anemia pathway" involved in DNA repair, and report on the factors governing its stability.

17 Mar 2021

Could visible light be a safe and effective SARS-CoV-2 disinfectant?

A new study reports that blue light with a wavelength of 400–420 nm can inactivate enveloped viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. This could allow continuous disinfection of spaces even when people are present.

17 Mar 2021

Advancing studies in evolution and ecology with INTEGRA pipettes

INTEGRA Biosciences’ EVOLVE manual pipettes and VOYAGER electronic adjustable tip spacing pipettes are both integral parts of the lab workflows at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), where researchers are investigating the evolution and ecology of a fascinating group of fish that includes a popular aquatic pet, the guppy.

From INTEGRA Biosciences 17 Mar 2021

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Researchers test novel gene regulation approach to treat brain diseases

Chaotic genetic changes drive the growth of melanomas

Ubiquitous microplastics can become 'hubs' for antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Blocking folate metabolism could reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in infected cells

Genetic engineering strategy dramatically reduces tau levels in Alzheimer's animal model

Acute exposure of lung tissue to vape aerosol has lesser impact on gene expression than cigarette smoke

Study maps structure and mechanism of a membrane enzyme that plays role in inflammation, cancer

Underrepresentation in genomic databases may affect therapy selection for minority patients

DNA spike-ins increase reliability of amplicon-based sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes

Researchers characterize regions of DNA that impact MECP2 expression

Identifying druggable targets on an essential SARS-CoV-2 protein

Study investigates how genetic variants contribute to increased risk of lung cancer

Antidiabetic drug could help reduce chronic inflammation in people living with HIV

Could cinnamon modulate the immune response in severe COVID-19?

GMP-Ready Helper Plasmids for AAV Production

Long noncoding RNA plays a vital role in mobilizing immune response after organ transplantation

Beneficial effects of gene therapy can be seen in SCID-X1 patients decades after treatment

Insights into elusive protein complex can help find novel treatments for chromosomal disorders

Could visible light be a safe and effective SARS-CoV-2 disinfectant?

Advancing studies in evolution and ecology with INTEGRA pipettes

Understanding the DNA Damage Response in Innate Immunity eBook

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