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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).

Aptamer-based biosensors could transform viral detection

Rapid and reliable virus detection is one of the most critical tools for controlling outbreaks, from seasonal influenza to global pandemics like COVID-19.

9 Jan 2026

Non-coding RNA mutations unveiled as new cause of retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic eye disorder affecting around one in 5,000 people worldwide. It typically begins with night blindness in youth and progresses to tunnel vision as daylight-sensing photoreceptor cells in the retina gradually die, potentially leading to blindness over time.

9 Jan 2026

New research decodes the bacterial “zip code” of colorectal cancer for prediction and survival

Bacterial communities in colorectal cancer reveal patterns linked to tumor genetics and patient outcomes, paving the way for personalized treatment strategies.

From BGI Genomics 9 Jan 2026

Individualized drug combinations improve cancer treatment outcomes

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have led the first clinical trial in the world to show that cancer drug treatments can be safely and effectively personalized based on the unique DNA of a patient's tumor.

8 Jan 2026

Study reveals innate immune barriers to long-term pig kidney transplant survival

Pioneering research led by Brazilians describes the immune system's reactions in detail in the first living patient to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant.

8 Jan 2026

Giant amoeba-infecting viruses offer new clues to the origin of eukaryotic life

The origin of life on Earth becomes even more fascinating and complex as we peer into the mysterious world of viruses.

8 Jan 2026

ICSA 2025: Infection's role in cellular senescence, inflammation, and aging

A new meeting report was published in Volume 17, Issue 12 of Aging-US on December 23, 2025, titled "Cellular senescence meets infection: highlights from the 10th annual International Cell Senescence Association (ICSA) conference, Rome 2025."

8 Jan 2026

CIRM awards $7.4 million to advance stem cell-based gene therapy for Friedreich's ataxia

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded $7.4 million to support a University of California San Diego team developing a first-of-its-kind stem cell-based gene therapy for Friedreich's ataxia, a rare inherited neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive loss of coordination, muscle strength, heart function and overall mobility.

8 Jan 2026

Dual pathways found for centromere specification, ensuring accurate chromosome segregation

Despite the immense amount of genetic material present in each cell, around three billion base pairs in humans, this material needs to be accurately divided in two and allocated in equal quantities.

8 Jan 2026

Sub-lethal water disinfection can unintentionally boost the spread of antibiotic resistance

The study reveals that environmental stressors do not merely kill bacteria; they can also prime surviving cells to take up resistance genes more efficiently, raising concerns about how antibiotic-resistant bacteria may spread in aquatic environments.

8 Jan 2026

Why promising microbiome therapies rarely work in patients

Addressing the microbiome's translational gap involves understanding biological complexity and developing function-driven, patient-specific interventions.

8 Jan 2026

New DNA tests reveal hidden biological traces on Renaissance art

DNA analysis of cultural artifacts shows diverse biological profiles, but contamination and mixed signals complicate historical lineage interpretation.

8 Jan 2026

Novel cell division mechanism discovered in early embryonic development

Cell division is an essential process for all life on earth, yet the exact mechanisms by which cells divide during early embryonic development have remained elusive – particularly for egg-laying species.

8 Jan 2026

Breast milk bacteria help shape infant gut microbiome development

Most conversations about breast milk tend to focus on topics like nutrients, antibodies and bonding time rather than bacteria.

7 Jan 2026

Dietary exposure to food preservatives associated with higher cancer incidence

Higher intake of food preservatives, widely used in industrially processed foods and beverages to extend shelf-life, is associated with a modestly increased risk of cancer, finds a study from France published by The BMJ today.

7 Jan 2026

BATF2: A novel tumor suppressor silenced by glutamine in head and neck cancer

A novel tumor suppressor, BATF2, can be silenced by factors in the tumor microenvironment, leading to a reduced immune response in five preclinical models of head and neck cancer, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

7 Jan 2026

Brazilian study shows liquid biopsies can expedite lung cancer care

In Brazil, the early detection of genetic alterations in lung cancer through liquid biopsies could be a valuable tool for expediting diagnoses and guiding patient treatment.

7 Jan 2026

CRISPR Cas12a3: A precise tool to halt viral protein production

Across all domains of life, immune defenses foil invading viruses by making it impossible for the viruses to replicate. Most known CRISPR systems target invading pathogens' DNA and chop it up to disable and modify genes, heading off infections at the (cellular) pass.

7 Jan 2026

Genetic study reveals how DNA repeats expand with age

An analysis of genetic data from over 900,000 people shows that certain stretches of DNA, made up of short sequences repeated over and over, become longer and more unstable as we age.

7 Jan 2026

Novel approach uncovers possible drugs based on specific cellular targets for treating glioblastoma

Researchers have developed a new computational approach that uncovers possible drugs for specific cellular targets for treating glioblastoma, a lethal brain tumor.

7 Jan 2026