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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).

Novel plasmid could hold key to control of mosquito-borne illness

A team of international researchers may have identified a new way to control mosquito-borne illnesses, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications.

21 Mar 2019

Q BioMed and Mannin Research collaborate with McMaster University to develop GDF15 biomarker glaucoma diagnostic kit

Q BioMed Inc., a commercial stage biotechnology acceleration development company, announced today that its technology partner Mannin Research Inc. has entered into a research collaboration with the Biointerfaces Institute at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada to develop a GDF15 biomarker diagnostic kit for monitoring glaucoma severity and progression.

From Q BioMed Inc. 21 Mar 2019

New mobile DNA element in Wolbachia may contribute to improved disease control strategies

Controlling mosquito-borne illnesses, such as Dengue or West Nile virus, has historically been difficult due to a lack of effective vaccines and concerns about the environmental impact of insecticides.

21 Mar 2019

New computer program developed by TGen lights up cancer-causing genetic mutations

By conjuring the spell "Lumos!" wizards in the mythical world of Harry Potter could light up the tip of their magic wands and illuminate their surroundings. So, too, does LumosVar, a computer program developed by the Translational Genomics Research Institute, "light up" cancer-causing genetic Var-ients, or mutations, illuminating how physicians might best treat their patients.

21 Mar 2019

Study finds how Salmonella bacteria sense presence of bile acids in their surroundings

When bacteria enter the digestive tracts of their hosts, including humans, they encounter a highly acidic environment.

21 Mar 2019

UIC scientists identify hidden proteins in bacteria

Scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago have developed a way to identify the beginning of every gene -- known as a translation start site or a start codon -- in bacterial cell DNA with a single experiment and, through this method, they have shown that an individual gene is capable of coding for more than one protein.

21 Mar 2019

Researchers discover possible new therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer

Researchers from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a possible new therapeutic strategy using two types of drug inhibitors at once to treat one of the world's deadliest cancers.

21 Mar 2019

CRISPR/Cas libraries could revolutionize drug discovery

CRISPR/Cas enables the targeted deactivation of genes by cutting DNA at pre-determined sites. This is accomplished by providing the Cas enzyme with a genetic zip code.

20 Mar 2019

Gene editing and designer babies experiments face global moratorium

Powerful gene editing tools could soon face a global regulations on their use on human embryos, sperms or eggs.

20 Mar 2019

Breast cancer relapse predictor tool may soon be a reality

Researchers have developed a tool by which they can predict accurately the time when breast cancer is likely to return.

20 Mar 2019

Researchers track effects of epigenetic marks carried by sperm chromosomes

As an organism grows and responds to its environment, genes in its cells are constantly turning on and off, with different patterns of gene expression in different cells. But can changes in gene expression be passed on from parents to their children and subsequent generations?

20 Mar 2019

Researchers discover previously unknown mechanism by which cells can sense oxygen

Researchers from the University of Oulu and Harvard University have found a previously unknown mechanism by which cells in the body sense oxygen. Lack of oxygen had a direct influence on the functioning of genes, and prevented cell differentiation.

20 Mar 2019

Researchers investigate whether Zika reservoirs are found in the Americas

Most emerging infectious diseases affecting people are zoonotic -- they make the jump from other animals to humans.

20 Mar 2019

Androgen receptor plays vital role in regulating multiple mitochondrial processes

Androgens, commonly known as male hormones, stimulate prostate cancer cells to grow. Thus, many of the drugs to target that cancer focus on stopping androgen biosynthesis or blocking the androgen receptor. This standard treatment is known as androgen deprivation therapy.

20 Mar 2019

New analysis reveals precision oncology insights for colorectal cancer

Next-generation sequencing of tumor DNA from patients with colorectal cancer revealed genetic alterations that were linked to different survival and treatment outcomes in an analysis led by a University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher.

20 Mar 2019

Study illuminates how hot spots of genetic variation evolved in the human genome

What makes one person different from one another, and how did these differences evolve? A study by University at Buffalo biologists is illuminating one aspect of this complicated question. The research examines hot spots of genetic variation within the human genome, examining the sections of our DNA that are most likely to differ significantly from one person to another.

20 Mar 2019

Gene editing regulations to be tightened

Last week a group of scientists from across the globe came together to sign a moratorium on gene editing in humans.

20 Mar 2019

New class of drugs could help treat patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer

A team of researchers across The University of Manchester have shown that a new class of drugs are able to stop ovarian cancer cells growing.

19 Mar 2019

UCD researchers lead development of new urine test to detect prostate cancer

Cancer researchers at University College Dublin have led the development of a new test which uses urine to detect prostate cancer. Studies have so far shown the test to be 70% more specific for prostate cancer compared to the blood test currently used by doctors.

19 Mar 2019

Current HBV genome sequences help deduce ancient human population movements into Australia

Australian researchers have used current hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome sequences to deduce ancient human population movements into Australia, adding weight to the theory that the mainland Aboriginal population separated from other early humans at least 59 thousand years ago and possibly entered the country near the Tiwi Islands.

19 Mar 2019