DNA News and Research

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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).

Bacteria repurpose viral injection systems to target diverse cells

New study shows how bacteria adapted a virus-derived injection system to recognize and attach to many different types of cells.

2 Feb 2026

New liquid biopsy detects early cancers through epigenetic instability

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have developed a novel liquid biopsy approach to identify early-stage cancers by measuring the random variation in DNA methylation patterns, rather than the absolute level of those patterns as in other liquid biopsies.

2 Feb 2026

Novel RNA molecule may influence patient survival in certain blood cancers

In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) identify a novel RNA molecule that plays a crucial role in preserving the integrity of a key cellular structure, nucleolus (a dense region of the cell containing a subset of crucial genetic material).

2 Feb 2026

Blood gene signals reveal Parkinson’s risk years before diagnosis

Blood-based DNA repair and stress-response signals reveal early molecular changes in Parkinson's disease, aiding in potential early diagnosis and intervention.

2 Feb 2026

Genetic ancestry influences tumor biology and survival in head and neck cancers

Genetic ancestry plays a key role in determining the behavior of head and neck tumors and may help explain why African-American patients survive for half as long as their counterparts of European ancestry, according to a new review study led by researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine's (UMSOM) Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) and the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC).

31 Jan 2026

Research reveals a link between defective DNA repair and immune-driven inflammatory disease

Unrepaired DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) – highly toxic tangles of protein and DNA – cause a process that leads to premature aging and embryonic lethality in mice.

31 Jan 2026

Sex-specific analysis uncovers unique disease pathways and treatment implications

Biological differences between women and men led to variations in the appearance and progression of many diseases, which influenced diagnosis and response to treatments.

31 Jan 2026

Researchers identify key factor to help improve treatment for glioblastoma

A groundbreaking study from Brown University Health researchers has identified a crucial factor that may help improve treatment for glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and common forms of adult brain cancer.

30 Jan 2026

Dynamic viral markers predict treatment response in hepatitis B

The rate of functional cure (HBsAg loss) remains unsatisfactory following pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) treatment in chronic hepatitis B. To optimize PEG-IFN administration, this study aimed to evaluate virological markers to predict functional cure and/or hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss.

30 Jan 2026

King’s researchers help transform UK mental health research infrastructure

King’s researchers will help transform mental health data, clinical trials and industry partnerships as part of the UK Government’s Mental Health Goals programme.

30 Jan 2026

ERC Proof of Concept grant supports promising CRISPR-based cancer treatment research

Microbiologist John van der Oost of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has received an ERC Proof of Concept grant to further develop a promising CRISPR-based approach to cancer treatment. With funding of €150,000, he and researcher Christian Südfeld will spend the next eighteen months working on a method to kill cancer cells from within, while sparing healthy cells as much as possible.

30 Jan 2026

Scientists uncover new mechanism initiating gene transcription

Scientists at IOCB Prague are uncovering new details of gene transcription. They have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which the transcription of genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into ribonucleic acid (RNA) can be initiated.

30 Jan 2026

AI uncovers evolution of genetic control elements in mammalian cerebellum

Artificial intelligence allows tracing the evolution of genetic control elements in the developing mammalian cerebellum.

30 Jan 2026

New mode of communication inside cells helps bacterial pathogens to evade drugs

Biologists have uncovered a new mode of communication inside cells that helps bacterial pathogens learn how to evade drugs.

30 Jan 2026

Time of radiotherapy can influence the effectiveness of cancer treatment

A team of researchers from the Andalusian Centre for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER) and the University of Seville, in collaboration with the Virgen Macarena University Hospital, have identified a fundamental mechanism that links the 24-hour circadian cycle to the precise repair of DNA breaks.

30 Jan 2026

DNA repair enzyme failure triggers inflammation and accelerates aging in cells

If severe DNA damage is not repaired, the consequences for the health of cells and tissues are dramatic.

30 Jan 2026

Aptamer-based wearables revolutionize continuous health tracking

Continuous monitoring of biomarkers is essential for early disease detection, treatment evaluation, and personalized health management, yet most clinical tests rely on invasive, single-point blood sampling. Recent advances in aptamer-based wearable electrochemical sensors offer a promising alternative by enabling real-time, continuous tracking of physiological signals directly in or on the body.

30 Jan 2026