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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).

New gene editing approach targets mutation behind common genetic heart disease

Fourteen million people worldwide suffer from enlarged hearts, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic disease that thickens the heart's walls, making it harder for the organ to pump blood - but many of them don't know it.

8 Jul 2025

Synthetic Biology and the Pursuit of Living Diagnostics and Therapeutics

In this interview, Professor James J. Collins, founder of the field of Synthetic Biology, discusses his journey to founding the field of synthetic biology and the potential of living diagnostics.

From Pittcon 7 Jul 2025

Intelligent, Scalable, Precise: How n6 Is Transforming NGS Library Prep

In this interview, the team at n6 discusses their groundbreaking iconPCR thermocycler and its impact on laboratory automation, NGS data quality, and real-time control in life sciences.

From n6 7 Jul 2025

ADA2 regulates inflammation through lysosomal and extracellular mechanisms

Adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) plays a critical role in immune regulation, particularly in monocyte differentiation and activation.

7 Jul 2025

Mitochondria depletion in stem cells offers insights into cellular energy and evolution

By using a genetic technique developed at UT Southwestern Medical Center that forces cells to rid themselves of mitochondria, researchers are gaining new insights into the function of these critical organelles.

7 Jul 2025

Chemist awarded NSF grant to study DNA nanoparticles for gene therapy

Case Western Reserve University chemist Divita Mathur was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) grant for her research in synthetic DNA nanoparticles, which have potential applications in gene therapy.

4 Jul 2025

Novel tool offers a glimpse into the black box of ALT in aggressive cancers

Each time a cell divides, a small section of each chromosome's protective cap - the telomere - is worn away. Most cells use an enzyme called telomerase to help mitigate this loss, but 10% to 15% of cancers have another mechanism called the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway.

4 Jul 2025

First large-scale stem cell bank created to investigate Alzheimer’s genetic risk factors

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common, debilitating neurodegenerative disease affecting about 10 percent of people over the age of 65 and one third of people aged 85 and above. Besides environmental factors, the genes have a strong influence on whether or not a person develops AD during their lifetime.

4 Jul 2025

Study uncovers the molecular evolutionary strategies of the OxPhos system

Mitochondria are the body's "energy factories," and their proper function is essential for life. Inside mitochondria, a set of complexes called the oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) system acts like a biochemical assembly line, transforming oxygen and nutrients into usable energy.

4 Jul 2025

NAD+ supplementation could be a potential treatment for accelerated aging diseases

Can research into a rare, accelerated aging disease and "zombie cells" teach us something about the normal aging process?

4 Jul 2025

New neurons form in the hippocampus even in late adulthood

A study in the journal Science presents compelling new evidence that neurons in the brain's memory centre, the hippocampus, continue to form well into late adulthood.

4 Jul 2025

New lab model brings hope for aggressive blood cancer research

Researchers working on an incurable blood cancer can now use a new lab model which could make testing potential new treatments and diagnostics easier and quicker, new research has found.

3 Jul 2025

Vaginal microbiome fights back against stubborn BV infections

Vaginal microbiome-drug interactions affect antibiotic treatment for bacterial vaginosis, emphasizing the need for personalized approaches to enhance efficacy.

3 Jul 2025

Breakthrough AI uncovers promising Rett syndrome treatment

Rett syndrome is a devastating rare genetic childhood disorder primarily affecting girls. Merely 1 out of 10,000 girls are born with it and much fewer boys.

2 Jul 2025

Scientists reveal how chemotherapy causes genetic damage in healthy blood

For the first time, scientists have systematically studied the genetic effects of chemotherapy on healthy tissues.

2 Jul 2025

Study finds widespread microplastics in reproductive fluids, what it means for fertility

Microplastics have been detected in human reproductive fluids, with researchers finding them in 69% of female and 55% of male samples, raising concerns about potential effects on fertility. Although causality remains unproven, the findings prompt calls for reducing plastic exposure.

1 Jul 2025

Scientists trace leprosy’s roots in South America back 4,000 years

Researchers have recovered and sequenced Mycobacterium lepromatosis genomes from 4,000-year-old human remains in Chile, providing the first molecular evidence of ancient leprosy in the Americas. The findings reveal the deep evolutionary roots and complex spread of Hansen’s disease long before European contact.

1 Jul 2025

Embryos from women with PCOS carry distinctive epigenetic memory

Novel research presented today at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) has found that embryos from women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) carry a distinctive 'epigenetic memory' that could explain why the condition often runs in families.

1 Jul 2025

Researchers link genetic ancestry to severity of dengue fever

For the first time, the extreme variability in dengue fever has been linked to a biological mechanism, potentially opening doors to new treatments and vaccines for the most common mosquito-borne disease worldwide.

30 Jun 2025

Cannabis smoking changes your DNA, leaving epigenetic scars

Long-term, persistent weekly or more frequent cannabis smoking leaves a distinct and partially reversible epigenetic footprint on blood DNA. These methylation changes strongly overlap with those from tobacco and may serve as biomarkers of smoke exposure.

30 Jun 2025