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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).

Exploring the intricate epigenetic regulatory network of lncRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma

A new review published in Genes & Diseases explores the intricate epigenetic regulatory network of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), shedding light on the profound impact of DNA methylation, histone modifications, RNA methylation, and microRNAs on lncRNA transcription.

20 Jun 2025

Herpes virus reshapes the human genome's architecture to aid its replication

Viruses are entirely dependent on their hosts to reproduce. They ransack living cells for parts and energy and hijack the host's cellular machinery to make new copies of themselves.

19 Jun 2025

New technology tracks solid tumor treatment response through blood samples

Altum Sequencing, a start-up supported by the C3N-IA Science Park at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and specialized in oncology, has developed a tool to monitor treatment response in patients with solid tumors from a simple blood sample.

19 Jun 2025

Why Alzheimer’s DNA tests don’t treat all populations equally

A major global study tested whether European-derived polygenic risk scores (PGS) for Alzheimer’s disease can predict risk across diverse populations. While PGS performed well in many groups, it was less accurate in individuals of sub-Saharan African and Indian ancestry, highlighting the urgent need for more inclusive genetic data.

19 Jun 2025

Epigenetic dysregulation drives hepatocellular carcinoma development

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

19 Jun 2025

Genes may determine how early life exposures shape the gut microbiome

Early nutritional and antibiotic exposures affect adult gut microbiota, with genetic background and parent-of-origin significantly influencing outcomes.

19 Jun 2025

Scientists find hundreds of genes that behave like light switches

Gene expression, where cells use the genetic information encoded in DNA to produce proteins, has been thought of as a dimmer light.

19 Jun 2025

Full tumor DNA sequencing becomes standard for children with cancer

Readouts of the full DNA of children with cancer at diagnosis have been implemented as the standard of care in a European first.

19 Jun 2025

New gene therapy strategy reactivates dormant genes to treat blood disorders

Researchers have found a promising new method for gene therapy. They successfully restarted inactive genes by bringing them closer to genetic switches on the DNA called enhancers.

19 Jun 2025

Early infant behavior predicts cognitive ability decades later

Watching a baby babble, play and interact with others can provide useful insight into what their cognitive ability might be like decades later, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research published in the journal PNAS.

19 Jun 2025

Smoking leaves lasting marks in teeth even after quitting

Evidence of the permanent impact of smoking on people's teeth has been uncovered by researchers for the first time.

18 Jun 2025

Inhibiting RNA Polymerase 1 suppresses tumor growth in hard-to-treat cancers

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences uncovered a new tumor-suppressive response that could lead to novel therapies targeting hard-to-treat cancers.

18 Jun 2025

Yale researchers triple precision and efficiency in genome editing

The promise of genome editing to help understand human diseases and create new therapies is vast, but technological limitations have limited advancement of the field.

18 Jun 2025

OCCAM Immune and Cancer Research Institute join forces to advance immunotherapy

In a new collaboration that could transform how cancer is treated, OCCAM Immune-a Mount Sinai initiative focused on understanding the immune system's role in disease-is partnering with the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) to unlock the secrets of how the immune system responds to advanced therapies.

17 Jun 2025

Instant coffee may damage your eyes, genetic study finds

Researchers used genomic and Mendelian randomization analyses in over 500,000 individuals to reveal a statistically significant causal link between instant coffee intake and increased risk of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). No such risk was found for ground or decaffeinated coffee.

17 Jun 2025

Blood test detects early signs of liver transplant rejection

Liver transplant is a lifesaving surgery, but a significant number of patients experience organ rejection or other complications.

17 Jun 2025

New hereditary condition impairs DNA repair and raises blood cancer risk

A new hereditary condition has been discovered that affects patients' ability to repair DNA – leaving them both at greater risk of developing blood cancer, and unable to repair some of the damage caused by chemotherapy treatments.

16 Jun 2025

Global study finds differences in antibiotic resistance between genders

A recent study led by the University of Turku, Finland, analyzed the DNA map of more than 14,000 gut metagenomes in a global dataset and found that there are differences in antibiotic resistance between genders.

16 Jun 2025

New computational tool uncovers hidden genetic mutations in proteins

Scientists at UCLA and the University of Toronto have developed an advanced computational tool, called moPepGen, that helps identify previously invisible genetic mutations in proteins, unlocking new possibilities in cancer research and beyond.

16 Jun 2025

New nanoparticle platform breaks through MRSA biofilms

A major cause of hospital-acquired infections, the super bacteria Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), not only exhibits strong resistance to existing antibiotics but also forms a dense biofilm that blocks the effects of external treatments.

14 Jun 2025