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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).

Understanding the role of astrocytes in depression and neuroinflammation

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mental health condition that negatively affects the mood of a person and causes a loss of interest in activities that were previously associated with happiness.

13 Jun 2025

RNA steps up to protect the genome from DNA knots

Not all DNA looks like the familiar twisted ladder. Sometimes, parts of our genetic code fold into unusual shapes. One such structure, the G-quadruplex (G4), looks like a knot.

13 Jun 2025

Redefining health science in the age of exposomics

We live in the age of -omics. We have genomics to study complete sets of DNA. We have proteomics focused on all the proteins within our cells.

13 Jun 2025

Mapping genetic activity offers new clues for personalized cancer treatment

City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. with its National Medical Center named top 5 in the nation for cancer by U.S. News & World Report, co-led the first study to demonstrate that characterizing genetic material near chromosomes forecasts how mutated, cancer-causing genes reengineer DNA and alter the tumor microenvironment.

13 Jun 2025

New nanopore sequencing assay advances fragile X syndrome carrier screening

Researchers have developed an innovative new nanopore sequencing assay to identify carriers of fragile X syndrome (FXS), the leading cause of monogenic autism spectrum disorder and inherited intellectual disabilities.

12 Jun 2025

Autophagy boosts precision in gene editing

Precision gene editing is crucial for treating genetic diseases, as it enables targeted correction of specific mutations.

12 Jun 2025

Nanoplastics reshape gut microbiome, weakening gut defenses

Polystyrene nanoplastics impact gut health by modifying microbiota interactions via extracellular vesicles, raising concerns about environmental nanoplastics.

12 Jun 2025

New large-scale study maps early triggers of Alzheimer’s protein aggregation

A new large-scale study has mapped the first molecular events that drive the formation of harmful amyloid protein aggregates found in Alzheimer's disease, pointing towards a new potential therapeutic target.

12 Jun 2025

Healthier lifestyle choices could mitigate telomere length-associated brain disease risks

Scientists from Mass General Brigham explored the associations between telomere length-which decreases as a person ages or is exposed to unhealthy environments-and the risk for age-related brain diseases.

12 Jun 2025

New therapeutic approach targets PCSK9 to regulate blood cholesterol levels

When the amount of cholesterol in the blood is too high, hypercholesterolemia can develop, causing serious damage to the arteries and cardiovascular health.

11 Jun 2025

Glucocorticoid receptor plays dual role in prostate cancer progression

A recent study from the Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Eastern Finland shows that the glucocorticoid receptor can both promote and inhibit prostate cancer progression, depending on the circumstances.

11 Jun 2025

Maternal iron deficiency disrupts embryonic sex determination in mice

Developmentally expressed genes play a fundamental role in the formation of a wide range of organs. The Y chromosome-located mammalian sex-determining gene Sry, required for the formation of testis, is activated only within a narrow time window during embryogenesis.

11 Jun 2025

CHAF1B drives lung squamous cell carcinoma progression by repressing SETD7

CHAF1B, a histone chaperone component of the chromatin assembly factor-1 complex, is overexpressed in multiple cancers and linked to tumor progression, but its role in lung squamous-cell carcinoma (LUSC) remained unclear.

11 Jun 2025

Study reveals a unique vulnerability in melanoma patients with neurofibromin 1 mutations

Increased activity in a specific biological pathway may explain why many patients with a deadly form of skin cancer do not respond to the latest cancer treatments, a new study shows.

10 Jun 2025

CT colonography outperforms stool DNA testing in cost and effectiveness

Compared to stool DNA testing, researchers found that CT colonography is a cost-saving and clinically effective method for colorectal cancer screening, according to a study was published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America.

10 Jun 2025

Methylation clocks may mislead anti-aging therapy evaluation

A new research perspective was published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 5, on May 5, 2025, titled "Methylation clocks for evaluation of anti-aging interventions."

10 Jun 2025

Tagomics awarded £860 k Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst grant for detection of colorectal cancer

Tagomics Ltd., a pioneering biomarker discovery and diagnostics company, today announced it has been awarded £860 k Innovate UK funding as part of the Biomedical Catalyst program for the testing and development of innovative healthcare solutions from Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency, with the remaining funding contributed by Tagomics.

10 Jun 2025

Would you trust a life form engineered in a lab? Here’s why it matters

A new report from Rice University’s Baker Institute outlines six core ethical challenges in synthetic biology, including risks, equity, and environmental impacts.

9 Jun 2025

Lynch syndrome testing often missed in womb cancer patients

Patients with womb cancer are not being tested for a genetic condition that increases their chance of developing further cancers, a study has found.

9 Jun 2025

What happens to your body and mind during a five-day water fast?

A five-day water-only fast led to significant weight, fat, and lean muscle loss in middle-aged women, along with improved mood and marked changes in metabolic and inflammatory markers. The study also found that psychological traits like emotional intelligence and impulsivity influenced the amount of fat and muscle lost during fasting.

9 Jun 2025