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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).

Targeting mitochondrial DNA integrity for cardiac protection after injury

Maintaining mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity is crucial for cardiomyocyte function, and its disruption plays a significant role in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

4 Mar 2025

Alpha particle therapy offers new hope for neuroendocrine tumors

In a comprehensive Genomic Press Viewpoint (review) article, researchers are shining a spotlight on a revolutionary approach to tackling neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), a rare but increasingly prevalent form of cancer.

4 Mar 2025

Surprising study reveals dads’ weight and diet don’t impact baby’s size

A study shows paternal health factors like BMI and diet do not influence birth weight or length, emphasizing maternal diet's critical role in pregnancy.

4 Mar 2025

New CRISPR-based test enhances diagnosis of life-threatening fungal infection

Tulane University researchers have developed a CRISPR-based test that diagnoses Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) - a life-threatening fungal infection primarily affecting children and immunocompromised patients - more quickly and less invasively, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

3 Mar 2025

Researchers uncover genetic basis of aggressive prostate cancer

Scientists from UCLA, the University of Toronto and the University of Melbourne have uncovered new genetic clues that explain why some prostate cancers remain slow-growing while others become life-threatening.

3 Mar 2025

Cheese isn't just food—it’s a microbiome booster, study confirms

Scientists reveal that cheese-derived bacteria, particularly less abundant strains, can shape gut microbiota and enhance metabolic functions, underscoring the impact of fermented foods on gut health.

3 Mar 2025

Groundbreaking studies reveal how DNA folding guides sperm cell development

Two new landmark studies show how a seeming tangle of DNA is actually organized into a structure that coordinates thousands of genes to form a sperm cell.

3 Mar 2025

Co-occurring mutations may limit effectiveness of KRAS G12C inhibitors in colorectal and pancreatic cancer

Colorectal cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma that harbored the KRAS G12C mutation often carried other genetic alterations that can be associated with resistance to KRAS G12C inhibitors, despite no prior treatment with this therapy, according to recent results from a large multidatabase analysis.

3 Mar 2025

Pioneering the world’s first CRISPR medicine for sickle cell disease

When Vijay Sankaran was an MD-PhD student at Harvard Medical School in the mid-2000s, one of his first clinical encounters was with a 24-year-old patient whose sickle cell disease left them with almost weekly pain episodes.

3 Mar 2025

MEDI method unlocks new way to decode dietary habits

"Tell me what you eat and I will tell you who you are"—this well-known saying accurately describes the new MEDI method for decoding dietary habits from DNA fragments that was developed at Med Uni Graz in cooperation with an international research team.

2 Mar 2025

Scientists uncover how herpes virus fuels Alzheimer’s disease

Herpesvirus infection may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease through transposable element activation and neuroinflammation.

2 Mar 2025

St. Jude scientists discover how retinoic acid selectively kills metastatic neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma is a solid tumor that occurs in children. When high-risk, the disease has a poor prognosis. Decades ago, adding the drug retinoic acid to neuroblastoma treatment increased survival by 10-15%.

2 Mar 2025

Advancing precision medicine for childhood cancer treatment

The first phase of the Stratified Medicine Paediatrics (SMPaeds1) programme is advancing precision medicine in the UK to help young cancer patients receive more targeted and less toxic treatments.

28 Feb 2025

Lactylation in the heart reveals key insights into cardiac regeneration

This study is led by Dr. Xiaodong Luan (Institute of Clinical Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital), Dr. Shuyang Zhang (Department of Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital) and Dr. He Huang (Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences).

28 Feb 2025