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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).

Tracking circulating tumor DNA could indicate gastroesophageal cancer treatment response

Monitoring levels of DNA shed by tumors and circulating in the bloodstream could help doctors accurately assess how gastroesophageal cancers are responding to treatment, and potentially predict future prognosis, suggests a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

19 Mar 2024

Understanding schizophrenia through genetics and neural pathways

Our understanding of schizophrenia has increased greatly in recent years, as studies of large groups of people have identified a multitude of genetic variants that increase a person's risk of the disease.

19 Mar 2024

CRISPR-based diagnostics for rapid oral pathogen detection

A study aiming to develop a low-cost, rapid detection technique for the widescale detection and screening of oral microorganisms suitable for point-of-care settings was presented at the 102nd General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the 48th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, on March 13-16, 2024, in New Orleans, LA, USA.

19 Mar 2024

Study uncovers how APOBEC enzymes drive cancer mutations

A research team led by the University of California, Irvine has discovered the key role that the APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B enzymes play in driving cancer mutations by modifying the DNA in tumor genomes, offering potential new targets for intervention strategies.

18 Mar 2024

Research unveils a cellular shield against harmful effects of UV-induced RNA damage

UV radiation in the sunlight causes sunburn and increases the risk of skin cancer by damaging our DNA but also our RNA.

18 Mar 2024

Researchers discover link between FBXW7 mutations and EGFR signaling in colorectal cancer

The Organoid group at the Hubrecht Institute have identified a new link between FBXW7 mutations and EGFR signaling activity.

18 Mar 2024

New fluid biomarker may one day detect ALS and FTD before symptoms appear

Two progressively degenerative diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD, recently in the news with the diagnoses of actor Bruce Willis and talk show host Wendy Williams), are linked by more than the fact that they both damage nerve cells critical to normal functioning -; the former affecting nerves in the brain and spinal cord leading to loss of movement, the latter eroding the brain regions controlling personality, behavior and language.

18 Mar 2024

New insights into upper tract urothelial carcinoma evolution and treatment

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have performed the most comprehensive analysis to date of cancer of the ureters or the urine-collection cavities in the kidney, known as upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

18 Mar 2024

Clinical trial aims to provide a surgical solution for patients with 'inoperable' pancreatic tumors

A clinical trial from Keck Medicine of USC aims to provide a surgical solution for patients with a form of advanced pancreatic cancer previously considered inoperable.

18 Mar 2024

Non-invasive blood test shows 83% sensitivity in detecting colorectal cancer, offering hope for early diagnosis

The performance of a blood-based testing method that uses cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to screen for colorectal cancer.

18 Mar 2024

Nanoparticles turbocharge turmeric's curcumin for enhanced health benefits

Study explores nanoparticle-enhanced curcumin formulations, promising to significantly boost its health benefits including anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects by improving bioavailability and bioactivity.

17 Mar 2024

Proteotyping unveils new extremophiles in high-altitude lakes

Perfectly adapted microorganisms live in extreme environments from deep-sea trenches to mountaintops. Learning more about how these extremophiles survive in hostile conditions could inform scientists about life on Earth and potential life on other planets.

15 Mar 2024

DNA origami vaccine DoriVac paves way for personalized cancer immunotherapy

Therapeutic cancer vaccines are a form of immunotherapy in the making that could not only destroy cancer cells in patients, but keep a cancer from coming back and spreading.

15 Mar 2024

Microfluidic chips advance neurodegenerative disease research

Researchers review the role of microfluidic chip models in understanding neurodegenerative diseases, offering insights into the disease mechanisms and potential for drug development through innovative lab-on-a-chip technologies.

14 Mar 2024

Milestone in diabetes treatment: Transgenic cow produces human insulin in milk

An unassuming brown bovine from the south of Brazil has made history as the first transgenic cow capable of producing human insulin in her milk.

14 Mar 2024

Researchers develop an algorithm to identify high-risk precancerous lesions on the fallopian tubes

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have developed an algorithm to identify high-risk precancerous lesions on the fallopian tubes.

14 Mar 2024

Study identifies CDK9's involvement in DNA repair during cell division

Researchers describe a newly-observed role for the protein Cyclin Dependent Kinase 9 (CDK9) in regulating DNA repair during cellular division, where errors can become the origin of cancerous tumor growth.

14 Mar 2024

Understanding the genetic and cellular impact of smoking

It's no secret that smoking is extremely detrimental to health. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals, including carcinogens, increasing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

14 Mar 2024

Rapid, easy-to-use diagnostic test could save more lives from melioidosis

Globally, more than half of patients die after infection with the neglected tropical disease, melioidosis, often before they are diagnosed.

13 Mar 2024

Blood test shows 83% accuracy in detecting colorectal cancer

A blood test intended for screening for colorectal cancer in people who are of average risk and not experiencing symptoms correctly detected colorectal cancer in 83% of people confirmed to have the disease, according to a study published March 14 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

13 Mar 2024