Gene

A gene is a unit of heredity in a living organism. It normally resides on a stretch of DNA that codes for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. All living things depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains.

What are Genes?

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the chemical information database that carries the complete set of instructions for the cell as to the nature of the proteins produced by it, its life span, maturity, function and death. Genes are the working subunits of DNA. Each gene contains a particular set of instructions, usually coding for a particular protein or for a particular function.

Gene Knockout versus Knockdown

Genetics and Gene Expression

Gene Editing Techniques: ZFNs, TALENs or CRISPR?

What are Homeobox Genes?

What is SATI Gene Editing?

Functions of BRCA1/2 Gene Products

Genes that Control Pluripotency

Ras Genes and Cancer

What are Homeobox Genes?

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Gene History

See more featured articles »

Tumor Suppressor Genes

Gene Knockin

Conditional Gene Knockout Techniques

Genetic Inheritance

Horizontal Gene Transfer and Antibiotic Resistance

The Latest Advances in Cell and Gene Therapy

Latest Gene News and Research

AI-designed molecular switch uses caffeine to control engineered cells

For many of us, a warm cup of coffee is how we start our day. For Texas A&M Health researchers, it may also offer a new way to control engineered cells in future medicines.

8 Jun 2026

Study identifies new therapeutic candidate for KRAS-driven pancreatic cancer

A new research paper was published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on June 3, 2026, titled "The anticancer effects of PCAIs in pancreatic cancer cells involve MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways hyperactivation."

8 Jun 2026

New genetic disorder linked to severe childhood lung disease

A new report in the American Journal of Human Genetics describes a novel disorder caused by biallelic loss-of-function variants in the TMEM63B gene, which results in severe lung disease.

8 Jun 2026

Female brain forms fear memories through unique molecular process

Women are twice as likely as men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - and new research may offer a biological clue as to why.

8 Jun 2026

Antidepressants trigger opposite reactions in different groups of serotonin-producing brain cells

A new study has uncovered how antidepressants affect different groups of serotonin-producing brain cells in opposite ways, offering new insights into why selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause unpleasant side effects at the start of treatment but lead to symptom relief over time.

8 Jun 2026

Infant receives world's first gene therapy for WOREE syndrome

An eight-month-old infant with a severe genetic epilepsy has become the first patient in the world to receive an experimental gene replacement therapy designed to restore the function of the WWOX gene directly in the brain.

8 Jun 2026

DNA study links BRCA genes to aggressive early-onset breast cancer in black women

Black women experience disproportionately elevated risks of developing and dying from early-onset breast cancer. New research published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, reveals the genes that are most likely to be mutated to contribute to these increased risks.

8 Jun 2026

Researchers challenge the traditional understanding of how histone deacetylase inhibitors function

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions are challenging the traditional understanding of how cancer drugs called histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors function.

5 Jun 2026

Ancient Y chromosome gene UTY retains regulatory function in humans

The study, published in Volume 153, Issue 9 of the journal Development on May 14, 2026, by The Company of Biologists, is the first to precisely map endogenous UTY occupancy across the human genome and demonstrate that UTY remains functionally involved in transcriptional regulation during early human development.

5 Jun 2026

Grant fuels research into SYNGAP1-linked behavioral abnormalities

CURE SYNGAP1 501(c)(3) is pleased to announce a $130,000 grant to Dr. Helen Willsey and Dr. David Kastner at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

5 Jun 2026

Bee-derived propolis shows potent antiviral activity against varicella-zoster virus

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a clinically important human neurotropic herpesvirus that causes varicella (chickenpox) as primary infection, typically in children.

5 Jun 2026

Study links common sleep behaviors to signs of brain aging

How we sleep may have lasting impacts for our brain health as we age. A new University of Arizona study has found that several common sleep behaviors may be linked to signs of brain aging.

5 Jun 2026

Popular supplement creatine supercharges critical immune cells fighting cancer

Creatine, the organic acid that is popularly taken as a supplement by athletes and bodybuilders, supercharges a critical class of immune cells that activate and prepare the body's key cancer-fighters, according to new UCLA research.

5 Jun 2026

Favorable lifestyle factors reduce dementia risk across key genetic profiles

With dementia cases expected to nearly triple worldwide by 2050, researchers are increasingly focused on identifying ways to prevent or delay the disease.

5 Jun 2026

Scientists discover new intracellular immune defense against infections

When we think of the immune system, most people imagine white blood cells putting up a fight against invading germs within our bloodstream.

4 Jun 2026

Novel technology maps single-cell DNA-protein interactions

A new technology allows scientists to map, in single cells, the DNA binding sites of transcription factors and other regulatory proteins that control gene activity, according to a study led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and the New York Genome Center.

4 Jun 2026

AI detects early warning signs of epilepsy without visible seizures

Epilepsy isn't always easy to diagnose. Seizures often don't occur during routine brain-wave recordings (EEGs), leaving doctors without the direct observation they need to make a clear diagnosis.

4 Jun 2026

Study reveals how breast cancer cells hide in the bone marrow

Treating breast cancer remains a major medical challenge worldwide. This is largely due to the ability of breast cancer cells to remain hidden for years before triggering a relapse, which can occur even decades after successful treatment of the primary tumor.

4 Jun 2026

Vaping devices and flavors affect genes differently

Vaping exposure affects gene activity in the mouth, with variations linked to device type and flavor, suggesting unique molecular responses compared to smoking.

4 Jun 2026

Researchers discover a biological barrier that limits mucosal vaccine immunity

A consistent biological barrier that stops the immune system from making the antibodies most needed to protect the nose and throat from respiratory viruses has been identified.

4 Jun 2026