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.

Genetic Inheritance

Gene Knockout versus Knockdown

What are Homeobox Genes?

Gene Editing Techniques: ZFNs, TALENs or CRISPR?

What are Homeobox Genes?

Genetics and Gene Expression

Conditional Gene Knockout Techniques

Genes that Control Pluripotency

Horizontal Gene Transfer and Antibiotic Resistance

The Latest Advances in Cell and Gene Therapy

What is SATI Gene Editing?

See more featured articles »

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Gene History

Functions of BRCA1/2 Gene Products

Ras Genes and Cancer

Gene Knockin

Tumor Suppressor Genes

Latest Gene News and Research

Novel approach uncovers possible drugs based on specific cellular targets for treating glioblastoma

Researchers have developed a new computational approach that uncovers possible drugs for specific cellular targets for treating glioblastoma, a lethal brain tumor.

7 Jan 2026

Study shows beneficial impact of natural light on people with type 2 diabetes

Metabolic diseases have reached epidemic proportions in our society, driven by a sedentary lifestyle coupled with circadian misalignment - a desynchrony between our intrinsic biological clocks and environmental signals.

7 Jan 2026

Low-dose megestrol strengthens hormone therapy in ER-positive breast cancer

Low-dose megestrol enhances hormone therapy for ER-positive breast cancer, reducing tumor proliferation and improving treatment adherence in the PIONEER trial.

7 Jan 2026

A single immune protein may help explain why kidney and heart disease often develop together

This review synthesizes clinical, genetic, and mechanistic evidence showing that suPAR and related uPAR fragments are strongly associated with kidney, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease risk. It highlights suPAR as a stable biomarker of innate immune activation with potential pathogenic roles, while underscoring major gaps in assay standardization and therapeutic validation.

6 Jan 2026

Forever chemicals linked to higher liver disease risk in adolescents

A new study co-led by the Southern California Superfund Research and Training Program for PFAS Assessment, Remediation and Prevention (ShARP) Center and the University of Hawai'i has linked certain common "forever chemicals" to a higher risk of liver disease in adolescents.

6 Jan 2026

Unveiling genetic links between schizophrenia and osteoporosis

A comprehensive genetic investigation led by Dr. Feng Liu at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital has uncovered striking molecular connections between schizophrenia and bone health, identifying 195 shared genetic loci that may explain why psychiatric patients face elevated fracture risks.

6 Jan 2026

TAAR1 mutation impairs brain signaling in schizophrenia

A genetic mutation passed from mother to children in families affected by schizophrenia has now been shown to completely silence a brain receptor that pharmaceutical companies are racing to target with new drugs.

6 Jan 2026

Streptococcus anginosus metabolites fuel gastric cancer

A recent study published in the medical journal Gut has revealed a novel cancer-promoting mechanism of Streptococcus anginosus (Sa).

6 Jan 2026

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

In our latest interview, News-Medical speaks with Rosanna Zhang from ACROBiosystems about utilizing organoids for disease modeling in the field of neuroscience research.

From ACROBiosystems 6 Jan 2026

New evidence reveals Streptococcus anginosus promotes gastric cancer development

This study identifies a cancer-promoting mechanism of Streptococcus anginosus, linking microbial metabolism to gastric cancer and enhancing prevention efforts.

From BGI Genomics 6 Jan 2026

Understanding the impact of pregnancy stressors on neuroimmune landscape of the fetal brain

The maternal microbiome and immune system have both independent and synergistic effects on fetal brain health - changes in the mother's immune system have been linked to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

6 Jan 2026

Repurposed drug combination shows strong promise against liver fibrosis

The study shows that this drug pair works far better together than either agent alone, offering a realistic and potentially fast path toward a new antifibrotic therapy.

6 Jan 2026

Vitamin A derivative suppresses immune response and cancer vaccine efficacy

Scientists at the Princeton University Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research have identified novel mechanisms by which a metabolic derivative of vitamin A-all-trans retinoic acid-compromises both the body's normal anti-cancer immune response and, in a different context, the efficacy of a promising type of cancer vaccine.

5 Jan 2026

Jumping genes reshape cancer genomes through 3D chromatin interactions

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have revealed previously unappreciated roles for the retrotransposon LINE-1 in shaping the cancer genome structure and regulation.

5 Jan 2026

Gut microbes shown to directly shape brain function and evolution

A groundbreaking new study reveals that changes to the gut microbiome can change the way the brain works.

5 Jan 2026

RNA splicing and processing genes emerge as central drivers of aging across tissues

A new research paper featured as the cover of Volume 17, Issue 12 of Aging-US was published on December 22, 2025, titled "A combination of differential expression and network connectivity analyses identifies a common set of RNA splicing and processing genes altered with age across human tissues."

5 Jan 2026

Researchers identify hundreds of genes essential for the development of brain cells

An international research team identified hundreds of genes essential for the development of brain cells, including one gene linked to a severe neurodevelopmental disorder not previously described.

5 Jan 2026

Two bacterial shutdown modes explain antibiotic persistence and relapse

New study reveals that bacteria can survive antibiotic treatment through two fundamentally different "shutdown modes," not just the classic idea of dormancy.

4 Jan 2026

New method can help better assess precision genome editing technology

Scientists and physicians can better assess precision genome editing technology using a new method made public today by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Significant amounts of time and resources spent improving CRISPR gene editing technology focus on identifying small off-target sites that pose a safety risk, which is also technically challenging.

2 Jan 2026

A mathematical solution for precise control of cellular “noise”

Why does cancer sometimes recur after chemotherapy? Why do some bacteria survive antibiotic treatment? In many cases, the answer appears to lie not in genetic differences, but in biological noise - random fluctuations in molecular activity that occur even among genetically identical cells.

2 Jan 2026