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 Knockin

Horizontal Gene Transfer and Antibiotic Resistance

Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genetics and Gene Expression

Gene Editing Techniques: ZFNs, TALENs or CRISPR?

Gene History

Functions of BRCA1/2 Gene Products

The Latest Advances in Cell and Gene Therapy

Genetic Inheritance

Genes that Control Pluripotency

What are Homeobox Genes?

See more featured articles »

Conditional Gene Knockout Techniques

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Gene Knockout versus Knockdown

Ras Genes and Cancer

What is SATI Gene Editing?

What are Homeobox Genes?

Latest Gene News and Research

Experts weigh risks of using gene therapies for common diseases

Gene therapy is no longer the future of medicine - it's reality. Treatments that replace, silence or edit genes are already changing clinical care.

20 Oct 2026

Study links abnormal immature astroglia to lower fluid intelligence in older epilepsy patients

A new USC-led study links abnormal immature astroglia, star-shaped cells that support brain function, to lower fluid intelligence, or the ability to solve new problems, in older adults with epilepsy.

20 Oct 2026

New gene-editing platform gives doctors control over cell therapies

An Australian clinician-led research team has developed a gene-editing platform that could give doctors more control over cell therapies, making them more practical for patients with complex immune conditions.

20 Oct 2026

Scientists discover natural cellular defense mechanism against ALS progression

ALS is a disease where, in most cases, a protein forms aggregates in neurons, which leads to the rapid loss of motor control and death.

20 Oct 2026

New study identifies protein factor linked to chronic liver disease

The mechanisms that cause the world's most common chronic liver disease — Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — to develop and progress are not still fully understood.

20 Oct 2026

Researchers investigate molecular mechanisms linking high-calorie diets to cognitive decline

The molecular mechanisms linking a high calorie diet to cognitive impairment remain unclear. Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, investigated this association in mice, finding that the diet reduced nuclear protein PQBP1 expression, disrupting the alternative splicing of genes involved in synaptic function.

20 Oct 2026

Study links DNA methylation to OCD psychotherapy treatment response

OCD is a mental health disorder characterized by unwanted, recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviors that can severely interfere with everyday life. Exposure-based psychotherapy is one of the most effective treatments, but the biological mechanisms underlying treatment response remain poorly understood.

19 Oct 2026

Study reveals mature immune functions in embryonic neutrophils

Neutrophils are white blood cells that form part of the body's first line of defence. Researchers have now demonstrated for the first time that neutrophils are found in many tissues during embryonic development, and that they can perform the same functions as adult neutrophils.

19 Oct 2026

Menopause isn't the end of the story for the ovaries

Research reveals that postmenopausal ovaries remain active, showing molecular remodeling linked to inflammation and potential implications for women's health.

19 Oct 2026

Bisphenol mixtures alter breast tissue development in lab-grown human models

Exposure to common chemicals may alter how normal human breast tissue develops, according to a new study from researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and Boston University

15 Oct 2026

Study identifies priority genes for safer prescribing in older Chinese patients

A research team has identified three genes that could help prioritize pharmacogenomic testing for older adults in China who receive multiple medications.

15 Oct 2026

A protective brain enzyme may counteract aging-associated cognitive decline

Cinzia Vicidomini, PhD, and Amar Sahay, PhD, of the Mass General Brigham Department of Psychiatry, the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, are the lead and senior authors of a paper published in Nature Neuroscience, "An aging-sensitive secreted phospholipase confers neuroprotection and cognitive resilience."

15 Oct 2026

Researchers identify molecular pathway that improves ultrasound-based bone defect healing

Researchers from Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, have identified a CaN/NFATC3/Id3/E2A/Bmp4 signaling pathway that helps explain how low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) promotes bone regeneration.

15 Oct 2026

New study reveals how Candida auris evades antifungal drugs

New research has revealed an unexpected new mechanism through which the killer fungus Candida auris is resisting antifungal drug treatment.

15 Oct 2026

Recurrent brain tumors undergo unique genetic changes after treatment

When patients are diagnosed with certain brain tumors, one of the biggest unanswered questions is what happens when the cancer returns.

14 Oct 2026

Experimental gene therapy offers non-surgical option for hydrocephalus

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine have published the first proof-of-concept study showing the potential of an experimental gene therapy for hydrocephalus.

14 Oct 2026

Novel gene rejuvenation therapy preserves cell identity while reversing age

Every organ and tissue progressively loses function and integrity as it ages. In fact, researchers have identified "hallmarks of aging" that not only present specific processes impacted by age, but are also thought of as levers that, if successfully targeted, could help turn back the aging clock and result in tissue rejuvenation.

14 Oct 2026

Enhancing CRISPR analysis with INTEGRA automation

Biotechnology company QUiCKR Bio is using liquid handling solutions from INTEGRA Biosciences to run its CRISPR edit confirmation assays.

From INTEGRA Biosciences 14 Oct 2026

Coffee, citrus and genetics: What scientists found inside human breast milk

In a bioRxiv preprint, researchers analyzed 458 metabolites in breast milk samples from 349 mothers to investigate how maternal diet, genetics, clinical characteristics, and milk-cell gene expression relate to milk composition. Maternal diet explained the greatest share of metabolite variation among the measured maternal factors, while specific genetic variants and gene-expression patterns were associated with individual metabolites, although the study did not establish effects on infant health.

14 Oct 2026

Cigarette smoke exposure alters ovarian and testicular function in mice

New research has shed light on how exposure to cigarette smoke could affect reproductive health in both men and women, identifying changes in biological processes involved in ovarian function and sperm production.

13 Oct 2026