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.

Functions of BRCA1/2 Gene Products

Genes that Control Pluripotency

What is SATI Gene Editing?

Ras Genes and Cancer

Gene Knockout versus Knockdown

Gene Editing Techniques: ZFNs, TALENs or CRISPR?

Gene Knockin

Genetics and Gene Expression

Horizontal Gene Transfer

What are Homeobox Genes?

Gene History

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Conditional Gene Knockout Techniques

Genetic Inheritance

Horizontal Gene Transfer and Antibiotic Resistance

The Latest Advances in Cell and Gene Therapy

Tumor Suppressor Genes

What are Homeobox Genes?

Latest Gene News and Research

AI uncovers evolution of genetic control elements in mammalian cerebellum

Artificial intelligence allows tracing the evolution of genetic control elements in the developing mammalian cerebellum.

30 Jan 2026

Research uncovers trade-offs in aging muscle stem cell functionality

Aging muscles heal more slowly after injury - a frustrating reality familiar to many older adults.

30 Jan 2026

Research uncovers why certain brain cells are more resilient to tau protein buildup

New research by UCLA Health and UC San Francisco has uncovered why certain brain cells are more resilient than others to the buildup of a toxic protein that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, potentially leading to new targets for therapies or treatments.

30 Jan 2026

Why education expanded but opportunity remained unequal

A study shows genetic factors increasingly influence education, but socioeconomic background remains a stronger predictor of educational success across cohorts.

30 Jan 2026

Lab-grown corticospinal neurons offer new models for ALS and spinal injuries

Researchers have developed a way to grow a highly specialized subset of brain nerve cells that are involved in motor neuron disease and damaged in spinal injuries.

29 Jan 2026

Genetic inheritance and life experience leave distinct epigenetic marks in immune cells

The COVID-19 pandemic gave us tremendous perspective on how wildly symptoms and outcomes can vary between patients experiencing the same infection.

29 Jan 2026

Gut microbiome may be a central player in the body's response to cancer

A new study reveals how bacteria in the gut can help determine whether the amino acid asparagine from the diet will feed tumor growth or activate immune cells against the cancer, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

29 Jan 2026

Biomarker discovery may pave the way for early diagnosis of Parkinson's

A team led by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, has succeeded in identifying biomarkers for Parkinson's disease in its earliest stages, before extensive brain damage has occurred.

29 Jan 2026

Study reveals a link between oral microbiota and cognitive performance in schizophrenia

An association between oral microbiota and cognitive performance in schizophrenia has been reported by researchers at Science Tokyo.

29 Jan 2026

Genetic variants associated with rare inherited growth disorder identified in two prehistoric individuals

Researchers led by the University of Vienna and Liège University Hospital Centre have identified genetic variants associated with a rare inherited growth disorder in two prehistoric individuals who lived more than 12,000 years ago.

29 Jan 2026

Study uncovers genes and proteins likely to play a causal role in Type 2 diabetes

An international study co-led by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Helmholtz Munich in Germany has uncovered hundreds of genes and proteins likely to play a causal role in Type 2 diabetes, many of which would have been missed by studies relying on blood samples alone.

29 Jan 2026

Brain protein CUL5 protects neurons by clearing toxic tau clumps

Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified a hazardous waste collector in the brain that disposes of the toxic clumps of tau protein that can lead to dementia.

28 Jan 2026

How DNA and life experiences leave distinct marks on the human immune system

Using single-cell epigenomic profiling of immune cells from 110 individuals, researchers show that genetic variation and environmental exposures shape the human immune system through distinct DNA methylation mechanisms. Genetic effects concentrate within gene bodies of memory cells, while environmental exposures primarily remodel regulatory regions in naive immune cells.

28 Jan 2026

Zebrafish can play a decisive role in clinical interpretation of spinal muscular atrophy

The tiny zebrafish is helping researchers rapidly determine whether a newborn's genetic mutation is likely to cause spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), one of the leading causes of infant mortality worldwide.

28 Jan 2026

Exploring Targeted Protein Degradation as a New Strategy to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance

Targeted protein degradation presents a promising strategy to address antimicrobial resistance, focusing on innovative approaches for gram-negative bacteria.

28 Jan 2026

Newly discovered compound can advance the body's internal clock

A Japanese research team has discovered a new compound that can advance the body's internal clock—offering hope for faster recovery from jet lag and better adaptation to night-shift work.

28 Jan 2026

First topical CRISPR gene therapy corrects disease-causing mutations in human skin

Gene-editing tools like CRISPR have unlocked new treatments for previously uncurable diseases. Now, researchers at the University of British Columbia are extending those possibilities to the skin for the first time.

27 Jan 2026

Purdue researchers discover new therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer

A Purdue University team led by Kyle Cottrell has discovered a new therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer.

27 Jan 2026

Study reveals heart, brain, neuroimmune connections driving damage after heart attacks

Arteries become clogged. Blood flow is restricted and oxygen is cut off. The result is a heart attack, the world's leading cause of death.

27 Jan 2026

PFOA exposure disrupts hormone signaling and impairs embryo implantation in mice

A new experimental study has found that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a widely used industrial chemical, can interfere with key biological processes required for successful embryo implantation, raising concerns about its potential impact on female fertility.

27 Jan 2026