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

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Gene Knockout versus Knockdown

Horizontal Gene Transfer and Antibiotic Resistance

Gene History

Ras Genes and Cancer

Conditional Gene Knockout Techniques

Gene Knockin

Genes that Control Pluripotency

Genetics and Gene Expression

The Latest Advances in Cell and Gene Therapy

See more featured articles »

What is SATI Gene Editing?

Genetic Inheritance

What are Homeobox Genes?

Gene Editing Techniques: ZFNs, TALENs or CRISPR?

Tumor Suppressor Genes

Latest Gene News and Research

Genetic variants may reduce effectiveness of popular diabetes drugs

More than a quarter of people with Type 2 diabetes take GLP-1 receptor agonists, but the popular diabetes drugs might not work as well for people who have certain genetic variants, according to a new study by Stanford Medicine scientists and their collaborators.

12 Apr 2026

Maternal signals help synchronize babies’ circadian rhythms before birth

Humans and most other organisms have internal biological clocks that track the daily cycle of sunrise and sunset. These clocks help time our sleep, metabolism and other essential body functions over the course of a day, creating daily patterns called circadian rhythms.

11 Apr 2026

Damon Runyon supports young scientists driving cancer research innovation

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named 13 new Damon Runyon Fellows, exceptional postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators.

11 Apr 2026

Pseudogene lncRNAs regulate cancer stem cell behavior and signaling

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a critical subpopulation within tumors, drive cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, relapse, and resistance to therapy due to their innate capacity for self-renewal and differentiation.

11 Apr 2026

Decoy strategy boosts natural bacteria to clean polluted soils

Aromatic compounds, such as dioxins and benzene, are major soil pollutants. Their high chemical stability makes them resistant to microbial and chemical degradation, leading to toxic accumulation in the soil.

11 Apr 2026

Non-clinical safety assessment crucial for CRISPR-based gene therapies

The rapid evolution of CRISPR/Cas genome editing has redefined the possibilities of cellular and gene therapy, enabling precise correction, disruption, and regulation of disease-associated genes.

10 Apr 2026

Intense light therapy reduces hypoxia-induced heart damage in mice

Right ventricular (RV) remodeling and dysfunction are serious cardiovascular consequences due to prolonged hypoxic exposure, commonly seen in conditions such as chronic lung disease and high-altitude environments.

10 Apr 2026

Lung tumors shift identity making treatment more difficult

A new study co-led by the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) shows that some lung cancers can change identity as they evolve, shifting from one cancer type to another in ways that may make them more aggressive and harder to treat.

10 Apr 2026

Popular sweeteners may impact metabolism across generations

When you choose a diet version of your favorite fizzy drink, you consume non-nutritive sweeteners, which taste sweet but - unlike sugar - contain no calories.

10 Apr 2026

Researchers discover how motor proteins selectively transport neuronal cargo

Intracellular transport is a vital process that allows cells to move proteins and other molecules to specific locations.

10 Apr 2026

Dynamic AI models detect body tipping points to forecast disease before symptoms

The editorial, "Dynamics-driven medical big data mining: dynamic approaches to early disease forecasting and individualized care," published in Intelligent Medicine (February 2026, Volume 6, Issue 1), was written by Lu Wang (Tianjin Medical University), Han Lyu (Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University), and Bin Sheng (Shanghai Jiao Tong University).

10 Apr 2026

Revvity unveils its Signals BioDesign offering to advance biologic research workflows

Revvity, Inc. announced that its Revvity Signals Software business is launching Signals BioDesign™, a cloud-native molecular cloning solution that streamlines biologics research workflows.

From Revvity Signals Software Inc. 10 Apr 2026

When omega-3 may help mental health and when they may not

Investigating omega-3 fatty acids, this review highlights their impact on mental health, inflammation, and the potential for therapeutic use in disorders.

10 Apr 2026

Low oxygen triggers regenerative programs in mammalian limb cells

Some animals can regrow lost body parts. Salamanders and frog tadpoles can rebuild entire limbs after amputation. Mammals cannot. For decades, biologists have tried to understand why.

9 Apr 2026

Vibrio cholerae acquires antiviral defenses through horizontal gene transfer

Like most bacteria, Vibrio cholerae lives under constant attack from viruses. To survive, bacteria equip themselves with antiviral immune systems.

9 Apr 2026

Study maps DNA methylation changes driving MDS stem cell dysfunction

Published on April 01, 2026, in Volume 2, article number 19 of the journal Immunity & Inflammation, a collaborative team led by Prof. Cao at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, along with Dr. Liangding Hu at the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, and Professors Qian Zhang and Yanmei Han at the National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Naval Medical University, has generated the first base-resolution DNA methylome of human MDS HSCs.

9 Apr 2026

One letter DNA change switches sex development in mice

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have discovered that changing just one letter in DNA can completely alter sex development in mice.

9 Apr 2026

New 3D organoid model advances pediatric glioma research and treatment

A three-dimensional experimental system has been developed to study the response to drugs in low-grade glioma, a tumor of the central nervous system that often occurs in children.

9 Apr 2026

New hippocampus model advances understanding of Alzheimer’s progression

With a new model of the brain region essential to memory formation, from cells to whole-brain networks, the team hopes to identify critical changes in the progression of Alzheimer's disease that could point the way to earlier, more effective treatments.

9 Apr 2026