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.

Tumor Suppressor Genes

Gene Knockout versus Knockdown

What is SATI Gene Editing?

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Horizontal Gene Transfer and Antibiotic Resistance

Conditional Gene Knockout Techniques

What are Homeobox Genes?

The Latest Advances in Cell and Gene Therapy

Gene Knockin

Ras Genes and Cancer

Genetic Inheritance

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Genes that Control Pluripotency

Functions of BRCA1/2 Gene Products

Gene History

What are Homeobox Genes?

Genetics and Gene Expression

Gene Editing Techniques: ZFNs, TALENs or CRISPR?

Latest Gene News and Research

Penn State study identifies new regulator of jumping genes

As much as half of the human genome is composed of so-called "jumping genes." These DNA sequences can make copies of themselves that are inserted back into the genome at another location, playing a significant functional role in creating the diversity that drives evolution and in regulating how other genes are turned on or off.

21 Oct 2026

Blocking specific proteins protects beta cells om excessive cellular stress

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified a molecular pathway that contributes to the death of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

21 Oct 2026

Study shows circadian rhythms vary across different cell types

Biological clocks coordinate the spatiotemporal organization of metabolism with diurnal time cues, and bulk-tissue RNA sequencing studies in mammals have revealed widespread circadian (about 24 h) gene expression in mice and non-human primates.

21 Oct 2026

Altered fatty acid metabolism drives glioblastoma growth and treatment resistance

Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, and glioblastoma (GBM), particularly IDH (Isocitrate dehydrogenase)-wildtype disease, has the poorest prognosis.

21 Oct 2026

Cell Painting method reveals drug differences in 3D cancer cells

Researchers at Uppsala University have adapted Cell Painting, a widely used imaging method in drug discovery, to look at individual cells inside small 3D clusters of cancer cells.

21 Oct 2026

CHLA becomes first hospital on the West Coast to implant spring rods for children with scoliosis

Children's Hospital Los Angeles recently became the first pediatric hospital on the West Coast to implant an innovative new system of spring-based rods in children with early onset scoliosis (EOS).

21 Oct 2026

Touchlight announces leadership transition, with Will Downie appointed interim CEO

Touchlight today announces that Karen Fallen is stepping down as CEO and that the Board of Directors has appointed Will Downie as Interim Chief Executive Officer.

From Touchlight 21 Oct 2026

Paternal age may influence sex-specific gene expression changes in embryos

When genes are "expressed," it is like reading an instruction manual to create things the body needs - such as proteins or RNA.

20 Oct 2026

Study identifies potential treatment target for aggressive lung tumors

A UTHealth Houston-led team has identified a promising new avenue to curb the growth and spread of tumors associated with hard-to-treat lung and other cancers.

20 Oct 2026

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