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.

What are Homeobox Genes?

Gene Knockout versus Knockdown

Genes that Control Pluripotency

Tumor Suppressor Genes

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Ras Genes and Cancer

Genetics and Gene Expression

Gene Editing Techniques: ZFNs, TALENs or CRISPR?

Horizontal Gene Transfer and Antibiotic Resistance

Gene History

Conditional Gene Knockout Techniques

See more featured articles »

What is SATI Gene Editing?

What are Homeobox Genes?

Genetic Inheritance

The Latest Advances in Cell and Gene Therapy

Functions of BRCA1/2 Gene Products

Gene Knockin

Latest Gene News and Research

Study reveals innate immune barriers to long-term pig kidney transplant survival

Pioneering research led by Brazilians describes the immune system's reactions in detail in the first living patient to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant.

8 Jan 2026

Unveiling IDH-mutant glioma's roots: A new path for early diagnosis

IDH-mutant glioma, caused by abnormalities in a specific gene (IDH), is the most common malignant brain tumor among young adults under the age of 50.

8 Jan 2026

Scientists discover how stem cells navigate and repair brain damage after stroke

Some parts of our bodies bounce back from injury in fairly short order. The outer protective layer of the eye-called the cornea-can heal from minor scratches within a single day.

8 Jan 2026

CIRM awards $7.4 million to advance stem cell-based gene therapy for Friedreich's ataxia

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded $7.4 million to support a University of California San Diego team developing a first-of-its-kind stem cell-based gene therapy for Friedreich's ataxia, a rare inherited neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive loss of coordination, muscle strength, heart function and overall mobility.

8 Jan 2026

Recent advances in CAR-NK cell therapy could revolutionze cancer treatment

Cell-based immunotherapies have transformed cancer treatment, yet their widespread use remains constrained by safety risks, manufacturing complexity, and limited effectiveness against solid tumors.

8 Jan 2026

Sub-lethal water disinfection can unintentionally boost the spread of antibiotic resistance

The study reveals that environmental stressors do not merely kill bacteria; they can also prime surviving cells to take up resistance genes more efficiently, raising concerns about how antibiotic-resistant bacteria may spread in aquatic environments.

8 Jan 2026

Natural daylight during office hours improves glucose stability in type 2 diabetes

Natural daylight exposure during office hours improves glucose control and boosts fat oxidation in individuals with type 2 diabetes, enhancing metabolic health.

8 Jan 2026

Arginine can modify plaque formation on teeth and protect against dental caries

New human clinical trial proves arginine, an amino acid, can modify plaque formation on teeth, thereby protecting against dental caries.

8 Jan 2026

Reprogramming immunity to protect beta cells in type 1 diabetes

In the battle against type 1 diabetes (T1D), one researcher at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is leading a bold new front. With $1 million in funding from Breakthrough T1D, the leading global T1D research and advocacy organization, Leonardo Ferreira, Ph.D., assistant professor of Pharmacology and Immunology, and his collaborators at partnering institutions will explore a new approach to treating – and potentially curing – the disease.

7 Jan 2026

New partnership launches marketplace to revive deprioritized cell and gene therapies

The American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT), the leading professional organization for the advancement of cell and gene therapies (CGTs), and the Orphan Therapeutics Accelerator (OTXL), a non-profit biotech focused on completing development and enabling access to stalled rare disease treatments, today announced a partnership to establish CGTxchange, a jointly owned entity that will serve as a clearinghouse and marketplace for deprioritized CGTs.

7 Jan 2026

BATF2: A novel tumor suppressor silenced by glutamine in head and neck cancer

A novel tumor suppressor, BATF2, can be silenced by factors in the tumor microenvironment, leading to a reduced immune response in five preclinical models of head and neck cancer, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

7 Jan 2026

Brazilian study shows liquid biopsies can expedite lung cancer care

In Brazil, the early detection of genetic alterations in lung cancer through liquid biopsies could be a valuable tool for expediting diagnoses and guiding patient treatment.

7 Jan 2026

Marine yeast reveals genetic secrets of multicellularity and evolutionary flexibility

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have identified the genes that allow an organism to switch between living as single cells and forming multicellular structures.

7 Jan 2026

Genetic study reveals how DNA repeats expand with age

An analysis of genetic data from over 900,000 people shows that certain stretches of DNA, made up of short sequences repeated over and over, become longer and more unstable as we age.

7 Jan 2026

Gene therapy breakthrough could provide hope for millions living with chronic pain

A preclinical study uncovered a new gene therapy that targets pain centers in the brain while eliminating the risk of addiction from narcotics treatments, a breakthrough which could provide hope for the more than 50 million Americans living with chronic pain.

7 Jan 2026

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