Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Research provides first evidence for a possible cause of familial ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disease. The neurons responsible for movement begin to die and muscle control is progressively lost, leading to a fatal outcome.

22 Mar 2024

Study shows cellular, molecular overlaps in ALS and FTLD

On the surface, the movement disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and the cognitive disorder frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), which underlies frontotemporal dementia, manifest in very different ways. In addition, they are known to primarily affect very different regions of the brain.

22 Mar 2024

Boosting mRNA activity and longevity with multi-tailed structures

Messenger RNA (mRNA) made its big leap into the public limelight during the pandemic, thanks to its cornerstone role in several COVID-19 vaccines

22 Mar 2024

Aging linked to length of genes, study suggests

Aging may be less about specific "aging genes" and more about how long a gene is. Many of the changes associated with aging could be occurring due to decreased expression of long genes, say researchers in an opinion piece publishing March 21 in the journal Trends in Genetics.

22 Mar 2024

Scientists uncover four proteins that govern the identity of anaplastic large cell lymphoma

A collaboration between scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute uncovered four proteins that govern the identity of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), an aggressive form of cancer.

22 Mar 2024

Long genes linked to faster biological aging

What causes our body to age? Four complementary studies, including one from Northwestern Medicine, have come to the same conclusion: long genes.

21 Mar 2024

Researchers devise novel technique for crafting human artificial chromosomes

Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) capable of working within human cells could power advanced gene therapies, including those addressing some cancers, along with many laboratory applications, though serious technical obstacles have hindered their development.

21 Mar 2024

Groundbreaking atlas maps over 80 blood stem cell types

Thanks to an unusual application of game theory and machine learning technology, a large team of scientists led by experts at Cincinnati Children's has published the world's most detailed "atlas" of the many types of stem cells and early progenitors involved in producing human blood from diverse donors.

21 Mar 2024

Study reveals protective role of C3 protein in insulin-producing cells

Although there are many differences between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, there are also similarities, such as inflammation of the insulin-producing cells.

21 Mar 2024

Researchers identify mechanism behind COVID-19 related brain fog

Among the many confounding symptoms in patients recovering from a COVID-19 infection are memory loss and difficulty learning.

21 Mar 2024

Scientists shed light on key immune regulators involved in Alzheimer’s and other disorders of lipid-rich tissues

Using novel genetic and genomic tools, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have shed light on the role of immune cells called macrophages in lipid-rich tissues like the brain, advancing our understanding of Alzheimer's and other diseases.

21 Mar 2024

Concomitant pharmacotherapy overcomes immunotherapy challenges in aggressive blood cancer

Researchers at the University of Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich have discovered that a specific mutation in the cancer cells of an aggressive type of blood cancer can prevent novel immunotherapies such as CAR T-cell therapy from working.

21 Mar 2024

Study pinpoints several genetic variants contributing to Alzheimer's disease

Identifying genetic variants and the role they play in predisposing people to Alzheimer's disease can help researchers better understand how to treat the neurodegenerative condition for which there is currently no cure.

21 Mar 2024

From farm to pharmacy: Transgenic cow milk as a new source of human insulin

A team of researchers from Brazil constructed a lentivirus vector with expression specific for mammary glands and carrying the gene for human insulin.

21 Mar 2024

Bioengineering edible mycelium to enhance nutritional value, color, and flavor

A modular synthetic biology toolkit for Aspergillus oryzae, an edible fungus used in fermented foods.

21 Mar 2024

Exploring the role of iodine in obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions

The metabolic implications of iodine consumption and elucidated the underlying mechanisms.

21 Mar 2024

Middle age: A critical turning point for brain health and cognition

Review emphasizes the significance of midlife for cognitive trajectories and brain health, advocating for research models that capture non-linear changes to better understand the unique processes occurring during this period.

20 Mar 2024

Investigational gene therapy shows promise for rare childhood neurodegenerative disease

An investigational gene therapy for a rare neurodegenerative disease that begins in early childhood, known as giant axonal neuropathy (GAN), was well tolerated and showed signs of therapeutic benefit in a clinical trial led by the National Institutes of Health.

20 Mar 2024

Enhancing the safety and efficacy of breast and ovarian cancer treatment

Some anti-cancer treatments not only target tumour cells but also healthy cells. If their effects on the latter are too strong, their use can become limiting.

20 Mar 2024

Hearing loss linked to accelerated Alzheimer's progression via GDF1 pathway

Study unveils the GDF1 signaling pathway's role in mitigating the adverse effects of hearing loss on Alzheimer's disease, spotlighting potential avenues for therapeutic development.

20 Mar 2024