Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Microbial generalists form planet-wide networks across ecosystems

In a new study published in Cell, scientists in the Bork Group at EMBL Heidelberg reveal that microbes living in similar habitats are more alike than those simply inhabiting the same geographical region.

10 Feb 2026

New at-home tests accurately detect deadly pet parvoviruses

Pet owners want quick answers when their beloved cat or dog is sick. And if these furry friends are experiencing digestive distress, lethargy and fever, it's important to rapidly rule out serious illnesses like feline panleukopenia (also called feline parvovirus) and canine parvovirus.

10 Feb 2026

New genetic model reveals role of keratin 8 in colorectal cancer development

Researchers at Åbo Akademi University have identified a new molecular change in patients with colorectal cancer and developed a genetic disease model that forms tumors in the large intestine, resembling those seen in patients.

10 Feb 2026

Study uncovers how bacterial circadian clocks control gene expression

Our circadian clocks play a crucial role in our health and well-being, keeping our 24-hour biological cycles in sync with light and dark exposure.

10 Feb 2026

Balance depends on preserving inner hair cells in the ear

Led by Mathieu Beraneck, researchers at the University of Paris Cité/CNRS and the University of Barcelona explored the strength of the relationship between a type of inner hair cell in the ear and balance.

9 Feb 2026

New spatial omics platform advances biomedical research in Spain

Spatial omics is a new generation of technologies that allow scientists to study cells in their original location within tissues (without isolating or moving them from their environment).

9 Feb 2026

Defective fat cells drive metabolic disease in lipodystrophy

Many people may have a dim view of their fat tissue, yet scientists have come to recognize adipose as a necessary and metabolically active organ, carrying out many vital functions within the body.

9 Feb 2026

Engineered CAR-T cells reduce Alzheimer’s plaques in mice

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy that leverages the immune system to combat diseases, is a powerful treatment option for certain cancers.

9 Feb 2026

Chronic brain compression triggers neuron death through multiple pathways

To think, feel, talk and move, neurons send messages through electrical signals in the brain and spinal cord.

9 Feb 2026

Study reveals DNA methylation score that better detects alcohol intake than standard biomarkers

A Mediterranean cohort study evaluated a DNA methylation biomarker of alcohol intake and compared it with conventional indicators such as GGT. The epigenomic score correlated with alcohol exposure, linked to telomere shortening and epigenetic aging markers, but findings remain observational and population-specific.

9 Feb 2026

Engineered enzyme enables fast and accurate RNA synthesis

From vaccines and diagnostics to emerging gene-based therapies, RNA molecules are now central to modern medicine.

9 Feb 2026

IRF7 reshapes the behavior of vascular smooth muscle cells during atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis underlies most heart attacks and strokes and is now recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease rather than a simple disorder of cholesterol deposition.

9 Feb 2026

Chronic alcohol use profoundly alters gene expression in the brain's reward system

Chronic alcohol consumption profoundly alters gene expression in key brain regions involved in reward, impulse control, and decision-making, according to a study led by researchers at the Institute for Neurosciences, a joint center of Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

9 Feb 2026

Cellares to expand automated manufacturing to gene-edited stem cell therapies

Cellares, the first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO), today announced a collaboration with the Stanford Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine (CDCM) and Stanford Innovative Medicines Accelerator (IMA) to automate manufacturing and release testing for gene-edited hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapies, expanding the application of Cellares' automation platforms beyond T cell therapies into a new cell modality.

From Cellares 8 Feb 2026

CRISPR gene-drive technology reverses antibiotic resistance in bacteria

Antibiotic resistance (AR) has steadily accelerated in recent years to become a global health crisis. As deadly bacteria evolve new ways to elude drug treatments for a variety of illnesses, a growing number of "superbugs" have emerged, ramping up estimates of more than 10 million worldwide deaths per year by 2050.

7 Feb 2026

RNA micelles enable targeted chemotherapy without immune toxicity

A new study in mice hints at the potential to use tiny particles made with RNA molecules to deliver chemotherapy drugs and other therapies directly to tumors, killing cancer cells without generating an immune response or toxicity-related side effects.

7 Feb 2026

New analysis reveals hidden complexity in the vaginal microbiome

For decades, gynecological tests have relied on a simplified view of the vaginal microbiome, categorizing bacteria as either "good" or "bad."

6 Feb 2026

Senescent neutrophils promote tumor survival across cancer types

Renowned as first responders to threatening infections, neutrophils also happen to feature prominently in the microenvironment of tumors, where they and other immune cells play opposing and frequently mutable roles in promoting-or resisting-cancer progression.

6 Feb 2026

Climate change is accelerating antibiotic resistance across the Western Pacific

Urgent action is needed as climate change fuels antibiotic resistance in the Western Pacific, threatening health and highlighting socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

6 Feb 2026

SynGenSys introduces Liver.SET synthetic promoter library for liver-specific gene expression for in vivo gene therapies

SynGenSys, a biotechnology company designing synthetic gene promoter systems to address critical bottlenecks in biopharma manufacturing and enhance cell and gene therapy development, today announced the launch of its Liver.SET™ library of liver-specific synthetic promoters.

5 Feb 2026