Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Scientists link brain lithium loss to early Alzheimer’s changes

Researchers have discovered that naturally occurring lithium in the brain is depleted early in Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the prefrontal cortex, and that restoring physiological levels with lithium orotate in mice can prevent brain damage and memory loss. The findings suggest lithium deficiency may be a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s.

7 Aug 2025

Asthma drug found to prevent food allergy reactions in mice

A drug already FDA-approved for asthma was found to nearly eliminate life-threatening allergic reactions to food allergens in mice - a breakthrough that could lead to new protection for millions of people living with food allergies, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.

7 Aug 2025

DKK1 identified as key driver of immune resistance in bone metastases

Many major cancers, including those of the lung, breast and prostate gland, spread to the bones as they progress.

7 Aug 2025

Mediterranean diet delivers gut health benefits for expectant mothers

A Mediterranean diet during pregnancy significantly alters the maternal gut microbiome, increasing beneficial bacteria, while a mindfulness-based stress reduction program shows more limited effects. Neither intervention affected the vaginal microbiome, and the clinical significance of these changes requires further study.

6 Aug 2025

Innovative implant material combines bone regeneration and infection control

A research team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University has resulted in a significant advancement in the field of orthopedic implant materials.

6 Aug 2025

Cedars-Sinai study finds new way to combat Alzheimer’s in preclinical models

In a preclinical study, Cedars-Sinai investigators found that boosting angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in key immune cells called microglia in the brain helped protect the brains of specially bred laboratory mice against Alzheimer's disease.

6 Aug 2025

Prime editing reverses symptoms of severe childhood neurological disease

Scientists use a precise form of gene editing called prime editing to correct the most common genetic mutations that cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood, a rare and severe neurological disorder that begins in infancy.

From The Jackson Labs 6 Aug 2025

Apple snail eye regeneration offers new insights into human sight restoration

The eye of the apple snail is unusually similar to a human eye-but, unlike human eyes, it can regrow itself if injured or even amputated.

6 Aug 2025

HOXB13 emerges as a context-dependent regulator in cancer biology

HOXB13, a B-class homeobox transcription factor, sits at the hub of developmental gene networks yet has emerged as a double-edged sword in human cancer.

5 Aug 2025

Targeting lactate metabolism offers new avenues for cancer treatment

Lactic acid (LA) has transitioned from being perceived as a mere glycolytic waste product to a pivotal regulator of tumor-immune crosstalk.

5 Aug 2025

Researchers solve longstanding mystery of protein release in cells

It's known as biology's central dogma: All living organisms' genetic information is stored in DNA, which is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into proteins that perform nearly all essential tasks in a cell.

5 Aug 2025

Nighttime caffeine linked to increased impulsivity

Do you find yourself reaching for a cup of coffee at night to stay alert? A new study from The University of Texas at El Paso suggests you might want to reconsider.

5 Aug 2025

Understanding how long non-coding RNAs control gene expression in cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are a type of RNA molecule that do not carry instructions to make proteins. Instead, they influence how other genes are expressed.

5 Aug 2025

PDGFRA+ progenitors identified as key players in angiogenesis and periodontal tissue repair

Stem cell research, alongside the rapidly advancing field of biotechnology, has led to remarkable innovations in regenerative medicine.

5 Aug 2025

Breakthrough study reveals potential treatment path for ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is an incurable neurological disorder affecting motor neurons-nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing.

5 Aug 2025

Subtle genetic shifts in brain enzyme offer clues to human evolution

The evolutionary success of our species may have hinged on minute changes to our brain biochemistry after we diverged from the lineage leading to Neanderthals and Denisovans about half a million years ago.

5 Aug 2025

'Two-in-one' RNA molecule can simultaneously turn off two difficult-to-target cancer-related genes

University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have developed a "two-in-one" molecule that can simultaneously turn off two notoriously difficult-to-target cancer-related genes, KRAS and MYC, as well as directly deliver drugs to tumors that express these genes.

4 Aug 2025

New treatment approach developed to prevent lupus nephritis

At the time when patients with lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are diagnosed, approximately 15% to 30% will already have the inflammation-caused kidney disease lupus nephritis, which compromises kidney function and can lead to kidney failure.

4 Aug 2025

Scientists reveal how rare gene mutations drive schizophrenia risk

Researchers analyzed the largest exome-sequencing dataset to date and identified new rare coding variants and genes linked to schizophrenia risk. The study highlights converging genetic pathways, implicating chromatin organization and GABAergic signaling in schizophrenia neurobiology.

4 Aug 2025

Impulsivity shapes diet and gut bacteria in healthy adults, study finds

Impulsivity in healthy adults is linked to unhealthy dietary choices, such as higher intake of alcohol and sugary drinks and lower fiber consumption. These dietary behaviors, in turn, are associated with changes in specific gut bacterial genera, highlighting an indirect pathway between personality traits and the gut microbiome.

4 Aug 2025