Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Single-cell encapsulation technology can protect transplanted MSCs from immune attack

Bone marrow transplants of hematopoietic stem cells have become standard treatment for a host of conditions including cancers of the blood and lymphatic systems, sickle cell anemia, inherited metabolic disorders, and radiation damage.

16 Jul 2019

Human pancreas on a chip could help identify possible cause of CF-Related Diabetes

Scientists created human pancreas on a chip that allowed them to identify the possible cause of a frequent and deadly complication of cystic fibrosis (CF) called CF-Related Diabetes, or CFRD.

16 Jul 2019

EMBL study reveals uncoupling between chromatin topology and gene expression

Molecular biologists long thought that domains in the genome’s 3D organization control how genes are expressed.

16 Jul 2019

HIV therapy leaves unrepaired holes in the immune system's wall of defense

If they don't receive antiretroviral therapy (ART), most HIV patients see a progressive weakening of their immune system.

16 Jul 2019

Fungal infection study identifies specific genetic vulnerability among Hmong people

Ten years ago, in Marathon County, Wisconsin, 55 people were sickened by an uncommon fungal infection called blastomycosis. Thirty patients were hospitalized. Two people died.

16 Jul 2019

Diet and nutrition influence microbiome in colonic mucosa

Diet is important in maintaining human health, but its underlying mechanism is not yet fully understood. Now, a team of researchers sheds light on the connection of diet and health, and it has something to do with the microbiome composition in human colonic mucosa.

15 Jul 2019

Scientists discover hundreds of protein-pairs through coevolution study

Scientists have discovered hundreds of new protein-protein interactions by looking for co-evolution in some residues of aligned protein sequences.

15 Jul 2019

Nanoparticles used to deliver CRISPR gene editing tools into the cell

Researchers from Tufts University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a novel method to effectively deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) associated protein 9) gene editing tools into the liver for genetic studies.

15 Jul 2019

Genetic contribution to distractibility helps explain procrastination

Wouldn’t it be nice to blame your genes for your procrastination? Now, using a combination of questionnaires and genetic testing, German researchers have found that with increasing dopamine in the brain, women tended to show greater tendencies to procrastinate.

14 Jul 2019

Revolutionary gene replacement surgery restores vision in patients with retinal degeneration

More than a year after becoming one of the first medical institutions nationally to complete a revolutionary gene replacement surgery to restore vision in patients with retinal degeneration, surgeons at the of The Vision Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have successfully completed the procedure on an additional 13 patients.

14 Jul 2019

Researchers discover gene linked to healthy aging in worms

People with the same lifespan do not necessarily have the same quality of life. As we live longer, extending quality of life -- "healthspan" -- is gaining importance.

12 Jul 2019

How cell-free DNA can be targeted to prevent spread of tumors

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is DNA found in trace amounts in blood, which has escaped degradation by enzymes.

12 Jul 2019

Alternate cell growth pathway could open door to new treatments for metastatic cancers

While researchers have a basic understanding of how primary cancer cells grow, less is known about metastasis, the deadly process by which cancers spread.

12 Jul 2019

An injection of nanoparticles for spinal cord injuries

Researchers from the University of Michigan used nanopaticles injection to prevent the immune cells of the body from impairing the healing of injured brain and spinal cord. They call this an “EpiPen” or emergency rescue drug for the brain and spinal cord when they suffer trauma.

11 Jul 2019

Metabolic enzyme tied to obesity and fatty liver disease

A team of researchers at the Clemson University found that Cyp2b gene, which metabolizes endo and xenobiotics, may be linked to age-onset obesity and dyslipidemia, especially in males.

11 Jul 2019

Researchers identify gene mutations linked to leukemia in children with Down's syndrome

Researchers at the University of Oxford, in collaboration with colleagues from Hannover Medical School and Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, have discovered the specific gene mutations that are required for the development of leukemia in children with Down's syndrome.

11 Jul 2019

Study offers clues about how to prevent brain inflammation in Alzheimer's

A new study by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital offers clues about how to prevent inflammation of brain tissue, which promotes Alzheimer's disease

11 Jul 2019

Ancient epigenetic change deactivates some genes linked to cancer

An epigenetic change, a form of DNA control, that deactivates some genes linked to cancer late in human development has been conserved for more than 400 million years, new research led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research suggests.

11 Jul 2019

New drug for acute migraine shows promising results in a large-scale trial

A drug belonging to a new generation of acute migraine headache treatments was found to eliminate pain and reduce bothersome symptoms for people with migraine in a large-scale trial reported in the July 11 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

11 Jul 2019

Comprehensive cell atlas of the human liver

The liver is one of the largest and most versatile organs of the human body. It turns sugars, proteins, and fats from our food into substances useful for the body and releases them to the cells.

11 Jul 2019