Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation in Ukraine describe a decentralized, cloud-based computing model and a train-the-trainer structure as key principles for resilient scientific capacity. The approach has been successful in producing trained researchers and has implications for protecting science during wartime.
Researchers tested 50 top genetic prediction tools against 13.5 million mutations, finding most programs overestimate rare, harmless mutations and underestimate more common ones. The tools' bias is due to their focus on conserved regions, which can be more prone to mutations in certain areas of the genome.
Researchers developed fluorescent molecules that allow imaging of DNA inside living cells at unprecedented resolution, and in preserved cells, close to the width of the double helix. The team tested the probes on cancer patients and found DNA to be noticeably looser and more spread out in tumours.
A protein that sticks cells together has been found to also help engulf dead cells, a discovery that could lead to new clues for understanding chronic inflammatory conditions. The study found that the 'tissue glue' helps cells adapt to swallow dead cells, which are a major cause of inflammation.
A study revealed that mice have a constant fraction of their egg reserves ready for activation, despite aging and identical DNA. The ovary has an actively monitored system that keeps track of its egg supply, challenging the traditional view of ovaries as passive reservoirs.
A new study from the Centre for Genomic Regulation found that cells use nearly unchanged signals to switch genes on, while varying dramatically to switch genes off in different species. The research provides insights into how genomes evolved and could have implications for medical research.
Collagen, the human body's most abundant protein, is found to exist as a liquid-like droplet rather than a rigid rod inside cells. This discovery has significant implications for understanding protein transport and shedding light on the mechanisms of fibrosis and cancer.
Protein language models have immense potential but lack explainability, leading to concerns over reliability and safety. Researchers propose four key places to understand a model's decision-making process and outline the need for more transparent and trustworthy AI in biotechnology.
Scientists have developed a new method to measure the editing process that fuels cancer growth and survival. By analyzing RNA sequencing data, researchers found two distinct cellular editing programs in cancer, one accelerating and the other decelerating tumour growth. This breakthrough may lead to new therapeutic targets and treatment...
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that human DNA is crowded with metabolic enzymes, which interact with DNA and play a crucial role in cancer cell growth and response to treatment. The unique pattern of enzymes differs by cancer type and tissue, providing new clues for understanding cancer biology.
Ancient genetic fragments called L1 elements destabilise the cancer genome years before diagnosis, giving malignant cells more opportunities to grow and adapt. Long-read sequencing technology reveals large-scale structural rearrangements that seed genomic chaos, potentially driving cancer development.
Researchers created a map of regulatory DNA elements in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, showing how its genome gives rise to diverse cell types. The study reveals that gene regulation networks are a creative tool for evolving complex cell diversity.
A recent rat study found that an individual's genes can shape their own gut microbiome as well as the microbiomes of those they live with. The research identified three new gene-microbe links and demonstrates how genetic influences can ripple through social groups via shared microbes
Researchers have developed a method to control protein levels inside different tissues of a whole, living animal for the first time. The technique uses a plant hormone called auxin to precisely regulate protein levels, allowing scientists to study the molecular underpinnings of ageing and disease.
A recent study found thousands of missing transcripts in people from non-European populations, potentially leading to new insights into disease risk and genetic variations. The study highlights a lack of global representation in current gene maps, built largely from European DNA sequences.
Researchers have identified regions of the human genome particularly prone to mutations, which can be inherited by future generations. The mutated stretches of DNA are located at the start point of genes and are more susceptible to errors during cell division.
Researchers created AI model popEVE that can identify disease-causing mutations in human proteins, even for unique cases. It ranks mutation severity across the body, helps doctors focus on most damaging variants first.
Cancer cells hijack embryonic gene editors to drive rapid growth and adaptation. Researchers discovered that cancer cells activate early developmental splicing factors to create embryo-like potential. This finding may lead to new treatments by detecting splicing factor changes or targeting specific editing tools.
A Mediterranean coral species has been found to have a unique "dual feeding" strategy that allows it to survive and even thrive in rising sea temperatures. This flexibility involves the coral being able to feed itself with or without algae, making it more resilient to climate change.
Researchers have discovered a single drug that can stabilize nearly all mutated versions of a human protein, offering a potential solution for rare diseases. The oral medicine tolvaptan restored receptor levels to near-normal in 87% of destabilized mutations.
A study reveals that translocations in mantle cell lymphoma boost the activity of 50 genes on a single chromosome, expanding potential drug targets. The discovery also identifies new cancer driver genes and offers insights into early detection strategies.
Researchers created a detailed list of molecular parts necessary for Mycoplasma pneumoniae survival, accelerating the development of 'living medicines'. The study's highest-resolution essentiality map can predict how tweaks to the microbe's genome slow growth or stress the cell.
A study reveals faulty genomic regulation and RNA scrambling as key contributors to type-2 diabetes. Deleting HNF1A in β-cells affects the expression of over 100 genes, many involved in insulin transport and release.
Researchers have identified a protein called eIF2A that plays a crucial role in guiding melanoma cancer cells as they spread throughout the body. Targeting this protein could be a new approach to impede metastasis and improve healthcare outcomes for patients with melanoma.
Researchers discovered that cancer cells have a defensive mechanism to repair DNA damage and survive physical stress by activating mitochondria to pump in extra ATP. This finding could lead to new therapeutic approaches by targeting the mechanism's underlying scaffold.
Researchers found that protein structures are more like Lego than Jenga, with only a few critical amino acids in the core. A machine-learning algorithm created a tool to predict protein stability, potentially speeding up the development of new medicines and enzymes.
A recent study has expanded the human genome's catalogue of large genetic variation, discovering over 167,000 structural variants across 1,019 individuals from 26 populations. The findings have improved the accuracy of genetic diagnoses for rare diseases and cancers.
A study published in The EMBO Journal found that human eggs deliberately slow their internal waste disposal systems to maintain low metabolism and reduce damage. This minimalist strategy helps the cells stay pristine for decades, potentially leading to improved IVF success rates.
Researchers found that HSV-1 deliberately reshapes the human genome within hours of infection, rearranging host genes to facilitate replication. Blocking a single host enzyme, topoisomerase I, completely halted the virus's ability to hijack the genome.
Researchers developed a technique to analyze DNA methylation marks, identifying changes in blood production that occur with age. By age 50, many blood stem cells begin to drop out and larger clones take over, leading to a decline in diversity and resilience.
Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation discovered a nine-letter microexon in DAAM1 exclusively in neurons that is critical for neuronal development and memory. Deleting this microexon in mice resulted in reduced learning spines and impaired memory function, with animals remembering roughly 40% less in standard memory tasks.
A study published in Cell describes a powerful AI tool that can design synthetic molecules to control gene expression in specific types of cells. The model creates DNA regulatory sequences not seen before in nature, allowing for ultra-selective switches to be turned on or off in healthy mammalian cells.
A new study reveals that comb jellies and other ancient animals evolved the ability to control genes from far away, over tens of thousands of DNA letters, around 650-700 million years ago. This discovery sheds light on the fundamental principles of genomic regulation that govern our cells and bodies today.
Researchers trained AI to predict protein clumping linked to 50 human diseases. The new tool, CANYA, revealed specific chemical patterns driving or preventing harmful protein folding.
Researchers discovered that TANGO2 plays a crucial role in transporting fatty acids into cells, which helps meet energy demands. Children with TANGO2 deficiency struggle to produce energy, leading to severe metabolic crises, highlighting the importance of understanding rare diseases for broader health applications.
A new approach combines genomic and structural data to resolve deep evolutionary relationships, reducing the impact of saturation in traditional phylogenetic methods. This allows for more accurate trees that can inform disease research, vaccine development, and insights into complex traits.
A massive study of human protein variants found that 61% of disease-causing mutations destabilize proteins, leading to cataracts, neurological disorders, and muscle-wasting diseases. The researchers created the Human Domainome 1 catalogue, which includes over half a million mutations across 522 human protein domains.
A new diagnostic test uses a unique molecular 'finger print' to detect different types of cancer, with near-perfect accuracy, and could lead to earlier detection and improved patient outcomes. The test targets ribosomal RNA molecules, which are modified differently in healthy and diseased tissues.
Researchers found that bacteria like E. coli assemble new ribosomes with altered tags, making them more resistant to antibiotics streptomycin and kasugamycin. This novel mechanism of antibiotic resistance could have significant implications for the fight against global antimicrobial resistance.
Researchers discovered that cancer grows uniformly throughout its mass, with every region equally active and potentially harboring aggressive mutations. This finding challenges the traditional 'two-speed' entity model of tumors, where rapidly dividing cells on the surface and slower activity in the core were thought to exist.
Researchers from CRG, UPF, and IBE are teaming up to explore evolutionary underpinnings of disease at the molecular level. The program combines evolutionary medicine and medical genomics to enhance precision medicine.
Researchers used computer simulations to explore the concept of learning in cells, finding a requirement for 'timescale separation' and potential 'memory' mechanisms. The study could deepen our understanding of how learning and memory operate at the most basic level of life.
Researchers have discovered that metabolic enzymes play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the human genome by orchestrating critical functions like cell division and DNA repair. This discovery could lead to new cancer therapies, particularly for triple-negative breast cancer, by exploiting its metabolic vulnerabilities.
The study reveals individual components of the spliceosome are highly specialised, with unique regulatory functions. Altering the expression of one component can have widespread ripple effects on the entire splicing network.
Researchers have developed a laboratory system that can precisely control and study cell division mechanisms in real-time. By manipulating the phosphorylation state of the protein PRC1, they discovered that large-scale transitions in cytoskeleton organization can be induced in just a few minutes.
Researchers discovered that mutations affect protein stability following surprisingly simple rules, making it possible to predict protein behavior without complex models. This breakthrough has significant implications for accelerating new treatments and designing more stable proteins with industrial applications.
Researchers discovered hundreds of potential new cancer driver genes through splicing analysis, expanding therapeutic targets. The study found little overlap between splicing and mutation-driven cancer drivers, revealing a new class of potential cancer drivers that can be targeted independently.
Researchers developed AI tool AINU to differentiate cancer cells from normal cells and detect early stages of viral infection. The tool scans high-resolution images of cells at nanoscale resolution, enabling it to detect subtle changes in cell structure that are too small for human observers.
A computational model can predict which drugs will be most effective in treating diseases caused by mutations that bring protein synthesis to a halt. The predictive model, RTDetective, accelerates the design, development, and efficacy of clinical trials for genetic disorders and cancers.
Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation have discovered a treatment that speeds up the production of high-quality pluripotent stem cells in mice. The finding uses interferon gamma to accelerate cellular reprogramming, paving the way for improved disease modeling and personalized treatments.