A new method called MutaSeq can distinguish cancer stem cells from healthy stem cells using single cell sequencing. This technology has the potential to identify drug targets that could eradicate leukemia at its source.
Researchers discovered that epithelial cells in developing embryos can recognize and destroy defective cells through a process called epithelial phagocytosis. This early immune response may aid efforts to understand embryonic developmental failure and lead to new clinical applications in treating infertility.
Researchers found higher expression of genes critical for SARS-CoV-2 entry and immune response, increasing risk of severe illness and late-onset complications. People with Down syndrome may benefit from early vaccination to mitigate these risks.
A new device, ECaBox, will resuscitate eyes from deceased body donors for clinical research purposes. The device will maintain the eye's temperature and pH levels while providing cells with oxygen and nutrients.
Researchers found that humans, ferrets, and cats are the most susceptible animals to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to their high binding affinity and codon adaptation index. Ducks, rats, mice, pigs, and chickens had lower or no susceptibility to infection.
Researchers have discovered a protein that can expand typically scarce blood stem cells, potentially leading to new methods for growing a large quantity of these cells inside and outside the human body. The findings could benefit patients with inherited blood disorders and certain types of blood cancers.
Researchers identified two cell signals that can guide stem cells to repair eye damage, increasing their survival and function after transplantation. The study's findings offer a promising approach to restoring eyesight by modifying stem cells with enhanced chemokine receptors.
Researchers discovered RING1B is critical for Ewing sarcoma development and hijacks transcriptional program to create cancerous cells. Epigenetic inhibitors may offer new treatment strategies.
Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism by which cells detect and respond to mechanical stress, triggered by the deformation of their nuclei. This 'fight or flight' reflex allows cells to rapidly flee crowded environments, a process that is conserved across species and in adulthood.
Researchers found sex differences in gene expression in almost every type of human tissue, with effects observed in genes related to disease and clinical phenotypes. Sex biases were discovered in genes relevant to drug metabolism and placental development.
Researchers from the Center for Genomic Regulation discover Phf19 crucial for hematopoietic stem cell differentiation and balanced blood tissue. Without Phf19, mice develop disorders in blood composition compatible with early stages of leukemia.
Researchers have developed a new technology called OligoFISSEQ that can visualize hundreds to thousands of genomes simultaneously under the microscope. This breakthrough enables researchers to study genome function and organization in unprecedented detail.
Research published in Nature Genetics found that the three-dimensional structure of the human genome is essential for a rapid and robust inflammatory response. The discovery sheds light on the fundamental relationship between genome folding and cell function, highlighting the importance of architectural proteins like CTCF.
Researchers created a new method to map metabolic pathways in microbes, unlocking routes for new vaccines and antimicrobials. The study reveals new insights into the metabolic function of M. agalactiae and M. pneumoniae, two common bacteria that infect livestock and humans respectively.
Researchers identified two previously overlooked genes as potential new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment and male infertility. RMPs play a key role in the RNA modification process, adding or removing chemical groups to the sequence, and altering the original code copied from DNA.
The Centre for Genomic Regulation has launched a new database to analyze COVID-19 data and compare different variations of the virus. Researchers can use this publicly available resource to study how SARS-CoV-2 grows, mutates, and replicates.
Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation discovered that a type of kinesin called KIF3A/B transports mRNAs, enabling neurons to build their cellular skeleton and form new connections. This process is crucial for memory formation and storage, with mRNAs playing a key role in reinforcing synapses.
Researchers developed a new classification system for tumors based on genome sequencing, assigning patients to one of sixteen groups. The system provides important information for diagnosis and treatment, including potential responses to immunotherapy.
Researchers have developed a new tool that can analyze 1.4 million genetic sequences simultaneously, allowing them to study species relationships on a larger scale than before. This technology has the potential to reconstruct how life has evolved over hundreds of millions of years and unlock secrets about the code of life.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) researchers found that aggregation of TDP-43 is not harmful but actually protects cells. This discovery challenges the assumption that alleviating protein aggregates is necessary to treat neurodegenerative diseases like ALS. The study opens doors to radically new therapeutic approaches if aggregation...
Scientists identified over 11,000 families of grouped genes in genomes of different species, with a third being part of conserved clusters. The study found that natural selection favors gene organization, making it easier to regulate genes, and that horizontal transfer may be less common than previously thought.
Researchers have developed a new method to predict the risk of cardiogenic shock in patients after a heart attack. The tool uses proteomics and biomarkers to identify patients at higher risk, enabling more precise treatment options.
Researchers developed a new computational tool based on Graph theory to infer large-scale regulatory networks from healthy and pathological organs. They were able to pinpoint genes relevant to organ function and potential drivers of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
A new art and science collaboration at CRG in Barcelona will create awareness of life sciences research through genome-inspired knitted fashion pieces. The project aims to make genetics and genomics more approachable to the public by incorporating tactile, visual, and experiential elements.
Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation discovered a novel way to control inflammation by understanding how cells produce IL-1β, a crucial molecule involved in inflammation. By targeting the unfolded protein response and GRASP55 pathways, they identified potential avenues for developing anti-inflammatory drugs.
The EASI Genomics project provides free-of-charge access to cutting-edge European genomics facilities, supporting diverse genomics projects from study design to bioinformatic analysis. The first call for proposals focuses on sequencing of ancient DNA and microbiome analysis.
The European Commission has awarded €1 million in funding to the LifeTime initiative, a six-year research project that will integrate single-cell methods, personalized organoids, and machine learning to understand human cells when diseases develop. The goal is to fundamentally improve patient care and set the basis for precision medicine.
Selenocysteine is an essential amino acid for certain species, including humans and vertebrates, while others have lost it. Researchers from the Centre for Genomic Regulation have discovered that nine out of 1,000 fungi genomes contain selenocysteine.
Researchers from the Center for Genomic Regulation have discovered a direct link between nutrient metabolism and gene regulation in embryonic stem cells. The AHCY protein is found to be a key activator of genes involved in controlling stem cell proliferation, with implications for understanding embryonic growth and infertility.
Researchers from the Center for Genomic Regulation developed a method to predict and classify these tiny proteins using bioinformatics tools, discovering they account for 16% of bacterial genomes. The small proteins play a crucial role in antimicrobial responses, microbiota balance, and may be overlooked in complex organisms.
Researchers discovered that specific RNAs interact with multiple proteins, promoting aggregation and altering RNA splicing. This finding has implications for understanding complex diseases like Fragile X Tremor Syndrome.
Scientists have discovered proteins that regulate mucin production in the body, which could lead to new treatments for diseases such as asthma and colorectal cancer. The study also found a calcium sensor protein that controls the thickness of the mucus layer in the colon.
Scientists have used deep learning algorithms to identify a new and hitherto-unknown ancestor of humans that would have interbred with modern humans tens of thousands of years ago. The analysis suggests that the extinct species was a hybrid of Neanderthals and Denisovans, providing new insights into human evolution.
Scientists have identified a novel step in gene expression that controls the expression of genes crucial for breast cancer cell growth and tumour progression. The discovery highlights a specific modification allowing RNA polymerase II to overcome a pausing barrier, enabling the transcription of proliferation genes.
A European research project aims to uncover the physiological pathways underlying neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Down syndrome, which are linked by evolving dementia. The HEROES project seeks to develop biomarkers for dementia progression and explore new therapeutic approaches.
The study analyzes genome data from multiple species, including humans, mice, and zebrafish, to understand the evolutionary transition from invertebrates to vertebrates. The research identifies key differences in gene regulation between vertebrates and invertebrates, highlighting complex gene regulation and specialization.
Dermal fibroblasts lose cell identity with age, altering activity and affecting tissue repair. This loss leads to decreased skin barrier function and increased risk of infections.
Leading scientists propose guidelines for shared standardized validation of 4D nucleome data sets and models to address rapid development of methods and increasing complexity of data. The initiative aims to ensure proper characterization, validation, and sharing of information, enhancing our understanding of genome dynamics.
Researchers in Barcelona have received an ERC Synergy grant to study chronic lymphocytic leukemia at unprecedented resolution using single-cell analysis. The BCLL@las project aims to generate comprehensive information from thousands of individual cells, leading to novel insights into the origin and evolution of cancer.
A new screening method, 'rec-YnH', has been developed to detect direct biomolecule interactions, enabling researchers to understand complex cellular processes. This affordable and accessible technique can be used by standard biomedical laboratories to study protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions.
Researchers at CRG describe how specific proteins guide Tet2 enzyme to DNA regions needed for cell fate specification. This novel mechanism reveals a new way transcription factors interact with the genome.
Researchers found that changing the balance of histone modifications at bivalent promoters has profound effects on gene activity, leading to changes in genome architecture. The study sheds light on the earliest points in development when cells make quick decisions about their fate.
A team of scientists has identified 25 genetic mutations associated with longer lifespans in humans and primates. These findings provide insights into the complex process of aging and may lead to new therapeutic targets for age-related diseases.
Researchers developed a method to detect genes under selection and found essential cancer genes and immune-exposed protein regions under significant negative selection. This challenges the exclusive role of positive selection in cancer evolution.
Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation have developed a new statistical method to identify cancer predisposition genes from tumour sequencing data, identifying 13 candidate genes with 10 being new. The method allows researchers to find risk variants without comparing cancer patients to healthy groups.
Researchers developed a computational framework to analyze large-scale single-cell gene expression levels, enabling the study of unprecedented cellular heterogeneity in rare cell populations. The BigSCale tool successfully processed 1.3 million individual cells from a mouse brain dataset.
The European Genome-Phenome Archive (EGA) stores nearly 4,000 genomic datasets, facilitating research into cancer, cardiovascular and rare diseases. The EGA enables cooperation among scientists, accelerating medical genomics in Spain.
Mice fed on high-fat or chocolate-based diets exhibit abnormal feeding behaviors such as snacking and bingeing. The study reveals that extended access to hypercaloric diets impairs control of food seeking behavior, leading to negative effects on learning, motivation, and behavioral flexibility.
The SOMMa alliance aims to increase national and international visibility, promote collaboration and networking, and have a voice in scientific policy. The position paper highlights three administrative issues that require urgent attention, including VAT deduction, personnel hiring regulations, and public-tenders law.
An international team of scientists developed models to predict post-mortem interval based on tissue-specific gene expression changes. Changes in gene expression can be used to determine the time of death with considerable accuracy, potentially aiding forensic analyses.