Researchers at Rice University have made a groundbreaking discovery about protein evolution, revealing that pseudogenes can provide clues to the evolutionary journey of proteins. The team found that certain mutations can stabilize the folding of pseudogenes, but also disrupt their biological functions.
A new technique called Operational Genomic Units (OGU) allows for improved resolution and simplicity in analyzing microbiome samples. By using individual genomes as basic units, researchers can pinpoint biologically relevant characteristics such as age and sex with greater accuracy.
A new classification system for viruses based on their structure could help identify and treat emerging viruses. The system uses computational tools to detect similarities in the genetic code of viruses with similar outer structures, suggesting a common ancestor.
Researchers developed a new method called HHblits that surpasses PSI-BLAST in performance by increasing sensitivity and precision. By analyzing similar sequences, scientists can infer the structure and functions of proteins more accurately and frequently than before.