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Clotting problem

A team of researchers led by University of Delaware Professor Velia M. Fowler has made a groundbreaking discovery about MYH9-related disorders, a condition affecting 1 in 25,000 people. The study found that mutations in the MYH9 gene disrupt platelet formation and movement, leading to unstable clots and various health issues.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalBlood·DateMar 9, 2020

If cancer were easy, every cell would do it

A new paper explores how bodies evolve to prevent cancer by making growth factors costly to use and limiting cell proliferation. Individual cancer cells are kept in check when there's a high energetic cost for creating growth factors that signal cell growth.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 3, 2020

Chemists' calculations may advance cancer prediction

Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding cancer prediction by developing a new method to evaluate cell dynamics and tumor initiation. Their calculations reveal that fixation times are a more important metric than lifetime risks, and that some mutated cells may fix tumors faster than expected.

SourceRice University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 12, 2019

New clues as to why mutations in the MYH9 gene cause broad spectrum of disorders in humans

Researchers used in vivo imaging to observe how cells move and generate forces in living tissues, revealing new clues on why MYH9 gene mutations lead to various diseases. The study demonstrates that altered myosin activity results in defects in epithelial morphogenesis due to slower cell movements.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 28, 2019

Transforming DNA repair errors into assets

A new bioinformatics tool, MHcut, reveals that microhomology-mediated end joining is more common in humans than previously thought. Using this tool and commercial genome-editing technology, researchers created precise gene mutations to model diseases, providing insights into rare and orphan diseases.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 28, 2019

A new framework to study congenital heart defects

A new study published in Nature reveals the full spectrum of cells involved in congenital heart defect formation, identifying key cell types and their functions. The research uses single-cell RNA sequencing to uncover the molecular drivers of different cell types, shedding light on genetic mutations and disease mechanisms.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalNature·DateJul 24, 2019

Recording every cell's history in real-time with evolving genetic barcodes

Researchers develop a method to continuously record cells' development using genetic barcodes, allowing them to trace the full developmental lineage of every mature cell. This breakthrough resolves longstanding questions about brain patterning and promises to exponentially increase understanding of cellular growth and disease emergence.

Faulty cellular membrane 'mix' linked to Parkinson's disease

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have uncovered a link between a genetic mutation in the GBA1 gene and the formation of fatty plaques in the brain that contribute to Parkinson's disease. The study found that changes in the mixture of fatty molecules cause protein pieces to stick together, forming 'dead zones' in the brain.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 15, 2018

Revealing the best-kept secrets of proteins

Scientists at Salk Institute develop novel approach to discover critical contacts on proteins, uncovering new functions for well-studied proteins. The technique has significant implications for therapeutic drug development, which relies heavily on physical interaction with cellular targets.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalGenetics·DateDec 14, 2017

Blocking key pathways is a way to defeat cancer stem cells

Researchers have discovered a cocktail of drugs that effectively eliminate acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by targeting key pathways. By simultaneously blocking two important pathways, the team was able to achieve complete elimination of AML in most cases tested.

SourceRIKEN·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 25, 2017

Why bad genes aren't always bad news

A team of scientists discovered a comprehensive set of suppressive mutations in yeast cells, which could help explain how some people remain healthy despite carrying catastrophic mutations. The findings provide new insights into the complex relationship between genetic suppression and disease-causing mutations.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalScience·DateNov 3, 2016