Articles tagged with Dna
A genome editing technique called base editing has been used to study the role of a master gene in human embryonic cells, revealing its crucial function in early development. The technique allows scientists to alter a single gene in human embryos, enabling them to better understand how human embryos develop.
Researchers at Texas A&M University develop a laser technique called TRIP to directly measure quantum forces shaping proteins, enabling accurate prediction of how pharmaceutical drugs interact with them. This breakthrough could lead to the design of medicines tailored to specific diseases, revolutionizing precision medicine.
Researchers have found evidence of ancient human DNA on cave walls, even where bones or artifacts are absent. The discovery opens up new possibilities for studying prehistoric human behavior without disturbing archaeological deposits.
A global analysis of fish biodiversity in rivers reveals that warmer climates and larger catchment sizes are associated with increased biodiversity. However, human activity weakens this relationship, particularly in smaller river catchments. The study demonstrates the potential of environmental DNA as a tool for rapid, large-scale biod...
Researchers developed DNA tetrahedrons with Vitamin E-derived molecules for targeted cancer treatment, enhancing cellular uptake and improving anticancer efficacy. The modification triggered oxidative stress in cancer cells, leading to programmed cell death.
A new computational tool predicts and avoids unwanted interactions in DNA origami, improving reliability for biomedical and technological applications. The tool optimizes DNA sequence choice to minimize off-target interactions, leading to more successful folding of nano-scale devices.
Researchers identified a promising new strategy for reversing autism-related brain deficits by targeting a specific glycine transporter. The therapy restored NMDA receptor function in mouse models and human brain organoids, improving behavioral abnormalities such as social interaction and repetitive behaviors.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University have identified a key immune pathway that appears to drive damaging inflammation in Huntington disease. Blocking this pathway reduced brain inflammation, protected neurons, and improved movement in a humanized mouse model of the disease.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine discovered an unexpected chromosome interaction between telomeres and centromeres in some aggressive cancers. This interaction creates a genetic signature that could help identify ALT-positive tumors, which are often challenging to treat due to genomic instability.
A population-based screening trial evaluating a cell-free DNA multicancer early detection test found modest increases in diagnostic delay rates for head and neck, lung, and upper gastrointestinal cancers. These findings suggest that future trials may need to consider system-level spillover effects on healthcare resources.
Researchers discovered that DNA uses multiple ultrafast relaxation pathways involving moving electrons and protons to dissipate energy within femtoseconds, making it remarkably photostable. This complex network of competing processes enhances DNA's ability to safely drain away harmful UV energy before damage can spread.
A new study analyzing ancient DNA alongside archaeological data suggests that population movement along Peru's Pacific coast began at least 800 years ago, centuries before the rise of the Inca Empire. Genetic evidence reveals mixed ancestry between people from different coastal regions over subsequent generations.
Researchers used DNA metabarcoding to analyze benthic macroinvertebrates across 18 Ontario streams, detecting far greater biodiversity than traditional methods. The study found that DNA-based biomonitoring can reveal ecological patterns and changes linked to agriculture, water quality, and land use.
The new study provides a comprehensive blueprint for establishing robust DNA barcoding networks worldwide. The research highlights the need for harmonizing methodologies, securing sustainable funding, and engaging stakeholders to ensure the long-term success of national nodes.
Researchers at the University of Guelph developed a faster way to identify potential drug targets against Candida albicans using CRISPR interference. The new system reduced the time from laboratory discoveries to clinical applications by years, focusing on hundreds or thousands of genes simultaneously.
Researchers have developed a technique to analyze DNA from water samples to track species, detect pollution, and monitor ecosystem health. The technology identifies DNA from various organisms, including fish, amphibians, mammals, and even leatherback sea turtles.
Researchers can now build and combine large DNA pieces, redesigning microbes as efficient cell factories for producing complex products like medicines and chemicals. This technology enables sustainable manufacturing, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology, and accelerates microbial cell factory development.
Researchers from the University of Waterloo have identified four more members of Sir John Franklin's 1845 expedition using DNA samples extracted from skeletal remains. The new discoveries bring the total number of identified sailors to six, providing previously unavailable details about the circumstances and locations of their deaths.
Researchers at MIT have found that chromatin can exist in two different categories: constrained and free, which affects its interaction with genes and DNA regulatory sequences. This study provides insight into gene regulation and DNA repair processes.
Researchers discover that using filters with larger pore sizes significantly improves the recovery of eukaryotic DNA in seawater samples, allowing for more accurate detection of marine life. This breakthrough could enhance the application of environmental DNA analysis in biomonitoring and conservation efforts.
Scientists used environmental DNA to document species in deep underwater canyons, including the giant squid and other rare species. The study reveals a vast amount of deep-sea biodiversity in Western Australian waters, with dozens of new species detected.
Researchers discovered a small molecule, UNI418, that destabilizes key DNA repair proteins, making drug-resistant cancer cells vulnerable to PARP inhibitor therapy. This approach restores tumor sensitivity and improves treatment outcomes.
Researchers at MIT discovered that gene circuits can reshape DNA folding and affect gene expression in human cells. The study found that rearranging genes along a DNA strand, or 'gene syntax,' can amplify or suppress the expression of neighboring genes.
Researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to visualize individual water molecules and metal ions within RNA polymerase II, revealing their active role in DNA transcription. The study provides a new understanding of how genetic information is read and expressed, challenging the traditional 'protein-centered' view.
Researchers suggest treatment could start during pregnancy to prevent brain damage and reduce neurological harm. A new RNA-based therapy reduces abnormal electrical currents in patient-derived excitatory neurons.
Researchers have developed a nanoscale tool that can capture and precisely position membrane proteins, essential for life and target of many modern medicines. The DNA Origami-Constrained Nanodiscs (DOC-NDs) approach combines two advanced techniques to create tiny structures that hold individual proteins with remarkable accuracy.
Researchers used eDNA to monitor human diets and track local wildlife in NYC's East River, revealing the presence of domesticated animals and seasonal fish populations. The study found correlations between wastewater eDNA levels and human dietary patterns, providing a valuable tool for urban estuary management.
A new technology allows for the efficient insertion of large DNA segments, enabling a 'chapter rewrite' in the genome. This method avoids double-strand breaks and can correct hundreds of mutations simultaneously.
Researchers used a new AI-powered computational method to discover that most nucleosomes contain sections of DNA that are partially accessible to the cell. The study found that more than 85% of nucleosomes showed some degree of distortion, with 14 distinct structural states associated with different levels of gene activity.
Scientists have developed an advanced microscopy technique to visualize critical components of the cell's transcription machinery and proteins that provide structural support to the nucleus. The new technique allows for the visualization of up to 12 biomolecules simultaneously, providing detailed maps of nuclear organization.
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified a key regulatory enhancer, ecMYC E1, that drives MYC expression in pediatric medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer with poor outcomes. Silencing this enhancer reduces MYC transcription and can be targeted to treat the disease.
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has discovered diverse organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals that could be signs of ancient life. The findings suggest the Martian surface can preserve molecules that could serve as building blocks for life.
A genetic analysis of 132 individuals buried in a megalithic tomb near Paris found a sharp reduction in the local population followed by the arrival of new groups from southern France and the Iberian Peninsula. The study detected ancient pathogens, including the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified therapy-specific mutations that could guide safer treatments among childhood cancer survivors. The study analyzed genetic mutations in subsequent neoplasms of 160 survivors who developed breast, thyroid malignancies and meningiomas after treatment.
Researchers at ISTA report that Anabaena develops a cytoskeleton to control cell shape, transforming an ancient DNA segregation system. This evolutionary shift enables the bacteria to sculpt their cells without relying on traditional spindle-like structures.
Babies exclusively breastfed for at least three months have distinct epigenetic marks in their blood related to immunity and development. These findings come from the largest study on this topic, conducted across an international consortium.
A new analytical method allows scientists to track exactly where a cancer drug accumulates inside a living cell, enabling more precise treatment design. This breakthrough uses subcellular capillary sampling and laser ablation – Inductively coupled plasma – Mass spectrometry to detect trace amounts of metal in individual cells.
A new study by POSTECH researchers found that the protein tau interacts with DNA during cell division, forming condensates that capture microtubules. This interaction affects chromosome alignment and can lead to cellular abnormalities even in healthy cells.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have developed a new method called PARTAGE that provides a clearer picture of how the genome is regulated and disrupted in diseases like cancer. The method allows for the measurement of three key features from the same sample: DNA duplication, genomic alterations, and gene activ...
Salk Institute researchers have developed a new biological platform for studying mitochondrial DNA in human physiology, adaptation, and therapeutic development. The platform allows scientists to investigate mitochondrial DNA variation in health and disease, enabling therapeutic innovation for mitochondrial disorders.
Researchers developed a computational tool that infers telomere length from structural changes in cells and tissues captured in medical biopsies. The TLPath model accurately predicts telomere length, providing new opportunities for studying human aging.
Researchers identified structural variants as a key driver of childhood cancer, with RAG-mediated recombination found in nearly all subtypes of acute lymphoblastic leukemias. The analysis highlights the importance of structural variants in pediatric blood cancers and provides new insights into the mechanisms driving these diseases.
A new approach, called INSTALL, enables non-toxic DNA integration in multiple human cell types and successfully inserts large genetic payloads in mice, offering a promising solution for genetic therapies. The study's findings have the potential to broaden the applicability of genome editing therapies.
Researchers develop world's first DNA aptamer that binds to neurofilament light chain, a protein released into the blood with neurodegeneration. The aptamer, MN711, shows high affinity and specificity comparable to commercially available antibodies.
New research finds that chromosomal inversions help Atlantic silversides maintain genetic differences suited to cold and warm waters, influencing growth rates and vertebrae numbers. This discovery suggests a fundamental role for chromosomal inversions in local adaptation and may shape population responses to ocean warming.
The AI model can accurately identify disease-causing mutations in human genes and is capable of designing new genomes that are as long as the genomes of simple bacteria. Evo 2 has been trained on over 100,000 species across the entire tree of life and can process genetic sequences of up to 1 million nucleotides at once.
A global team led by UC San Diego's Ludmil Alexandrov is receiving a $25 million Cancer Grand Challenges award to decipher the molecular origins of cancer. The team aims to identify unique patterns of DNA damage and their sources, which could lead to new prevention and treatment strategies.
Researchers characterized the structure and function of a protein that regulates sugar and fat levels, finding it can work with an unexpected partner - itself. This partnership may drive the expression of different genes than its usual partner, offering new therapeutic targets for diseases like liver cancer and diabetes.
Researchers at NYU's Department of Chemistry have discovered a way to assemble complex DNA structures without sticky ends, using shape alone to guide assembly. This breakthrough enables the creation of varied 3D structures made entirely out of DNA, with potential applications in optical, electronic, and biomedical technologies.
Dr. Gregory Reeves' team has developed a method to measure the amount of Dorsal protein in the nucleus, revealing its interaction with DNA and providing a predictive model for therapeutic purposes. The study aims to control cellular processes and prevent diseases like cancer.
Researchers have discovered that native rice stink bugs have more genetic diversity than invasive species, which could help monitor the spread of insecticide resistance. This study provides valuable insights into pest management for Arkansas rice growers, who face significant costs due to the bug's impact on their crops.
Engineers have refined a technology to edit individual genetic base pairs, reducing unintended edits and increasing safety for potential treatments. The new base editors could lead to better outcomes for some cystic fibrosis patients and more accurate models for drug testing.
Researchers from ISTA developed an algorithm that can extract and analyze information from the world’s most extensive biobank with unprecedented accuracy and speed. The method, dubbed gVAMP, enhances the framework's ability to extract complex information from the dataset at hand, providing a detailed overview of the effects on a trait ...
Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a new technology that uses thioguanosine to achieve highly efficient and controllable interstrand crosslinking of DNA. This breakthrough enables reversible DNA modification with high stability and reversibility, opening opportunities for next-generation bionanomaterials.
A new study reveals cyanobacteria as major carriers of antibiotic resistance genes in estuarine ecosystems. The researchers found strong connections between microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling and the presence of resistance genes.
Researchers at MIT and Scripps Research Institute have developed a vaccine that generates a significant population of rare precursor B cells capable of evolving to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV. The DNA-VLP approach shows potential for inducing broadly neutralizing antibody responses against influenza as well.
Researchers at the University of California - San Diego have developed a new method to improve gene therapy by increasing the efficacy of gene delivery while minimizing harmful side effects. The new workflow allows for increased control of nuclear DNA delivery, with greater than tenfold increase in nuclear DNA delivery observed.
FI-Chrom uses Hi-C maps to create 3D models of chromosomes, revealing structural and dynamic features such as chromatin loops forming transiently. The open-access program provides insight into chromosome structure in various organisms.