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What's your story, morning glory?

Researchers successfully altered the flower color of Japanese morning glory from violet to white using CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology. The study highlights the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 for studying and manipulating genes in horticultural plants.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 4, 2017

Food or fraud?

Italian scientists introduce NanoTracer, a simplified assay combining DNA barcoding with nanotechnology to authenticate food with the naked eye. The test detects substitutes and adulterants in products like European perch and saffron powder.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 14, 2017

New technique aids search for genetic roots of disease

A new technique allows researchers to quickly and cheaply generate DNA variants in a particular stretch of DNA, enabling the distinction between harmless and potentially hazardous genetic variations. This technique has the potential to speed up gene catalog creation and aid clinicians in interpreting genetic mutations.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Methods·DateNov 7, 2016

Hawaiian fruit flies had multiple ancestors

Researchers found that Hawaiian drosophilids had plural continental ancestors, independently migrating to Hawaii at different times. The team discovered 11 non-Hawaiian Scaptomyza species and reconstructed their phylogeny, estimating ancestral distributions and divergence times.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalEntomological Science·DateAug 18, 2016

Cancer-preventing protein finds its own way in our DNA

Geneticists at KU Leuven have discovered that tumour protein TP53 can autonomously locate and bind to specific DNA sequences, activating the right genes to repair damaged cells. This finding sheds light on the mechanisms controlling gene expression and holds promise for future cancer therapies.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalGenome Research·DateJun 16, 2016

Research proves Aboriginal Australians were first inhabitants

Researchers from Griffith University's Research Centre for Human Evolution refuted a landmark study suggesting Mungo Man was an extinct lineage of modern humans. The team recovered the genomic sequence of an early inhabitant of Lake Mungo, supporting the argument that Aboriginal Australians were the first inhabitants of Australia.

SourceGriffith University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2016

HIV can develop resistance to CRISPR/Cas9

A recent study reveals that single mutations can inhibit HIV-1 replication using CRISPR/Cas9, but some also lead to unexpected resistance. Targeting multiple viral DNA regions may be necessary for the antiviral aspect of CRISPR/Cas9 to be effective.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports·DateApr 7, 2016

DNA molecules directly interact with each other based on sequence, study finds

Researchers discovered that DNA molecules interact directly with each other based on their sequence and epigenetic factors, suggesting a new mechanism for DNA organization in the cell. The study found that methyl groups play a key role in regulating these interactions, which could impact gene expression and chromosome organization.

Targeting DNA

A modular system of proteins can detect a specific DNA sequence in a cell and trigger a response, such as cell death. The system can be customized to detect any DNA sequence and trigger a desired response, including killing cancer cells or cells infected with a virus.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Methods·DateSep 21, 2015

When DNA gets sent to time-out

A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine has discovered a specific sequence and protein tags that send DNA to the edge of the nucleus, where its genes get turned off. This process is crucial for controlling genes and determining cell fate, particularly during development.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateJan 6, 2015

Gene movements observed in vivo

A new method called TGV (TALE-mediated Genome Visualization) allows researchers to observe the localization of specific DNA sequences inside the nucleus of living cells. This study tracked male and female genes after fertilization, revealing new prospects for understanding cell cycle dynamics, DNA behavior, and parent gene expression.

SourceINSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale)·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateOct 10, 2013