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'Poring over' DNA

Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute developed a new electronic DNA sequencing platform using biologically engineered nanopores, enabling highly scalable, accurate single-molecule DNA sequencing. The method can transform precision medicine by dramatically lowering the cost of sequencing while increasing accuracy.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 11, 2016

How honeybees do without males

A study found that isolated Cape honeybees in South Africa reproduce asexually, with female workers laying eggs fertilized by their own DNA. This unique behavior is linked to genetic differences at several genes, enabling social parasitism and population survival.

SourceUppsala University·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateJun 9, 2016

Island foxes may be 'least variable' of all wild animals

The Channel Island fox population has been found to have a surprising absence of genetic variation, with one population on San Nicolas Island showing an order of magnitude lower variation than any other known species. This near-absence of genetic variation poses a puzzle as to how the foxes have managed to thrive despite it.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 21, 2016

Columbia Engineering-led team advances single molecule electronic DNA sequencing

Researchers have developed a complete system to sequence DNA in nanopores electronically at single molecule level with single-base resolution. The system uses a protein nanopore array and polymer-tagged nucleotides to perform single molecule electronic DNA sequencing, enabling real-time and parallel sequencing of multiple DNA molecules.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 21, 2016

Improved 'liquid biopsy' technique from Stanford enhances detection of tumor DNA in blood

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have devised a new approach to identify and sequence DNA from cancer cells circulating in the blood, increasing sensitivity by 15 times. The 'integrated digital error suppression' technique builds upon a method called CAPP-Seq, allowing for accurate identification of actionable muta...

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateMar 28, 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.

Killer whales feast on salmon in summer

Scientists have confirmed that killer whales in the Pacific Northwest mainly eat Chinook salmon and coho salmon during their summer diet. The study analyzed DNA from feces to estimate the whales' diet composition, providing new insights into their ecological interactions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 6, 2016

DNA sequencing improved by slowing down

EPFL scientists have developed a method that improves the accuracy of DNA sequencing up to a thousand times by slowing down the process using nanopores and viscous liquids. This breakthrough paves the way for better and cheaper DNA sequencing, enabling scientists to detect mutations and identify different organisms with greater precision.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 21, 2015

DNA suggests that the diversity of European butterflies could be seriously underestimated

A study of 228 butterfly species in the Iberian Peninsula suggests that up to 28% could be entirely new to science, highlighting the need for conservation efforts and genetic identification tools. This DNA analysis will aid in differentiating between morphologically similar species and inform priority conservation strategies.

SourceSpanish National Research Council (CSIC)·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 24, 2015

American History 201

A recent genetic study has uncovered a previously unknown wave of migration to the Americas, linking Native Americans in the Amazon to indigenous people in Australasia. The research suggests that Population Y, an ancestral group from the ice sheets, contributed to the DNA of today's Amazonians.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature·DateJul 21, 2015

Untangling DNA with a droplet of water, a pipet and a polymer

Researchers at KU Leuven developed a simple and effective way to untangle DNA using a 'rolling droplet' technique. The method involves injecting genetic material into a droplet of water and dragging it over a glass plate covered with a sticky polymer, resulting in longer and straighter DNA strands that can be studied under a microscope.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 27, 2015

Data-storage for eternity

Researchers have developed a new method to store large volumes of data using DNA and silica, which can potentially survive for over a million years. The technique uses an algorithm to correct errors and encases the information-bearing segments of DNA in silica, providing a robust storage solution.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 12, 2015