A study found that children with a common genetic variant may experience more inflammation in response to asthma drug mepolizumab, leading to worse asthma outcomes. This discovery paves the way for precision medicine in asthma care by identifying patients who may not respond effectively to the treatment.
This special issue explores the formation, evolution, and maintenance of biological diversity across all branches of the tree of life. Researchers can submit papers on topics such as speciation, adaptive evolution, and eco-evolutionary feedbacks, with a focus on developing a unified evolutionary framework for understanding biodiversity.
Researchers discovered a distinctive pattern in DNA polymerase genes from China's Napahai plateau wetland, suggesting the unique geography and environmental conditions of the wetland contribute to the genetic diversity of microbial communities. This finding raises the possibility that DNA polymerase genes could serve as biogeographical...
Researchers identified shared and disease-specific molecular changes in human brain tissue, contributing to neurodegeneration, psychiatric illness, and cognitive decline. The collection establishes a foundational resource for understanding brain disorders, accelerating discovery and therapy development.
The study provides unprecedented genomic resources for licorice, revealing key genes for medicinal metabolite biosynthesis and desert stress adaptation. The GiPHL1-Gi4CL5 regulatory module is identified as a major determinant of licochalcone A accumulation and drought tolerance in licorice species.
A recent study, led by Arizona State University, has revised scientists' understanding of bat origins, relationships, and evolutionary traits. The team combined genomic and fossil evidence to show that bats and mammalian flight most likely originated in Europe around 65 million years ago.
Researchers identified two opposing patterns of brain gene activity in mice carrying autism-risk mutations, which vary by sex and respond differently to experimental drugs. The patterns, which are shared across multiple analyses, suggest that many different genetic mutations converge into a limited number of molecular brain states.
Scientists have assembled the first chromosome-scale genome for the rice stink bug, identifying over 13,000 genes with broad biological and agricultural relevance. The genome provides a foundation for studying the insect's biology, feeding behavior, and potential insecticide resistance.
Researchers identify recurring states of tumor microenvironment that predict response to immunotherapy, finding that early treatment-induced changes can anticipate course of immune response
Researchers developed a graph-based pan-genome for cultivated peanut and used it to breed a higher-yielding dwarf peanut line. The resulting line, LuAi-1, is roughly half the height of the parent variety but yielded around 20% more in field trials.
A new collaboration aims to tackle technical challenges in protist genomics, enabling biomanufacturing, sustainable agriculture, and environmental applications. The project will develop ecologically-informed cultivation methods and optimize DNA extraction methods.
A new study found that air pollution exposure can increase the risk of bacterial pneumonia and meningitis, with certain bacterial strains responding differently to pollution exposure. The study suggests that improving air quality could lower disease risk, particularly for vulnerable populations such as older adults and young children.
A Korea University study found that an mRNA-based influenza vaccine elicits a more diverse and broader serum antibody repertoire than traditional vaccines. This leads to greater binding and neutralizing breadth against diverse influenza strains, suggesting potential for broader, longer-lasting protection.
Researchers found that chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments change the genetic mutations in normal tissue, giving some cells an advantage. The study suggests that sequencing normal tissue from cancer patients could help understand how genes regulate tissue response to drugs and minimize damage to normal tissues.
A new brain atlas reveals that neurons build their identity in the first hours of life, rather than inheriting it from their parent cells. The atlas, which mapped nearly 250,000 fly brain cells, shows that neuronal identity is established through a flexible, modular system involving different DNA switches and regulatory proteins.
Researchers have created the first comprehensive atlas of DNA's physical properties, revealing how its sequence influences genome regulation and evolution. The study analyzed 2,080 unique DNA fragments and found that certain sequences can preserve physical properties necessary for DNA function, potentially influencing genome evolution.
An international collaboration co-led by the CNIO has identified eight faulty DNA processes driving most prostate cancers, which differ between patients and influence tumor spread. The study offers potential for reliable prognostic markers and personalized treatment, but further validation is needed.
Researchers developed a method to combine blood protein analysis with genome sequencing to identify diagnoses and potential new disease-causing genes. The approach resolved previously uncertain genetic findings and provided evidence supporting diagnoses for patients with rare diseases.
Researchers have developed the AlphaGenome Atlas, a comprehensive map of more than 9 billion possible single-letter DNA changes. The one-petabyte dataset provides artificial intelligence-generated predictions for the molecular effects of these changes, accelerating understanding of the human genome.
The AI BioDesign accelerator will generate open models, datasets, and tools to create new biological solutions for human health and environmental challenges. The goal is to learn and model the rules biology uses to build life, enabling the development of new drugs, enzymes, and biological computers.
Researchers at UMass Chan Medical School and the Marine Biological Laboratory identified four core clock genes controlling circadian rhythms in a crustacean, which also regulate circatidal behavior. The genetic system is highly malleable, allowing the tiny shrimp to maintain both a 24-hour and a 12.4-hour clock.
Scientists have discovered chimeric mRNAs that produce previously unknown proteins, expanding the human genome and proteome. These proteins may play important roles in various bodily systems and contribute to disease processes, offering new insights into challenging diseases and potential drug targets.
A new study led by the University of East Anglia reveals that different species of microscopic algae can behave in strikingly different ways due to their genetics. The 100 Diatom Genomes Project aims to sequence the genomes of 100 diatom species to provide insights into their roles in capturing carbon dioxide and as the foundation of d...
Consuelo Walss-Bass's family was affected by schizophrenia, yet her sister was spared. Her laboratory addresses the genetic gap by exploring signaling alterations in neurons derived from affected sibling pairs, identifying convergent abnormalities in PI3K/GSK3 signaling.
A new study reveals that the loss of kelp forests has a significant impact on microbial levels, leading to changes in ecosystem functioning and potentially affecting human services such as nutrient retention and carbon storage. The research highlights the importance of considering the microbial component in understanding ecosystem change.
Researchers have created a high-resolution functional map of human immune cells, revealing intricate circuits that govern health and disease. The dataset provides a powerful framework for designing cancer immunotherapies and treating autoimmune conditions, and serves as a foundation for AI models of biology.
Scientists at Harvard Medical School have devised a simpler method to produce new proteins without genome recoding or organisms, enabling researchers to design proteins using up to 34 amino acids. This breakthrough allows for faster, safer production of new medicines and expands protein engineering capabilities.
A new 32-marker system, CacaoCipher, helps cacao collections move from uncertain labels to reliable digital identities, preserving information linked to yield-related traits. The system balances identification, ancestry screening, and agronomic information, reducing the marker count by 94% while preserving coarse genetic relationships.
Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have found distinct genetic architecture in pediatric-onset rheumatic and inflammatory diseases compared to adults. The study identified 39 genome-wide significant variants associated with immune responses, including previously unreported variants.
Researchers combined AI, genetics, and gut microbiome analysis to shed light on intestinal fibrosis in Crohn's disease. They identified a shared set of 43 key genes linked to disease progression and found that bowel fibrosis is driven by ongoing immune activation, damage to the intestinal lining, and changes in gut bacteria.
Researchers develop pangenome-guided breeding strategy to combine beneficial genes and traits for higher yields and stress tolerance in crops. The approach identifies and reintroduces lost genetic variants from wild species, resulting in improved seed size and high-altitude adaptability.
New research highlights the importance of preserving traditional cattle breeds' unique genetic profiles for resilience against disease and environmental challenges. These populations carry irreplaceable traits that could help future generations of farmers respond to global challenges such as climate change.
Researchers discovered a strong link between environmental variation and thyroid hormone signaling in reef fish, enabling them to adapt to changing habitats. The study found that habitat impacts development by altering gene expression and metabolic profiles, giving animals more flexibility when their environments change.
Ancient DNA from two high-coverage genomes reveals continuity with modern Japanese populations, continental ancestry, and starch adaptations in Japan. The study suggests interactions among multiple continental populations shaped Yayoi ancestry.
Researchers have reconstructed a real person's complete genome, filling critical gaps and enabling the analysis of unique genomes at higher accuracy. This breakthrough is expected to improve genetic disease diagnosis and make personalized genomics routine in medical care.
A UTHealth Houston-led team has created the most complete genetic profile of the brown rat, revealing a more complex DNA than previously understood. The assembly provides a complete genetic fingerprint and uncovers over 60 new genes, including those involved in immunity and biological processes.
The first complete marmoset genome is now available, providing a high-quality reference for studying complex diseases like Alzheimer's. The new genome reveals variation in genes linked to Alzheimer's disease, as well as immune system genes and previously un-catalogued ribosomal DNA genes.
Researchers created nearly 700 new cancer models derived from patient tumors to aid in drug development. The models, representing 25 types of cancer, are now available for global use, providing a resource for identifying new drug targets and testing potential treatments.
The Neandertal growth hormone receptor has been found to increase muscle mass in people today, with carriers having around 270 grams more muscle mass on average. This effect is most pronounced in individuals of South and East Asian descent.
Ancient human genomes showed differing functional PSPH gene variants, with modern-day phosphoserine phosphatase having the greatest function. The study highlights potential in combining evolution-guided variant prioritization for uncovering functional differences.
A new study reports that loading biochar with oxygen nanobubbles can help overcome the problem of rapid oxygen depletion in flooded rice soils, creating a more oxidizing environment around rice roots. This leads to reduced cadmium accumulation in rice plants and improved plant growth.
Researchers at Penn State and the USDA have identified 10 genomic variants associated with increased virulence in Marek's disease virus, a deadly illness affecting chickens. The study could inform the design of more effective vaccines that can prevent future breakthroughs.
A new study found that cells of the same chronological age can follow dramatically different biological aging paths. Tissues become a mosaic of biologically younger and older cells, with some individual cells aging much faster than others.
Researchers have developed spatialproteomics, an open-source software package that makes it easier to analyze complex tissue images. This framework guides users from raw microscopy images through cell segmentation, annotation, and spatial analysis, standardizing workflows and enabling more efficient and reproducible results.
A recent study published in Biological Diversity reveals that ecological selection drives population differentiation and local adaptation in Capsella bursa-pastoris, a widely distributed annual herb. Genome-wide scans identified 54 candidate genes under positive selection related to energy metabolism and other processes.
Technion researchers have identified a previously unknown mechanism that enables bacteria to rapidly develop antibiotic resistance. This non-canonical gene amplification process produces dozens of copies of resistance-conferring genes, allowing bacteria to adapt quickly to antibiotic treatment.
Researchers are studying foul-smelling substances to understand what attracts the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, to its favorite meal - open wounds. The goal is to develop better lures for trapping this serious threat to the livestock industry.
A new global database has been developed to map pathogens and antibiotic resistance risks in coastal waters, providing a practical tool for assessing biological risks. The Coastal Water Pathogen Database integrates shotgun metagenomic sequencing data from six coastal regions across three continents.
Researchers created the most detailed map of gene regulation in human heart failure, revealing how genes are controlled in specific cell types. The study identified key shifts in cell composition, gene expression, and regulatory networks, pointing to new precision medicine therapies.
A study found that brain immune cells undergo substantial remodeling in midlife, leading to chronic neuroinflammation and potential dementia risk. The research used advanced single-cell analysis techniques to analyze postmortem hippocampal tissue from 40 healthy adults.
Researchers at Salk Institute create a body-wide single-cell atlas of two major epigenetic systems, revealing that cell-type-specific epigenetic features can affect disease risk. The study identifies over 1.36 million differentially methylated regions and 283,606 differential chromatin loops across the human body's cell types.
Researchers discovered widespread age-related changes in genome regulation starting in midlife, linked to neurodegenerative diseases. A single-cell study found dramatic shifts in microglia, a type of brain's immune cells, and erosion of three-dimensional genome architecture.
Researchers used advanced 3D genome mapping technology to study prostate cancer cells and discovered a new feature of gene control networks that could help fight cancer. The study found that enhancers work cooperatively in 3D networks, with some acting as central hubs that control many genes.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute found significant sex-based protein differences in lung adenocarcinoma, with 901 proteins varying between male and female patient samples. This study contributes to understanding cancer biology and may benefit physicians and patients.
A new automated workflow called Pathogen2Read streamlines bacterial sample preparation for genetic sequencing, reducing hands-on preparation time from a full day to under 45 minutes. This innovation enables small labs to participate in outbreak-monitoring networks and improve response times.
A review study reveals diverse metabolite families containing atypical atoms, including fluorine, selenium, arsenic, and boron, with distinct biological functions and properties. These elements shape natural products with structural and functional versatility, paving ways toward sustainable biotechnologies.
Evo 2 analyzes and generates DNA sequences across various forms of life, marking a major step toward unified AI for biology. The model can predict harmful genetic variants and generate biologically realistic DNA.
Researchers have identified a widespread source of error in a popular genome study method and created a machine-learning tool to correct it. PATTY uses machine learning to reduce artifacts while preserving real signals in noisy data, giving researchers a clearer view of gene activity control.
The partnership aims to develop genomic tools addressing large-scale problems in health and the environment, combining research strengths across UC San Diego's departments. The collaboration will accelerate discovery and drive real-world impact, leveraging CRISPR technology and microbiome-editing tools.
A Mount Sinai study found that single-cell atlases, used for mapping the human body and training AI models, may not accurately represent global populations. The analysis of over 13,500 samples revealed an overrepresentation of European ancestry and underrepresentation of Asian and Latino individuals, highlighting the need for diverse a...