Articles tagged with Human Genetics
A new study charts a potential path for preserving and restoring historic works by identifying microbial communities on art. Researchers found that microbes on wood and canvas surfaces can produce chemicals influencing decay rates.
A recent study by Max Planck Institute researchers used stem cells and organoids to analyze the role of Neandertal DNA in human development. The team found that archaic DNA is present in nearly all modern humans outside Africa, with certain genes associated with skin and hair color being highly prevalent in Europeans.
A new study led by Liliana Dávalos explores how coronaviruses interact with goblet cells in bats, which may hold the key to understanding why some bats are resistant to these viruses. The research aims to compare the differences between bat and human nasal tissues, with potential implications for preventing future pandemics.
A team of researchers has identified fibroblasts as the primary cells producing VEGF-C processing enzymes in zebrafish embryos. This discovery sheds light on lymphatic vessel development and may have implications for human diseases, including lymphoedema and cancer metastasis.
A new study from the University of Georgia has found that exposure to a banned flame retardant can alter the genetic code in sperm, leading to major health defects in children. The research focuses on paternal exposure prior to conception and uses a unique combination of observational and laboratory approaches.
Researchers are studying how bats adapt to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, hoping to understand the immune system's response and potentially inform human treatment. They will examine bat genome assemblies to identify patterns of gene duplication and gain/loss related to viral infection.
Researchers mapped 88,047 individual cells across 33 brain regions in humans, chimpanzees, macaques, and bonobos to identify distinctive brain regions that underwent faster evolution. The study found differences in gene expression between human oligodendrocytes and astrocytes compared to other primates.
Researchers found that rare lefty garden snails have shells formed by a developmental accident rather than inheritance. Dr Angus Davison's appeal for help finding a mate for Jeremy led to the discovery of over 40 lefty snails, which were then bred together to test the genetics behind this condition.
Researchers used silicone dog tags as passive environmental samplers to collect data on everyday chemical exposures in dogs and their owners. They found significant correlations between exposure levels for owners and pets, as well as similarities in urinary biomarkers.
Researchers found that SARS-CoV-2 originated from a bat coronavirus and gained the ability to infect humans through exchanging a gene fragment with a pangolin coronavirus. The virus's genetic material was altered to bind to host cells, making it possible for it to infect human respiratory and intestinal epithelial cells.
A study on DNA data from 110 skeletal remains in West Asia dated 3,000 to 7,500 years ago found evidence of long-term genetic mixing and subtle population movements. The researchers suggest that this gradual change in genetic profile spread across the region over a thousand years, influencing the rise of urbanism.
Researchers developed a technique to generate human antibodies faster than existing methods using chicken immune system cells. The ADLib system can produce diverse antibodies with improved binding affinity, potentially leading to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and other medical applications.
A new study compares the distribution of mutations in human tumours to those in chimpanzees and gorillas. The research reveals that human tumours accumulate mutations in regions similar to those found in non-human primates, challenging previous theories on the genetic causes of cancer.
Two malaria vaccines developed using genetically engineered malaria parasites have shown safety and preliminary protection in phase 1/2a clinical trials. The vaccines, created by Isaie Reuling and Meta Roestenberg teams, delayed infections when exposed to mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium falciparum, the primary cause of malaria in h...
A new study uncovers genetic relationships of ancient humans in northern and southern China, showing a closer connection between present-day East Asians and Neolithic populations. The research highlights the impact of population movement on human history, revealing continuity back 9,500 years.
The study reveals 10 major hormone types and their interactions, shedding light on how enteroendocrine cells sense food and regulate hunger and satiety. The discovery offers new avenues for treating diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity.
A study examines phalangeal curvature in a human-raised chimpanzee, revealing similar curvature to wild chimps but not humans. Genetic factors, not mechanical loading, are the main drivers of this curvature in chimpanzees and likely other arboreal primates.
Researchers analyzed DNA of 89 ancient humans in the central Andes, finding early genetic differences between regions and surprising continuity. Genetic analysis revealed a north-south substructure of the Highlands developing by 5,800 BP, with minimal changes to the genetic structure of the central Andean region between 2,000 and 500 BP.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology suggests that the re-emergence of bluetongue virus in France was caused by human activities, based on the virus' unusual genetic makeup. The research found a lack of mutations between outbreaks, indicating the virus may have been stored and then transmitted through artificial insemination.
Researchers have identified a new potential agent for treating preeclampsia using small interfering RNA molecules that target the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. In animal models, the treatment reduced symptoms of preeclampsia and improved fetal nutrition, suggesting a safe therapeutic option.
Researchers have devised a faster and less memory-intensive method for constructing pan-genome subgraphs, allowing scientists to create visualizations on different scales rapidly. The new method enables the analysis of specific genome parts in a more efficient manner.
Researchers discovered multiple RNA elements in the upper stem of pri-miRNAs crucial for regulating miRNA expression. These elements affect miRNA processing, leading to dysregulation and abnormal cell activities. The study's findings may help interpret miRNA-related human diseases and develop clinical diagnostics.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center create a new platform to study the single-cell genomics of various diseases, potentially making genetic-based diagnoses more precise and effective. The study focuses on linking gene mutations to disease-causing processes in blood diseases like severe congenital neutropenia.
A team at Colorado State University used a novel approach to test assumptions in NASA's model predicting health risks from space radiation. They found that the risk exceeds what is considered acceptable, highlighting the need for further research and validation.
A research team at the University of Bonn has discovered that the TLR8 immune sensor plays a crucial role in defending human cells against bacteria and other pathogens. The enzymes RNaseT2 and RNase2 break down bacterial RNA into characteristic fragments, allowing TLR8 to recognize and respond to the invasion.
A recent study suggests that the proportion of human-infecting viruses does not substantially vary across different taxonomic orders. The researchers found that species-rich orders tend to harbor more human-infecting viruses, but this number scales proportionately with the total number of viruses.
The discovery reveals that early human inhabitants of the Amazon tamed wild plants to grow manioc, squash and maize, creating 4,700 'forest islands' in northern Bolivia. This study confirms South West Amazonia as a center of plant domestication around 11,000 years ago.
A new study from WashU Medicine found that captive apes' gut microbiomes are more similar to those of people who eat non-Western diets than their wild counterparts. The research also identified novel antibiotic resistance genes in wild apes and humans, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect endangered species.
Scientists successfully incorporated noncanonical amino acids into human hematopoietic stem cells, enabling the production of ncAA-containing proteins in living organisms. The modified stem cells provided a tool for studying human proteins in cell culture and living systems.
Scientists have retrieved the oldest human genetic data set from an 800,000-year-old tooth, shedding light on the branching points in the human family tree. The findings support the idea that Homo antecessor was a sister group to modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans.
A recent study supports the idea that modern humans and Neanderthals had multiple encounters, resulting in Neanderthal DNA being woven into the modern human genome. The research found that people in Eurasia today have genetic material linked to Neanderthals from different regions, including Siberia and Croatia.
The National Gene Vector Biorepository (NGVB) provides valuable resources to gene therapy investigators, including 93 unique reagents and a searchable database of animal safety studies. These resources aim to decrease compliance risks, address clinical trial funding periods, and reduce costs.
The researchers have developed a computational model of a human cell that simulates its behavior for up to 15 minutes, revealing the effects of spatial organization on genetic processes. The study provides new insights into how genes are regulated and developed, and how diseases such as cancer are formed.
Using high-throughput screening of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector capsid libraries, researchers identified functional and efficient AAV variants after only one round of selection. Infection with a high multiplicity of infection (MOI) was found to be preferable to infection with a low MOI, reducing variation between screens.
Research reveals that prehistoric hyenas and humans migrated across continents at approximately the same time, with spotted hyenas showing extensive and complex migration patterns. The study also found signs of a detrimental impact on hyenas due to human activity.
Researchers identified two genetically distinct 'urban' and 'rural' fox populations in Berlin, influenced by physical barriers and human activity levels. Foxes from the city population are bolder but prefer to avoid areas of high human activity, highlighting their risk management strategies.
Researchers developed a rod-shaped DNA motor that rolls at speeds up to 100 nanometers per minute, breaking previous records. The motor uses RNA fuel and can travel the length of a human stem cell in two or three hours.
Researchers developed CRISPR-HOT to label specific genes in human organoids, enabling the study of abnormal cell division and cancer development. By disabling the cancer gene TP53, they found that unstructured divisions of abnormal hepatocytes were more frequent, contributing to cancer development.
Scientists have detected a potential new biomarker for Alzheimer's disease in the Presenilin1 gene, which shows promise for earlier diagnosis and treatment. The study found that changes in DNA methylation of this gene are common in people with Alzheimer's and could be used to monitor environmental triggers and treatment responses.
Researchers at Hubrecht Institute and Princess Máxima Center found that Escherichia coli bacteria induce unique DNA mutations in human cells, similar to those found in colon cancer patients. The study establishes a direct link between the microbes inhabiting our bodies and genetic alterations that drive cancer development.
Researchers created a gene catalog called VIRGO, comprising nearly 1 million genes from the human vagina. This comprehensive resource facilitates deeper understanding of the vaginal microbiome's function and potential treatments for gynecologic conditions.
Researchers discovered ancient Salmonella genomes in human skeletons dating back 6,500 years, shedding light on the evolution of a human pathogen. The study suggests that the Neolithic revolution facilitated the emergence of human-adapted pathogens, including Paratyphi C.
Archaeological findings from India's Dhaba site reveal humans survived the massive Toba eruption with stone tools similar to those in Africa. The discovery contradicts theories of a 'volcanic winter' and supports genetic evidence of human interbreeding with archaic species.
Researchers reconstructed eight ancient Salmonella enterica genomes from human remains, revealing a link between the spread of farming culture and the emergence of human-adapted pathogens. The study highlights how constant exposure to pathogens enabled their evolution over 6,500 years.
A study published in Science found that Hydractinia, a North Atlantic jellyfish, can produce eggs and sperm more flexibly than humans. The research reveals that the jellyfish uses a gene called Tfap2 to commit its adult stem cells to gamete production throughout its lifetime.
A new study reveals the earliest known interbreeding event between ancient human populations, dating back to around 700,000 years ago. The super-archaics in Eurasia interbred with Neanderthal-Denisovan ancestors, providing insights into human migration out of Africa and into Eurasia.
A recent study by the University of California, Riverside found that e-cigarette users have elevated biomarkers of exposure and potential harm, including zinc excess correlated with oxidative DNA damage. The study highlights the risks of prolonged e-cigarette use and advises physicians to exercise caution when recommending e-cigarettes.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have discovered new human genes controlling HIV infection, which could lead to the development of new therapies. The study used a large-scale genetic approach to uncover host proteins that facilitate infection and identify key genes involved in the process.
A study published in Blood Cancer Discovery found that deleting one copy of the miR15a/miR16-1 gene cluster accelerated the development of multiple myeloma in mice, while also enhancing disease aggressiveness. The researchers also analyzed a genetic dataset of multiple myeloma patients and found similar associations.
A new study reveals that nuclear RNAs are sorted using a two-layered targeting mechanism, where NEXT and PAXT complexes work together to degrade non-functional transcripts. This process prevents deleterious accumulation of non-functional RNAs in cells.
African pastoralists, specifically the Himba community, exhibit a remarkably high rate of extra-pair paternity, with 48% of children fathered by non-marital partners. The study highlights how social norms support this practice, unlike in many Western societies where it is stigmatized.
Researchers studied Hydractinia's unique ability to produce germ cells nonstop throughout its life. The study found that the gene Tfap2 controls perpetual germ cell production in this animal, a process similar to humans but with distinct differences. This discovery could provide clues to human reproductive disorders.
Researchers question the idea that human language arose instantaneously through a single gene mutation, proposing instead a gradual evolution through accumulation of smaller biological changes. They argue that the cognitive operation Merge, key to human language, evolved gradually over time.
Researchers at Penn Medicine discovered that changes in DNA sequence can trigger chromatin misfolding in white blood cells, increasing the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. The study found that these misfolded regions occur before the disease onset and may serve as a diagnostic tool.
Researchers found that healthy cells clear harmful aggregates via endocytosis, a process previously thought to occur only on external substances. This discovery could lead to improved treatments for ALS by increasing the efficiency of endocytosis. The next step is to develop ways to enhance this process using genetic and chemical methods.
Researchers have identified similarities between canine and human gliomas, including genetic mutations and immune system features. These findings suggest that studying dog brain tumors may provide insights into human glioma treatments, particularly in children.
A new study by Washington University in St. Louis reveals that many families at risk for Vitamin A deficiency can't grow Golden Rice, while commercial farmers won't plant it due to its breeding into existing lowland rice varieties.
Researchers at UC San Diego created transgenic fruit flies to study the effects of CDTa toxin on host cells, revealing a collapse of networks essential for nutrient absorption. The fly model mimics symptoms in human C. difficile-infected patients, offering a potential avenue for novel therapies.
Research finds that Amazon trees contain detailed records of human activities, including native culture and colonial occupation. The study reveals how trees respond to human activity and can live for hundreds of years, registering impacts on the surrounding ecosystem.
Researchers found participants with schizophrenia carry damaging genetic mutations affecting brain and synaptic function, disrupting neural pathways that elevate risk. This discovery informs understanding of schizophrenia across human populations and suggests potential mechanisms for more effective treatments.