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New AI tool developed by Stowers Institute and Helmholtz Munich scientists predicts how cells choose their future — helping uncover hidden drivers of development

Researchers developed RegVelo, an AI framework that models cellular dynamics and gene regulation to predict cellular fate decisions. The model traces developmental trajectories and simulates regulatory interactions, providing insights into hidden drivers of development and potential therapeutic targets.

Bacterial genomes hold clues for creating personalized probiotics

Researchers created an 'encyclopedia of sugar utilization pathways' in 263 Bifidobacterium genomes. This resource helps predict which strains thrive in different conditions, enabling personalized probiotics to match children's lifestyles and dietary needs. The study suggests a potential solution to improving outcomes for preterm infants.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 16, 2025

How blood cancer cells rewire to evade drug treatment

Researchers found that blood cancer cells rewired their gene regulatory networks to evade drug treatment in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), disrupting normal differentiation and growth. The study identified key findings, including changes in open chromatin regions and the loss of binding of RUNX1 and AP-1 transcription factors.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 23, 2024

Maintenance of male-related genes after loss of males in stick insects

Researchers investigate gene preservation after loss of male traits in stick insects and find that genes involved in multiple biological processes are more likely to be maintained. This suggests that the molecular ground plan for the lost male reproductive process may persist due to pleiotropic effects on other traits.

SourceSMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·TypeObservational study·DateMay 29, 2024

Scientists map networks regulating gene function in the human brain

Researchers create largest and most advanced multidimensional maps of gene regulation networks in the brains of people with and without mental disorders. The study uses postmortem brain tissue from over 2,500 donors to map gene regulation networks across different stages of brain development and multiple brain-related disorders.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Mental Health·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 23, 2024

Unlocking the genetic mysteries: DNA methylation of gene silencers sheds light on disease variation

Researchers uncover intricate interplay between enhancers and silencers influenced by DNA methylation, providing crucial insights into dynamic gene control. High-resolution mapping reveals how genes are controlled and modified, paving the way for precision medicine tailored to individual patients.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalGenome Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 27, 2023

Honey bee colony aggression linked to gene regulatory networks

A new study explores the genetic mechanisms underlying honey bee colony defense and aggression, revealing that gene regulation influences collective behavior and division of labor. Researchers found that brain gene regulatory networks differ between soldiers and foragers, particularly in more aggressive colonies.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 1, 2023

Scientists map networks of disease-associated immune genes

Researchers created a detailed map of how immune genes function together, shedding light on the basic drivers of immune cell function and immune diseases. The study found interconnected regulatory networks that can help explain why mutations in different genes lead to the same disease or how drugs impact multiple immune proteins.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalNature Genetics·DateJul 11, 2022

Explainable AI for decoding genome biology

An interdisciplinary team of biologists and computational researchers designed a neural network named BPNet that can interpret regulatory code by predicting transcription factor binding from DNA sequences with unprecedented accuracy. The model revealed novel insights, including a rule governing the binding of the well-studied transcrip...

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalNature Genetics·DateFeb 18, 2021

RNA biology provides the key to cell identity and health

Two studies published in Genome Research provide new insights into the core regulatory networks governing cell types across different vertebrate species. The research highlights the importance of understanding RNA expression in establishing cell function, morphology, and behavior. Long non-coding RNAs were found to affect cell growth a...

SourceRIKEN·JournalGenome Research·DateJul 27, 2020

Personalized gene networks enhance study of disease

Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine developed a new method to model gene interactions and predict changes over time. The idopNetwork can create personalized networks for individual patients, showing complex gene connections and predicting outcomes.

SourcePenn State·Journalnpj Systems Biology and Applications·DateNov 7, 2019

Biologists ID temporal logic of regulatory genes affecting nitrogen use efficiency in plan

A team of biologists and computer scientists have developed a time-based machine-learning approach to understand the temporal logic of nitrogen signaling in plants. This discovery has significant implications for global food production and sustainable agriculture by potentially offering new ways to monitor and enhance crop growth using...

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2018

Autonomous machines edge towards greater independence

Researchers have developed a method for autonomous learning in self-taught systems, allowing them to evolve and adapt over time. This approach, which incorporates delayed dynamics and feedback loops, has been successfully applied to neural networks and phase oscillators, yielding robust performance with minimal external control.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJun 8, 2017

Do genes express themselves through poetry?

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that DNA's regulatory regions resemble a poetic language, composed of coding and regulatory elements. By analyzing variants of a key protein and applying mathematical models, the team was able to identify conserved properties in other sequences, enabling them to 'read' the genome.

Planarian regeneration model discovered by artificial intelligence

Researchers at Tufts University developed an algorithm that used evolutionary computation to predict the results of published laboratory experiments on planarian regeneration. The approach identified a comprehensive regulatory network that correctly predicted all 16 key experiments, shedding light on the mechanisms behind head-tail pat...

SourceTufts University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJun 4, 2015

Minus environment, patterns still emerge

A Rice University study found that regulatory patterns in E. coli cells can arise from mutation, genetic drift, and neutral evolution, challenging the idea that environmental factors drive such patterns. The researchers generated computer models of random regulatory networks, which evolved through millions of generations without progra...

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 21, 2013

A model for development

Biologists at Caltech created a computational model of gene networks that control the development of sea-urchin embryos. The model accurately reproduces experiments and allows for virtual experiments, revealing unprecedented detail about gene regulatory networks.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 30, 2012

From pre-gut cells to glory

A research team at Caltech has outlined exactly how specific sets of cells in sea-urchin embryos differentiate to become the endoderm, the early domain of the embryo that eventually forms the gut. They found that certain regulatory genes are expressed in the cells of each domain and that this process is dynamic, with gene expression ch...

Capitalizing on corruption: Not all companies harmed by corruption

A new study finds that corruption can help companies develop organizational capabilities to operate successfully in corrupt environments, leading to more success when investing internationally. The study identifies various strategies firms use to capitalize on corruption, including political networking and joint venturing.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Management Studies·DateMar 21, 2011

Caltech researchers help unlock the secrets of gene regulatory networks

Researchers at Caltech have discovered intricate gene regulatory networks in various organisms, including fruit flies, nematodes, sea urchins, lampreys, and mice. These networks play a crucial role in directing developmental processes, with subtle balances of regulatory signals being essential for proper cell differentiation.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 3, 2009

The 21st century tomato

Researchers have made significant progress in understanding the complex metabolic networks involved in tomato fruit development. By analyzing over 1200 quantitative metabolic loci (QMLs), scientists identified associations between metabolites and genes that regulate fruit metabolism. This knowledge can be used to alter metabolic pathwa...

How actin networks are actin'

A study published in PLOS Biology reveals that multiple Arp2/3 regulatory proteins play distinct roles in regulating actin networks, which are crucial for cellular processes such as cell migration and intracellular transport. The research provides new insights into the coordination of protein activities to generate complex actin networks.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 2, 2008