Biologists Discover Pathway That Protects Mitochondria
MIT Scientists discover a pathway that monitors a protein import into mitochondria and elicits a cellular response when the process goes awry. If there’s one…
DNA
Scientists Discover New Protein Shield That Protects Broken DNA
Researchers from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research have uncovered a new protein shield that aids in repairing damaged DNA in cells and…
‘Junk DNA’ Plays Crucial Role Holding Genomes Together
Researchers at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute have determined how satellite DNA, considered to be “junk DNA,”…
Ancient DNA Study Reveals the Genomic History of Southeastern Europe
In an ancient DNA study published this week in the journal Nature, scientists and archaeologists from over 80 different institutions lift the veil on the…
Scientists Reveal the Complex Story Behind the Beaker Phenomenon
In the largest study of ancient DNA ever conducted, an international team of scientists has revealed the complex story behind one of the defining periods…
Scieintists Identify Fifteen New Genes That Determine Our Facial Features
Researchers from KU Leuven and the universities of Pittsburgh, Stanford, and Penn State (US) have identified fifteen genes that determine our facial features. The findings…
First Direct Evidence That Fragile X Syndrome Neurons Can Be Restored
Fragile X syndrome is the most frequent cause of intellectual disability in males, affecting one out of every 3,600 boys born. The syndrome can also…
“DNA-Origami” Allows Scientists to Study Minute Protein Interactions
DNA is packaged tightly within the cell’s nuclear membranes, which contain channels that regulate the transit of macromolecules governing all of life’s functions. Yale University…
Quantum Chemistry Solves Amino Acid Mystery
Using quantum chemical methods, a team of researchers led by Dr. Matthias Granold and Professor Bernd Moosmann of the Institute of Pathobiochemistry at Johannes Gutenberg…
Yale Researchers Track How Cells Repair Rips in DNA
All DNA is sealed within the cell’s nuclear membrane, which protects it from molecular marauders. But what happens when that protective envelope rips? Yale researchers…
Scientists Reveal How Mutations in Genes Give Rise to Face-Specific Birth Defects
About 1 in 750 babies born in the United States has some kind of craniofacial malformation, accounting for about one-third of all birth defects. Many…
DNA Sequencing Solves 4,000-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy Mystery
Using ‘next generation’ DNA sequencing scientists have found that the famous ‘Two Brothers’ mummies of the Manchester Museum have different fathers so are, in fact,…
New Insights Into Exactly How Bacteria Import DNA
Bacteria are consummate survivalists. They are aided in this by their ability to assimilate DNA from their surroundings, which allows them to constantly acquire new…
New Detection System Could Dramatically Improve Early Disease Diagnosis
The presence of, or changes in the concentration of, certain proteins in biological fluids can be indicators of disease. However, in the early stages of…
Single-Stranded DNA and RNA Origami That Can Autonomously Fold Into Defined Structures
Nanotechnologists are using DNA, the genetic material present in living organisms, as well as its multifunctional cousin RNA as the raw material in efforts to…
Harvard Study Identifies Genetic ‘Switches’ That Affect Height
The network of factors behind height is becoming clearer, thanks to the work of Harvard scientists. Led by Associate Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology Terence…
Researchers Study Enzyme That Repairs DNA Damage from UV Rays
Biochemical ‘action shots’ with SLAC’s X-ray laser could help scientists develop synthetic enzymes for medicine and answer fundamental questions about how enzymes change during chemical…
Scientists Create a More Precise Technique to Edit Genomes of Living Organisms
In a newly published study, researchers from Yale University report they have created a more precise and efficient technology to edit the genomes of living…