DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. Structurally, DNA is composed of two strands that coil around each other to form a double helix, with each strand consisting of a sugar-phosphate backbone attached to nitrogenous bases. These bases—adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G)—pair specifically (A with T, and C with G) to encode the genetic information. DNA’s role is pivotal in heredity and gene expression, guiding the synthesis of proteins via processes like transcription and translation. Since the discovery of its structure by Watson and Crick in 1953, DNA has been central to the fields of genetics and molecular biology, enabling advancements such as genetic engineering, forensic science, and medical diagnostics.
Microorganisms reveal how our single-celled predecessors incorporated viral DNA into their own genomes. Researchers have discovered remnants of ancient giant viruses in the genome of…
A breakthrough now makes it possible to assemble the genomes of extinct species. A team of scientists from Baylor College of Medicine, the University of…
Ancient DNA extracted from bones and teeth suggests that the plague contributed to a decline in Stone Age populations. New research challenges earlier assumptions, indicating…
Research on ancient dingo DNA reveals the deep genetic roots and historical migration patterns of dingoes in Australia, dating back over 3000 years. DNA from…
Research into malaria’s history through ancient DNA reveals its profound impact on human evolution and its global spread due to colonialism, military activity, and travel,…
With their “T-REX” method, DNA embedded in the polymer could be used for long-term storage of genomes or digital data such as photos and music….
Recent research has found that DNA remnants of ancient viruses in our genome are linked to increased susceptibility to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and…
Researchers have found giant viruses on Greenland’s ice that might control the darkening and melting of Arctic ice by infecting snow algae. Harnessing these viruses…
Researchers reconstructed the face of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou using DNA from his remains, revealing his typical East Asian features and suggesting his premature…
A gene previously associated with intellectual disability has been discovered to control learning and memory in mice. The gene, called KDM5B has previously been linked…
Researchers have discovered evidence of ceremonial offerings beneath a ballcourt in Mexico. For sports fans, places like Fenway Park, Wembley Stadium or Wimbledon’s Centre Court…
Researchers employ cutting-edge methods to create functional cells, closing the divide between synthetic and biological materials. In a new study published in Nature Chemistry, UNC-Chapel…
A significant study reveals that genes associated with multiple sclerosis were introduced to north-western Europe 5,000 years ago by migrating livestock herders, impacting modern susceptibility…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, like ChatGPT, have taken the world by storm. Thre isn’t much they don’t have a hand in, from recommending the next…
An international team of researchers led by the University of Potsdam has generated and analyzed the first high-coverage nuclear genome of the extinct blue antelope…
Researchers have unlocked the method by which trabectedin circumvents the DNA repair mechanisms of cancer cells, paving the way for tailored treatments. Many cancer treatments…
Aging may be less about specific “aging genes” and more about how long a gene is. Many of the changes associated with aging could be…
A catalyst tethered by DNA boosts the efficiency of the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO, a building block for many chemical compounds. MIT chemical…