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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

Recently evolved region of the ‘dark genome’ provides clues to treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

Scientists investigating the DNA outside our genes - the 'dark genome' - have discovered recently evolved regions that code for proteins associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

23 Dec 2021

Allele-specific RT-qPCR assay to identify SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in wastewater

Researchers develop a new allele-specific RT-qPCR to detect the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in wastewater.

23 Dec 2021

Amino acid valine plays a key role in the growth of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

A molecular building block of many animal proteins, the amino acid valine, plays a key role in cancerous growth seen in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a new study shows.

22 Dec 2021

Protein-based nanoparticle vaccines for protection against SARS-CoV-2

A recent review article discusses recent advances in protein-based nanoparticle vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

22 Dec 2021

COVID can affect sperm quality for three months

Researchers determine whether SARS-CoV-2 could cross the blood-testis barrier and be detected in human semen after infection.

22 Dec 2021

Defensosomes can act as decoys to protect against SARS-CoV-2

In a new study, researchers from New York University have been examining the ability of defensosomes to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection.

22 Dec 2021

Researchers identify new mechanism for DNA invasion of adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines

Adenoviruses have a linchpin protein that stabilizes their DNA until it reaches the infected cell's nucleus. The protein then detaches from the viral genome, and the virus uncoats. Only then are the genes released into the nucleus, which is necessary for the production of new viruses.

22 Dec 2021

Cheap and accessible methods for genome sequencing will help tackle future pandemics

A worldwide consortium of scientists, led by the Earlham Institute and the University of Liverpool in the UK, mark a significant milestone in equipping researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with cheap and accessible methods for sequencing large collections of bacterial pathogens - at a cost of less than $10USD per genome.

21 Dec 2021

New method to detect SARS-CoV-2 helps get reliable results more quickly

You're worried that you may have been exposed to the coronavirus, so you decide to take a test. But which do you choose?

21 Dec 2021

Booster shots improve CD8+ T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 in animal model

In a new study, published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, scientists showed in a mice model that three doses of the same synthetic peptide vaccine, eliciting an exclusive CD8+ T cell response against one SARS-CoV-2 Spike epitope, protected against lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection, in the absence of neutralizing antibodies. Researchers also showed that the third dose resulted in superior generation of effector-memory T cells in the circulation and tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells.

20 Dec 2021

UBR7 protein acts as a histone chaperone during DNA replication, study finds

The protein UBR7 acts as a histone chaperone, regulating histone re-deposition at specific sites during DNA replication, according a recent study published in The EMBO Journal.

20 Dec 2021

Study identifies genetic causes of sudden unexplained deaths in children aged 1 year and older

A new study found that changes in specific genes may contribute each year to the roughly 400 sudden unexplained deaths in children (SUDC) aged 1 year and older—and separately from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

20 Dec 2021

New tool provides an unprecedented view of brain cell activity in a synapse

To solve the mysteries of how learning and memory occur, Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists have created a system to track millions of connections among brain cells in mice — all at the same time — when the animals' whiskers are tweaked, an indicator for learning.

20 Dec 2021

Study reveals chromosome-level changes that relate to drug resistance in melanoma

Precision therapies targeting melanoma and other cancers have improved patient survival, but tumors often stop responding to drugs, and recent studies point to changes in DNA – both inside and outside chromosomes – as a driving factor in tumor genesis as well as in treatment resistance.

20 Dec 2021

Genome-wide ancient human DNA data from Sudan reveals new insights into the Nile Valley past

The first genome-wide ancient human DNA data from Sudan reveals new insights into the ancestry and social organization of people who lived more than 1,000 years ago in the Nile Valley, an important genetic and cultural crossroads.

20 Dec 2021

CRISPR-based microfluidic platform detects respiratory viruses and SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers in the US have developed a novel multiplexed diagnostic platform based on CRISPR-based approaches and microfluidics - enabling robust and simultaneous surveillance of multiple viruses and viral variants. Currently, the paper is available on the medRxiv* preprint server pending peer review.

19 Dec 2021

Study says COVID mRNA-based vaccines best for booster vaccination

A new study looks at the adaptive immune response to COVID-19 vaccines, wherein the authors compare heterologous to homologous immunization.

19 Dec 2021

A class of FDA-approved drugs can effectively stop aggressive uterine cancer

A team of scientists led by the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center has found that a class of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs can effectively stop a highly aggressive type of uterine cancer in its tracks, paving a quick path toward new treatment strategies for a deadly cancer with limited therapeutic options.

17 Dec 2021

A Day in the Life of A Clinical Geneticist

In this interview, we spoke to Dr. Julian Barwell, a clinical geneticist, about his day-to-day roles and responsibilities as well as his career highlights.

17 Dec 2021

Codexis Launches Codex® HiTemp Reverse Transcriptase to Address Key Challenges in One-Step Assays for RNA Detection in PCR Testing, including COVID-19 Testing

Codexis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDXS), a leading enzyme engineering company enabling the promise of synthetic biology, today announced the launch of its Codex® HiTemp Reverse Transcriptase for use in one-step quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR).

From Codexis 17 Dec 2021

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Recently evolved region of the ‘dark genome’ provides clues to treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

Allele-specific RT-qPCR assay to identify SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in wastewater

Amino acid valine plays a key role in the growth of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Protein-based nanoparticle vaccines for protection against SARS-CoV-2

COVID can affect sperm quality for three months

Defensosomes can act as decoys to protect against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers identify new mechanism for DNA invasion of adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines

Cheap and accessible methods for genome sequencing will help tackle future pandemics

New method to detect SARS-CoV-2 helps get reliable results more quickly

Booster shots improve CD8+ T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 in animal model

UBR7 protein acts as a histone chaperone during DNA replication, study finds

Study identifies genetic causes of sudden unexplained deaths in children aged 1 year and older

New tool provides an unprecedented view of brain cell activity in a synapse

Study reveals chromosome-level changes that relate to drug resistance in melanoma

Genome-wide ancient human DNA data from Sudan reveals new insights into the Nile Valley past

CRISPR-based microfluidic platform detects respiratory viruses and SARS-CoV-2 variants

Study says COVID mRNA-based vaccines best for booster vaccination

A class of FDA-approved drugs can effectively stop aggressive uterine cancer

A Day in the Life of A Clinical Geneticist

Codexis Launches Codex® HiTemp Reverse Transcriptase to Address Key Challenges in One-Step Assays for RNA Detection in PCR Testing, including COVID-19 Testing

eBook: A guide to RNA sequencing eBook

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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