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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).

Scientists identify a critical checkpoint in transcription elongation

Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified a critical checkpoint in transcription elongation, the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template, according to findings published in Molecular Cell.

4 Sep 2021

Study uncovers new mechanism for memory transfer between individual roundworms

When an organism encounters a threat in its environment, it is to the species' advantage to warn others of the peril.

4 Sep 2021

Stanford researchers engineer an efficient, multi-purpose, mini CRISPR system

The common analogy for CRISPR gene editing is that it works like molecular scissors, cutting out select sections of DNA. Stanley Qi, assistant professor of bioengineering at Stanford University, likes that analogy, but he thinks it's time to reimagine CRISPR as a Swiss Army knife.

4 Sep 2021

Lysis Buffer for High Yield Enzymatic Shearing

Porvair Sciences reports how its Chromatrap® Lysis buffer for enzymatic shearing provides users with a complete lysis buffer for the disruption of nuclear cell membranes with a milder detergent than that required for mechanical fragmentation.

From Chromatrap® - Porvair Sciences Ltd 3 Sep 2021

Study suggests a biological basis behind instantaneous compatibility reaction

Have you ever met someone you instantly liked, or at other times, someone who you knew immediately that you did not want to be friends with, although you did not know why?

2 Sep 2021

Uppsala researchers find solution to long-standing biological search enigma

How the cell can mend broken DNA using another DNA copy as template has puzzled researchers for years. How is it possible to find the correct sequences in the busy interior of the cell? Researchers from Uppsala university have now discovered the solution; it is easier to find a rope than a ball if you are blindfolded.

1 Sep 2021

Baylor researchers use a faster, more cost-effective technology to discover SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor

Much progress has been made on the development of vaccines aiming at triggering human immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In addition, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are involved in the development of antiviral drugs to treat infected individuals.

1 Sep 2021

Studies outlines novel strategies for detecting cancer and minimal residual disease

The latest special issue of PLOS Medicine features five studies outlining novel strategies for detecting cancer and for identifying minimal residual disease-; when a small number of tumor cells survive treatment, potentially leading to recurrence of cancer.

1 Sep 2021

Breakthrough study could lead to much needed therapies for Huntington's disease

A new mechanism that stops the progression of Huntington's disease in cells has been identified by scientists at UCL and the University of Cambridge, as part of their research groups at the UK Dementia Research Institute.

31 Aug 2021

Researchers decipher genetic mechanisms governing the speed of protein synthesis

In all eukaryotic organisms, genetic material is stored in the cell nucleus in the form of DNA. In order to be used, this DNA is first transcribed into messenger RNA in the cell cytoplasm, then translated into protein with the help of ribosomes, small machines capable of decoding messenger RNA to synthesise the appropriate proteins.

31 Aug 2021

Liquid biopsies could help identify, track bladder cancer and peripheral nerve tumors

Liquid biopsies detect tumor DNA in blood or urine samples. Two studies led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis describe the potential of liquid biopsies to identify and track tumor growth in two very different cancers: bladder cancer and peripheral nerve tumors.

31 Aug 2021

Blood test could enable early detection of cancer in people with neurofibromatosis type 1

People with an inherited condition known as neurofibromatosis type 1, or NF1, often develop non-cancerous, or benign, tumors that grow along nerves. These tumors can sometimes turn into aggressive cancers, but there hasn't been a good way to determine whether this transformation to cancer has happened.

31 Aug 2021

New, one-stop method developed to avoid de novo genetic disease in embryos

De novo variants (DNVs), genetic mutations that were not previously identifiable in the family history of one of two prospective parents, may cause disease in any children they have.

31 Aug 2021

Research sheds light on potential biological mechanisms that impact adherence to medications

How strictly patients follow a prescribed drug treatment (drug adherence) is clearly important if the therapy is to have maximum effect. A number of things can affect adherence, including behavioral and socioeconomic factors, but to date there have been few investigations into the role played by genetics. Now, research to be presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today has thrown new light on the potential biological mechanisms that can affect adherence to treatment.

31 Aug 2021

DNMT2/TRDMT1 gene knockout may potentiate adverse effects related to drug-induced senescence

Aging-US published "The lack of functional DNMT2/TRDMT1 gene modulates cancer cell responses during drug-induced senescence" which reported that cellular senescence may be a side effect of chemotherapy and other anti-cancer treatments that may promote inflammation and paracrine secondary senescence in healthy tissues.

31 Aug 2021

Molecular autopsy of dried blood spots can identify underlying cause of sudden cardiac death in a young person

The underlying cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a young person is often difficult to identify. A genetic analysis could provide more information in many cases, but blood samples are not collected routinely at the time of death, and DNA extracted from the tissues collected at autopsy is damaged because of the way they are fixed in formalin and paraffin-embedded.

30 Aug 2021

Antisense oligonucleotides engineered to inhibit SARS-CoV-2

In a paper recently uploaded to the bioRxiv* preprint server, structure-based ASOs are developed against SARS-CoV-2, intended to bond with RNA in its structured in situ form, rather than the more rarely encountered linear section, achieving greater affinity and specificity than linear ASOs, and demonstrating inhibition of virus replication in human cells.

30 Aug 2021

Combination therapy disables PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and induces apoptosis in carcinoid syndrome

Oncotarget published "Next-generation multimodality of nutrigenomic cancer therapy: sulforaphane in combination with acetazolamide actively target bronchial carcinoid cancer in disabling the PI3K/Akt/mTOR survival pathway and inducing apoptosis" which reported that microscopic imaging, immunocytochemistry, wound healing assay, caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 CytoDeath ELISA assay, immunofluorescence labeling assays for apoptosis, hypoxia, Western Blotting, Tunnel assay, measurement of 5-HT secretion by carbon fiber amperometry assay, quantitative methylation-specific PCR, morphologic changes, cell viability, apoptosis activity and the expression levels of phospho-Akt1, Akt1, HIF-1α, PI3K, p21, CAIX, 5-HT, phospho-mTOR, and mTOR in xenografts derived from typical H727 and atypical H720 BC cell lines.

28 Aug 2021

Researchers measure the number of pathogens in backyard and commercial composts

Compost-;organic material that is added to soil to help plants grow-;is widely used by gardeners because it improves soil health and reduces the amount of organic waste in landfills. Although several studies have looked at commercial composts, very few have investigated backyard compost samples. In a new study, researchers have measured the number of pathogens in both types of compost.

28 Aug 2021

Rice lab receives NIH grant to unravel DNA’s secrets

The poor bacteriophages in Yang Gao's lab are about to have a lot of bad days.

28 Aug 2021

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists identify a critical checkpoint in transcription elongation

Study uncovers new mechanism for memory transfer between individual roundworms

Stanford researchers engineer an efficient, multi-purpose, mini CRISPR system

Lysis Buffer for High Yield Enzymatic Shearing

Study suggests a biological basis behind instantaneous compatibility reaction

Uppsala researchers find solution to long-standing biological search enigma

Baylor researchers use a faster, more cost-effective technology to discover SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor

Studies outlines novel strategies for detecting cancer and minimal residual disease

Breakthrough study could lead to much needed therapies for Huntington's disease

Researchers decipher genetic mechanisms governing the speed of protein synthesis

Liquid biopsies could help identify, track bladder cancer and peripheral nerve tumors

Blood test could enable early detection of cancer in people with neurofibromatosis type 1

New, one-stop method developed to avoid de novo genetic disease in embryos

Research sheds light on potential biological mechanisms that impact adherence to medications

DNMT2/TRDMT1 gene knockout may potentiate adverse effects related to drug-induced senescence

Molecular autopsy of dried blood spots can identify underlying cause of sudden cardiac death in a young person

Antisense oligonucleotides engineered to inhibit SARS-CoV-2

Combination therapy disables PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and induces apoptosis in carcinoid syndrome

Researchers measure the number of pathogens in backyard and commercial composts

Rice lab receives NIH grant to unravel DNA’s secrets

eBook: Exploring the Cell Cycle and DNA Damage and Repair 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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