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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).

DNA spike-ins increase reliability of amplicon-based sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes

In the interests of cost-effectiveness and rapidity, amplicon-based sequencing of the viral genome has been used to provide a sensitive means of genomic surveillance. A new preprint, which was released on the bioRxiv* server, shows how this can be tweaked to make it a reliable source of genomic data by reducing the known potential for contamination.

19 Mar 2021

Researchers characterize regions of DNA that impact MECP2 expression

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital (NRI) have identified and characterized two regions of DNA required for the proper expression of Mecp2/MECP2 in mice and humans.

19 Mar 2021

Identifying druggable targets on an essential SARS-CoV-2 protein

In a research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Newman et al. (March 15th, 2021) the structure and role of one such protein: NSP13, is investigated, with two appealingly druggable targets being identified, possibly opening a new route towards a novel SARS-CoV-2 antiviral agent.

18 Mar 2021

Study investigates how genetic variants contribute to increased risk of lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for both men and women. While risk for this disease can be influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors like smoking, studies estimate that 18% of lung cancer cases are due to inherited genetic variants.

18 Mar 2021

Antidiabetic drug could help reduce chronic inflammation in people living with HIV

Metformin, a drug used to treat type-2 diabetes, could help reduce chronic inflammation in people living with HIV (PLWH) who are being treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre.

18 Mar 2021

Could cinnamon modulate the immune response in severe COVID-19?

A new study describes the potential for two common plant products to make a difference in the management of severe COVID-19.

18 Mar 2021

GMP-Ready Helper Plasmids for AAV Production

Manufactured in dedicated clean-rooms with mandated changeovers before new production cycles - AMSBIO introduces new pHelper-Kan plasmid DNA optimized for Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) manufacturing.

18 Mar 2021

Long noncoding RNA plays a vital role in mobilizing immune response after organ transplantation

A long noncoding RNA whose function was previously unknown turns out to play a vital role in mobilizing the immune response following a bone marrow transplant or solid organ transplantation.

17 Mar 2021

Beneficial effects of gene therapy can be seen in SCID-X1 patients decades after treatment

An international collaboration between Great Ormond Street Hospital, the UCL GOS Institute for Child Health and Harvard Medical School has shown that the beneficial effects of gene therapy can be seen decades after the transplanted blood stem cells has been cleared by the body.

17 Mar 2021

Insights into elusive protein complex can help find novel treatments for chromosomal disorders

The cells in our body are constantly fighting off the threat of cancer by repairing damaged DNA. In a new study, scientists from Tokyo University of Science investigate the structure of an elusive protein complex that plays a key role in the activation of the "Fanconi anemia pathway" involved in DNA repair, and report on the factors governing its stability.

17 Mar 2021

Could visible light be a safe and effective SARS-CoV-2 disinfectant?

A new study reports that blue light with a wavelength of 400–420 nm can inactivate enveloped viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. This could allow continuous disinfection of spaces even when people are present.

17 Mar 2021

Advancing studies in evolution and ecology with INTEGRA pipettes

INTEGRA Biosciences’ EVOLVE manual pipettes and VOYAGER electronic adjustable tip spacing pipettes are both integral parts of the lab workflows at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), where researchers are investigating the evolution and ecology of a fascinating group of fish that includes a popular aquatic pet, the guppy.

From INTEGRA Biosciences 17 Mar 2021

Study: Reduced activity of specific enzyme leads to much higher cancer rates

In the past few years, several medications have been found to be contaminated with NDMA, a probable carcinogen. This chemical, which has also been found at Superfund sites and in some cases has spread to drinking water supplies, causes DNA damage that can lead to cancer.

17 Mar 2021

UVA researcher developing innovative gene therapy to help children with Rett syndrome

A University of Virginia School of Medicine scientist is developing an innovative gene therapy she hopes will slow disease progression and improve movement, coordination and communication in children with Rett syndrome.

17 Mar 2021

Researchers unravel how a novel microbial small molecule is connected to dental caries development

An inter-disciplinary team of researchers led by Prof. Qian Peiyuan, Chair Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Department of Ocean Science and Division of Life Science has unraveled how a novel microbial small molecule released by Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) - a bacterium commonly found in the human oral cavity - is connected to dental caries development using a synthetic biology approach, offering new insights to the health impact of the human oral microbiota and facilitating future research on the prevention of tooth decay.

16 Mar 2021

Study could lead to the development of novel treatments for drug-resistant cancers

ETC-159, a made-in-Singapore anti-cancer drug that is currently in early phase clinical trials for use in a subset of colorectal and gynecological cancers, could also prevent some tumors from resisting therapies by blocking a key DNA repair mechanism, researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore reported in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine.

16 Mar 2021

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

DNA spike-ins increase reliability of amplicon-based sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes

Researchers characterize regions of DNA that impact MECP2 expression

Identifying druggable targets on an essential SARS-CoV-2 protein

Study investigates how genetic variants contribute to increased risk of lung cancer

Antidiabetic drug could help reduce chronic inflammation in people living with HIV

Could cinnamon modulate the immune response in severe COVID-19?

GMP-Ready Helper Plasmids for AAV Production

Long noncoding RNA plays a vital role in mobilizing immune response after organ transplantation

Beneficial effects of gene therapy can be seen in SCID-X1 patients decades after treatment

Insights into elusive protein complex can help find novel treatments for chromosomal disorders

Could visible light be a safe and effective SARS-CoV-2 disinfectant?

Advancing studies in evolution and ecology with INTEGRA pipettes

Study: Reduced activity of specific enzyme leads to much higher cancer rates

UVA researcher developing innovative gene therapy to help children with Rett syndrome

Researchers unravel how a novel microbial small molecule is connected to dental caries development

Study could lead to the development of novel treatments for drug-resistant cancers

Study identifies how environmental information is transmitted by non-DNA molecules in the sperm

Researchers identify a genetic defect that increases the risk of debilitating eye disease

URI researchers develop new, saliva-based COVID-19 test

Backtracking occurs within SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex

eBook: A guide to RNA sequencing eBook

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

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