Gene

A gene is a unit of heredity in a living organism. It normally resides on a stretch of DNA that codes for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. All living things depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains.

What are Genes?

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the chemical information database that carries the complete set of instructions for the cell as to the nature of the proteins produced by it, its life span, maturity, function and death. Genes are the working subunits of DNA. Each gene contains a particular set of instructions, usually coding for a particular protein or for a particular function.

Gene History

Gene Concepts

Pioneering the world’s first CRISPR medicine for sickle cell disease

When Vijay Sankaran was an MD-PhD student at Harvard Medical School in the mid-2000s, one of his first clinical encounters was with a 24-year-old patient whose sickle cell disease left them with almost weekly pain episodes.

3 Mar 2025

Intermittent fasting cuts heart attack risk by preventing dangerous blood clots

Intermittent fasting may reduce the risk of blood clots and cardiovascular disease by inhibiting platelet activation.

2 Mar 2025

Scientists uncover how herpes virus fuels Alzheimer’s disease

Herpesvirus infection may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease through transposable element activation and neuroinflammation.

2 Mar 2025

TFE3 activation shows promise for counteracting Parkinson's disease pathology

This recent study highlights the neuroprotective potential of TFE3, a transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in counteracting key pathological mechanisms associated with Parkinson's disease (PD).

2 Mar 2025

St. Jude scientists discover how retinoic acid selectively kills metastatic neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma is a solid tumor that occurs in children. When high-risk, the disease has a poor prognosis. Decades ago, adding the drug retinoic acid to neuroblastoma treatment increased survival by 10-15%.

2 Mar 2025

Researchers uncover how brain tumors reprogram neutrophils to hinder cancer treatment

The lab of Filippo Veglia, Ph.D., at The Wistar Institute has discovered a previously unknown mechanism for how aggressive brain cancers reprogram immune system cells from fighting cancer to enabling further tumor growth.

2 Mar 2025

Scientists develop fenugreek-based nanoparticles to enhance diabetes drug effectiveness

Researchers explored L-arginine-loaded lipid nanoparticles from fenugreek seed oil, finding they enhance drug stability and bioavailability, showing promise for diabetes treatment.

2 Mar 2025

Sweet potato extracts slow breast and lung cancer growth, study finds

Researchers found that methanolic extracts from sweet potato leaves and stems significantly inhibit breast and lung cancer cell growth, with some effects comparable to tamoxifen.

2 Mar 2025

Study demonstrates successful gene therapy for maple syrup urine disease

A study led by UMass Chan researchers demonstrated that a gene therapy to correct a mutation that causes maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) prevented newborn death, normalized growth, restored coordinated expression of the affected genes and stabilized biomarkers in a calf as well as in mice.

28 Feb 2025

Lactylation in the heart reveals key insights into cardiac regeneration

This study is led by Dr. Xiaodong Luan (Institute of Clinical Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital), Dr. Shuyang Zhang (Department of Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital) and Dr. He Huang (Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences).

28 Feb 2025

European project aims to develop new treatments for rare eye diseases

The Ocular Neurobiology laboratory at the Institute for Neurosciences, a joint center of Miguel Hernández University (UMH) in Elche and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), is participating in the European project RESTORE VISION, an ambitious initiative aimed at developing new treatments for rare eye diseases such as aniridia and neurotrophic keratopathy.

28 Feb 2025

Review sheds light on the mechanistic role of long non-coding RNAs in liver disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a global health challenge, affecting nearly 30% of adults worldwide.

28 Feb 2025

Researchers make breakthrough in understanding the role of tau protein in Alzheimer's

A research team at the University of Cologne has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the role of the tau protein in Alzheimer's disease.

28 Feb 2025

First-ever clinical trials evaluate fenofibrate as treatment for HPV-related cancers

A team from University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center is launching the nation's first-ever clinical trials evaluating the cholesterol drug fenofibrate (Triglide, Fibricor, Lipofen) as an investigational and potential treatment for patients with HPV+ cervical and HPV+ head and neck cancer (HNSCC).

28 Feb 2025