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

New drug restores vision by regenerating retinal nerves

Vision is one of the most crucial human senses, yet over 300 million people worldwide are at risk of vision loss due to various retinal diseases.

1 Apr 2025

Scientists make breakthrough in understanding the causes of spina bifida

Scientists at Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, and the Department of Neurosciences and Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the causes of spina bifida, a serious birth defect affecting thousands of newborns each year.

1 Apr 2025

ICRAFT platform identifies new targets for cancer immunotherapy

Professor Zeng Zexian's team from the Center for Quantitative Biology at the Peking University Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, in collaboration with the Peking University-Tsinghua University Joint Center for Life Sciences, has developed ICRAFT, an innovative computational platform for identifying cancer immunotherapy targets.

1 Apr 2025

Comprehensive AAV delivery map aids in advancing gene therapy

Gene therapy, a technique that is revolutionizing the treatment of multiple genetic conditions, including eye and muscle diseases and blood disorders, requires efficient and specific delivery of the genetic material to the tissue and cell type of interest.

1 Apr 2025

Novel ARPC1B mutation identified in a patient with recurrent eosinophilia

Immunodeficiency disorders linked to cytoskeleton defects are rare and complex, often presenting with diverse clinical features.

1 Apr 2025

Scientists discover key genes for regenerating cells in the ear and eye

The same genes could hold the key to regenerating cells in the ear and eye, according to a new mouse study from the USC Stem Cell laboratory of Ksenia Gnedeva, PhD, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

1 Apr 2025

Long-term Transcendental Meditation shown to improve stress and aging markers

A collaborative study conducted by researchers at Maharishi International University (MIU), the University of Siegen, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences reveals that individuals practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) technologies long-term show favorable biological markers of aging and stress.

31 Mar 2025

New genetic discovery sheds light on PHTS-related vascular malformations

During development, cells grow, expand, and migrate to generate tissues and organs in a highly controlled manner.

31 Mar 2025

Swedish researchers identify genetic variants linked to atherosclerosis

Swedish researchers have identified genetic variants that increase the risk of atherosclerosis. The aim is for these new findings to enable earlier detection of atherosclerosis and improved treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

31 Mar 2025

Hedonic eating fades with obesity—but neurotensin helps bring it back

Chronic high-fat diets blunt the brain’s pleasure response to rich foods by impairing NAcLat→VTA signaling in mice. Neurotensin dysfunction underlies this effect, but restoring its signaling revives hedonic feeding and reduces obesity symptoms.

30 Mar 2025

New PCR test offers hope for better treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Roughly one out of three women ages 14-49 in the United States develop a vaginal bacterial imbalance known as bacterial vaginosis (BV) during their lifetime.

28 Mar 2025

Emory team takes heart disease research to the International Space Station

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for one in five deaths.

28 Mar 2025

Studies explore bioactive compounds in plants for disease prevention

Fruits and plant extracts contain bioactive compounds that can help treat or prevent diseases. To characterize and understand their mechanism of action, researchers from universities and research institutions in Brazil and Germany have conducted independent but complementary studies.

28 Mar 2025

Scientists develop lab model to study TDP-43 accumulation in neurodegeneration

Accumulation of a protein called TDP-43 is a key feature of ALS and frontotemporal dementia. In a newly published study, researchers report 'seeding' this accumulation through fragments of the culprit protein created in the lab.

28 Mar 2025

Research provides a comprehensive genomic and epigenomic landscape of ICE syndrome

Iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome is a rare, irreversibly blinding ocular disorder with an unknown etiology. Lack of targeted effective drugs, inadequate disease prognosis, and high relapse rates post-surgery are the current challenges of ICE.

28 Mar 2025

AI-powered model improves prediction of bladder cancer treatment outcomes

Leveraging the power of AI and machine learning technologies, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine developed a more effective model for predicting how patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer will respond to chemotherapy.

28 Mar 2025

New peptide antibiotic stops bacteria by binding where no drug has before

Researchers discovered lariocidin, a lasso peptide antibiotic that kills multidrug-resistant bacteria by binding a novel ribosomal site.

27 Mar 2025

Gasdermin D found to play a crucial role in heart arrhythmias

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common form of heart arrhythmia, a serious condition in which the heart beats so fast that its upper chambers, the atria, quiver. This irregular heartbeat can increase the risk of severe conditions, including heart failure, dementia and stroke.

27 Mar 2025

Transforming genetic deafness treatment with base editing

Congenital hearing loss refers to impaired auditory function that occurs due to genetic causes. GJB2 is the gene responsible for approximately half of all cases of hereditary hearing loss.

27 Mar 2025

Cell's stress response is more nuanced and compartmentalized than previously thought

The body's cells respond to stress-toxins, mutations, starvation or other assaults-by pausing normal functions to focus on conserving energy, repairing damaged components and boosting defenses.

26 Mar 2025