Evolutionary biologists show that the color variants of female cuckoos are based on ancient mutations
Every cuckoo is an adopted child—raised by foster parents, into whose nest the cuckoo mother smuggled her egg. The cuckoo mother is aided in this subterfuge by her resemblance to a bird of prey. There are two variants of female cuckoos: a gray morp.....»»
New time-resolved ultraviolet photodissociation mass spectrometry strategy for target protein stability analysis
How mutations impact protein stability and structure dynamics is crucial for understanding the molecular mechanism of the disease and the targeted drug design. However, probing the molecular details of mutation-induced subtle structure dynamics is st.....»»
New study paves the way for precision drugs to treat blood cancers
The Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) protein mediates signaling from several cytokine receptors in the regulation of hematopoiesis and immune responses. Somatic mutations in human JAK2 lead to constitutive activation and cytokine-independent signaling and under.....»»
Unveiling rare diversity: The origin of heritable mutations in trees
What is the origin of genetic diversity in plants? Can new mutations acquired during growth be passed on to seeds? INRAE scientists, in collaboration with CIRAD and the CNRS, have used the French Guiana forest as the setting for their research, leadi.....»»
New E. coli strain will accelerate evolution of the genes of your choice
Strain eliminates the trade-offs of a high mutation rate. Enlarge (credit: Rodolfo Parulan Jr.) Genetic mutations are essential for innovation and evolution, yet too many—or the wrong ones—can be fatal. So researcher.....»»
Fisetin rescues pathogenic mutation of kinesin in neurons, finds study
Mutations in the kinesin KIF1A cause impaired axonal transport, resulting in neurological disorders or neurodevelopmental disorders known as KIF1A-associated neurological disorder (KAND). In clinical practice, there is limited knowledge about effecti.....»»
Immune cells drive sex reversal in zebrafish, a discovery that could improve treatments for female infertility
Mutations that disrupt development of germ cells cause infertility or birth defects. Mutations that cause female infertility in humans, such as mutations in the gene BMP15, also cause infertility in zebrafish. However, female zebrafish can undergo a.....»»
Cancer-related mutations appear in stem cell derivatives used in regenerative medicine, shows study
Human pluripotent stem cells are cells that have two very important traits—a seemingly endless proliferative capability and the amazing ability to give rise to any cell in our body. These characteristics make these cells a great tool for research o.....»»
Researchers engineer in vivo delivery system for prime editing, partially restoring vision in mice
Prime editing, a versatile form of gene editing that can correct most known disease-causing genetic mutations, now has a new vehicle to deliver its machinery into cells in living animals......»»
Genetic mutations that promote reproduction tend to shorten human lifespan, study shows
A University of Michigan-led study based on a review of genetic and health information from more than 276,000 people finds strong support for a decades-old evolutionary theory that sought to explain aging and senescence......»»
How do kingfishers avoid concussions when diving? It might be in their genes
Mutations in the MAPT gene associated with tau proteins seem to play a significant role. Enlarge / Fish-eating kingfishers execute plunging dives into the water to capture prey, yet never seem to get concussed. (credit: Richard T.....»»
Genome editing vs natural mutation for variations in tomato size
For tens of thousands of years, evolution shaped tomatoes through natural mutations. Then, humans came along......»»
Structure-destabilizing mutations transform Bcl-2 from an antiapoptotic protein into a proapoptotic protein
Bcl-2 family proteins are highly conserved molecules that play a crucial role in regulating the release of apoptotic proteins from mitochondria. They possess Bcl-2 homology (BH) domains, which are characterized by both sequence and structural similar.....»»
Revealing structural secrets of a key cancer protein
Scientists have breathed new life into the study of a protein with an outsized link to human cancers because of its dangerous mutations, using advanced research techniques to detect its hidden regions......»»
Anti-viral drug backfires: COVID drug linked to viral mutations that spread
Merck's small-molecule molnupiravir linked to mutated viruses that spread in people. Enlarge / A worker handles a bottle of Merck & Co. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LPs molnupiravir antiviral medication in a warehouse in Shoha.....»»
Dingoes found to have more harmful mutations than most inbred dog breeds
Genome sequencing comparisons with wolves, strays and dogs across the world has found Australia's dingoes have the highest loads of harmful mutations—and diversity levels that are 36% lower than the most inbred dogs......»»
Google AI tool predicts danger of genetic mutations
Researchers at Google DeepMind, the tech giant's artificial intelligence arm, on Tuesday introduced a tool that predicts whether genetic mutations are likely to cause harm, a breakthrough that could help research into rare diseases......»»
DeepMind’s New AI Can Predict Genetic Diseases
AlphaMissense, a new model from Google’s artificial intelligence team, analyzes the effects of DNA mutations and will accelerate research into rare diseases......»»
A NICER approach to genome editing
The gene editing technique CRISPR/Cas9 has allowed researchers to make precise and impactful changes to an organism's DNA to fix mutations that cause genetic disease. However, the CRISPR/Cas9 method can also result in unintended DNA mutations that ma.....»»
Covid Boosters Can’t Outpace New Mutations. Here’s Why They Still Work
The latest vaccines are designed to target XBB.1.5, the dominant variant throughout much of 2023—until now......»»