Everything You Need to Know About Getting Your Genome Sequenced
DNA sequencing can assess your risk of developing certain diseases. It could even help provide medicines personalized to your genes one day. Governments want you to get involved......»»
Guarding the genome: Researchers uncover full 3D structure of p53 protein
The tumor suppressor protein p53, known as "the guardian of the genome," protects the body's DNA from daily stress or long-term damage by triggering the cells to make repairs or to self-destruct. But mutations in the p53 gene that codes for the prote.....»»
Studying epigenetic regulation at the single-molecule level
If one imagines the genome as an instruction manual for the functioning of a cell, every page of this manual is covered with annotations, highlights, and bookmarks. The role of some of these marks remains mysterious—do they actively direct the read.....»»
Machine learning helps determine success of advanced genome editing
A new tool to predict the chances of successfully inserting a gene-edited sequence of DNA into the genome of a cell, using a technique known as prime editing, has been developed by researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. An evolution of CRISPR-.....»»
Software assembles complete genome sequences on-demand
National Institutes of Health researchers have developed and released an innovative software tool to assemble truly complete (i.e., gapless) genome sequences from a variety of species. This software, called Verkko, which means "network" in Finnish, m.....»»
New discovery to bulk up gluten-free fiber supplement
Scientists have for the first time constructed the reference genome for the source of the popular fiber supplement, psyllium husk, which could boost supplies of the versatile plant-derived product......»»
Taxonomy goes viral: Experts publish a new set of consensus principles to classify the virosphere
The official body charged with virus classification has released four new principles that bring order to the viral world. This provides a unified framework that will enable all viruses to be classified, something vitally needed as genome technologies.....»»
When editing bacteria with CRISPR, less is more
Systematically attenuating DNA targeting activity can achieve CRISPR-driven editing in bacteria, greatly boosting colony counts and even increasing the frequency of precise genome editing. This was shown in a study of the Helmholtz Institute Würzbur.....»»
Researchers decode 95.6% of the genome of Nicotiana benthamiana
The plant Nicotiana benthamiana, from the Solanaceae family, is one of the most widely used experimental models in plant science. In 2020, a research group at Nagoya University in Japan reported that N. benthamiana could be grafted with plants from d.....»»
Stunningly detailed blueprint revealed of viral genome replication machinery
RNA viruses, such as the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, are in a life-and-death race the moment they infect a cell......»»
Boosting efficiency of genome editing procedures to modify initially inaccessible DNA sequences
In the course of optimizing key procedures of genome editing, researchers from the department of Developmental Biology / Physiology at the Center for Organismal Studies of Heidelberg University have succeeded in substantially improving the efficiency.....»»
Power of cancer drugs may see boost by targeting newly identified pathway
Cells zealously protect the integrity of their genomes, because damage can lead to cancer or cell death. The genome—a cell's complete set of DNA—is most vulnerable while it is being duplicated before a cell divides. Cancer cells constantly are di.....»»
Study reveals dynamics of DNA ligation during genome replication
Unconnected strands of DNA must be sealed together during genome replication and repair, and a new KAUST-led investigation shows how the fastening enzyme involved gets the job done......»»
World-first computational reconstruction of a virus in its biological entirety
An Aston University researcher has created the first ever computer reconstruction of a virus, including its complete native genome......»»
From octopus to elephant: A molecular zoo of epigenetics
Our genes are encoded in the DNA sequence of the genome, which is highly similar across the diverse cell types of our body. Yet, each cell can only access those genes that are in an epigenetically permissive state. The epigenome thus provides a form.....»»
Modified CRISPR-based enzymes improve the prospect of inserting entire genes into the genome
Many genetic diseases are caused by diverse mutations spread across an entire gene, and designing genome editing approaches for each patient's mutation would be impractical and costly......»»
Evolution of uniquely human DNA was a balancing act, study concludes
Humans and chimpanzees differ in only one percent of their DNA. Human accelerated regions (HARs) are parts of the genome with an unexpected amount of these differences. HARs were stable in mammals for millennia but quickly changed in early humans. Sc.....»»
Researchers reveal how geminiviruses cause devastating disease in worldwide crops
Geminiviruses are a group of single-stranded circular plant DNA viruses that cause devastating diseases in many economically important crops including tomato, tobacco, cotton, corn, wheat, beans, and cassava worldwide. Due to their small genome size.....»»
Breakthroughs made as scientists sequence the genomes of endangered sharks
The first chromosome level genome sequences for great hammerhead and shortfin mako sharks have shown that both species have experienced major population declines over a 250,000-year history. Low genetic diversity and signs of inbreeding are concernin.....»»
Breakthrough in plant breeding: Grafting and mobile CRISPR for genome editing in plants
A ground-breaking twist to the CRISPR tool—aka "genetic scissors"—is being put to use to edit plant genomes by scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, signaling a methodology change. The discovery, recently publish.....»»
New method precisely locates gene activity and proteins across tissues
A new method can illuminate the identities and activities of cells throughout an organ or a tumor at unprecedented resolution, according to a study co-led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian and the New York Genome Center......»»