Genetics: Biosynthesis pathway of a new DNA nucleobase elucidated
DNA is composed of nucleobases represented by the letters A, T, G and C. They form the basis of the genetic code and are present in all living beings. But in a bacteriophage, another base, represented by the letter Z, exists. This exception, the only.....»»
Exploring the evolution of cannabinoid biosynthesis in a non-cannabis plant
A South African plant called a wooly umbrella is completely unrelated to the cannabis plant, yet it makes a slew of the active compounds found in cannabis—cannabinoids—including some that may have new medical uses......»»
Genome of famed sled dog Balto reveals genetic adaptations of working dogs
The sled dog Balto has been celebrated in books and movies for his role in delivering desperately needed diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska, in 1925. Now, his DNA has enabled scientists to explore the genetics of 1920s sled dogs in Alaska and under.....»»
Fluorescent aromatic nanobelts with unique size-dependent properties
A new type of aromatic nanobelt, methylene-bridged [n]cycloparaphenylene ([n]MCPP), has been synthesized and its properties elucidated by researchers at the Institute of Transformative Bio-molecules (WPI-ITbM) at Nagoya University in Japan, in collab.....»»
Both internal and external stimuli found to control anthocyanin accumulation in fruit
Anthocyanins are important health-promoting pigments that contribute significantly to the nutritional and commercial value of fruits. The anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway is well understood and the key regulatory genes controlling the pathway have be.....»»
Researchers develop new tools for precise large DNA insertions
Gao Caixia's group from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed a new genome editing technology that achieves efficient and precise targeted insertion of large DNA segments in plants......»»
Study finds new pathway for clearing misfolded proteins
Misfolded proteins are toxic to cells. They disrupt normal functions and cause some age-related human degenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases. Cells work constantly to eliminate misfolded proteins, but these cl.....»»
Fungal genetics could help develop novel biotechnologies
An essential pillar of Earth's ecological system, fungi have long been used to better the lives of humans. While these organisms are still vastly understudied, a new review paper suggests that their unique genomes could be used to make progress in th.....»»
Protein domain common to plants and animals plays role in COVID-19 infection
Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists exploring bioenergy plant genetics have made a surprising discovery: a protein domain that could lead to new COVID-19 treatments......»»
DNA study opens a window into African civilisations that left a lasting legacy
Pre-colonial African history is alive with tales of civilizations rising and falling and of different cultures intermingling across the continent. We have now shed more light on some of these societies using the science of genetics......»»
Ancient African empires" impact on migration revealed by genetics
Traces of ancient empires that stretched across Africa remain in the DNA of people living on the continent, reveals a new genetics study led by UCL researchers......»»
New insights into an old drug: Scientists discover why aspirin works so well
New research has revealed important information about how aspirin works. Even though this drug has been available commercially since the late 1800s, scientists have not yet fully elucidated its detailed mechanism of action and cellular targets. The n.....»»
Worm genetics reveal important pathways for sleep regulation
Although the regulation of sleep—how much, when, and how sleep occurs—is mainly considered to be controlled by the brain, sleep deprivation also affects the body, and signals from the body can affect sleep. However, the ways in which the body reg.....»»
Dairy sector boasts 100 years of successful herd data collection
The U.S. dairy industry operates a comprehensive data collection program that records herd production information from farmers nationwide. The program provides crucial input for cattle breeding and genetics, and its cooperative structure ensures bene.....»»
Genetics as a conservation tool for endangered chimpanzees
The western chimpanzees of Guinea are threatened by mining activities. Using a novel genetic approach, UZH researchers and an international team have collected information on population size and community structure of the endangered species. These da.....»»
Scientists develop predictable method to downregulate gene translation in plants
Gao Caixia's group from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed a new method of downregulating gene translation to a predictable and desired level in plants by precisely engineering u.....»»
Engineering nitrogenases for synthetic nitrogen fixation: From pathway engineering to directed evolution
Fertilizers are one of the main reasons that we are able to grow enough crops to feed the almost 8 billion humans living on Earth. Modern agriculture depends largely on nitrogen-based fertilizers, which significantly increase the yield of crops. Unfo.....»»
Decoding the genetics behind plant height and seed weight scaling in barley
Biological functions, resource availability, and evolutionary processes often play a key role in determining the expression of genetic traits and their correlations. In fact, several plant traits are commonly correlated due to different ecological fa.....»»
Scientists uncover phosphorylation-driven auxin signaling pathway for seed size regulation in rice
In a study published in Cell Reports, Prof. Song Xianjun's group from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered a gene network underlying the regulation of seed size in rice......»»
How jasmonate signaling is enhanced under phosphorous-deficient conditions in plant physiology
Phosphorus (P) is a macronutrient essential for various biological processes in plants. Inorganic phosphate (Pi) deficiency modulates the signaling pathway of the phytohormone jasmonate (a fatty acid compound ubiquitous in the plant kingdom and cruci.....»»
Tracing the history of grape domestication using genome sequencing
A large international team of scientists with various backgrounds has discovered that there were two domestication pathway events for grapes that led to their use in winemaking. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes con.....»»