Is environmentalism in our genes?
As global environmental crises mount, numerous policies have been proposed with an eye toward a more sustainable future. However, such recommendations have often gone unheeded, falling by the wayside for lack of public support......»»
Keys to the genome: Unlocking the package with "pioneer transcription factors"
Scientists at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute have discovered the molecular mechanisms responsible for opening up the human genome and expressing new genes......»»
Researchers are developing body armor made from silk—but this apparently cutting-edge idea is centuries old
Separate teams of Chinese and American scientists are reported to be developing body armor using the silk from genetically modified silkworms. The researchers modified the genes of silkworms to make them produce spider silk instead of their own silk......»»
First-of-its-kind integrated dataset enables genes-to-ecosystems research
A team of Department of Energy scientists led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory has released the first-ever dataset bridging molecular information about the poplar tree microbiome to ecosystem-level processes. The project aims to inform research regar.....»»
Rusty-patched bumblebee"s struggle for survival found in its genes
A team of researchers has uncovered alarming trends in the first range-wide genetic study of an endangered bee species. The study, led by Colorado State University and published in the Journal of Insect Science, will inform conservation and recovery.....»»
How did nervous systems, with their incredible complexity, evolve across different species?
New research supported by the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute's Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholars program zeroes in on the surprising observation that many genes found in brain cells and synapses—the points of communication between neurons—.....»»
Team reports on the occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in the western Qinghai Lake basin
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been widely detected in water, sediment, gut and even the phycosphere of algae. In strong anthropogenic activity areas, antibiotic resistance caused by ARGs can pose a significant threat to human health. Despit.....»»
Genes identified that allow bacteria to thrive despite toxic heavy metal in soil
Some soil bacteria can acquire sets of genes that enable them to pump the heavy metal nickel out of their systems, a study has found. This enables the bacteria to not only thrive in otherwise toxic soils but help plants grow there as well......»»
Gene expression technology set to semi-automation
The Human Genome Project generated the first sequence of the human genome, revealing a kind of blueprint of human biology. Two decades later, the field of gene regulatory networks describes a complex system where thousands of genes regulate one anoth.....»»
Virtual tool for studying gene function aims to reduce number of animals used for genetic testing
Researchers at the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have developed a new virtual tool that will allow scientists to study the function of genes more efficiently and hopefully reduce the number of anima.....»»
How cells manage their mRNA stockpile and its output
In a typical cell, genes encoded in DNA are used to make messenger RNA (mRNA), which is used to make proteins, and this process of gene expression keeps the cell running. Gene expression is regulated in each cell such that specific genes are turned o.....»»
When plants flower: Scientists ID genes, mechanism in sorghum
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and Oklahoma State University have identified key genes and the mechanism by which they control flowering in sorghum, an important bioenergy crop. The findings, just p.....»»
Natural tech for "dimming" genes brings transformative potential to agriculture
Until the 1992 advent of a tomato that could delay softening, the fruit was picked green to withstand shipping. The delayed-softening trait was an example of the gene-silencing technique RNA interference, RNAi, before the underlying mechanism was und.....»»
Perturbations in redox status, biochemical indices, genes in the liver following fish exposure to Mancozeb
Due to the increased demand for food for the growing population, pesticides are widely used to control diseases and boost productivity. A study published in the journal Gene Expression was designed to evaluate the toxic effects of the fungicide Manco.....»»
Scientists discover 18 new species of gut microbes in search for origins of antibiotic resistance
In a paper published February 28 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a research team describes the discovery of 18 never-before-seen species of bacteria of the Enterococcus type that contain hundreds of new genes—findings tha.....»»
RNA-sequencing analysis reveals key genes behind eggplant peel variation
Anthocyanins give fruits and vegetables their red, purple, and blue colors, offering health benefits. Their biosynthesis involves specific enzymes and is regulated by the MBW complex of transcription factors. Research has linked color variations in p.....»»
Research provides insight into constructing gene regulatory networks
Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) depict the regulatory mechanisms of genes within cellular systems as a network, offering vital insights for understanding cell processes and molecular interactions that determine cellular phenotypes. Transcriptional re.....»»
Study finds a smoking gun for the spread and evolution of antibiotic resistance
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have uncovered a key link between the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and the evolution of resistance to new drugs in certain pathogens......»»
New aging mechanism discovered in nematodes
Even the genes and proteins that have been most closely studied are still far from having given up all their secrets. Like a Swiss Army knife, they have many different, often unknown functions......»»
Unraveling the genetic and environmental influences on trust
Trust, a cornerstone of human interaction, has a significant genetic component, with around 33% of the variation between individuals attributed to our genes, according to new Australian research using data from twins and a meta-analysis of previous s.....»»
Junk DNA in birds may hold key to safe, efficient gene therapy
The recent approval of a CRISPR-Cas9 therapy for sickle cell disease demonstrates that gene editing tools can do a superb job of knocking out genes to cure hereditary disease. But it's still not possible to insert whole genes into the human genome to.....»»