https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/epigenetics/ Read the latest research news on epigenetics, epigenetic influences on disease risk and gene silencing. en-us Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:24:37 EDT Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:24:37 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/epigenetics/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260323005532.htm Two new species of black bass have been officially identified after decades of confusion with similar fish. Bartram’s bass and Altamaha bass stand out not just in appearance, but in their DNA, revealed through detailed genetic analysis of hundreds of specimens. Scientists say this breakthrough helps preserve a record of these species as habitat changes and hybridization threaten their future. What was once overlooked could soon be at risk of vanishing. Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:19:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260323005532.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260308201606.htm Scientists have uncovered how brewer’s yeast developed its unusually tiny centromeres, the DNA regions that guide chromosome separation during cell division. By studying related yeast species, researchers found centromeres that appear to represent evolutionary halfway points. These structures seem to have formed from retrotransposons—mobile “jumping genes” in the genome. The discovery shows how DNA once considered genomic junk can be transformed into essential chromosome machinery. Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:30:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260308201606.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208233844.htm Scientists have discovered that DNA behaves in a surprising way when squeezed through tiny nanopores, overturning a long-held assumption in genetics research. What researchers once thought were knots causing messy electrical signals turn out to be something else entirely: twisted coils called plectonemes, formed as flowing ions inside the pore spin the DNA like a phone cord. These twists can linger and grow as DNA moves through, leaving clear electrical fingerprints. Mon, 09 Feb 2026 07:03:56 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208233844.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260115022805.htm Scientists have uncovered how cannabis evolved the ability to make its most famous compounds—THC, CBD, and CBC—by recreating ancient enzymes that existed millions of years ago. These early enzymes were multitaskers, capable of producing several cannabinoids at once, before evolution fine-tuned them into today’s highly specialized forms. By “resurrecting” these long-lost enzymes in the lab, researchers showed how cannabis chemistry became more precise over time—and discovered something unexpected: the ancient versions are often more robust and easier to work with. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:40:32 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260115022805.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260112214315.htm Researchers studying cyanobacteria from hot springs in Thailand have discovered a new natural UV-blocking compound with impressive antioxidant power. Unlike conventional sunscreens, it’s biocompatible and potentially safer for both people and the environment. The molecule is produced only under UV and salt stress and uses a unique biosynthetic pathway never seen before. This could help drive a new generation of eco-friendly sunscreens and skincare products. Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:34:50 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260112214315.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225541.htm DNA doesn’t just sit still inside our cells — it folds, loops, and rearranges in ways that shape how genes behave. Researchers have now mapped this hidden architecture in unprecedented detail, showing how genome structure changes from cell to cell and over time. These insights reveal why many disease-linked mutations outside genes can still cause harm. The findings could speed up the discovery of genetic risks and inspire new ways to target diseases. Thu, 08 Jan 2026 21:16:11 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225541.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251209043057.htm Researchers discovered that a long-misunderstood protein plays a key role in helping chromosomes latch onto the right “tracks” during cell division. Instead of acting like a motor, it works more like a stabilizer that sets everything up correctly from the start. This simple shift in understanding changes how scientists view one of the most important steps in biology. It also highlights a potential weak point that could help explain how some diseases begin. Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:19:47 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251209043057.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251208014625.htm High-resolution imaging has revealed the internal layout of chromatin condensates, showing how DNA fibers fold and interact within these droplet-like structures. The findings connect molecular architecture to the broader behaviors of these droplets in cells. Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:48:53 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251208014625.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251129053351.htm Researchers studying thousands of canine genomes discovered that wolf DNA is still present in most dog breeds. This ancient genetic influence shows up in traits like body size, behavior, and environmental resilience. Even dogs bred far from wolves, including tiny chihuahuas, carry detectable wolf ancestry. The findings highlight how deeply intertwined the histories of dogs and wolves really are. Sat, 29 Nov 2025 10:49:53 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251129053351.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251113071613.htm Scientists studying aging found that sensory inputs like touch and smell can cancel out the lifespan-boosting effects of dietary restriction by suppressing the key longevity gene fmo-2. When overactivated, the gene makes worms oddly indifferent to danger and food, suggesting trade-offs between lifespan and behavior. The work highlights how deeply intertwined the brain, metabolism, and environment are. These pathways may eventually be targeted to extend life without extreme dieting. Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:16:13 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251113071613.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251104013023.htm Beneath the ocean’s surface, bacteria have evolved specialized enzymes that can digest PET plastic, the material used in bottles and clothes. Researchers at KAUST discovered that a unique molecular signature distinguishes enzymes capable of efficiently breaking down plastic. Found in nearly 80% of ocean samples, these PETase variants show nature’s growing adaptation to human pollution. Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:54:51 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251104013023.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251016223110.htm EMBL researchers created SDR-seq, a next-generation tool that decodes both DNA and RNA from the same cell. It finally opens access to non-coding regions, where most disease-associated genetic variants lie. By revealing how these variants affect gene activity, scientists can better understand complex diseases and develop improved diagnostic tools. Sat, 18 Oct 2025 02:01:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251016223110.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251005085628.htm Scientists studying tiny roundworms have uncovered how the secrets of a long life can be passed from parents to their offspring — without changing DNA. The discovery shows that when certain cellular structures called lysosomes change in ways that promote longevity, those benefits can travel from body cells to reproductive cells. This information is carried by histones, special proteins that help organize DNA, allowing the “memory” of those changes to be inherited. Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:56:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251005085628.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250928095627.htm Human fertility hinges on a delicate molecular ballet that begins even before birth. UC Davis researchers have uncovered how special protein networks safeguard chromosomes as eggs and sperm form, ensuring genetic stability across generations. Using yeast as a model, they revealed how crossovers between chromosomes are protected for decades in female eggs, preventing errors that could lead to infertility, miscarriage, or conditions like Down syndrome. Sun, 28 Sep 2025 22:37:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250928095627.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250926035054.htm Scientists reclassified a long-misunderstood fossil from Brazil as a new genus, Franscinella riograndensis. Using advanced microscopy, they discovered spores preserved in situ—a rare find that links fossil plants to microfossil records. The breakthrough reshapes knowledge of Permian ecosystems and highlights the power of revisiting classic fossils with new tools. Sat, 27 Sep 2025 02:58:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250926035054.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250920214304.htm Researchers uncovered how ants keep their powerful sense of smell clear: by using a genetic safeguard that silences surrounding receptor genes. This discovery not only solves a decades-old puzzle but also reveals how ants can rapidly evolve new olfactory abilities. Sat, 20 Sep 2025 21:43:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250920214304.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250915085344.htm A groundbreaking project is piecing together Leonardo da Vinci’s genetic profile by tracing his lineage across 21 generations and comparing DNA from living descendants with remains in a Da Vinci family tomb. If successful, the effort could reveal new insights into Leonardo’s health, creativity, and even help confirm the authenticity of his works. Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:07:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250915085344.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250820000749.htm Two independent research teams have unveiled near-complete reference genomes of the central bearded dragon, a reptile with the rare ability to change sex depending on both chromosomes and nest temperature. Using next-generation sequencing technologies from China and Australia, the projects uncovered the long-sought genetic basis of sex determination in this lizard. Wed, 20 Aug 2025 04:07:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250820000749.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250806100753.htm Scientists discovered that jewel wasp larvae that undergo a developmental "pause" live longer and age more slowly at the molecular level by nearly 30%. This slowdown is tied to conserved biological pathways, hinting at possible applications for human aging. Thu, 07 Aug 2025 23:00:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250806100753.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250722035558.htm What made ribose the sugar of choice for life's code? Scientists at Scripps Research may have cracked a major part of this mystery. Their experiments show that ribose binds more readily and selectively to phosphate compared to other similar sugars, forming a structure ideal for RNA formation. This discovery hints at how nature might have selected specific molecules long before enzymes or life existed, and could reshape our understanding of life’s chemical origins. Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:12:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250722035558.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124215.htm Scientists analyzed almost 200 cannabis genomes to create the most comprehensive, high-quality, detailed genetic atlas of the plant to date. The atlas reveals unprecedented diversity and complexity within the species, sets the stage for advances in cannabis-based agriculture, medicine, and industry, and builds on a 10,000-year long relationship between humans and cannabis, showing that cannabis can be as important as other crops like corn or wheat. Thu, 29 May 2025 12:42:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124215.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528131843.htm Researchers find high-fat diets set off metabolic dysfunction in cells, leading to weight gain, but these effects can be reversed by treatment with an antioxidant. Wed, 28 May 2025 13:18:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528131843.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120450.htm The molecular pathways involved in antiviral defenses and counter-defenses in host-pathogen systems remain unclear. Researchers have used Neurospora crassa as a model organism to explore how RNA editing influences fungal antiviral responses. They identified two neighboring genes -- an RNA-editing enzyme (old) and a transcription factor (zao) -- that regulate virus-induced gene expression. Their findings show how the old-zao module controls both asymptomatic and symptomatic infections, providing new insight into conserved antiviral mechanisms in fungi. Fri, 23 May 2025 12:04:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120450.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522125200.htm The bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB) may have an 'on-off switch' that lets them pause and restart growth, according to a new study. The research helps explain why TB is so hard to treat with antibiotics and could pave the way for better drugs. Thu, 22 May 2025 12:52:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522125200.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515131453.htm Many an orange cat-affiliated human will vouch for their cat's, let's say, specialness. But now scientists have confirmed that there is, in fact, something unique about ginger-hued domestic felines. In a new study, researchers have discovered the long-posited but elusive genetic mutation that makes orange cats orange -- and it appears to occur in no other mammal. Thu, 15 May 2025 13:14:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515131453.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514175429.htm Researchers have revealed insight into why embryos erase a key epigenetic mark during early development, suggesting this may have evolved to help form a placenta. Wed, 14 May 2025 17:54:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514175429.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250513225711.htm Sumatran orangutan mothers differ from one another in how they behave with and take care of their infants and how flexibly they adjust their mothering behaviors as their infants grow. Whilst mothers differed from one another in their maternal behaviors, they remained consistent in their behaviors with their different infants. Consistent differences among Sumatran orangutan mothers suggest that individual maternal personalities may exist, potentially influencing infant development. Tue, 13 May 2025 22:57:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250513225711.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508113146.htm Analysing the gene activity of every single bacterial cell in a colony? A new technique of single-cell transcriptomics developed in W rzburg can do this much more efficiently than other methods: It reliably detects 300 to 600 genes per bacterial cell with a high success rate of 95%, thereby surpassing the efficiency of established procedures. Thu, 08 May 2025 11:31:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508113146.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423111756.htm An international research team has provided a detailed insight into how the spatial organization of genetic material is established in the cell nucleus of early embryos within the first hours after fertilization. Surprisingly, embryos demonstrate a high degree of flexibility in responding to disruptions in this process. The study reveals that no single master regulator controls this nuclear organization. Instead, multiple redundant mechanisms ensure a robust and adaptable nuclear architecture, allowing embryos to correct errors in the initial organization of their nucleus. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:17:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423111756.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250422155930.htm Genome editing has advanced at a rapid pace with promising results for treating genetic conditions -- but there is always room for improvement. A new paper showcases the power of scalable protein engineering combined with machine learning to boost progress in the field of gene and cell therapy. In their study, authors developed a machine learning algorithm -- known as PAMmla -- that can predict the properties of about 64 million genome editing enzymes. The work could help reduce off-target effects and improve editing safety, enhance editing efficiency, and enable researchers to predict customized enzymes for new therapeutic targets. Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:59:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250422155930.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124458.htm Scientists at INRS have identified a family of enzymes, known as Ssn, that can make targeted cuts in single-stranded DNA—a feat never before achieved. This discovery not only fills a major gap in genetic research but also promises new frontiers in gene editing, diagnostics, and biotechnology. Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:44:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124458.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250411175708.htm Every year, thousands of tons of brown algae are extracted from the seabed to obtain compounds such as alginates, a polymer composed of sugars that has high density and strength, offering potential biotechnological applications. An international team has deciphered the mechanism by which a type of enzyme, called alginate lyase (AL), is capable of degrading these marine biomaterials, allowing them to be used as carriers of drugs, additives or thickeners, among others. These results will help in the development and design of new 'tailored alginates' for specific applications, especially in the food and biomedical industries. Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:57:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250411175708.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409154841.htm Researchers have found a new role for the transcription factor (proteins that regulate the transcription, or copying, of genes). In the fruit fly, this transcription factor, named Traffic Jam, activates a non-coding piRNA gene named Flamenco to promote female fruit fly (drosophila) fertility. The discovery solves the 30-year-old mystery of how Flamenco gets activated to protect fruit fly ovaries from a series of genetic parasites called retroviral transposons, and may one day help with infertility issues in humans. Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:48:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409154841.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409114707.htm Could it be that one of only three known markers directly targeting the DNA does not exist outside the realm of microbes? Now, researchers have demonstrated that this marker -- N4-methylcytosine (4mC) -- is essential for sperm development and maturation in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, a key organism in plant evolution. Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:47:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409114707.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250328173521.htm The new study reveals a remarkable way that cells keep us safe from transposable elements (TEs) gone wild. The researchers found that cells have taken advantage of an entire protein network to repress TE activity and keep themselves healthy. Fri, 28 Mar 2025 17:35:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250328173521.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250325115256.htm Enzymes originally evolved in high-temperature environments and later adapted to lower temperatures as Earth cooled. Scientists discovered that a key shift in enzyme function occurred over evolutionary time due to amino acid changes distant from the active site. These mutations lowered activation energy, enhancing catalytic efficiency at low temperatures. Their findings highlight how global cooling events influenced enzyme evolution. Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:52:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250325115256.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250324113645.htm For successful cell division, chromosomal DNA needs to be packed into compact rod-shaped structures. Defects in this process can lead to cell death or diseases like cancer. A new study has shown how chromosomes change shape during cell division. Certain protein complexes help fold DNA into overlapping loops that repel each other, which then stack to create a rod-like structure. This is the first time scientists have directly observed an entire chromosome in high resolution within a dividing cell, offering new insights into how chromosomes are formed. Mon, 24 Mar 2025 11:36:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250324113645.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312123852.htm Large, undisturbed forests are better for harboring biodiversity than fragmented landscapes, according to recent research. Ecologists agree that habitat loss and the fragmentation of forests reduces biodiversity in the remaining fragments. But ecologists don't agree whether it's better to focus on preserving many smaller, fragmented tracts of land or larger, continuous landscapes. The study comes to a clear conclusion. Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:38:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312123852.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141648.htm New research reveals that a mother's diet during pregnancy -- characterized by a Western dietary pattern high in fat and sugar and low in fresh ingredients -- may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism in children. Researchers see potential for targeted dietary interventions during pregnancy to reduce this risk. Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:16:48 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141648.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250224183025.htm A team has used a process known as DNA origami to make electrochemical sensors that can quickly detect and measure biomarkers. Mon, 24 Feb 2025 18:30:25 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250224183025.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250220122512.htm In their effort to answer a decades-old biological question about how the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is able to establish infection of liver cells, researchers have identified a vulnerability that opens the door to new treatments. Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:25:12 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250220122512.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206155344.htm The researchers showed that when curcumin is intentionally given to bacteria as food and then activated by light, it can trigger deleterious reactions within these microbes, eventually killing them. This process, they demonstrated, reduces the number of antibiotic-resistant strains and renders conventional antibiotics effective again. Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:53:44 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206155344.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206113719.htm New research has investigated the mechanism by which bivalency functions to poise genes for expression during cell differentiation, providing insight into a long-standing paradigm in the regulation of developmental gene expression, revealing a key mechanism that has so far eluded experimental scrutiny. These findings provide insight into the intricate cellular processes that control development, how cell types are specified from stem cells, and how cell identity is established. Deciphering these mechanisms is not only key to understand fundamental biology but will also ultimately pave the way for the development of regenerative medicine approaches. Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:37:19 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206113719.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250203142145.htm Researchers have identified a sex chromosome in the California two-spot octopus. This chromosome has likely been around for 480 million years, since before octopuses split apart from the nautilus on the evolutionary tree. That makes it one of the oldest known animal sex chromosomes. The finding also is evidence that octopuses and other cephalopods, a class of sea animals that includes squid and nautiluses, do use chromosomes to determine their sex, answering a longstanding mystery among biologists. Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:21:45 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250203142145.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250128123824.htm A team of stem cell scientists have successfully used embryonic stem cell engineering to create a bi-paternal mouse -- a mouse with two male parents -- that lived until adulthood. Their results describe how targeting a particular set of genes involved in reproduction allowed the researchers to overcome previously insurmountable challenges in unisexual reproduction in mammals. Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:38:24 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250128123824.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250123163201.htm Researchers have uncovered which genes on the Y chromosome regulate the development of sperm and impact fertility in male mice. This research could help us understand why some men don't produce enough sperm and are infertile. Thu, 23 Jan 2025 16:32:01 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250123163201.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250123002057.htm Scientists have developed a theoretical model that uncovers the dual role of polyploidy -- organisms carrying extra genome copies -- in evolution. Their findings reveal that polyploidy can stabilize populations in predictable environments, where the evolution of novel traits is not required, enabling organisms to adapt and thrive in challenging conditions by accelerating evolutionary innovation. This breakthrough offers fresh insights into evolutionary mechanisms and their implications for microbiology, biotechnology, and medicine. Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:20:57 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250123002057.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250121210510.htm DNA-nanoparticle motors are exactly as they sound: tiny artificial motors that use the structures of DNA and RNA to propel motion by enzymatic RNA degradation. Essentially, chemical energy is converted into mechanical motion by biasing the Brownian motion. The DNA-nanoparticle motor uses the 'burnt-bridge' Brownian ratchet mechanism. In this type of movement, the motor is being propelled by the degradation (or 'burning') of the bonds (or 'bridges') it crosses along the substrate, essentially biasing its motion forward. Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:05:10 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250121210510.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250101132018.htm A research team has clarified a mechanism of how retrotransposons, genetic elements that can 'jump around' chromosomes and are known drivers of evolution, preferentially insert in the centromere. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 13:20:18 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250101132018.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218132142.htm Molecular biologists decode the epigenetic silencing of problematic retroviral gene sequences. Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:21:42 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218132142.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241213140624.htm Scientists have discovered a new property of the molecular motors that shape our chromosomes. While six years ago they found that these so-called SMC motor proteins make long loops in our DNA, they now discovered that these motors also put significant twists into the loops that they form. These findings help us better understand the structure and function of our chromosomes. They also provide insight into how disruption of twisted DNA looping can affect health -- for instance, in developmental diseases like 'cohesinopathies'. Fri, 13 Dec 2024 14:06:24 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241213140624.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241212145721.htm Scientists have discovered that our specialized immune cells, called T cells, are what they eat -- their switch from functional to 'exhausted' depends on the switch from metabolizing acetate to metabolizing citrate. The findings link what T cells 'eat' and whether those T cells can continue fighting cancer or chronic diseases like HIV. With the new insight, scientists can optimize immunotherapy for patients by targeting the nutrients and enzymes involved in making and maintaining active, disease-fighting immune cells. Thu, 12 Dec 2024 14:57:21 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241212145721.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241211124724.htm DNA stores the instructions for life and, along with enzymes and other molecules, computes everything from hair color to risk of developing diseases. Harnessing that prowess and immense storage capacity could lead to DNA-based computers that are faster and smaller than today's silicon-based versions. As a step toward that goal, researchers report a fast, sequential DNA computing method that is also rewritable -- just like current computers. Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:47:24 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241211124724.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241211124334.htm Researchers discovered a vulnerability in viral enzymes that could lead to novel treatments for diseases as diverse as COVID-19 and Ebola -- while also minimizing side effects and reducing the odds of drug resistance. Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:43:34 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241211124334.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241210115438.htm Fast-growing and small-seeded tree species are dominating Brazilian forests in regions with high levels of deforestation and degradation, a new study shows. This has potential implications for the ecosystem services these forests provide, including the ability of these 'disturbed' forests to absorb and store carbon. This is because these 'winning' species grow fast but die young, as their stems and branches are far less dense than the slow growing tree species they replace. Wildlife species adapted to consuming and dispersing the large seeds of tree species that are being lost in human-modified landscapes may also be affected by these shifts. Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:54:38 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241210115438.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241206161918.htm Researchers have revealed a new mechanism underlying how spatial distance between specific regions of DNA is linked to bursts of gene activity. Using advanced cell imaging techniques and computer modeling, the researchers showed that the folding and movement of DNA, as well as the accumulation of certain proteins, changes depending on whether a gene is active or inactive. Fri, 06 Dec 2024 16:19:18 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241206161918.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241205184434.htm Scientists have uncovered surprising ways transcription factors, the genetic switches for genes, regulate plant development. Their findings reveal how subtle changes in a lipid-binding region called the START domain can dramatically alter gene regulation, paving the way for advancements in crop engineering, synthetic biology, and precision gene therapies. Thu, 05 Dec 2024 18:44:34 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241205184434.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241203154639.htm A research group has discovered that in mammals, a protein kinase A (PKA) promotes wakefulness, while protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and calcineurin promote sleep. This study revealed that the balance between sleep and wakefulness is regulated by the action of multiple enzymes, which is an important finding when considering how to control sleep duration and sleepiness at the molecular level. Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:46:39 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241203154639.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241122130404.htm Researchers recently developed a new approach for identifying new cellular RNA targets of snoRNAs. They uncovered thousands of previously unknown targets for snoRNAs in human cells and mouse brain tissues, including many that serve functions other than guiding rRNA modifications. Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:04:04 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241122130404.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241119181836.htm Rosalind Franklin, James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA -- that molecular blueprint for life -- over 70 years ago. Today, scientists are still uncovering new ways to read it. Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:18:36 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241119181836.htm