Cold Temps Lead to Offspring With More ‘Good Fat’, Say Researchers
Males who spend time in low temperatures prior to mating will produce offspring with more active brown adipose tissue, according to new research in mice.
Molecular Biology
Scientists Discover the ‘Big Bang’ of Alzheimer’s Disease
Scientists have discovered a “big bang” of Alzheimer’s disease — the precise point at which a healthy protein becomes toxic but has not yet formed deadly tangles in the brain.
CRISPR Approach Converts Skin Cells into Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers have for the first time succeeded in converting human skin cells into pluripotent stem cells by activating the cell’s own genes, using gene editing technology CRISPRa.
Technique Paves Way for Creating Medicines Without Side Effects
A new technique for precisely targeting molecules within cells is paving the way for safer medicines that are free of side effects.
Would Dialling Down This Enzyme Treat Breast Cancer?
The enzyme TLK2 displays lower levels of activity in intellectual disability, and overactivity in cases of breast cancer, say researchers.
Tagging Method Gives New View of Proteins Inside Our Cells
Scientists have created a new way to view proteins inside human cells. The method allows an electron microscope to view proteins precisely, unlike current methods.
Artificial Network Made Of DNA Identifies ‘Molecular Handwriting’
Researchers at Caltech have developed an artificial neural network made out of DNA that can solve a classic machine learning problem: Correctly identifying handwritten numbers.
Now We Have a Complete Read-Out of the Genes and Other DNA Sequences of the Koala
The koala genome, published today, identifies powerful anti-bacterials in milk that protect the baby koala from disease – and may provide humans with the next generation of antibiotics.
Many Genes Interact to Lead to Autism Symptoms
Researchers have discovered that genes located in a large chromosomal aberration associated with autism interact with each other to modulate the variable symptoms of the disease.
Childhood Stress Determines Testosterone Levels in Later Life
New research suggests that the level of testosterone in an adult man is largely determined by the stress they encounter during their childhood, challenging the idea that testosterone production is controlled by genetics.
Researchers Cure Blood Disorder in Fetal Mice With Gene Editing
Researchers have conducted the first demonstration of site-specific gene editing in a mouse fetus, correcting a mutation that causes a severe form of anaemia.
Supercomputers Reveal How DNA Stays So Flexible
New research sheds new light on the process of methylation in DNA. If the genetic information is the same in all cells, as it should be, why do muscle cells look and act differently than skin cells?
Could Synthetic Biology Facilitate Biological Warfare?
A report has highlighted the potential misuses of synthetic biology for biological warfare with recommendations of how we might prepare for and prevent biological attacks.
Cells Stop Dividing When This Gene Kicks Into High Gear
Scientists seeking to unlock secrets of cellular ageing have identified a gene that triggers senescence, a phenomenon in which cells stop dividing.
Enzyme From Our Bodies Could Spawn Zika Drug
New research suggests future antiviral drugs could take advantage of viperin, a naturally occurring enzyme in humans and other mammals that has antiviral effects on a wide variety of viruses, including West Nile, hepatitis C, rabies, and HIV.
