Unlocking the world of bacteria
Bacteria possess unique traits with great potential for benefiting society. However, current genetic engineering methods to harness these advantages are limited to a small fraction of bacterial...
View ArticleNew tool enables faster, more cost-effective genome editing of traits to...
New research had the goal of reducing the time and cost it takes to bring an improved crop to the marketplace to improve agriculture sustainability.
View ArticleCell division: Before commitment, a very long engagement
Before a cell commits fully to the process of dividing itself into two new cells, it may ensure the appropriateness of its commitment by staying for many hours -- sometimes more than a day -- in a...
View ArticleScientists discover genetic 'off switch' in legume plants that limits...
A genetic 'off switch' that shuts down the process in which legume plants convert atmospheric nitrogen into nutrients has been identified for the first time by a team of international scientists.
View ArticleNew, holistic way to teach synthetic biology
Synthetic biology combines principles from science, engineering and social science, creating emerging technologies such as alternative meats and mRNA vaccines; Deconstructing synthetic biology across...
View ArticlePotent therapy candidate for fatal prion diseases
Scientists have developed a gene-silencing tool that shows promise as a therapy against fatal prion diseases. The tool, a streamlined epigenetic editor, paves the way for a new class of genetic...
View ArticleA promising weapon against measles
What happens when measles virus meets a human cell? The viral machinery unfolds in just the right way to reveal key pieces that let it fuse itself into the host cell membrane.
View ArticleLast surviving woolly mammoths were inbred but not doomed to extinction
The last population of woolly mammoths was isolated on Wrangel Island off the coast of Siberia 10,000 years ago, when sea levels rose and cut the mountainous island off from the mainland. A new genomic...
View ArticleNew deep-learning model outperforms Google AI system in predicting peptide...
Researchers have developed a deep-learning model, called PepFlow, that can predict all possible shapes of peptides -- chains of amino acids that are shorter than proteins, but perform similar...
View ArticleResearchers thwart resistant bacteria's strategy
Bacteria are experts at evolving resistance to antibiotics. One resistance strategy is to cover their cell walls in sticky and gooey biofilm that antibiotics cannot penetrate. A new discovery could put...
View ArticleDegradation of cell wall key in the spread of antibiotic resistance
A study provides new clues in the understanding of how antibiotic resistance spreads. The study shows how an enzyme breaks down the bacteria's protective outer layer, the cell wall, and thus...
View ArticleGenetic patterns of world's farmed, domesticated foxes revealed via...
Domesticated animals play a prominent role in our society, with two-thirds of American families enjoying the companionship of pets and many others relying on animal products for their nutritional...
View ArticleProteins and fats can drive insulin production for some, paving way for...
When it comes to managing blood sugar levels, most people think about counting carbs. But new research shows that, for some, it may be just as important to consider the proteins and fats in their diet....
View ArticleResearch shows how RNA 'junk' controls our genes
Researchers have made a significant advance in understanding how genes are controlled in living organisms. The new study focuses on critical snippets of RNA in the tiny, transparent roundworm...
View ArticleNear chromosome-level genome of the Mojave poppy bee
Scientists have developed a near chromosome-level genome for the Mojave poppy bee, a specialist pollinator of conservation concern.
View ArticleA new breakthrough in understanding regeneration in a marine worm
The sea worm Platynereis dumerilii is only a few centimeters long but has a remarkable ability: in just a few days, it can regenerate entire parts of its body after an injury or amputation. By focusing...
View ArticleResearchers uncover key mechanisms in chromosome structure development
Researchers are making strides in understanding how chromosome structures change throughout the cell's life cycle.
View ArticleDo genes-in-pieces code for proteins that fold in pieces?
A new study offers new insights into the evolution of foldable proteins.
View ArticleNever-before-seen view of gene transcription captured
New tech reveals findings that address long-standing theories about how bacteria begin the process of making RNA from DNA.
View ArticleNot so selfish after all: Viruses use freeloading genes as weapons
Certain pieces of DNA have been labeled as 'selfish genetic elements' due to notions that they don't contribute to a host organism's survival. Instead, researchers have now discovered that these...
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