“This observation is concordant with the recent evidence of Neanderthal starch consumption, and perhaps the availability of cooked starch in archaic hominins made possible through the domestication of fire,” the researchers said in a study recently published in Science. Out of eight genomes examined, multiple copies of AMY1 were found in two Eastern Neanderthal genomes, […]
Cryo-EM analysis of designed de novo protein nanocages. Credit: POSTECH Researchers have developed an innovative therapeutic platform by mimicking the intricate structures of viruses using artificial intelligence (AI). Their pioneering research was published in Nature on December 18. Viruses are uniquely designed to encapsulate genetic material within spherical protein shells, enabling them to replicate and […]
Dozens of people in the United States have caught bird flu from animals this year, but there’s no evidence that the viral disease has spread from one person to another. However, a single mutation in the virus could make human-to-human spread possible, a new study finds. This genetic change would make the virus a much […]
The self-eliminating “e-Drive” reverses insecticide resistance. Credit: Bier Lab, UC San Diego Insecticides have been used for centuries to counteract widespread pest damage to valuable food crops. Eventually, over time, beetles, moths, flies and other insects develop genetic mutations that render the insecticide chemicals ineffective. Escalating resistance by these mutants forces farmers and vector control […]
Scientists’ investigation of a rare disorder in a single patient has solved medical mysteries affecting at least 30 people. These patients had a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from developmental delay to bone malformations, and even early death. However, it turns out that they all had conditions caused by a mutation in the same gene, […]
Scientists have developed a new type of machine learning model that can understand and design genetic instructions. The model, dubbed Evo, can predict the effects of genetic mutations and generate new DNA sequences — although those DNA sequences do not closely match the DNA of living organisms. With time and training, however, Evo and similar […]
It had long been suspected that the occurrence of breast cancer had a familial component, but early studies were confounded by the complexity of the disease. However, in 1990, researchers identified a key genetic determinant of inherited breast cancer risk1which fired the starting gun for what turned out to be a four-year race to identify […]
Credit: Nucleic Acids Research (2024). DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae689 DNA—the molecule that carries the genetic information of all living organisms—is packaged within cells in a complex manner that allows it to function efficiently. Nucleosomes facilitate DNA compaction and also play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and other biological processes. A team of scientists led by […]
