Tag Archives: DNA
Genetic differences in elite rugby players and the general population
We have known for many years that genetic variation is important in understanding any physiological trait and contributes substantially to the way people develop. Height for example is estimated as being ~80% determined by genetic variation with
Specific synthetic nucleic acids instead antibodies
For a long time immunological methods have been applied in biological research as well as for detection and evaluation of various substances in clinical analysis of body fluids. Serum proteins, antibodies, form integral parts in all variants
Reconstruction of chromosomal structures
Under a certain approximation, the following simplified format can be adopted. DNA is considered as a very long sequence in the {A,C,T,G} alphabet. Certain regions of the sequence with specific positions have a particular role and are
HOX genes: The Rosetta Stone of the human cells biology
The cell memory program is a biological process that oversees several aspects of the cell life: i) where the new generated cell will be located ii) the fate of a new cell and the cell phenotype; iii)
Single nucleotide polymorphisms as genomic markers for high-throughput pharmacogenomic studies
DNA is a double strand molecule composed of nucleotide subunits, consisting of three components: a sugar, a phosphate group and one of four nitrogen-containing base, (Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine or Thymine). Among humans, DNA molecules are 99.9% identical.
A transcriptomic approach for cardiac (heart) safety assessment
New drug discovery relies on several phases of safety assessment. One such prominent in vitro safety assessment assay is the “hERG potassium channel assay” for cardiac safety. If a compound blocks the hERG potassium channel in a
Life on sulfur. Why we need complete genomes
The ability of bacteria to grow on inorganic compounds like sulfur was discovered by Russian microbiologist Sergey Winogradskij in 1888. First, he studied a sulfur bacterium of the Beggiatoaceae family to demonstrate that it can produce energy
Another prince awakened Sleeping Beauty?
Tumor suppressor genes are one of the body’s defenses against uncontrolled growth of tumor cells. When these genes are ‘silenced,’ or prevented from doing their work, the abnormal cells grow unchecked, usually with fatal consequences to the
The autonomous glycosylation of Giant, but sweet, viruses
The most of proteins carry sugars on them, which significantly modify their properties such as biological activity, solubility and resistance to protein-degrading enzymes. The sugars on proteins drive several fundamental biological mechanisms, such as hormones response, immune
Digital model of the cancer cell
We are postulating that human cells should be analyzed as analog/digital systems (biological computers) capable of digitalizing the analog information from the environment, processing that information in digital form and producing a programmed action according to that
Sperm DNA damage and its role in fertility
One way or another, it takes two people to make a baby. Under normal circumstances, a sperm and an egg fuse to make an embryo however there are numerous occasions under which this process needs a little
Identification of old and contemporary human skeletal remains using an automated extraction method
In many forensic cases, bones are the only potential source of genetic material. Analyses of bone samples, especially old skeletal remains, is a challenging task due to the low amounts of DNA achieved and the additionally degraded
Ribose hydroxyl group summary
We usually think of enzymes – the molecules that drive all the reactions in our cells – as being proteins, but many scientists believe that the earliest enzymes may have been made of RNA. RNA, which is
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of genomic DNA from in vitro grown tomato
Conservation of plant genetic resources is necessary for food security and to safeguard biodiversity which is essential for genetic engineering and plant breeding programmes. Conservation of plant resources can be achieved either in their natural habitats (in
Medieval chainmail motif stabilizes DNA nanostructures
The field of nanotechnology refers to all objects in the size range between 1 and 100 nanometers, which correspond to one billionth of a meter. This dimension is hard to imagine and it can be defined as
Risk modifier(s) of susceptibility to pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is an acute form of cancer of the white blood cells, characterized by the overproduction and accumulation of immature precursors known as lymphoblasts. ALL is the most common type of leukemia in children
Changes in 3-dimentional chromatin structure as a mean to relieve oxidative stress?
DNA in our cells is packaged into a structure called chromatin, which is mainly a protein-DNA complex. Chromatin needs to be loosened for fundamental processes to take place, such as decoding genetic information (i.e. gene expression) and
Pitfalls in Acanthamoeba genotyping
Acanthamoeba is a protozoan (a eukaryotic microorganism), widespread in several natural environments such as soil and water as a free-living microbial predator. However, it may occasionally infect humans and other animals causing diseases, like keratitis, a sight-threatening
Do Bucentaur family proteins represent true monsters in the fight against stress?
The BCNT (Bucentaur) protein family, which is conserved from fungi to humans, is classified by the presence of an ~80 amino acid sequence at the C-terminus called BCNT-C. Family members in fungi, flies, fish, and chicken play
Ancient DNA supports the western Carpathian Basin as a corridor of the Neolithic expansion
Szécsényi-Nagy et al. reported in a recent paper an exceptional large Neolithic mitochondrial (mtDNA) and Y-chromosomal DNA dataset from the East-Central European Carpathian Basin. The study region was an essential waypoint on the Continental route of the
