Tag Archives: gene

What does a guardian protect genomic DNA from?

Living organisms can achieve their propagation through copying (replicating) the genetic information, coded in DNA sequence, and dividing them to each daughter cell. DNA sequence is a basic element and its conservation is essential for individual life

NEIL2 repairs DNA damage within active genes, maintains chromosome end integrity, prevents inflammation

Mammalian cells are subjected to a plethora of exogenous and endogenous agents that cause damage to the cellular DNA. One of the major sources of such damage is oxygen-derived molecules and free radicals, collectively termed “Reactive Oxygen

Maternal diabetes negatively affects the development of embryonic heart

Diabetes in pregnancy may negatively affect the developing fetus, neonate, and child. Poorly controlled maternal hyperglycemia before conception and during the first trimester is associated with an increased rate of major birth defects and spontaneous abortion. Cardiovascular

Rat model of small opaque eyes open the door to eye research

Ocular diseases in elderly persons, such as cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the main causes of vision loss in developed nations, are paid great attention nowadays. The eye is a complicated organ constructed with

Conditional mutations in drosophila

In 1865, Gregor Mendel discovered the laws of inheritance for the traits of living organisms. Reproduction, the major property of living matter and mode of its existence in the Universe, found itself in the spotlight of biology.

Using genome-scale models to predict biological capabilities

Rapid advances in DNA sequencing and synthesis technologies have revolutionized the study of life sciences. With these new technologies come new challenges. The massive amount of new data generated using these technologies must be curated, managed, and

Is aging inevitable?

All animals, with very few exceptions, age. It has been difficult to provide a suitable evolutionary explanation for aging since natural selection, the driver of evolution, generally chooses animal traits that enhance fitness. Clearly aging would not

Helpful tool for the characterization of cancer

Follicular lymphoma is a sort of blood cancer and among the most frequent subtypes of indolent (painless) lymphomas. Most patients are diagnosed very late, when the illness is in an advanced stage. The origins of the tumor

High-throughput, motility-based sorting of microswimmers for gene discovery

Organisms’ motility varies with genotype, disease progression, drug treatment, aging, and environmental conditions and can serve as a useful metric to access drug effectuality, to identify drug resistant strains, and, more generally, various genotypes. In 1974, Sidney

The TMPRSS2-ERG fusion gene radiosensitizes to PARP inhibition by blocking DNA repair

Radiotherapy, which is used widely in the clinic, produces DNA damage that leads to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The effectiveness of radiotherapy is augmented when the DNA repair is impaired. TMPRSS2-ERG is a unique fusion gene that

Genome studies of a soil bacterium, a potential candidate for removing arsenic from contaminated water

Worldwide various human activities such as mining, chemical industries, use of arsenic-based pesticides, and natural occurrences result in contamination of soil and water with heavy metals and cause severe environmental and health problems. Millions of people are

How many species of hakes inhabit Argentine and New Zealand waters?

Hakes belonging to the Genus Merluccius are one of the most heavily exploited fishes worldwide. In Argentinean waters, merluccids have been one of the most valuable fishery resource, representing about 40% of the total fish catch in

Repair of damaged genetic material in humans

Living organisms across the evolutionary scale protect their genetic material (DNA) by repairing the constant threat of damage posed by environmental radiations, toxic chemicals, and byproducts of cellular metabolism. In the early 60s, Setlow and Howard-Flanders at

The growing number of resistance traits may limit the number of efficient antibiotics

Antibiotics are one of the major medical innovations of the 20th century. However, due to the escalation of multi- and even pandrug resistance in human clinical isolates, mainly in bacteria such as community-acquired Enterobacteriaceae and nosocomial Gram-negative