Tag Archives: genome
Genome editing in non-dividing cells: new strategies are required
Although rare individually, genetic disorders collectively constitute a common health problem. As the cause of these diseases is a defective gene, gene therapy would be able to resolve all of these disorders. The most recent method of
New literacy challenge: genetic knowledge is poor even among well educated
The beginning of the 21st century marked the beginning of the genomic era and of a new literacy challenge – genetic literacy. From genes we can now extract information related to all aspects of peoples’ lives. This
Genetics, human metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Advancement in technology has introduced a new era of genetic investigation: the so called next-generation sequencing. This innovative approach has allowed to extend the study of our genome and has led to the identification of numerous variants
Mitochondrial gene discontinuity that translates into fragmented functional proteins
The majority of protein-coding genes in nuclear genomes are interrupted by spliceosomal introns or, less often, by inteins. These intervening sequences are spliced at the RNA or protein level, respectively, so that intact proteins become reconstituted. In
Genome analysis with near-complete privacy possible
Stanford researchers used cryptography to cloak irrelevant genetic information in individuals’ genomes while revealing disease-associated mutations. They say the technique could vastly improve patient privacy. It is now possible to scour complete human genomes for the presence
The journey of Campylobacter: a genomic analysis of a successful zoonotic pathogen
Campylobacter is the leading cause of human gastroenteritis worldwide. Domestic and wild birds are likely zoonotic vectors of Campylobacter. We demonstrated that American crows, abundant in urban, suburban, and agricultural settings, carry multiple Campylobacter genotypes that are
Genetic disorders in primary aldosteronism – familial and somatic: an explanatory attempt
Aldosterone is the steroid hormone secreted from the adrenal gland in response to sodium deficiency, blood volume loss or potassium loading. It acts on the kidney and the colon to retain sodium and excrete potassium, in a
Plants versus pathogens: detection and deception
Novel research has unveiled more about the deception tactics used by plants in their continuous battle against attacks from disease-causing pathogens. These findings could help in breeding better crops to reduce losses and produce more food. In
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)
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
Sequence of the plant beneficial biocontrol agent Pseudomonas fluorescens DSM 8569
Pseudomonas represents an abundant bacterial group that can live in the soil. In this habitat many organisms like fungi, bacteria, plants or insects live together, often intensively interacting in close communities. The composition of these communities is
Endospore formation: a mechanism for microbial response to unfavorable environment
The strain included in the report is Bacillus sp. CHD6a, a member of the phylum Firmicutes isolated from the shallow-sea hydrothermal vent systems off northeast Taiwan’s coast. Bacillus is a genus of Gram-positive, rod-shaped and ubiquitous in
Genome sequence of the natural antagonist Pseudomonas fluorescens 2-79 against fungal plant diseases
In agriculture we have to deal with a huge variety of diseases caused by phytopathogenic bacteria, fungi or insects for instance. Many of these plant pathogens live in the soil and attack the respective cultivar at the
Can hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases be caused by Dark-Matter-like RNAs?
Hypertension is a common but one of the most important health problems, because it is a major risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension is a multi-factorial disease involving complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. To treat
Active-state of AT1 receptor attenuates inverse agonism of ARBs through changes in specific ligand-receptor interactions
G protein – coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute one of the largest gene superfamilies in the human genome. The angiotensin II ( Ang II ) type 1 receptor ( AT1R ) belongs to G – protein coupled receptor
How to know transcription factors by the company they keep
The ENCODE project is a massive data-collection effort set out to understand the function of the human genome. The collection comprises many types of genomic data, including the localization of transcription factors onto DNA. Transcription factors are
AMPK: Common mechanism of action linking HIV-1 latency and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome
Although any connection between HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS, and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that exhibits symptoms of accelerated aging in children, would appear unlikely, splicing of the latent ( i. e. dormant)
A hereditary mutation in Schwartz-Jampel syndrome
Schwartz-Jampel syndrome (SJS) type 1, also known as chondrodystrophic myotonia, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by short stature, neuromyotonia (sustained contraction of skeletal muscles), chondrodysplasia (abnormal development of the cartilage of long bones), joint contractures,
Using Darwin to discover new advanced materials
The process of evolution, first described in detail by Charles Darwin, has resulted in the amazing diversity of plants and animals in our world, each subgroup shaped by the effects of the different environments in which they
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
