genes

New Method Provides Panoramic View Of Protein-RNA Interactions I...

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:00:13 -0600

Scientists have developed a genome-wide platform to study how specialized proteins regulate RNA in living, intact cells. The platform allows researchers to identify, in a single experiment, every sequence within every strand of RNA to which proteins bind. The result is an unbiased and unprecedented look at how differences in RNA can explain how a worm and a human can each have 25,000 genes yet be so different.

Annual Plants Converted Into Perennials

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:30:04 -0600

Scientists have succeeded in converting annual plants into perennials. They discovered that the deactivation of two genes in annuals led to the formation of structures that converted the plant into a perennial. This was most likely an important mechanism in plant evolution, initiating the formation of trees.

How 'Molecular Machines' Kick Start Gene Activation Revealed

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:15:28 -0600

How "molecular machines" inside cells swing into action to activate genes at different times in a cell's life is revealed in new research published in Molecular Cell.

Newly Discovered Mechanism Can Explain Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndro...

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:30:27 -0500

Researchers have discovered a mechanism that silences several genes in a chromosome domain. The findings, published in Molecular Cell, have implications in understanding the human disorder Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.

Genes That Control Cell Death Fingered In Age-related Hearing Lo...

admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:45:11 -0500

Several genes that play a role in how our body's cells normally auto-destruct may play a role in age-related hearing loss, according to new research in a journal devoted to the topic of cell suicide, or programmed cell death.

Researchers Discover How Infectious Bacteria Can Switch Species

admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:45:17 -0500

Scientists in the UK have developed a rapid new way of checking for toxic genes in disease-causing bacteria which infect insects and humans. Their findings could in the future lead to new vaccines and anti-bacterial drugs.

Fishy Future Written In The Genes

admin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:30:07 -0500

The roadmap to the future of the gorgeously-decorated fish which throng Australia’s coral reefs may well be written in their genes. Of particular importance may be to protect ‘pioneer’ fish populations which are able to re-colonize regions of reef devastated by global warming and other impacts or settle new areas as the corals move south.

Making Metabolism More Inefficient Can Reduce Obesity

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:45:05 -0500

In a discovery that counters prevailing thought, a study in mice has found that inactivating a pair of key genes involved in "fat-burning" can actually increase energy expenditure and help lower diet-induced obesity.

Genes Influence Effectiveness Of Weight-loss Drug

admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:15:19 -0500

Obese patients with a specific genetic make-up lose more weight when taking the weight loss drug sibutramine and undergoing behavioral therapy compared to those without this genetic make-up.

Cells Coordinate Gene Activity With FM Bursts, Scientists Find

admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:00:10 -0500

How a cell achieves the coordinated control of a number of genes at the same time has long puzzled scientists. Researchers have discovered a surprising answer. Just as human engineers control devices ranging from dimmer switches to retrorockets using frequency modulated signals, cells tune the expression of groups of genes using discrete bursts of activation.