Genetics & Molecular Biology

FGFR1 Gene Is The Conductor In The 'Symphony Of Biology'

One of developmental biology's biggest mysteries is ontogeny and the signals that transform masses of undifferentiated cells into tremendously complex organisms.  A new paper suggests that it all begins with a single "master" growth factor r ...

Article - News Staff - May 8 2015 - 12:00pm

Gene For Plant Growth At Warmer Temperatures Discovered

Researchers have discovered a gene, which they have named ICARUS1,  that enables plants to regulate their growth in different temperatures, and it could lead to new ways of optimizing plant growth in different climates. ...

Article - News Staff - May 13 2015 - 8:00am

New Isotopic Biosignature Of Photosynthesis Discovered

Photosynthesis, the process by which plants utilize the sun's energy to create their own, leaves behind a unique calling card in the form of a chemical signature that is spelled out with stable oxygen isotopes. Photosynthesis by microscopic plants fo ...

Article - News Staff - May 12 2015 - 8:48am

Mystery Of The Tubulin Code Unraveled

Cellular structures called microtubules are tagged with a variety of chemical markers that can influence cell functions and the pattern of these markers makes up the "tubulin code". One of the main writers of this code is tubulin tyrosine ligase ...

Article - News Staff - May 14 2015 - 9:14am

Transposable Element: Selfish DNA Parasites

Transposable elements are DNA sequences that are capable of changing their genome position by cut and paste or copy and paste through the enzyme transposase. This ability can be harmful for hosts if transposable elements destroy functioning genes, but it ...

Article - News Staff - May 17 2015 - 10:00am

E-Cigarette Flavorings Alter Lung Function At Cellular Level

Some flavorings used in electronic cigarette liquid may alter important cellular functions in lung tissue, according to a presentation at the 2015 American Thoracic Society International Conference. The changes in cell viability, cell proliferation, and c ...

Article - News Staff - May 18 2015 - 11:30am

Sensory Properties May Inform Wheat Modification

A new study suggests that bread from certain wheat varieties have differentiated sensory properties and that could mean customized breeding for more personalized food in the future. A research group at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) has developed ...

Article - News Staff - May 18 2015 - 9:00am

Some Immune Cells Change To Prolong Inflammation

Researchers have unraveled one of the mysteries of how a small group of immune cells work: That some inflammation-fighting immune cells may actually convert into cells that trigger disease.  White blood cells, called T-cells, iare one of the body's c ...

Article - News Staff - May 27 2015 - 8:24am

Noncoding RNA CCDC26 Regulates KIT Expression

A long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), which might give an impact on tyrosine kinase-targeted leukemia therapy, was found to be expressed in a leukemia cell line. The function of the lncRNA CCDC26 is not fully understood; however, researchers found the mechanisms ...

Article - News Staff - Jun 4 2015 - 8:00am

Novel Genetic Mutations May Arise During Early Embryonic Development

Until now, de novo genetic mutations, alterations in a gene found for the first time in one family member, were believed to be mainly the result of new mutations in the sperm or eggs (germline) of one of the parents and passed on to their child. Researche ...

Article - News Staff - Jun 10 2015 - 8:30am