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The more scientists explore so-called “junk” DNA, the less the label seems to fit. Only an estimated two percent of the human genome encodes for functional proteins that carry out normal biological processes. The remaining approximately 98 percent—the “junk DNA”—has for many years been considered a useless artifact. Some junk […]

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine report that women whose mothers lived to at least age 90 were more likely to also live to 90, free of serious diseases and disabilities. The study, published in Age and Ageing, found women whose mothers lived into their ninth […]

A new study has shown that the Tasmanian devil is under severe threat from a newly emerged contagious cancer, Devil Facial Tumour 2 (DFT2), which could jeopardise its future in the wild. For more than two decades the Tasmanian devil population has been suffering from Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), […]

The results from increased physical activity were found to be particularly good among women. Physical inactivity is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature death from cardiovascular disease. Physical activity’s protective effect is likely due in part to its impact on biomarkers in the blood that help predict atherosclerosis risk. “The 60 […]

A car accident leaves an aging patient with severe muscle injuries that won’t heal. Treatment with muscle stem cells from a donor might restore damaged tissue, but doctors are unable to deliver them effectively. A new method may help change this. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology engineered a molecular matrix, […]

People who develop abnormally frequent cases of a skin cancer known as basal cell carcinoma appear to be at significantly increased risk for the development of other cancers, including blood, breast, colon and prostate cancers, according to a preliminary study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The increased […]

The fight against cystic fibrosis (CF) has taken a major step forward, with pioneering research by University of Adelaide scientists showing that cells causing the debilitating genetic disorder could be successfully replaced with healthy ones. The research published in the journal Stem Cell Research and Therapy applies cell transplantation therapy, normally used […]

New research led by the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and the University of Adelaide has uncovered a significant hurdle for realising the potential benefits of gene editing in embryos. The team, led by Professor Paul Thomas, investigated North American research published last year that seemed to demonstrate […]

The team of researchers from Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences investigated the hormonal signals given off from the placenta during pregnancy. The placenta transports nutrients to the growing foetus during pregnancy and gives off hormonal signals in the mother’s bloodstream to establish and maintain a successful pregnancy. As well as […]

New research offers clues as to why some diseases are highly variable between individuals. The phenomenon is apparent in people with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes the light-sensing cells in the eye to degenerate. While some only develop night blindness, others completely lose their sight, even when their condition […]

Many genetic malfunctions are commonly found in cancers, and scientists are working to distinguish those directly involved in both the initial growth of cancer and its spread throughout the body. The complexity of both the disease and the ordinary functions of the genome have made this a difficult problem. However, […]

Alzheimer’s disease is difficult to diagnose as well as treat,  but researchers now have a promising new screening tool using the window to the brain:  the eye. A study of 3,877 randomly selected patients found a significant link between three degenerative eye diseases – age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma – […]

Engineers and medical researchers at the University of Minnesota have teamed up to create a groundbreaking 3D-printed device that could someday help patients with long-term spinal cord injuries regain some function. A 3D-printed guide, made of silicone, serves as a platform for specialized cells that are then 3D printed on […]

In countries which already permit embryo research, there are no “compelling moral arguments” why the time limit for experimentation should not be doubled say ethics experts. Currently, research on embryos is limited in many countries to a maximum period of 14 days after their fertilisation in the lab. But ethicists […]

Osteoporosis, decreased physical activity and weight gain are serious health concerns for postmenopausal women. Researchers from the University of Missouri now have discovered through a new animal study that soy protein found in food might counter the negative effects of menopause on bone and metabolic health. Moreover, the researchers believe that soy […]

Links between exposure to the metal manganese and neurological symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease emerged decades ago, but an Iowa State University biomedical scientist is examining how exposure to other metals may amplify the likelihood of those symptoms. The research has implications for a wide range of occupations that require […]

Biological markers responsible for extreme exhaustion in patients with cancer have now been linked to fatigue in those with Parkinson’s disease, according to new research from Rice University. “Inflammation and fatigue in early, untreated Parkinson’s disease” will appear in an upcoming edition of Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. It is one of […]

Cancerous tumors are more than a lump of cells growing out of control; they participate in active combat with the immune system for their own survival. Being able to evade the immune system is indeed a hallmark of cancer. Now, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania show that, to assist in the […]

A class of cancer drugs called PARP inhibitors could be useful for treating and preventing brain disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, and some forms of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), by halting the misplacement of specific proteins that affect nerve cells, according to a study published […]

Testing for dozens of genetic mutations in tumors of patients with a common form of advanced lung cancer did not appear to improve survival compared to routine genetic testing, a study led by Yale Cancer Center (YCC) scientists has found. The research was published in JAMA. Broad-based genomic sequencing (BGS) evaluates numerous genes […]

Several gene mutations have been linked to Parkinson’s disease, but exactly how and where some of them cause their damage has been unclear. A new Yale study, published in The Journal of Cell Biology, shows that one of the genes whose mutations are responsible for a familial form of Parkinson’s encodes […]

One of the key drivers behind aging – commonly viewed as the progressive decline in bodily function, which is closely linked to a variety of chronic diseases – is the accumulation of “senescent” cells in our tissues and organs. The removal of poorly functioning cells has been shown to improve […]

Some people respond well to both aerobic exercise and strength training, while others don’t. And some of us respond well to only one of those things, but not both. Harvard Medical School scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have uncovered a surprising molecular “switch” that may help to explain this […]

All humans begin life as a single cell that divides repeatedly to form two, then four, then eight cells, all the way up to the approximately 26 billion cells that make up a newborn. Tracing how and when those 26 billion cells arise from one zygote is the grand challenge […]

Dogs, known for their extraordinarily keen senses of smell, can be trained to use their sensitive sniffers to find drugs, bombs, bed bugs, missing hikers and even cancer. Among dogs and other animals that rely on smell, at least one factor that may give them an advantage is a sheet […]

New research, published in Thorax, funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust has shown that babies with cystic fibrosis (CF) are born weighing less than babies without the condition, even allowing that they are more likely to be born prematurely. The research, conducted by CF-EpiNet – a Cystic Fibrosis Trust Strategic Research Centre (SRC) of which […]

The frequency of brain tumors has been underestimated in children with the common genetic syndrome neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), according to a new study. This disorder is characterized by birthmarks on the skin and benign nerve tumors that develop in or on the skin. Brain tumors also are known to […]

Spinal cord injury or damage causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions. Hope of recuperation is slim to none. Now a new Tel Aviv University study finds the intravenous injection of a potent enzyme, just hours after an accident, has the potential to diminish a cascade of pathological events […]

Worker ants, despite their diligence, seldom encounter opportunities for social mobility. In many species, individuals adhere to strict caste roles: queens lay eggs and workers take care of almost everything else, including offspring. In a new study, published in Science, Rockefeller scientists describe the molecular mechanisms controlling this division of labor. “We […]

Ageing in worms mainly results from the direct action of genes and not from random wear and tear or loss of function, and the same is likely to be true in humans, according to research by UCL, Lancaster University and Queen Mary University of London scientists. The study, published in Current […]