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Gene Expression

All articles tagged with #gene expression

Editing the Epigenome: Treating Disease by Rewriting Gene Expression, Not the Genome
science1 month ago

Editing the Epigenome: Treating Disease by Rewriting Gene Expression, Not the Genome

A new wave of biotechnology focuses on epigenome editing—altering chemical marks that control how genes are turned on or off—to treat or prevent disease later in life without changing the underlying DNA. By mimicking natural resets of epigenetic marks, researchers aim to rewrite the “nurture” of gene activity rather than the “nature” of the genetic code. Early results in cells and animals are promising, but major challenges remain in delivery, specificity, safety, and long-term effects, alongside ethical and regulatory considerations.

via The New York Times|
#crispr#disease-treatment#epigenetics
Water Bears in Orbit: Four Generations of Tardigrades Uncover Heritable Spaceflight Tricks
science1 month ago

Water Bears in Orbit: Four Generations of Tardigrades Uncover Heritable Spaceflight Tricks

NASA sent hydrated tardigrades (Hypsibius exemplaris) to the International Space Station in 2021, cultured them for multiple generations in the Bioculture System, and tracked gene expression to see how spaceflight affects survival strategies and whether those traits are heritable, with implications for long-duration missions.

via The Times of India|
#bioculture-system#gene-expression#hypsibius-exemplaris
Tapeworm Extends Ant Lifespan and Rewrites Social Roles
science2 months ago

Tapeworm Extends Ant Lifespan and Rewrites Social Roles

A tapeworm parasite (Anomotaenia brevis) infects Temnothorax nylanderi ants via woodpecker droppings, causing infected workers to live up to ten times longer and be treated like queens by nestmates. The study reports queen-like changes in metabolism, immune function, and aging in the ants’ fat bodies, while brain signals don’t resemble the parasite’s peptides, suggesting the parasite influences host regulation rather than directly hijacking the brain. These findings, from gene-expression analyses of infected, uninfected, and queen ants, shed light on how infection alters physiology and social behavior; the lifecycle continues when birds ingest the infected ants.

via ScienceAlert|
#ants#gene-expression#parasites
Low-dose pesticide exposure triggers genetic changes in bumblebees linked to reproduction
science2 months ago

Low-dose pesticide exposure triggers genetic changes in bumblebees linked to reproduction

Georgia Tech researchers found that exposing worker bumblebees to low doses of the insecticide sulfoxaflor caused significant changes in gene expression, especially in ovarian tissues, suggesting potential reproductive impairment and possible impacts on colony health and pollination-dependent crops; the study highlights the need for pest management that protects pollinators amid ongoing pesticide use.

via The Times of India|
#bumblebees#gene-expression#pesticides
Electric Pulses Trigger Rejuvenation in Sea Squirts, Hinting at Human Anti-Aging Possibilities
science3 months ago

Electric Pulses Trigger Rejuvenation in Sea Squirts, Hinting at Human Anti-Aging Possibilities

Researchers delivered brief pacemaker-like electrical pulses to sea squirts, triggering an exercise-like surge in metabolism that improved stem cell activity, tissue growth, and even lifespan, with gene expression patterns resembling post-exercise responses; while promising, the findings are in a simple organism and their relevance to humans remains to be tested.

via bgr.com|
#aging#electric-stimulation#gene-expression
Depression Shows Brain-Linked Gene Signals in White Blood Cells
mental-health4 months ago

Depression Shows Brain-Linked Gene Signals in White Blood Cells

A study of 1,864 people with major depressive disorder and 1,208 controls found 1,383 genes with altered activity in white blood cells, including 18 synapse-related genes that reliably separated depressed individuals from healthy ones. Seven of these genes were also altered in mood-related brain regions, suggesting a systemic, body-wide link between depression and immune biology. The work is exploratory and does not establish causation, but points to potential blood-based biomarkers and new avenues for research and treatment targeting inflammation.

via PsyPost|
#biomarkers#depression#gene-expression
Tiny ciliate’s momentary 'supergiant' cannibal phase rewrites single-celled limits
science4 months ago

Tiny ciliate’s momentary 'supergiant' cannibal phase rewrites single-celled limits

Researchers describe Euplotes gigatrox, a seawater ciliate from Curaçao, that occasionally forms rare “supergiant” cells roughly 140 μm long and cannibalizes nearby normal cells, then reverts to normal size within 24 hours. The transition appears tied to specific gene-expression programs and occurs after population growth slows and resources become scarce, suggesting a bet-hedging strategy and revealing surprising plasticity in single-celled organisms.

via ScienceAlert|
#cannibalism#ciliates#euplotes-gigatrox
Spaceflight Leaves Lasting Molecular Footprints, Twin Study Reveals
science4 months ago

Spaceflight Leaves Lasting Molecular Footprints, Twin Study Reveals

NASA’s Scott–Mark Kelly twin study found no DNA sequence changes from a 340‑day mission, but about 7% of Scott’s gene expression remained dysregulated six months after landing. Telomeres lengthened in space and then shortened to below baseline upon return. Cognitive performance stayed slower for months; immune function, DNA repair, bone formation, hypoxia response, and mitochondrial pathways were affected, and liver metabolism shifted, suggesting spaceflight perturbs an interconnected biological network with lasting effects for future long-duration missions.

via Space Daily|
#gene-expression#mitochondria#science
Sex-Specific Gene Activity Mapped Across Brain Cells
science5 months ago

Sex-Specific Gene Activity Mapped Across Brain Cells

A single-cell analysis of over a million brain cells from six cortical regions in 30 people found subtle but widespread sex differences in gene activity, with more than 100 genes showing consistent sex-related expression patterns. Sex accounts for less than 1% of overall gene-expression variation, but these molecular signatures could help explain why risks for conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's differ by sex and how hormonal environments might modulate brain biology across life.

via Nature|
#brain#cortex#gene-expression
DHX29 Reveals Hidden Layer of Gene Regulation Tied to Codon Choice
science6 months ago

DHX29 Reveals Hidden Layer of Gene Regulation Tied to Codon Choice

Scientists identified DHX29 as a key regulator that senses non-optimal codons during translation, binding to ribosomes decoding these codons and recruiting the GIGYF2•4EHP complex to suppress certain mRNAs. This reveals a second regulatory layer in the genetic code that links synonymous codon choice to gene expression and may influence development and disease.

via SciTechDaily|
#codon-usage#dhx29#gene-expression