Platinum-based chemotherapy drugs cause extensive DNA damage in healthy tissues and accelerate cellular aging in pediatric cancer patients, according to a landmark study published September 10 in Science. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Cambridge, the Francis Crick Institute, and King’s College London used advanced genomic sequencing to analyze samples from children … Read more
Hidden features within the spleen detected on abdominal imaging scans can signal a person’s risk of developing coronary artery disease, according to a new study published in Science Translational Medicine. Led by investigators from Mass General Brigham, the research leverages artificial intelligence and genomic analyses to uncover how blood-forming and immune functions in the spleen … Read more
Researchers have identified a urinary tract bacterium capable of converting the steroid precursor DHEA into testosterone under laboratory conditions, revealing a previously unknown microbial pathway that could impact prostate biology, according to a study supervised by Jason M. Ridlon. The finding does not indicate that the bacterium causes prostate cancer or that the microbial testosterone … Read more
< div> The Single Cell Genomics Center at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is entering a new era of leadership and technical capability under the joint direction of senior research scientists Nicole Poulton and Julia Brown, according to an announcement from the laboratory. As the only open-access facility globally offering specialized educational programs and … Read more
Researchers from the Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau) and CIBERER have developed an AI tool that identifies hundreds of molecular signals to predict venous thrombosis. By integrating clinical, genetic, and transcriptomic data, the system improves risk stratification for idiopathic venous thromboembolism, as detailed in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Why do some … Read more
Long-read genome sequencing is emerging as a superior diagnostic tool for rare genetic disorders, outperforming standard short-read methods by identifying complex structural variants and DNA modifications in a single test. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by researchers at Radboud University Medical Center and Maastricht University Medical Center+, the … Read more
Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Francis Crick Institute have identified a genetic marker, HLA-DRB1*01:03, that correlates with more severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Published in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the study suggests that genetic testing could help clinicians identify high-risk patients for earlier intervention with advanced therapies. How does the … Read more
An ultrasensitive blood test called HPV-DeepSeek can identify residual cancer cells in patients following surgery for HPV-associated head and neck cancer, potentially enabling more personalized treatment plans. A study published in Science Translational Medicine by researchers at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute found the test detects circulating tumor HPV DNA with higher sensitivity than … Read more
The Dawn of Precision Genetics: Is Designer DNA Within Reach? A new frontier in biotechnology has opened, and it’s sparking one of the most significant ethical debates of our generation. Researchers at Columbia University have successfully utilized base editing—a highly precise genome-editing technique—to modify human embryos. Unlike the “cut-and-paste” methods of early CRISPR, which often … Read more
The DNA Revolution: How eDNA is Transforming Freshwater Conservation For decades, environmental scientists have relied on traditional, morphology-based monitoring to track the health of our waterways. By physically identifying organisms like insect larvae and crustaceans, researchers have attempted to map the biodiversity of our streams. However, a new study published in Molecular Ecology suggests that … Read more