RNA

A new method can track changes in live cell gene expression over extended periods of time. Based on Raman spectroscopy, the method doesn’t harm cells and can be performed repeatedly. Credit: MIT News; iStockA new MIT-developed method combines Raman spectroscopy with machine learning to noninvasively track gene expression in cells over time. This technique enables detailed study of cellular differentiation and has potential applications in cancer research, developmental biology, and diagnostics.Sequencing all of the RNA in…

Researchers seeking to understand how life may have emerged from Earth’s primordial soup have found an interesting behavior of ribonucleic acid (RNA), which they suggest could have given way to RNA-based life.The Epitome of 14 inch Gaming | Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 ReviewThe team’s research, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, describes a ribozyme that could create an environment in which RNA replicates itself more accurately. Other efforts at self-replicating RNA had resulted in new…

NASA scientists recently conducted a study on asteroid rocks that their spacecraft took from a distant "potentially hazardous"…

Toxic strands of RNA known to cause cells to self-destruct have been found in both Alzheimer's and aging brains, suggesting a new approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.In a study based on mice and human brains led by Northwestern University in the US, researchers identified short lengths of RNA (ribonucleic acid) associated with DNA damage and cell death in relation to the disease and associated factors.They also found protective short RNA strands in the brain diminish with age, which could…

The picture shows an RNA polymerase ribozyme thought to be implicated in the origin of life. The ribozyme is shown frozen in ice to symbolize how it was frozen in time for imaging and how it works best under ice-cold conditions. The active site is highlighted by a yellow/red light and the proposed position of the template-product helix is shown in transparent. Credit: Rune KidmoseRNA is thought to have sparked the origin of life by self-copying. Researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark, and MRC LMB Cambridge, England,…

A new study reveals a mechanism for generating DNA palindromes that could lead to new microRNA genes, shedding light on gene origins and potentially impacting our understanding of RNA structures.Researchers at the University of Helsinki have uncovered a mechanism that instantaneously generates DNA palindromes, potentially leading to the creation of new microRNA genes from noncoding DNA sequences. This discovery, which was made while studying DNA replication errors and their impact on RNA molecule structures, offers new…

By David Orenstein, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory December 16, 2023Neurons in Drosophila fruit flies were studied by The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory to understand the diversity in neuronal communication. They found that a protein, complexin, plays a vital role in controlling neurotransmitter release. The study showed that RNA editing of complexin results in different versions of the protein, affecting how neurons communicate and grow synapses. Credit: SciTechDaily.comNeurons stochastically…

A study by the University of Göttingen on Mesotaenium endlicherianum, an alga closely related to land plants, revealed crucial genetic insights. By analyzing the alga’s response to various environmental conditions, researchers uncovered shared genetic mechanisms between algae and land plants, deepening understanding of plant evolution and resilience. A research team from Göttingen University leads an investigation into 10 billion RNA snippets to identify “hub genes.” The majority of the Earth’s land surface is adorned…

Operating wavelength, typical structure, and application in disinfection and sterilization field of AlGaN based DUV LED. Credit: OEAA new publication from Opto-Electronic Advances discusses rapid inactivation of human respiratory <span class="glossaryLink" aria-describedby="tt" data-cmtooltip="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>RNA</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule similar to DNA that is essential in various biological roles in coding,…

Octopuses have found an incredible way to protect the more delicate features of their nervous system against radically changing temperatures.When conditions fluctuate, they can rapidly recode key proteins in their nerve cells, ensuring critical neurological activities remain functional when temperatures drop dramatically.How do they do it? By deploying a rare superpower – editing their RNA on the fly, an ability found in some species of octopuses, squids and cuttlefish.It's an unusual strategy, but it appears to be an…