Latest Gene Stories

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Autism is one of the most common genetic alterations, caused by a deletion of the 27-gene cluster on chromosome 16. By generating mouse models of autism, scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) provided the first evidence that inheriting fewer copies of these genes leads to features resembling those used to diagnose children with autism. "Children normally inherit one copy of a gene from each parent. We had the tools to see whether copy number changes...

Chromosomal abnormalities linked to intellectual disability can be traced back to the father, particularly those who are older when the child is conceived, finds research published online in the Journal of Medical Genetics. Chromosomal abnormalities are caused by copy number variations, or CNVs. These are structural variations resulting in missing, repeated, inverted or misplaced DNA sequences in cells. They can be inherited or arise anew, and are a common cause of disease. However,...

[ Watch the Video ] Models of autism show that gene copy number controls brain structure and behavior Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have discovered that one of the most common genetic alterations in autism -- deletion of a 27-gene cluster on chromosome 16 -- causes autism-like features. By generating mouse models of autism using a technique known as chromosome engineering, CSHL Professor Alea Mills and colleagues provide the first functional evidence that inheriting...

A new technique developed by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine allows researchers to identify the exact DNA sequences and locations bound by regulatory RNAs. This information is necessary to understand how the recently identified RNA molecules control the expression of neighboring and distant genes. The study offers a startling glimpse into the intricate world of gene expression and how RNA, once thought to be only a lowly cellular messenger, actively unlocks our...

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, September 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- - Outstanding young biologists, chemists, physicists and mathematicians recognized across the developing world The Elsevier Foundation, TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world and the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) announced today that they are recognizing eleven talented women scientists from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean for...

HAYWARD, Calif., Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mendel Biotechnology Inc. ("Mendel") announced today that a regulatory petition by Monsanto Company was made recently to the USDA for soybean plants containing Mendel's leading yield gene. The filing is a key part of the regulatory path as the trait moves closer to commercial launch. Approval of the petition is one of the final milestones needed to make the high yield soybean plants available to farmers. The underlying yield gene represents...

A new study reveals that distinct networks of genes in the honey bee brain contribute to specific behaviors, such as foraging or aggression, researchers report. The study, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to show that common, naturally occurring behaviors are under the influence of discrete regulatory networks in the brain. It confirms, scientists say, what years of research into the brain and behavior seemed to indicate: There is a close relationship...

Genetic parasites invaded the mammalian genome more than 100 million years ago and dramatically changed the way mammals reproduce -- transforming the uterus in the ancestors of humans and other mammals from the production of eggs to a nurturing home for developing young, a new Yale University study has found. The findings published online Sept. 25 in the journal Nature Genetics describe in unprecedented detail the molecular changes that allowed mammals to carry their developing young...

Emergence of ENaC, sodium pump coincides with first appearance of multi-celled creatures Maintaining fluid balance in the body is essential to survival, from the tiniest protozoa to the mightiest of mammals. By researching recent genomic data, Swiss researchers have found genetic evidence that links this intricate process to a turning point in evolution. The study was led by Bernard Rossier, Professor Emeritus, University of Lausanne, along with colleagues Romain A. Studer, Emilie...

In a new study, Chen-Yu Zhang's group at Nanjing university present a rather striking finding that plant miRNAs could make into the host blood and tissues via the route of food-intake. Moreover, once inside the host, they can elicit functions by regulating host "target" genes and thus regulate host physiology. MicroRNAs are a class of 19-24 nucleotide non-coding RNAs that do not code for proteins. MicroRNAs bind to target messenger RNAs to inhibit protein translation. In previous studies,...