Genomes, as physical systems, comprise the complete set of nucleic acid molecules (typically DNA, or RNA in some viruses) that encode the hereditary information of an organism, including all chromosomes and extrachromosomal genetic elements. They are organized into linear or circular polymers of nucleotides, with specific higher-order structures such as chromatin in eukaryotes or nucleoid organization in prokaryotes. At the physical level, genomes exhibit defined sequence composition, length, and structural features (e.g., replication origins, regulatory regions, repetitive elements) that collectively determine their stability, replication dynamics, mutational patterns, and interactions with cellular molecular machinery.
Researchers at Duke University used CRISPR technologies to discover previously unannotated stretches of DNA in the "dark genome" that are responsible for controlling how cells sense and respond to the mechanical properties ...
Cell & Microbiology
Sep 26, 2025
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62
For decades, scientists have known that bacteria can exchange genetic material, in a process called horizontal gene transfer. This allows bacteria to rapidly evolve new traits, such as antibiotic resistance. A new study, ...
Evolution
Sep 25, 2025
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26
For decades, gene-editing science has been limited to making small, precise edits to human DNA, akin to correcting typos in the genetic code. Arc Institute researchers are changing that paradigm with a universal gene editing ...
Biotechnology
Sep 25, 2025
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133
Scientists from James Cook University have developed a new computer tool that reveals layers of gene activity that were previously invisible, opening fresh possibilities for understanding health and disease.
Biotechnology
Sep 25, 2025
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When scientists want to trace how a species has changed over time—and predict its prospects for survival—they turn to DNA. But what if the genetic map guiding them belongs to the wrong animal?
Plants & Animals
Sep 22, 2025
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70
A research team led by Prof. Wang Yanli from the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed the structure and mechanism of a highly active Type II-D Cas9, offering a promising new tool for genome ...
Biotechnology
Sep 22, 2025
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34
A research team led by scientists from the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) has introduced a new way to fine-tune genetic material. Their study, published in Nature Biotechnology, describes an innovative ...
Biotechnology
Sep 18, 2025
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90
How did digits evolve? While it is clear that they derive from genetic programs already present in fish, their precise origin remains a matter of debate. An international team led by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) with ...
Evolution
Sep 17, 2025
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246
Aging, neurological diseases and our bodies' stress response are all linked to the tiny power plants inside each cell known as mitochondria. To function properly, mitochondria must first read instructions from their DNA and ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Sep 16, 2025
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172
Before a cell divides, its DNA is replicated so that each daughter cell inherits the same genetic information. The two copies, known as "sister chromatids," are held together by a ring-shaped protein complex called cohesin ...
Cell & Microbiology
Sep 16, 2025
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