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Artist’s rendition of orange DNA coiled around a blue histone protein.
“Cryptic Transcription”: How Aging Cells Express Fragments of Genes
Aging cells with weakened gene regulation spuriously transcribe RNAs, but their impact on health and longevity still needs to be examined.
“Cryptic Transcription”: How Aging Cells Express Fragments of Genes
“Cryptic Transcription”: How Aging Cells Express Fragments of Genes

Aging cells with weakened gene regulation spuriously transcribe RNAs, but their impact on health and longevity still needs to be examined.

Aging cells with weakened gene regulation spuriously transcribe RNAs, but their impact on health and longevity still needs to be examined.

gene activity

Blue 3D illustration of X-shaped chromosomes
X Chromosome Silenced in Some Cancers in Males
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Nov 11, 2022 | 3 min read
A study finds that XIST, the gene that shuts down one X chromosome in people who have two, is linked to cancer in males. 
illustration of many DNA strands
Doppelgängers Similar in Looks and DNA: Study
Sophie Fessl, PhD | Aug 30, 2022 | 3 min read
Look-alikes are also more likely to share lifestyle traits.
Photo of a tiger moth
Antibiotics Given to Moths Spur Upregulation of Growth Genes
Devin A. Reese, PhD | Mar 1, 2022 | 2 min read
A new study has identified a molecular tradeoff between growth and immunity in moths in response to the administration of subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics, a common practice in animal husbandry.
An electron microscopy image of a cell with the nucleolus shown in blue, chromatin in green, and nuclear envelope in red
Aging in Mice Linked to Misexpression of Class of Genes
Sophie Fessl, PhD | Dec 21, 2021 | 4 min read
Genes lacking a particular structure known as CpG islands tend to go haywire in older cells, a study finds, potentially contributing to key facets of aging. But it’s not yet clear if the relationship is causal.
PATH TO TREATMENT: Marley, pictured here with her father, was diagnosed with the rare genetic condition Bachmann-Bupp syndrome a few years ago.
Doctors Treat Girl’s Genetic Disorder with Repurposed Drug
Amanda Heidt | Dec 1, 2021 | 6 min read
In just 16 months, physicians went from identifying a novel rare disease in three-year-old Marley to successfully treating her with a drug previously used to treat African sleeping sickness and pediatric cancer.
Scaling BAC on Time and Sample
The Scientist Creative Services Team in collaboration with Agilent Technologies | Apr 9, 2021 | 3 min read
A new and simplified quality control method confirms the cloning of both small and large inserts in bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) with significantly less time and sample.
New Map Charts Genetic Expression Across Tissue Types, Sexes
Ashley Yeager | Sep 10, 2020 | 3 min read
A decade-long effort to probe gene regulation reveals differences between males and females, points to essential regulatory elements, and offers insight into past work on telomeres.
Defining Rare Disorders: A Profile of Judith Hall
Anna Azvolinsky | Sep 1, 2019 | 8 min read
By bringing genetics into clinical medicine, the University of British Columbia medical geneticist helped to identify the gene mutations responsible for many rare diseases.
Japanese grass pufferfish (Takifugu niphobles) CT scan
Pufferfish Spines Shaped by Same Genes as Feathers and Fish Scales
Nicoletta Lanese | Jul 29, 2019 | 3 min read
To see if the spiky fish shares signaling pathways found in other organisms, scientists scooped up specimens during a mating frenzy on the shores of Japan.
c elegans reproduction longevity gene TCER-1 health immune system genetics research model
C. elegans Healthier Without Longevity Gene
Chia-Yi Hou | Jul 17, 2019 | 2 min read
Worms with the reproduction-related TCER-1 gene deleted could fight off infection for longer and survived better when exposed to heat and radiation.
Stuart Orkin
In Our Blood: A Profile of Stuart Orkin
Anna Azvolinsky | Jul 15, 2019 | 9 min read
By unraveling the molecular underpinnings of inherited blood disorders, the Boston Children’s Hospital researcher has provided the basis for therapies now being tested for beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease.
Microbe Miner: A Profile of Rob Knight
Anna Azvolinsky | Jun 1, 2019 | 9 min read
Developing computational tools to analyze the reams of microbial sequencing data his lab generates, the UC San Diego microbiologist is a pioneer of microbiome research.
bob murphy
Robert Murphy Bets Self-Driving Instruments Will Crack Biology’s Mysteries
Shawna Williams | May 1, 2019 | 9 min read
The Carnegie Mellon computational biologist thinks machine learning algorithms can direct high-throughput experiments to solve the field’s unanswered questions.
Human lung cancer cells
Caught on Camera
The Scientist Staff | Apr 1, 2019 | 1 min read
Selected Images of the Day from the-scientist.com
Image of the Day: Double Header
Carolyn Wilke | Mar 8, 2019 | 1 min read
Scientists have manipulated the electrical signals that help guide flatworms in regenerating their body parts to encourage a flatworm to grow two heads.
Genetic Neurologist: A Profile of Huda Zoghbi
Anna Azvolinsky | Nov 1, 2018 | 8 min read
Turning to molecular genetics, the Baylor pediatric neurologist and geneticist works to discover the biological basis for the rare neurological diseases she sees in her patients.
FDA Approves Oral Drug for Fabry Disease
Ashley Yeager | Aug 13, 2018 | 2 min read
The medicine increases the activity of a deficient enzyme in certain patients with the condition.
Gene Activity Could Give Clues to Time of Death
Ashley Yeager | Feb 12, 2018 | 2 min read
RNA-sequencing data reveal that specific tissues have distinct changes in gene expression after an individual has passed away.
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