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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 expression analysis

Illustration of DNA double helix with purple background.
Unbalanced Allele Expression Associated with Mutation, Disease
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Feb 2, 2023 | 5 min read
A study identifies nearly 3,000 genes where one allele tends to be expressed more than the other, but the findings ignited controversy in the field. 
Coronal section of a brain
Immunity-Linked Genes Expressed Differently in Brains of Autistic People
Laura Dattaro, Spectrum | Jan 11, 2023 | 4 min read
Data from postmortem brain tissues adds to the evidence that inflammation is associated with autism.
2022 Top 10 Innovations 
2022 Top 10 Innovations
The Scientist Staff | Dec 12, 2022 | 10+ min read
This year’s crop of winning products features many with a clinical focus and others that represent significant advances in sequencing, single-cell analysis, and more.
Cells with miRNA activity reporter glowing
MicroRNAs Can Boost Gene Expression: Study
Holly Barker, PhD | Nov 15, 2022 | 3 min read
The tiny strings of RNA promote translation of a protein implicated in cancer, a hint they could regulate gene expression in more ways than previously thought.
A visualization of a spinal cord with neurons highlighted in red
Scientists Identify Neurons Needed to Walk After Paralysis
Amanda Heidt | Nov 10, 2022 | 3 min read
Nine people with spinal injuries walked again after electrical stimulation, allowing researchers to pinpoint neurons likely underlying their recovery.
illustration of brain with DNA strand coming out the top
Genetic Underpinnings of Brain Activity May Differ in Autism
Emily Harris, Spectrum | Jul 19, 2022 | 3 min read
A study finds that expression levels of certain genes that track with brain activity—particularly those involved in brain development—vary between people with autism and their non-autistic peers.
Siobhán Brady Uses Big Data to Investigate Plant Development
Shawna Williams | Feb 1, 2021 | 3 min read
The University of California, Davis, professor is a pioneer in teasing apart the changes in gene expression that drive root development.
Stomach Acid & Heartburn Drugs Linked with COVID-19 Outcomes
Ashley Yeager | Oct 7, 2020 | 6 min read
While sick with COVID-19, President Trump is taking an antacid. Doctors have been exploring whether these medicines can treat SARS-CoV-2 infections, and the results are mixed.
an illustration of a single cell with a backdrop of similar cells
The Advances that Will Shape Life Sciences in the 2020s
Emma Yasinski | Jan 3, 2020 | 3 min read
Systems biologist Steven Wiley says advancements in two areas—single-cell biology and CRISPR—are poised to transform research.  
Top Technical Advances in 2018
Shawna Williams | Dec 23, 2018 | 3 min read
The year’s most impressive achievements include ecology research via drone, mice with two dads, and the use of artificial intelligence to identify and monitor cancer cells.
Visualizing Gene Expression in Individual Cells in Thick Tissues
Ruth Williams | Oct 1, 2018 | 3 min read
STARmap enables simultaneous analysis of multiple RNAs in intact, bulky samples.
Infographic: Visualizing Gene Expression
Ruth Williams | Oct 1, 2018 | 1 min read
STARmap reveals expression levels of multiple genes within thick tissue sections.
Gene Expression Analysis Gets Gassy
Ruth Williams | Jun 1, 2018 | 2 min read
Soil scientists use a gas-producing reporter system to assess gene activity in bacteria.
Infographic: Gassy Genes
Ruth Williams | May 31, 2018 | 1 min read

Soil scientists get bacteria to report on what their neighbors are up to.

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.
Angela Brooks: Splicing Specialist
Diana Kwon | Apr 1, 2017 | 3 min read
At the University of California, Santa Cruz, the researcher combs the cancer genome, looking for weaknesses.
An Aging-Related Effect on the Circadian Clock
Anna Azvolinsky | Feb 21, 2017 | 3 min read
Stress-related genes may be preferentially and rhythmically expressed as part of the circadian rhythms of older fruit flies, researchers report.  
As the Brain Ages, Glial-Cell Gene Expression Changes Most
Ashley P. Taylor | Jan 10, 2017 | 3 min read
Researchers describe how gene expression in different human brain regions is altered with age.
Pulling It All Together
Kate Yandell | Apr 1, 2016 | 9 min read
Systems-biology approaches offer new strategies for finding hard-to-identify drug targets for cancer.
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