Researchers discover mechanism that prevents two species from reproducing Oct 27, 2009
The segment of DNA was found in the chromosome's heterochromatin, a densely packed region of highly repetitive sequences of junk DNA near the chromosome's center. During the embryo's initial divisions, the researchers found, a specific segment of heterochromatin gets "sticky" and halts the process, preventing the entire X chromosome from separating properly; the result is that the early embryo dies. (EurekAlert!)
What Prevents Two Species From Reproducing? Oct 27, 2009
Junk DNA Mechanism That Prevents Two Species From Reproducing Discovered ... Junk DNA Mechanism That Prevents Two Species From Reproducing Discovered ... The segment of DNA was found in the chromosome's heterochromatin, a densely packed region of highly repetitive sequences of junk DNA near the chromosome's center. (Science Daily)
'Junk' DNA Cut-and-paste Protein: Discovery May Prove Invaluable In Quest For Gene Therapies Sep 24, 2009
23, 2009) Scientists have identified how a protein enables sections of so-called junk DNA to be cut and pasted within genetic code a finding which could speed development of gene therapies ... Junk DNA, which accounts for almost half of the human genome, was originally believed to have no purpose ... However, it is now emerging that movement of junk DNA, in a cut-and-paste mechanism, can lead to beneficial changes in cells. (Science Daily)
Genome Of Irish Potato Famine Pathogen Decoded Sep 10, 2009
9, 2009) A large international research team has decoded the genome of the notorious organism that triggered the Irish potato famine in the mid-19th century and now threatens this season's tomato and potato crops across much of the US.. Published in the September 9 online issue of the journal Nature, the study reveals that the organism boasts an unusually large genome size more than twice that of closely related species and an extraordinary genome structure, which together appear to enable the... (Science Daily)
New Hope For Deadly Childhood Bone Cancer: Surprising Discovery Made By Studying 'Junk DNA' Sep 2, 2009
New Hope For Deadly Childhood Bone Cancer: Surprising Discovery Made By Studying 'Junk DNA ... New Hope For Deadly Childhood Bone Cancer: Surprising Discovery Made By Studying 'Junk DNA ... Microsatellites are sometimes referred to as "junk DNA" because they are not thought to have a normal role in the genome. (Science Daily)
Epigenetics: Evolutionarily Preserved Mechanism Governs Use Of Genes Aug 24, 2009
23, 2009) Researchers at Uppsala University have found that the protein coding parts of a gene are packed in special nucleosomes. The same type of packaging is found in the roundworm C elegans, which is a primeval relative of humans. (Science Daily)
Key feature of immune system survived in humans, other primates for 60 million years Aug 19, 2009
The genetic material called an Alu short interspersed element is part of what used to be thought of as "junk DNA" and makes up more than 90 percent of the human genome. That genetic material, however, is now understood to often play important roles in regulating and "turning on" the expression of other genes. (EurekAlert!)
Common variation in gene linked to structural changes in the brain Aug 18, 2009
"We studied not only the gene itself a gene called MECP2, which is known to have a big effect on brain development but also the regions surrounding the gene, sometimes known as junk DNA," said principle investigator Anders M. Dale, PhD, professor of Neurosciences and Radiology at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine ... "Since each individual genetic mutation causes only small changes, the so-called 'junk DNA' may be where the action is," he said. (EurekAlert!)
Possible Treatment For Spinal Muscular Atrophy Aug 1, 2009
These non-coding portions of the pre-mRNA are called intronic sequences, sometimes referred to as junk sequence because it is originally copied from junk DNA. ... "The significance of our work is that we have this stuff called junk DNA in SMN2," said Singh. (Science Daily)
After Dinosaurs, Mammals With Smaller Genomes Jul 29, 2009
After Dinosaurs, Mammals Rise But Their Genomes Get Smaller. After Dinosaurs, Mammals Rise But Their Genomes Get Smaller. (Science Daily)
Not 'Genomic Junk' After All: LincRNAs Have Global Role In Genome Regulation Jul 21, 2009
They found that unstable pieces of junk DNA help tuning. (Nov. (Science Daily)
Mystery E. Coli Genes Essential For Survival Of Many Species Jul 14, 2009
ScienceDaily (July 13, 2009) Scientists have shown that E. coli - one of the best known and extensively studied organisms in the world - remains an enigma that may hold the key to human diseases, such as cancer. The team, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and based at the University of Dundee has examined the genome sequence of this workhorse of the laboratory and spotted three previously unknown genes that, it turns out, are essential for the survival... (Science Daily)
Evolution Of Gene Regulation: How Microbial Neighbors Settle Differences May 31, 2009
ScienceDaily (May 30, 2009) Even microbes are governed by the principle of supply and demand at least at the genetic level. Not all of their gene products, the blueprints for proteins, are required at all times. (Science Daily)
Saved By Junk DNA: Vital Role In The Evolution Of Human Genome May 31, 2009
They found that unstable pieces of junk DNA help tuning gene activity and enable organisms to quickly adapt to changes in their environments ... One commonly known example of such 'junk DNA' are the so-called tandem repeats, short stretches of DNA that are repeated head-to-tail ... In this way, unstable junk DNA allows fast shifts in gene activity, which may allow organisms to tune the activity of genes to match changing environments -- a vital principle for survival in the endless evolutionary... (Science Daily)
'Junk' DNA Has Important Role May 21, 2009
ScienceDaily (May 21, 2009) Scientists have called it "junk DNA." They have long been perplexed by these extensive strands of genetic material that dominate the genome but seem to lack specific functions ... Now researchers from Princeton University and Indiana University who have been studying the genome of a pond organism have found that junk DNA may not be so junky after all ... The term "junk DNA" was originally coined to refer to a region of DNA that contained no genetic information. (Science Daily)
Whole Genome Sequencing Approach For Mutation Discovery May 7, 2009
ScienceDaily (May 6, 2009) The Stowers Institute s Hawley Lab and Molecular Biology Facility have developed a whole-genome sequencing approach to mapping mutations in fruit flies. The novel methodology promises to reduce the time and effort required to identify mutations of biological interest. (Science Daily)
Key Decision-point At Which Cells With Broken DNA Repair Themselves Or Die Identified Apr 18, 2009
(May 15, 2002) Junk DNA is the Rodney Dangerfield of the genetics world. It makes up nearly half of all human DNA, but many scientists dismiss it as useless gibberish. (Science Daily)
What's Driving Specific Patterns Of Gene Expression Among Cell Types? Mar 28, 2009
"Expanding the knowledge of enhancers is critical for understanding the mechanisms that control gene expression. As only two percent of the genome encodes proteins, there is so much left to discover about what was once considered non-coding 'junk DNA' and how that other 98 percent contributes to human disease," said Ren. By systematically analyzing more than 14 million DNA probes corresponding to the entire human genome, the team including scientists from UC San Diego, MIT, the Broad Institute... (Science Daily)
Discovery Of Color Perception In Deep-sea Fish Mar 18, 2009
13, 2008) 'Junk DNA' could hold the secret of the evolutionary origin of complex animals, according to new research. Vertebrates - animals such as humans that possess a backbone - are the most anatomically and. (Science Daily)
New Sequencing Technology Pinpoint 'On-off Switches' In Genomes Feb 17, 2009
16, 2009) Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the University of California, San Diego have developed a set of molecular tools that provide important insight into the complex genomes of multicellular organisms. The strategy promises to clarify the longstanding mystery of the role played by vast stretches of DNA sequence that do not code for the functional units genes that nevertheless may have a powerful... (Science Daily)
Next gen sequencing technology pinpoint 'on-off switches' in genomes Feb 13, 2009
Public release date: 12-Feb-2009. Contact: David Gilbert. (EurekAlert!)
Scientists Ask: What Would Darwin Do? Feb 13, 2009
Milner continued: "Also, I think he would have been astounded at the some of the twists and turns of modern theory: endosymbiosis (cells made up of combinations of critters), lateral gene transfer (a challenge to the vertical tree of life), self-organization (the mystery of how cells combine into larger entities). "Also, the science of genetics, which originated after his death, would have opened a whole new window for him: how genes work, either as 'blueprints' or 'switches,' the 'junk DNA'... (Fox News)
Molecular Systems Biology Feb 8, 2009
LATEST: 2007 impact factor 9. 954 from Journal Citation Reports, Thomson 2008. (Nature News Service)
