A global collaborative study published in Nature emphasises investigating non-coding regions of DNA to understand what defines primates, and distinguishes humans among them. The study holds significance not only for human health but also for the conservation of endangered primate species, providing insights into genetic health and population dynamics.
Posted on in Evolutionary Biology, Wildlife Biology, Genetics & Research
Researchers from the Institute For Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (InStem), Bangalore, have identified a key protein- Lysine specific histone demethylase (LSD1) that enables the development of higher order cognition centres in the human brain. These findings shed light on the evolution of intelligence in humans and may also help us understand neurodevelopment disorders such as autism.
Posted on in Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Genetics & Research
In a recent study, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jodhpur, identified the unique anti-amyloid and chaperone-like activity of a host defence protein, β2-microglobulin, which prevents ⍺-synuclein aggregation. Their research has the potential for developing diagnostic and therapeutic measures for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.
Posted on in Health & Medicine, Cell Biology, Genetics & Research
Researchers from CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India, and the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Paris, France, recently discovered ARL8B (ADP-ribosyltransferase (Arf)-like 8), a small GTPase acting as the initial mediator of lysosome-dependent lipid degradation in human macrophages. The findings suggest implications for conditions involving lipid accumulation, such as fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis, expanding research interests in this field.
Posted on in Health & Medicine, Cell Biology, Genetics & Research
A recent collaborative study led by Giriraj R Chandak, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, examined height differences among children in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries (HICs). They discovered that besides genetic factors, epigenetic modifications, particularly in the SOCS3 gene, significantly influence height, showing potential implications for childhood interventions to reduce future non-communicable disease risks.
Posted on in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics & Research
A recent study by researchers at the National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi, led by Arnab Mukhopadhyay, used C. elegans to show how damage to somatic tissues in the body can influence the development of reproductive cells—particularly eggs. They found that DNA damage signals from uterine tissue can stop egg cell formation through a key FOXO transcription factor, which is a highly conserved protein across different organisms.
Posted on in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics & Research
A team of researchers from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata and IISER Pune engineered a lipopeptide-based siRNA transporter, ensuring that siRNAs could efficiently enter the cytoplasm of the cells in functional form and perform gene silencing.
Posted on in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics & Research