Category: Genetics

The sequences of our genes can carry small variations; sometimes they only involve a single base. These variations can have a wide range of impacts on our biology, and together they make us unique. Some gene variants can have beneficial effects. New research has identified a genetic variant that could help carriers resist obesity by…

Fears about the COVID-19 vaccine’s side effects have left some folks hesitant to join the immunization party, inadvertently affecting broader disease prevention. A recent study in Nature unveils a potential cause of unwanted mRNA vaccine reactions. A simple solution could mitigate the unintended side effects, scaring people away from the treatment. This research by Mulroney…

The electric eel is an amazing animal that can unleash up to 860 volts of electricity. Scientists have now found that the eel’s electric current can also lead to the uptake of genetic material by fish larvae. This process is related to electroporation, a technique in which an electric field is used to create holes…

People who are under stress have an increased risk of a variety of mental health problems. But not everyone who experiences stressful events develops issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or substance abuse, for example. It’s thought that small changes in genes, or variants, also play a role in whether or not people will experience…

Our Contribution to sustainability in the laboratory Accumax understands the importance of sustainability and the environment. We recognize the integral role that plastic consumables play in laboratory research and development, enabling high standards of quality, precision, and reproducibility. However, we also acknowledge the challenge of balancing the demands of modern science with environmental concerns regarding…

To allow the body to engage with foreign invaders, the immune cells recognize proteins which activate an immune response. These proteins are known as ‘antigens’ and are presented to immune cells that lyse or kill infected cells.  The innate immune system first attacks the foreign invader through many signals that alert the body. The adaptive…

The hypothalamus is a small but crucial part of the brain that exerts control over a variety of critical functions like circadian rhythm, blood pressure, hunger and satiety, sleep-wake cycles, and stress responses. Assessments of the hypothalamus, the nerve cells it contains, and the hormones and other substances they produce and release, have been primarily…

Humans and most animals host a community of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, in their gastrointestinal tracts. The composition of this gut microbiome has been shown to have close connections to various aspects of health and well-being. A new study has used a mouse model to show that when individuals do not consume enough…

Individuals with genetic diseases have an increased chance of lower quality of life. However, a new technology has been developed that could edit DNA and take out possible mutations resolving genetic disorders. This new technology is known as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) – Caspase (Cas)9. On the most basic level, CRISPR-Cas9 has…

The cells of an organism, including humans, interact closely with one another; cells have myriad ways to send and receive signals from each other and their environment that can influence how they function. One method of communication is direct contact. Scientists have now used a cutting-edge approach to learn more about how cell-to-cell contact can…