The world of DNA is full of mysteries. One of those mysteries is methylation. Methylation is a process where a methyl group is added to DNA. This can change how genes are read and expressed. Scientists have found a way to spot these changes using tiny, natural pores. These pores are found in a protein called α-hemolysin. The pores are so small that they can only let ...
In the world of work, evening and night shifts are common. But what if these shifts had a hidden impact on health? Recent findings suggest that working during these hours might leave a mark on our biology. Epigenetic changes, like DNA methylation, can act as signals for various health risks. Think of them as tiny switches that turn genes on or off. Two large studies...
Forensic science is always looking for better ways to solve crimes. One big challenge is figuring out what kind of body fluid is at a crime scene and who it belongs to. Usually, scientists use two different tests: one for identifying the person and another for figuring out the type of body fluid. This can be time-consuming and sometimes inaccurate. A new study has c...
DNA methylation age acceleration (DNAmAA) is a fascinating topic. It is a process where certain parts of our DNA get modified over time. This process can make our bodies age faster or slower than our actual age. It is a hot topic in medical research. It is important to understand how it affects people with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. This synd...
The way we treat our kids can be heavily influenced by our own past experiences. People who were mistreated as kids might struggle to be good parents, and scientists are trying to figure out why. Researchers looked into how DNA changes might play a role in this cycle. They focused on something called DNA methylation. This is a process where tiny chemical ta...
Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) often begins as a precancerous condition known as high-grade vulvar intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). This condition, linked to human papillomavirus (HPV), poses a significant risk, with 8% of cases progressing to cancer. This is why it's so important to understand what drives this progression, so doctors can offer treatments based ...
Epigenetic clocks measure DNA methylation to guess a person's biological age. These are different to the age shown on our birth certificate. However. there are still many unknowns about how lifestyle factors and physiological conditions can influence these epigenetic markers in Asian populations. A research team set out to explore connections between various lifes...
You know how solving crimes often depends on finding and identifying body fluid stains? Well, scientists are making this task easier with the help of AI and a method called DNA methylation microarray screening. This process allows them to spot specific CpGs, which are tiny segments of DNA, in body fluids. The problem is, some CpGs aren't very good at telling differen...
Scientists looked into how religion and spirituality affect DNA methylation in stress-related genes among Latino adults. They studied 992 people from the Hispanic Community Health Study and focused on four key genes linked to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates stress response. This research aimed to find connections between religious and s...
Let's talk about a study that looked into how exercise affects blood DNA in older women, especially those who are overweight or obese. For 14 weeks, 41 women participated in a combined exercise program. Scientists checked their blood DNA and health markers at the start, halfway through, and at the end. The good news? Blood pressure and cholesterol levels dropped in ...