Imagine trying to understand why things happen when they do. That's what Victor Ambros set out to do while studying a tiny worm called C. elegans. He found that certain genes, called heterochronic genes, control when cells mature. It was like figuring out the rhythm of life for these tiny creatures. This curiosity-driven research, thought of as basic science, led to ...

Enhancers, crucial parts of the genome, act as volume controls for nearby genes, helping cells express specific genes. Understanding enhancers is key to unraveling gene regulation and diseases. This new study introduces MPDL-Enhancer, a smart deep learning system that helps identify and understand enhancers. By turning DNA sequences into computer-friendly code with d...

Have you ever thought about how bacteria can help plants soak up more nutrients? Scientists have been exploring this, especially with selenium, a vital mineral. They've found that Bacillus cereus SESY, a type of good bacteria, can significantly boost the growth and selenium content in Brassica napus, a plant often used for edible oil. In experiments, researchers gre...

Did you know that your DNA has extra letters that tell genes when to speak up or stay quiet? One of these special letters is called 5-methyldeoxycytidine, or mdC for short. Where and how often mdC shows up in your DNA can tell a big story about whether certain genes are being turned on or off. This is super important for catching diseases early, like cancer. Scienti...

Imagine a world where every cell in your body is the same - no muscles, no nerves, just identical blobs. Sounds boring, right? Luckily, that's not how we're built! Different cell types exist because of something called gene regulation. Two scientists, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, made a groundbreaking discovery about this process back in 1993. Their big find was m...