Genetics

Researchers comparing appendage regrowth in salamanders, fish and mice report that two related genes, SP6 and SP8, are activated in regenerating skin tissue across species and are required for normal bone regrowth in animal models—findings they say could inform future regenerative-medicine strategies.

7. maj 2026 Rapporteret af AI

New research from a major twin project suggests that genes play a larger role in determining education, career, and income than family environment alone. The findings come from tracking participants from age 23 to 27 and highlight the strong genetic link to IQ. Experts say the results challenge assumptions about how much upbringing can override inherited traits.

Researchers at Kyoto University and RIKEN report that human cells can detect “non-optimal” synonymous codons—alternative three-letter genetic instructions that encode the same amino acid but are translated less efficiently—and selectively suppress the corresponding mRNAs. In experiments described in Science, the team identifies the RNA-binding protein DHX29 as a central component of this codon-dependent control of gene expression.

8. april 2026 Rapporteret af AI Faktatjekket

An international research team has identified the human gene SLC35F2 as a transporter that enables cellular uptake of the micronutrients queuine and queuosine—compounds acquired from diet and gut bacteria. The work, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, addresses a long-standing question about how these tRNA-related nutrients enter human cells.

Scientists at EPFL have developed a technique called optovolution, using light to evolve proteins that switch states, sense environments, and perform computations. By engineering yeast cells to survive only if proteins behave dynamically, the method selects optimal variants rapidly. The approach, published in Cell, advances synthetic biology and optogenetics.

9. marts 2026 Rapporteret af AI

Researchers have found that Borneo's fanged frogs, long considered a single species, actually comprise several distinct genetic groups. Genetic analysis suggests around six or seven species rather than the up to 18 previously proposed. This discovery highlights the challenges in defining species boundaries for conservation efforts.