Tag Archives: DNA
Potential CRISPR damage has been ‘seriously underestimated’
“The DNA damage found in the new study included deletions of thousands of DNA bases, including at spots far from the edit. Some of the deletions can silence genes that should be active and activate genes that should be silent, including cancer-causing genes.”
Administering hormones affects DNA
“researchers have demonstrated for the first time that the administration of even extremely low doses of an endocrine disruptor – in this case, an endogenous oestrogen – leads to epigenetic changes in a pregnant sow’s DNA.”
Researchers find evidence of DNA damage in veterans with Gulf War illness
“In blood tests, researchers observed more lesions and more mitochondrial DNA—that is, extra copies of genes—in veterans with Gulf War illness, relative to controls without the illness, suggesting excess DNA damage.”
Viruses in genome important for our brain
“…They have determined that several thousands of the retroviruses that have established themselves in our genome may serve as “docking platforms” for a protein called TRIM28. This protein has the ability to “switch off” not only viruses but also the standard genes adjacent to them in the DNA helix, allowing the presence of [endogenous retroviruses] […]
Why high-dose vitamin C kills cancer cells
“The study shows that vitamin C breaks down easily, generating hydrogen peroxide, a so-called reactive oxygen species that can damage tissue and DNA. The study also shows that tumor cells are much less capable of removing the damaging hydrogen peroxide than normal cells.”
Zinc reduces ‘wear and tear’ on DNA
“In the absence of sufficient zinc, our ability to repair everyday wear and tear on our DNA is compromised. In the randomized, controlled, six-week study the scientists measured the impact of zinc on human metabolism by counting DNA strand breaks.”
Overweight affects DNA methylation
“The extra pounds you gain during the holidays will not only show up on your hips but will also affect your DNA. This is the result of a large-scale international study coordinated by Helmholtz Zentrum München, a partner in the German Center for Diabetes Research, which has now been published in ‘Nature‘. The study shows […]