Role of Metabolites in Human Placental Health Unveiled [2024-07-31]
A study, led by Prof Ng Shyh-Chang, Prof Wang Yan-Ling and Prof Wang Hongmei from the Beijing Institute of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine and CAS Institute of Zoology, delved into the intricate workings of placental trophoblast stem cells. Researchers discovered that these cells require a precise amount of glucose for proper regulation. When glucose levels drop, even briefly, the placenta enters a "crisis mode" linked to inflammation and potential pregnancy complications. Remarkably, acetate supplementation, easily ......
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Novel Gene Writing Technology Enables All-RNA-mediated Targeted Gene Integration in Human Cells [2024-07-12]
In a recent study published in Cell, a research team led by LI Wei and ZHOU Qi from the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed an innovative gene-writing technology based on retrotransposons. This achievement enables all-RNA-mediated targeted gene integration in human cells....
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Large-scale Study Reveals Functional Diversity of DNA Transposons and Expands Genome Engineering Toolbox [2024-06-06]
In a study published in Cell, a research team led by ZHANG Yong’e and WANG Haoyi from the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has characterized the diversity of DNA transposons and expanded the genome engineering toolbox....
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Researchers decode the spatiotemporal transcriptome atlas of multiple regions of the developing human brain [2023-12-21]
As the most complex organ in humans , the brain is anatomically divided into different regions .These different brain regions have special input-output connections and play various important functions .During the development of the human brain , complex cell types are generated through inherent genetic programs .Considering the rapid expansion of human brain volume during development , this poses a huge challenge for exploring the development of the human brain , especially the study of regional specialization in space ....
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Scientists discover hidden barriers and signs of damage in the aging spinal cord of primates [2023-11-03]
The spinal cord, a vital bridge connecting the brain and peripheral nerves, plays a pivotal role in governing motor functions and coordinating basic life activities of the body, which mainly through a rare and critical group of cells within the spinal cord called motor neurons. ...
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Researchers identify a novel role of RNA m6A modification in maintaining tissue homeostasis during primate aging [2023-04-11]
As the most prevalent chemical modification on eukaryotic mRNAs , N6 - methyladenosine ( m6A ) is dynamically and reversibly regulated by corresponding methyltransferases ( writers ) , binding proteins ( readers ) and demethylases ( erasers ) .Why do we need such sophisticated regulation ? Imagine the cells in our body as a bustling city , with m6A acting as a versatile traffic controller , guiding the flow of information — RNA , for its splicing , transport , stability , translation ....
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Scientists Discover Rare Superfast Muscles in Mouse Legs [2023-02-05]
You might think that only DC Comics superhero The Flash could run at a speed of 200 strides per second. But in the animal world， special muscles—called “superfast muscles”—can move as fast as Barry Allen. ...
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The enemies within: endogenous retroviruses and programmed aging [2023-01-07]
The co-option between viruses and humans plays important roles during human evolution. Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), belonging to long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons, are a relic of ancient retroviral infection, fixed in the genome during evolution, comprising about 8% of the human genome. As a result of evolutionary pressure, most human ERVs (HERVs) accumulate mutations and deletions. Moreover, these enemies from ancient times are strictly repressed by host mechanisms such as epigenetic regulation. On the other......
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Researchers Engineer A Novel Sustainable Karyotype In Mice [2022-08-26]
Evolutionary chromosomal changes may take a million years in nature, but researchers are now reporting a novel technique enabling programmable chromosome fusion that has successfully produced mice with genetic changes that occur on a million-year evolutionary scale in the laboratory. The result may provide critical insight into how rearrangements of chromosomes – the tidy packages of organized genes, provided in equal number from each parent, which align and trade or blend traits to produce offspring – influence evoluti......
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Old Mice, Young Milieu: Understanding How Aged Stem Cells Are Revitalized for Systemic Rejuvenation [2022-05-30]
Aging is a process of systemic degeneration involving a variety of tissues and organs in the whole body and is characterized by gradual reduction of regenerative ability and functional decline. In trying to understand the aging process, and more importantly, in pursuit to reverse it, scientists have developed a technique called heterochronic parabiosis (HP), which surgically connects the circulatory systems of a young and old animal, thus providing a unique paradigm for evaluating how tissues and organs respond to the opp......
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