Tag

Rna

All articles tagged with #rna

science15 days ago•9 min saved

Tiny 45-base ribozyme copies itself, nudging origin-of-life theories

Researchers identified QT-45, a 45-base RNA ribozyme that can act like a tiny polymerase to copy RNA strands and, crucially, can synthesize a copy of its own sequence by base-pairing with a template. In tests, QT-45 copied various RNAs with about 95% fidelity (roughly 2–3 errors per copy), though the process is slow. This demonstrates self-replicating RNA is plausible at very small sizes and could be refined by evolution under prebiotic conditions.

via Ars Technica|

#origin-of-life #polymerase #ribozyme

science1 month ago•8 min saved

Cancer’s Hidden Barcode: OncRNA Signatures Map Tumor Identity and Treatment Response

Researchers mapped hundreds of thousands of cancer-specific small RNAs (oncRNAs) that act as digital barcodes to identify cancer type, subtype, and aggressiveness. Many oncRNAs are secreted into blood, enabling a simple serum test to monitor treatment response and predict survival. The work blended large-scale genome analysis, machine learning, mouse experiments, and data from nearly 200 breast cancer patients, finding about 5% of oncRNAs can drive tumor growth. The discovery points to a new, blood-based approach for real-time cancer monitoring and personalized therapy, with ongoing development in collaboration with Exai Bio.

via SciTechDaily|

#biomarkers #breast-cancer #cancer

science1 month ago•12 min saved

Sperm RNA Clock Reveals Mid-Life Aging Cliff Linked to Child Health

A new EMBO Journal study reports a mid-life, abrupt shift in sperm RNA—an “aging cliff”—that could influence what fathers pass to their offspring, offering a mechanism beyond DNA mutations that may help explain increased risks of neurodevelopmental and metabolic issues in children of older dads and supporting aging-related cautions in assisted reproduction.

via ZME Science|

#aging #neurodevelopment #paternalage

science1 month ago•29 min saved

Obelisks: Tiny RNA life forms found living inside the human microbiome

Researchers report the discovery of obelisks—tiny circular RNA life forms inside human-associated bacteria in the mouth and gut—potentially a new class of RNA-based life that challenges virus/viroid definitions, with health implications still unknown; the findings were shared on bioRxiv and Royal Society Open Science.

via Earth.com|

#circular-rna #microbiome #obelisks

biology1 month ago•6 min saved

TimeVaults give cells a memory of their gene activity

Researchers rewired vault proteins to create TimeVaults that capture and store messenger RNA produced by human cells over a 24-hour window, keeping a record for at least a week. The system acts as an unbiased cellular memoir of transcription, activated by a drug cue and reversible, and could shed light on cancer drug resistance and stem-cell biology without noticeably affecting cell behavior.

via Nature|

#biology #cell-biology #rna

science1 month ago•7 min saved

Space-origin theories gain support in understanding Earth's life beginnings

New experiments support the 'RNA world' hypothesis by demonstrating how RNA could have formed on early Earth, with borates playing a beneficial role in stabilizing RNA components, suggesting a plausible pathway for the origin of life around 4.3 billion years ago, possibly delivered by asteroid impacts.

via Space|

#astrobiology #earth #experiments

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Sunburn May Activate Hidden Cancer Pathway, Scientists Find

Scientists have discovered that sunburn damages a protective protein called YTHDF2 in skin cells, leading to uncontrolled inflammation that can trigger skin cancer. The research highlights how UV exposure breaks down YTHDF2, allowing non-coding RNAs to activate immune pathways associated with cancer development, offering new avenues for prevention and treatment.

via SciTechDaily|

#inflammation #rna #science

science2 months ago•4 min saved

Scientists Successfully Retrieve RNA from Extinct Animal

Scientists in Sweden successfully extracted and analyzed RNA from a 130-year-old preserved Tasmanian tiger (thylacine), marking a significant advancement in ancient DNA research by revealing gene activity, tissue-specific signals, and potential viral traces, thus providing deeper insights into extinct species' biology and gene regulation.

via Earth.com|

#extinct-animals #genetics #paleotranscriptomics

science2 months ago•4 min saved

Scientists Successfully Recover RNA from Extinct Animal

Scientists in Sweden successfully recovered and analyzed RNA from a 130-year-old preserved thylacine, providing insights into its gene activity, tissue types, and potential viral history, marking a significant advancement in paleotranscriptomics and extinct species research.

via Earth.com|

#extinct-animal #museum-specimens #paleotranscriptomics

science2 months ago•14 min saved

Leading Chemist Reveals Life's 'Impossible' Problem Has a Scientific Solution

Chemist John Sutherland explains that life's origins are plausible through natural chemistry involving simple molecules like hydrogen cyanide, challenging the idea that life requires a miracle, and suggests that life could be common in the universe if the right chemical conditions are met.

via ZME Science|

#chemistry #early-earth #exoplanets

science3 months ago•2 min saved

Scientists Develop First Drug to Target Cancer's 'Immortality' RNA

Scientists at Hebrew University have developed a novel small molecule using RIBOTAC technology that selectively targets and destroys the cancer-associated RNA TERRA, slowing tumor growth and opening new avenues for RNA-based cancer therapies beyond traditional protein-focused drugs.

via SciTechDaily|

#cancer #drug-development #ribotac

science4 months ago•3 min saved

Chemists Develop Public Tool for In-Depth RNA Visualization in Cells

Chemists at UMass Amherst have developed iConRNA, a publicly available tool that offers an unprecedented view of RNA behavior inside cells, aiding in understanding cellular functions and disease mechanisms related to phase separation of biomolecules.

via Phys.org|

#biomolecular-condensates #cell-biology #phase-separation

science5 months ago•5 min saved

Scientists Recreate Key Step in Origin of Life

Scientists from University College London recreated a 4-billion-year-old chemical reaction in lab conditions mimicking early Earth, demonstrating how RNA and amino acids could naturally bind to form the precursors of proteins, shedding light on the origins of life and bridging metabolism and genetics.

via Energy Reporters|

#amino-acids #chemical-reaction #origin-of-life

science6 months ago•4 min saved

Scientists Uncover Key Chemistry Behind Life's Origins

Scientists have replicated a key step in the origin of life by demonstrating how RNA and amino acids could have naturally combined on early Earth, using simple chemistry and a high-energy mediator called thioester, providing insights into the molecular processes that led to the emergence of life.

via ScienceAlert|

#amino-acids #chemical-synthesis #origin-of-life

science6 months ago•4 min saved

New Study Supports 'Thioester World' Theory in Origin of Life

Scientists have discovered a water-friendly chemical reaction that links RNA and amino acids under mild conditions, providing a plausible pathway for the formation of the first proteins on early Earth and bridging the gap between metabolism, genetic information, and protein building.

via Earth.com|

#amino-acids #origin-of-life #prebiotic-chemistry