genome

Researchers analysed the evolutionary history of 163 ant genomes spanning most living subfamilies and found that periods of rapid species diversification over the past 100 million years coincided with increased activity of transposable elements, DNA sequences that move within the genome. The findings suggest genome dynamics may have helped drive ant diversification.

The German farmers' association Bauernstimme has filed a direct action at the European Court against the EU's new genetic engineering regulation (NGT), which loosens rules for certain gene-edited crops. The group argues the law undermines labelling and traceability requirements for agriculture. The case adds to growing resistance from farming and environmental organisations to the EU's deregulation of new genomic techniques.

A study published in Nature reports lipid nanoparticles engineered to carry large RNA payloads and target specific tissues, delivering stronger genome editing results in living organisms. The work addresses a key bottleneck in delivering bulky gene-editing RNA payloads safely to target organs. Researchers say the approach could broaden therapeutic applications of in vivo gene editing, though clinical translation remains ahead.

The New York Times reports that a virus, identified as the cause of molluscum contagiosum, has taken a human gene and retained it in its own genome. The finding sheds light on how viruses can hijack host genes during infection and keep them over evolutionary time, offering researchers a window into virus-host interaction and viral evolution.

Truecaller has launched a new tool called Scam Checker, designed to help users detect fraud attempts. The feature lets users check links, phone numbers and suspicious messages for signs of scams such as phishing. The tool is being discussed in connection with both iOS and Android versions of the app.

New research reported in Nature shows that the p53 protein, best known as a tumour suppressor, maintains a balance between transcription and DNA replication in cells. When this balance is disrupted, chromosomes can shatter in a catastrophic event known as chromothripsis, a recognised driver of cancer. The findings clarify how p53 guards genome integrity beyond its established roles in halting damaged cells.

A newly announced AI tool can combine different types of biological data into a single integrated analysis, according to a report by Labroots. The tool is aimed at helping researchers draw connections across datasets such as genomics and other biological measurements. Details about its developers, capabilities, and real-world applications remain limited in early coverage.

Researchers publishing in Nature have used spatially resolved multiomics to map how the human meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, develop. The work traces cell lineages during development and links them to disease dynamics, offering a reference for understanding neurological disorders tied to meningeal biology. It is being discussed among researchers following developmental biology and single-cell genomics.

A new study in Nature analyzed genomes from 103 bat species spanning all 21 living bat families, along with physical traits from dozens of species and fossil evidence. Researchers concluded that bats originated in Europe roughly 65 million years ago, later spreading to Africa, Asia and other regions. The findings are being shared widely in science communities as a significant update to understanding bat evolution.

Researchers have published a high-resolution genome-wide association study of roughly 600,000 people of East Asian ancestry examining type 2 diabetes. The work, reported in Nature, aims to break down why diabetes prevalence and risk profiles differ across populations, potentially improving genetic risk prediction and treatment insights for East Asian communities.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital report the discovery of a genome-level checkpoint that regulates inflammation. The finding, announced by Johns Hopkins Medicine, suggests the body has a previously unidentified control mechanism acting across the genome that could shape how inflammatory diseases are understood and potentially treated.

Researchers reporting through the American Association for Cancer Research say genomic studies are uncovering new layers of the biology behind leukemia in children. The work points to finer genetic characterisation of pediatric cancers, which could shape how young patients are diagnosed, risk-stratified and treated. Details of the findings, study size and clinical implications have not been made clear in the available information.

North Carolina State University has appointed Massimo Iorizzo as director of its Plants for Human Health Institute, which researches how plant-derived compounds can benefit human health. The appointment was announced through the university's official channels. Iorizzo, known for his work on plant genomics, will lead the institute's research agenda going forward.

BioTechniques takes a closer look at MFASS, a framework that runs three different splice-variant ranking methods and examines how their top-100 outputs compare. The piece explores what each ranker prioritises and how their results differ when predicting which splice variants matter most. It is part of the outlet's 'Peek behind the paper' series, in which researchers explain the reasoning and decisions behind recently published work.

UChicago Medicine has hired a genomics leader from the National Institutes of Health to fill its newly created chief data officer role. The appointment signals the health system's push to strengthen its use of data, genomics and analytics in research and patient care. Details on the executive's start date and priorities have not yet been announced.

10x Genomics has started shipping its Atera spatial biology platform, marking a commercial rollout of the new instrument. The system is designed to let researchers map gene activity within intact tissue, an area of growing interest in drug development and disease research. The company says deliveries to customers are now underway, though details on launch customers and pricing have not been given.

10x Genomics has introduced Sentira, a new cloud platform for analyzing biological data. The platform is aimed at helping researchers process and interpret large-scale genomic datasets in the cloud. Details on features and pricing have not yet been widely reported, and industry reaction is still limited.

Researchers have assembled the genome and annotated the genes of the Israeli strain of Babesia ovis, a tick-borne parasite affecting sheep, using PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing. Published in Nature's portfolio of scientific data papers, the work provides a high-quality reference genome intended to support future research on the parasite's biology, drug targets and vaccine development. Details of methods and datasets have been made openly available to other researchers.

A landmark genome study has traced the evolutionary origins of bats back roughly 65 million years, shedding light on how the only mammals capable of true flight emerged. The research, associated with UNC Charlotte, uses genomic data to clarify bats' place on the mammalian family tree and may inform future work on their unique traits, including echolocation and disease resistance.

A report under the headline 'The Genome's Hidden Layer' points to newly discussed aspects of the genome beyond its basic sequence, a topic of growing interest in biology. The coverage suggests that regulatory or structural elements of DNA may play a larger role in how genes function than previously appreciated. Specific findings and researchers involved have not been detailed, so the exact discovery behind the attention remains unspecified.