Genetics and genomics news covering DNA sequencing, gene editing, CRISPR, hereditary disease research, and population genomics.
A large genetic study identified 127 gene locations linked to Alzheimer's, including 48 new ones. The findings highlight microglia and neuronal genes, supporting roles of immunity and neuroinflammation. Several genes were prioritized as potential drug targets.
Scientists at Stanford University discovered Drt3b, a protein that builds DNA without a template, using its own structure as a guide. Published in Science, it's the first known protein to produce long, sequence-specific DNA this way, overturning the belief that all DNA synthesis requires existing genetic material.