Sex-chromosome mutations are among the most detrimental to human health. Most are lethal or result in major loss of function, and their germline location allows mutations to affect multiple generations. A mosaic mutation causes an individual to have multiple populations of cells with different genotypes [1]. There are two types of mosaic chromosomal mutations (mCAs) that occur in germline cells. One has links to the Y chromosome in men (mLOY) while the other has links to the X chromosome in women (mLOX) [2].
Climate change has intensified environmental stresses on plants, threatening global food security by reducing crop yields by up to 5% per decade [1]. While genetic modifications have traditionally enhanced crop resilience, they raise ethical and ecological concerns. Epigenetic priming, where plants retain “memories” of prior stress and respond more effectively to future challenges, offers a prospective, sustainable alternative. This review examines three key aspects of epigenetic priming: underlying mechanisms, the stability and reliability of transgenerational inheritance, and practical agricultural applications. Peer-reviewed studies from Biosis and CAB Abstracts databases were searched using epigenetic priming keywords, limited to those published in the past five years. The most consistent finding is that DNA methylation and histone modifications regulate plant stress responses, contributing to short-term, long-term, and potentially transgenerational memory. However, evidence on the stability of transgenerational inheritance remains mixed. Some studies support heritable epigenetic changes that enhance resilience, while others report inconsistent results across environments and genotypes. Practical applications are also emerging, including CRISPR-based tools for targeted epigenetic modifications and field studies demonstrating potential improvements in crop resilience and yields. Yet, variability in outcomes across crops stresses the need for specialized approaches. The discrepancies mentioned likely stem from methodological differences, such as stress application protocols and the resetting of epigenetic marks in germlines. Future research must refine methodologies to bridge these gaps, unlocking the potential of epigenetic priming to enhance crop resilience in a changing climate.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by underlying cognitive features such as early-onset deficits in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and highly restricted interests [1, 2]. Autism is often diagnosed and characterized on a spectrum, as its range of severity is wide and can co-occur with other symptoms such as intellectual disability, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, epilepsy, delayed motor development, and more [3].
The use of insects as a tool in investigations is a popular topic as any new evidence allows for a more accurate retelling of a crime, leading investigators to the criminal or to identifying the victim. Forensic entomologists are exploring them as vectors of human DNA, as the ability to collect and extract DNA from various sources is essential for investigations since DNA has increasingly become the standard in forensic science. Despite their potential in forensic science, previous work has yet to compare the effectiveness of certain bugs in their ability to be used as DNA sources. The scope of this review was limited to hematophagous (blood-eating) and necrophagous (carrion-eating) insects. Papers from only the last five years were reviewed, with a preference for more recent research articles. Databases that were consulted included PubMed, Forensic Science International, and the International Journal of Legal Medicine with searches including the words “insect”, “forensic”, and “Human DNA”. When comparing the insects, human DNA lasts the longest post-feeding inside bed bugs allowing for more accurate DNA profiles. Mosquitoes and flies showed promise as DNA vectors.
In Drosophila melanogaster, the highest number of novel gene expression phenotypes have been observed in male reproductive tract tissues. Recent discovery of a novel testis expression by a gene, CG14662, in D. melanogaster but not sister species suggests a possible newly-evolved association with male fecundity. This study examined whether CG14662 is associated with reduced male fertility in D. melanogaster. with the use of RNAi knockdown.
Plants, which are sessile organisms, are extremely vulnerable to climate change, which is pushing plants out of their desired temperature range. One particular consequence is increased mutation rates, which is a known consequence of heat that has wide-ranging implications from conservation to breeding, to agricultural practice through its impact on genetic variation. This review will discuss past and current studies into this subject matter future paths of research that could be explored in regard to the effect of heat on the mutation rate in plants.
The resistome is the totality of the ancient genetic base of antibiotic-resistant genes among bacterial species. In the past, the resistome was wholly the subject of the natural world and the antibiotics that developed within it. However, ever since the use and misuse of antibiotics by humans began, the balance between the resistome and antibiotics has turned into a race between the emergence of highly antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” and the development of novel antibiotic compounds and antibiotic techniques. Among those superbugs that have become of human concern in recent years, Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is one of the most important. This paper aims to outline a possible novel vesicle vaccine that is effective against MRSA, and additionally, the process by which the vaccine might be experimentally created.
CRISPR-Cas9 revolutionized the field of genetic engineering but has significant drawbacks, as the double-strand breaks it induces have a relatively high rate of mutations and off-target activity. An emerging alternative is NICER, a technique utilizing an endonuclease called nickase, which has much lower levels of mutagenicity and a high level of specificity that rivals CRISPR-Cas9. This review will survey the various developments made in the nickase pipeline, specifically how they make up for CRISPR’s drawbacks, and its potential for treating genetic disorders with more accuracy and efficiency than current therapeutic tools.
One important aspect of stem cells is their high activity of the Wnt signaling pathway. In the animal Hydra vulgaris this pathway is active in some capacity at all times and is very active during regeneration. It is also active during the growth of ectopic heads, which are heads that grow on the wrong part of the Hydra or in addition to an already established head. Hydra is a model organism for studying countless molecular processes due to its structural simplicity and incredible regenerative abilities making it an ideal tool for studying the Wnt signaling pathway. This review will describe new research on the activity of β-catenin, GSK-3β, and general Wnt signaling during regeneration and ectopic head formation and prevention in Hydra.
Scientists at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul have identified the first Mastrevirus, a plant virus causing disease in crops worldwide, to infect both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. While this finding has interesting implications for gene editing via viral vectors, it may also impact pathogen management and food security.
