Genetics

As genetic testing grows in popularity, researchers have begun identifying specific alleles in the human genome related to a heritable aspect of endometriosis, a condition that affects more than one in ten women of reproductive age. Researchers are working to identify specific genetic biomarkers to more accurately diagnose and eventually treat endometriosis. This review will focus on new genetic biomarkers and their role in potential non-invasive diagnostic and possible treatment options.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication found in hospitals and the third leading cause of death among trauma patients. While there exists a wide variety of causes for AKI, they can be attributed to few pathophysiologies that studies are exploring medications to target. In conjunction with improving treatments, however, there is also a need to improve AKI diagnosis to prevent late-stage complications. This review will explore developments of new diagnostic biomarkers and medications that address these concerns.

Every year, staggering numbers of male chicks, calves, and piglets are killed in the U.S. The animal welfare issues encompassing the culling and castration of unwanted male animals in food production can be addressed through a multitude of sex determination methods. This review examines the potential of sperm sexing by flow cytometry, the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and spectroscopy methods as efficient and economically viable measures for industry.

Climate change and a continuously growing population have increased demands on global food yields. However, meeting the planet’s hunger needs does not have to come at the price of depleting its natural resources. A possible sustainable solution to this issue is the perennialization of all staple grain crops. This review analyzes the successes, challenges, and applications of the perennialization of staple grain crops such as sorghum, corn, rice, and wheat.

Marine species are experiencing higher population declines than many terrestrial species due to anthropogenic causes, such as increased water exports or runoff impacting habitats and behavioral patterns. Aquatic systems require a greater focus on species preservation, but keeping track of different species can be difficult. A first step in conservation involves genetic monitoring to track ...

It has puzzled the world’s greatest minds – from Aristotle and Plato to Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel – and dramatically altered the course of science and human history. Its discovery opened the door for unparalleled innovation in all fields of biology, evolution more than any other. Today, it feeds us with growing curiosity and optimism about the promising future of health ...

In December of 2016, Walters, et al. released a scientific article detailing the discovery of mRNA that were capped by nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD). Typically, mRNA are capped at the 5’ end by an adenine triphosphate (ATP) molecule, which provides a signal to RNA polymerase II that allows for the initiation of transcription. When studying the mRNAs of ...

Christianson Syndrome (CS) is a genetic disorder that was first studied in 1999, when a South African family noticed the prevalence of an autism-like disorder in their sons. Many more cases have been discovered since then, and it is estimated that CS affects 1 in ...

“The discovery of the structure by Crick and Watson, with all its biological implications, has been one of the major scientific events of this century.” When Sir Lawrence Bragg wrote this for the foreword, he had no idea how influential this event would actually be for scientific progress even decades later. Following this major scientific event, deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, has begun to be ...

One feature that sets humans apart from other primates is the thickness of tooth enamel. Scientists at Duke University have recently discovered evidence on how evolution has resulted in thickened enamel for human teeth. By comparing the human genome to five other primate species, geneticists and evolutionary anthropologists were able to identify two segments of DNA where ...