genomics

Scientists say artificial intelligence could help bring the woolly mammoth back from extinction, according to a report. AI is being used to analyze the mammoth genome and accelerate efforts to edit elephant DNA so the Ice Age giant's traits could be recreated. The idea of de-extincting the mammoth has drawn both excitement and skepticism about whether such a creature can truly be brought back.

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.

A major genome study claims to reveal the evolutionary origins of bats, dating their emergence to roughly 65 million years ago. By analyzing genomic data, researchers say the work clarifies how bats diverged from other mammals and developed traits such as flight and echolocation, offering new insight into one of the most distinctive orders in the animal kingdom.

Researchers report the discovery of a human 'jumping gene' — a transposable element able to move around the genome — found embedded inside a virus. The finding suggests genetic material can move between humans and viruses, shedding light on how genomes evolve and how viruses may acquire host genes. Scientists say it could inform understanding of gene transfer 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.

Commentary argues that CRISPR genome-edited plants must move beyond laboratory success into a broader sustainable innovation system covering regulation, farming practice and commercialisation. The piece stresses that editing crops is only one step; lasting impact depends on infrastructure, policy and responsible deployment in agriculture.

Scientists analysing the evolutionary history of 163 ant genomes, spanning most existing subfamilies, found that periods of rapid species diversification over the past 100 million years coincided with higher activity of transposable elements — DNA sequences capable of moving around the genome. The findings suggest these mobile genetic elements played a significant role in driving the evolutionary success and variety of ants.

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.

A Nature publication describes a rational framework for choosing between SpCas9 and variant-derived adenine base editors when editing the human genome. The work aims to help researchers match editor choice to specific target sites and desired edits, improving precision in gene-editing applications. The paper is being circulated among readers following advances in CRISPR-based genome editing tools.

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.

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 finding reports that overlapping genes—genes whose sequences physically overlap on the genome—are subject to different evolutionary pressures depending on the organism. In bacteria, overlapping genes appear to evolve under one set of constraints, while in eukaryotes, or complex life, they follow another. The results suggest that genome architecture shapes how evolution acts on shared genetic material, challenging the assumption that overlapping genes obey universal rules across all living things.

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.

A systematic review published in Nature examines how precision medicine may widen or reflect existing health inequalities. The review consolidates evidence on unequal access to genetic testing, targeted therapies and genomic research participation, with disadvantaged groups underrepresented. Researchers and health policy commentators are citing it in ongoing debates about equity in genomics-driven healthcare and who benefits from personalised treatment advances.

Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute are applying mathematical models to study how cells communicate with one another. The approach aims to make sense of complex signalling data from biological experiments, helping scientists identify which cell interactions matter in healthy tissue and disease. It reflects a growing trend of combining computational methods with genomics research.

A new science news release highlights Mendelian randomization, a statistical method that uses genetic variants as natural experiments to infer whether biological risk factors truly cause disease, as it gains new power in the era of large genomic and biobank datasets. Researchers are increasingly applying the approach to distinguish genuine causal links from mere correlations in human biology and medicine.

An opinion piece argues that artificial intelligence in biology can only be as reliable as the datasets it is trained on. The author warns that biased, incomplete or low-quality data can undermine AI's promise in biological research, from drug discovery to genomics. The article calls for better data standards and careful validation before AI-driven conclusions are treated as trustworthy science.

Researchers have identified a human brain gene capable of moving, or 'jumping', to new positions within the genome. The finding, reported via ScienceDaily, sheds light on mobile genetic elements and their potential role in brain development and genetic variation. Little further detail beyond the headline has circulated so far, but the discovery is drawing attention for what it could mean for neuroscience and genetics research.

The Earth BioGenome Project has published quality standards and recommendations for generating eukaryotic reference genome assemblies. The guidelines are intended to ensure consistency and accuracy across the thousands of species genomes the initiative aims to sequence. Researchers in genomics and biodiversity science are expected to follow these benchmarks as genome assembly efforts expand worldwide.

A new benchmark warns that widely used gene pathway scoring tools can silently erase disease signals from genomic data, potentially distorting research findings. The warning matters because pathway analysis underpins many studies of complex diseases, and researchers may be reporting false negatives without knowing it. Scientists are discussing which methods are affected and how to validate results before relying on these tools.

A new review examines how reactive oxygen species affect telomeres and telomerase in cancer cells, auditing the current evidence on redox control of chromosome ends. The piece weighs how oxidants can drive telomere shortening and genomic instability, while tumors exploit antioxidant systems to maintain immortal cell division.

Scientists are using the genomes of Antarctic animals to reconstruct the past behaviour of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Because direct geological records are limited, genetic signatures in species that survived past climate shifts can reveal when and where ice retreated and advanced. The research, published in Nature, offers a new way to estimate how the ice sheet responded to earlier warming periods, informing predictions about its future contribution to sea-level rise.

Nature has published a piece on neuropsychiatry genetics in Africa, highlighting the state of genetic research into mental and neurological disorders across the continent. The discussion centres on why African populations remain underrepresented in genomic studies of conditions like schizophrenia, depression and epilepsy, and what is needed to build local research capacity, data resources and infrastructure so genetic discoveries can benefit African patients.

Researchers have mapped a set of tiny proteins encoded in the genome of Trichomonas vaginalis, the parasite that causes trichomoniasis, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. The work, described as uncovering a hidden layer of the parasite's genome, could improve understanding of how the parasite functions and open new directions for diagnosing and treating the infection.