Carmen Leitch

Can small circles of DNA, once dismissed as irrelevant, actually be major contributors to cancer development? Three new research studies suggest that yes, small circular bits of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) are involved in thousands of types of cancer, and they may be targeted with a new therapy.

Colon cancer is a particularly deadly form of cancer, and the incidence of the disease is rising, especially among younger people. Research has suggested that the composition of the gut microbiome, or the community of microbes in the human gastrointestinal tract, may influence the development of colon cancer; and certain bacteria may promote the disease. Now, scientists have shown how a bacterial toxin generated by Esherichia coli bacteria can damage DNA in intestinal cells, and promote colon cancer. The findings have been

Right now, plastics are wreaking havoc on the environment. While plastics have been very useful, they are also quite tough, and instead of breaking down naturally in the environment, they break up into tinier bits that have worked their way into all kinds of places, including water, plants, and the human body. Materials that are made from biological stuff are thought to offer a safer and more environmentally friendly option to plastics. But a new study has suggested that bio-based microfibers may be as harmful or even more dangerous than the plastics they are meant to replace. The findings have been

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The eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 scattered roughly 540 million tons of ash over an area of more than 22,000 square miles (57,000 square kilometers),

There are about 80,000 new cases of bladder cancer every year in the US alone. About one-third of cases are diagnosed at late stages when the disease is hard to treat. Scientists have now learned more about how genetic mutations can increase the risk of bladder cancer and drive the progression of the disease. The findings have been

Scientists developed a genetic tool that can quickly identify nearly any type of pathogenic infection, including those caused by bacteria, fungi, parasite, or virus. This approach can make it easier for clinicians and healthcare providers to care for patients with neurological infections like encephalitis, and can help screen for pathogens that have the potential to cause pandemics. This method relies on metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), which analyzes all of the genetic material in a sample, including DNA and RNA molecules.

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