Explore the blog we’ve developed, including genomic education, genomic technologies, genomic advances, and genomics news & views.
What is ribosomal RNA? Ribosomal RNAs (rRNA) are the major components of ribosomes, which are responsible for protein synthesis by converting the instructions found in messenger RNA into the chains of amino acids. The key catalytic activity of ribosomes comes from the rRNAs. Additionally, rRNAs play an active role in recognizing conserved portions of mRNAs […]
What are SNPs? Single nucleotide polymorphisms, commonly called SNPs (pronounced “snips”), are the most frequent type of genetic variation among people, accounting for more than 90% of all differences between unrelated individuals. A SNP represents a difference in a single nucleotide. The DNA sequence contains four types of nucleotide bases: A (adenine), C (cytosine), G […]
The result of the Human Genome Project is a recognized "standard" for scientists – the reference genome. Like a coordinate system, researchers can better understand the structure, function, and variation of the human genome against the reference genome. The Human Genome Project began in 1990, the working draft was published in 2001, and the final […]
Since the first human genome was published in 2000, many reference genomes have been assembled successively in various species. However, the highly repetitive sequences (telomeric, mitotic, ribosomal DNA) clustered in the genome have resulted in many missing fragments in the assembled genomes. Fortunately, thanks to improvements in sequencing technologies and computational algorithms, a new era […]
The use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors has significantly improved overall survival in a subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, but only about 20% of patients respond to treatment. Identifying predictors of response is crucial to improve patient selection for immunotherapy. However, current understanding of relevant predictors is limited by the lack of large, multi-omic […]
In the realm of molecular biology research, there exist two oft-confounded methodologies used with regularity: genotyping and DNA sequencing. Despite their seeming synonymy, these methods differ considerably regarding their impact on research outcomes and applications. This blog post endeavors to elucidate the contrasts between genotyping and DNA sequencing, while exploring their respective benefits and drawbacks. […]
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) has emerged as one of the primary vectors for gene therapy. This is because it has many desirable properties, including lack of pathogenicity, efficient infection of dividing and non-dividing cells, and sustained maintenance of the viral genome. With an excellent safety profile in numerous preclinical studies and hundreds of clinical trials […]
Introduction As one of the organelles that contain their own genome, chloroplasts (cp) are plastids with double membranes and vesicle-like structures. These tiny organelles convert solar energy, synthesize organic matters, and feed almost the entire life on Earth while providing for their own needs. However, it seems that chloroplasts are not satisfied with this, as […]
Mitochondrial diseases (MitD) are an important clinical or medical challenge. Research has shown that genome sequencing can help to enhance the understanding of the genetic causes of MitD and to accelerate the development of functional research, clinical tests and therapeutic tools. What is Mitochondrial Disease? Mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles found in most eukaryotic cells that […]
Introduction to Exosomes Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles (EVs), ranging from 30 to 100 nm in diameter, carrying heterogeneous cargo, including miRNA, mRNA, lncRNA, lipids, and proteins. Exosomes widely present in very large quantities in all eukaryotic cells, mediating intercellular communication after being released into the extracellular space. In humans, exosomes nearly exist in all […]