Many viruses, particularly RNA viruses, mutate at a very high rate per genome per replication. One possible explanation is that high mutation rates are selected to meet the challenge of fluctuating ...

This transcript has been edited for clarity. For more episodes, download the Medscape app or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast provider. Dr Liu is a ...

A 45-nucleotide strand of RNA can now synthesize both its mirror-image complement and a copy of itself, bringing scientists closer than ever to demonstrating how life could have emerged from chemistry ...

Mapping diverse mutations within a cancer hotspot revealed that distinct variants drive tumor growth to different extents, which could guide anticancer therapies.

Cancer cells carry thousands of mutations, but not all mutations are created equal. Some make tumors highly visible to the ...

The gene p53 acts as a tumor suppressor and often is called the ‘guardian of the genome.’ This gene is central to maintaining genomic stability, which prevents mutations from accumulating and leading ...

While most known types of DNA damage are fixed by our cells' in-house DNA repair mechanisms, some forms of DNA damage evade repair and can persist for many years, new research shows. This means that ...

While most known types of DNA damage are fixed by our cells’ in-house DNA repair mechanisms, some forms of DNA damage evade repair and can persist for many years, new research shows. This means that ...