Scientists have discovered a new property of the molecular motors that shape our chromosomes. While six years ago they found that these so-called SMC motor proteins make long loops in our DNA, they ...

The human Y chromosome, responsible for determining male sex, finally has gotten an end-to-end examination. The Y chromosome is the smallest of the human chromosomes. “In the old time, people thought ...

A Cornell-led study is challenging a decades-old explanation for how chromosomes exchange genetic material within the biological process that forms eggs and sperm in mammals.

For successful cell division, chromosomal DNA needs to be packed into compact rod-shaped structures. Defects in this process can lead to cell death or diseases like cancer. A new study has shown how ...

One of the most detailed 3D maps of how the human chromosomes are organized and folded within a cell's nucleus is published in Nature. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest sci-tech news updates.

Noah A. Dusseau is in the Department of Physiology, College of Natural Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. Read the paper: Genetic elements promote retention of ...