Enzyme protects developing brain from harmful mutations
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 12-Jan-2026 18:11 ET (12-Jan-2026 23:11 GMT/UTC)
A research group led by The University of Osaka has discovered that the DNA repair enzyme Polβ plays a crucial role in protecting the developing brain from harmful mutations. The study found that a lack of Polβ leads to a significant increase in small insertions and deletions of DNA, known as indels near CpG sites, which are important regulatory regions in genes. This accumulation of mutations could contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.
Dr Jake Johnson is a cardiology resident at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine where he focuses on bridging the gap between advanced cardiac knowledge and practical clinical application. He is the first author of a new Frontiers in Veterinary Science article that describes a rare case study of the treatment of a lethargic and unresponsive chihuahua who visited the vet’s for treatment. We talked to Johnson about his career and a particular four-legged patient that ingested cocaine.
The health-related needs of an ageing population, bio-tech innovations, leveraging health data, ethics and AI in healthcare, nurturing start-ups, and investor insights—these are just a few of the topics to be featured at Digital Health Asia 2025 (DHA) from 8 to 10 September at City University of Hong Kong.
Australian researchers have created the first detailed molecular map of the human bone marrow, revealing new insights that could reshape our thinking about how an incurable blood cancer grows and spreads.
A study of 4,257 pneumonia patients identified three clinical phenotypes with distinct outcomes. The use of 80mg equivalent intravenous methylprednisolone treatment can reduce patient mortality in phenotype C. Precision treatment based on phenotypes could optimize therapy.