Scientists have discovered a single-celled organism with a fantastically small genome, lacking genes for core metabolic functions, challenging our understanding of what constitutes life.
Researchers at Michigan State University have uncovered a surprising mechanism that plants use to regulate their growth — one that directly ties their development to how they perceive light. They found a metabolic compound, naringenin chalcone, can 'reprogram' a UV light sensor, potentially leading to more resilient crops.
Genetic studies of human metabolism have been limited in scale and allelic breadth. Here we provide a data-driven map of the genetic regulation of circulating small molecules and lipoprotein characteristics (249 traits) measured using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy across the allele frequency spectrum in ~450,000 individuals.
