The centromere is a unique chromosomal locus responsible for the faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Disruption of centromere integrity frequently causes aberrant chromosome segregation and chromosome instability, a hallmark of cancers. The function of G9a/GLP-mediated H3K9me2 at (peri)centromeric heterochromatin remains elusive. A study published in Science Bulletin carefully investigated this topic and revealed an important role of H3K9me2 in protecting the centromeric chromatin landscape and thus ensuring accurate chromosome segregation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping diverse fields in science, with molecular science being no exception. A recent study published in Research (Science Partner Journal) reports S²ALM, a powerful AI tool which uses a step-wise learning approach for a detailed analysis of antibodies. Using both 1D sequence and 3D structural data for antibody learning, the developed model outperforms prior models across key tasks, advancing antibody design for various diseases and redefining the future of therapeutic development.

With climate change and more frequent extreme weather events, researchers predict that global yields of important crops like maize, rice, and soybeans could decline by 12 to 20% by the end of the century. To prepare, plant scientists are hoping to find ways to improve yields and grow hardier varieties of these crops. New insights into the genetic makeup of wild varieties of common crops show how domestication has changed crop traits over time and proposes a new cultivation method to improve genetic diversity.

A newly published study in PLOS ONE, Morphodynamic Foundations of Sumer,challenges long-held assumptions about the origins of urban civilization in ancient Mesopotamia, suggesting that the rise of Sumer was driven by the dynamic interplay of rivers, tides, and sediments at the head of the Persian Gulf. The research is led by Liviu Giosan, Senior Scientist Emeritus in Geology & Geophysics at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and Reed Goodman, Assistant Professor of Environmental Social Science at Baruch Institute of Social Ecology and Forest Science (BICEFS), Clemson University.

The move raised concerns about harmful mutations and genetic swamping — or loss of unique traits. However, a recent study co-authored by UCF Assistant Professor of Biology and Genomics and Bioinformatics faculty cluster member Robert Fitak, found that since the introduction, genetic variation has significantly improved; unique traits have been retained; and harmful mutations, while still present, are largely masked by the restored genetic variation.