gene

Horizontal gene transfer occurs when a gene moves from one species to another.

Normally, these genes help regulate which other genes are active or inactive, maintaining proper cell function.

Because of this complexity, creating gene therapies that work broadly across all patients with a given disorder has been extremely difficult.

Mutations in a gene called CPD have been found to play a key role in a rare inherited form of hearing loss, according to an international research collaboration.

After division, scientists thought, the DNA would slowly rebuild its complex, folded structure, which is key to regulating which genes are active in a given cell.