For decades, we’ve believed the bright redness of sunburn — along with its irritating sting and peeling skin — was the result of ultraviolet (UV) radiation wreaking havoc on DNA. But now, a new study from researchers at the University of Copenhagen and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore suggests otherwise.

DNA-nanoparticle motors are exactly as they sound: tiny artificial motors that use the structures of DNA and RNA to propel motion through enzymatic RNA degradation. Essentially, chemical energy is converted into mechanical motion by biasing the Brownian motion.

New research reveals that sunburn’s acute effects, like inflammation and cell death, are triggered by RNA damage rather than DNA damage. This discovery reshapes our understanding of the skin’s defense against UV radiation and opens doors to innovative treatments for sun-related skin conditions.

Researchers have discovered that DNA and RNA epigenetics form a complementary system that precisely regulates gene activity, with potential implications for understanding cancer.

This is where DNA and RNA epigenetics comes in: a series of mechanisms that act as "markers" on genes, to control their activity without modifying the DNA or RNA sequence itself. Until now, DNA and RNA epigenetics were studied as independent systems.

DNA-nanoparticle motors are exactly as they sound: tiny artificial motors that use the structures of DNA and RNA to propel motion by enzymatic RNA degradation. Essentially, chemical energy is converted into mechanical motion by biasing the Brownian motion.

We have all been told to avoid direct sunlight between 12 noon and 3 p.m., seek out shade and put on sunscreen and a hat. Nevertheless, most of us have experienced sunburn at least once. The skin turns bright red,

DNA-nanoparticle motors are exactly as they sound: tiny artificial motors that use the structures of DNA and RNA to propel motion by enzymatic RNA

Our genes contain all the instructions our body needs to function, but their expression must be finely regulated to guarantee that each cell performs its role optimally. This is where DNA and RNA epigenetics come in: a series of mechanisms that act as "markers" on genes,

“Sunburn damages the DNA, leading to cell death and inflammation. So the textbooks say. But in this study we were surprised to learn that this is a result of damage to the RNA, not the DNA that ...

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Our genes contain all the instructions our body needs to function, but their expression must be finely regulated to guarantee that each cell performs