古 DNA 技术彻底改变了我们对 200 万年前到现在的已灭绝生物及现存生物的研究范式，不仅成功重建了多种已灭绝物种的基因组，还复原了其曾繁衍生息的生 态系统。然而，现有 DNA 测序技术本身无法直接揭示组织特异性、基因表达动态或转录调控信息，因为这些功能主要编码于 RNA 分子中。 撰文丨王聪 编辑丨王多鱼 排版丨水成文 近日，Cell Press 官网头条展示了一项关于 古 RNA 研究的新成果。 这项研究来自斯德哥尔摩大学， 论文题为： Ancient RNA expression profiles from the extinct woolly mammoth ，于 2025 年 11 月 14 日在线发表于 Cell 期刊。 该研究报道了 10 头晚更新世的 猛犸象 的 转录组谱 ，其中一具测年约为 3.9 万年的猛犸象标本，提供了足够精细的转录信息以解析骨骼肌代谢相关的组织特异 性调控机制和生物学功能，成为迄今发现的 最古老的古 RNA 序列 。该研究表明了 RNA 可以保存数万年之久，有望变革已灭绝生物的研究方式，展示了突破既 有认知框架的古 RNA 分子研究潜力，构建了跨时间维度验证和解码保存 ...

Core Insights - The research led by the Kunming Institute of Zoology has successfully unraveled the evolutionary relationships, endangered history, and genetic basis of the gibbon phenotype, providing scientific support for species conservation [2][3] Group 1: Research Findings - The study utilized advanced genomic techniques to construct the most comprehensive gibbon genome dataset to date, covering 18 extant gibbon species and three ancient samples, including the extinct "Gentle Gibbon" [2] - The research established the evolutionary sequence of the four major gibbon genera, resolving a century-long classification dispute and confirming the "Gentle Gibbon" found in the tomb of Emperor Qin's grandmother belongs to the Hoolock genus [3] - Genetic analysis indicated that most gibbons experienced a population bottleneck during the Late Pleistocene, approximately 100,000 to 200,000 years ago, with a synchronous recovery around 70,000 years ago, closely linked to global climate changes [3] Group 2: Genetic Mechanisms - The study identified a specific deletion in the SHH gene regulatory region, which is crucial for the long-limbed "brachiation" characteristic of gibbons, revealing the core genetic mechanisms behind the evolution of gibbon traits [3] Group 3: Future Implications - This research is a significant achievement in the international "Primate Genome Project" initiated by the Kunming Institute of Zoology, which will continue to provide a high-throughput, precise research platform for life sciences in China and globally, aiding in biomedicine development and biodiversity conservation [4]

Core Points - James Watson, known as the "father of DNA," passed away at the age of 97 [1] - Watson, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for discovering the double helix structure of DNA [3] Group 1: Contributions to Science - Watson served as the director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory from 1968, focusing on cancer research [4] - He expressed a desire to establish the Watson Life Science Center in China, aiming to develop affordable cancer therapies [4] - Watson believed that humanity could potentially cure cancer within the next 50 years, having studied the disease for over a decade [4] Group 2: Personal Philosophy and Legacy - Watson shared his views on life, suggesting that living longer comes with high costs, including increased medical expenses [4] - He encouraged young people to maintain humility and continuously learn from peers, emphasizing the importance of a humble learning attitude [4] - Watson left a memorable message for students at Southern University of Science and Technology, urging them to "Avoid boring People!" [5]

Core Insights - An international team led by Chinese scientists has discovered a new species of gibbon, named "Imperial Gentleman Gibbon," through ancient DNA sequencing technology, published in the journal Cell [1][5]. Group 1: Discovery and Research Findings - The Imperial Gentleman Gibbon was found in the burial site of Empress Xia, the grandmother of Qin Shi Huang, during excavations in 2004, where gibbon remains were uncovered in a burial pit [1][6]. - Initial morphological studies in 2018 suggested it was a new genus and species, but further DNA analysis in 2025 confirmed it as a new species within the Hoolock genus, closely related to the Hainan gibbon [5][8]. - The burial site also contained remains of other animals such as leopard cats, lynxes, Asian black bears, and red-crowned cranes, along with bronze chains and feeding tools, indicating a diverse collection of animals [6][8]. Group 2: Cultural and Historical Context - The findings suggest that Empress Xia had a fondness for rare animals, which were likely kept in royal gardens and buried with her, reflecting ancient beliefs about life and death [8]. - The research also reinforced the classification of the "Tianxing Gibbon" as an independent species and identified the gene "SHH" that regulates the length of gibbons' arms [8].

Core Viewpoint - The research highlights the critical role of the maternal transcription factor OTX2 in initiating human embryonic genome activation (EGA) and its implications for early human development [2][6]. Group 1: Research Findings - OTX2 is identified as an essential maternal PRD-like homeobox protein transcription factor necessary for EGA and early development in humans [5]. - At the 4-cell stage, OTX2 activates key EGA genes, including TPRX1 and TPRX2, as well as EGA-related repetitive sequences HERVL-int and MLT2A1 [5]. - OTX2 directly binds to promoters and presumed enhancers at EGA target sites, many of which overlap with OTX2 motif-containing Alu and MaLR repetitive elements, enhancing chromatin accessibility [5]. Group 2: Implications and Significance - The findings establish OTX2 as a key maternal transcription factor that awakens the genome at the beginning of human life, providing insights into molecular regulatory mechanisms in developmental biology and reproductive medicine [6]. - A related article in Nature Genetics emphasizes the largely unknown transcription factors responsible for initiating EGA in humans, underscoring the significance of the new research on OTX2 [6].

Core Insights - The research confirms that bumblebees possess the ability to transmit positive emotions without physical contact or chemical signals, simply through visual observation [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - Bumblebees trained to associate specific colored flowers with rewards demonstrated a tendency to explore uncertain flowers after interacting with "happy" bumblebees that had just received a sugar water reward [2] - This indicates that positive judgment tendencies can be transmitted among individual bumblebees, akin to how good moods can be shared among social animals [2] Group 2: Implications - The study suggests that emotional contagion may be a shared mechanism between social vertebrates and insects, indicating its evolutionary significance [2] - The findings highlight the complex social emotional processing capabilities of bumblebees, which possess approximately one million neurons, suggesting that the roots of emotional and social cognition may have emerged early in the evolution of life [2]

Core Viewpoint - The research reveals that specific mutations in the cGAS protein of naked mole-rats enhance DNA repair mechanisms, potentially leading to extended lifespan and healthspan, suggesting a new strategy for aging intervention in humans [2][3][9]. Summary by Sections Research Findings - The study identifies four specific amino acid mutations in the cGAS protein of naked mole-rats that convert it from a DNA repair inhibitor to a repair enhancer, thereby promoting DNA repair and delaying aging [3][6]. - Compared to humans and mice, naked mole-rat cGAS improves the efficiency of homologous recombination repair, which is crucial for maintaining genomic stability [6][9]. Mechanism of Action - The mutations in cGAS alter its interaction with ubiquitin, extending its retention time on chromatin after DNA damage, which enhances the formation of complexes necessary for DNA repair [6][9]. - The study demonstrates that the naked mole-rat cGAS mitigates stress-induced cellular aging and organ degeneration, contributing to increased lifespan [6][9]. Experimental Validation - Delivery of naked mole-rat cGAS to aged mice using adeno-associated virus (AAV) alleviated signs of frailty, reduced inflammation markers, and decreased cellular aging indicators, thereby extending healthspan [7][9]. Implications for Human Aging - The findings suggest that mimicking the unique mutations of naked mole-rat cGAS through small molecules or gene editing could offer new avenues for delaying aging and enhancing healthspan in humans [3][9].

Core Viewpoint - Recent research from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute reveals that changes in lysosomes in Caenorhabditis elegans (a type of nematode) that extend parental lifespan can be transmitted to offspring, resulting in increased longevity without altering DNA sequences [1] Group 1: Research Findings - Lysosomes, previously considered as cellular "recycling centers," are now shown to influence lifespan through epigenetic mechanisms, specifically chemical markers that regulate gene expression [1] - The study indicates that lifespan-extending changes in somatic cells can be passed to germ cells via histone modifications, allowing offspring to inherit longevity advantages [1] - Overexpression of a specific enzyme in the lysosomes of nematodes led to a 60% increase in lifespan, and even unmodified offspring exhibited extended lifespans, demonstrating the transgenerational effect [1] Group 2: Mechanism of Transmission - The transgenerational transmission of lifespan extension relies on histones, with lysosomal changes activating cellular processes that increase specific histone variants [1] - These histones are transported from somatic cells to germ cells via nutrient transport proteins, allowing the lysosomal information to be modified and passed on to subsequent generations [1]

Core Viewpoint - The research introduces a revolutionary toolset of time-resolved fluorescent proteins (tr-FP) that expands the application of fluorescent microscopy in both temporal and spectral domains, providing a new solution for integrating system complexity and quantitative accuracy in biological research [4][6]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study reports a series of time-resolved fluorescent proteins (tr-FP) with rationally tunable lifetimes, developed without affecting the spectral properties of the fluorescent proteins [5]. - These tr-FPs enable temporal-spectral resolved microscopy, achieving simultaneous imaging of nine different proteins in live cells and correlating various cellular activities with the cell cycle [5]. - The tr-FPs facilitate multiplexing super-resolution microscopy, allowing the visualization of four proteins simultaneously and enabling quantitative studies in cellular proteomics [5][7]. Group 2: Technical Advancements - The research demonstrates that mutations can alter the non-radiative decay of tr-FPs, which span the visible spectrum and possess a wide range of fluorescence lifetimes suitable for microscopy [7]. - The tr-FPs support advanced imaging techniques such as STED-FLIM (Stimulated Emission Depletion Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy) and protein chemometrics for quantitative analysis [7].

Core Viewpoint - The research published by Professor Yang Chonglin's team from Yunnan University reveals that the mitochondria-associated condensates (MATO) formed by the RNA-binding protein LARP-1 through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) play a crucial role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and promoting lifespan extension [3][5]. Group 1 - The study demonstrates that MATO mediates the local synthesis of proteins necessary for maintaining mitochondrial structure and function [5]. - In Caenorhabditis elegans, LARP-1 coordinates the translation mechanism and the fusion of various RNA-binding proteins to form MATO, which is dependent on the mitochondrial outer membrane complex transport enzyme [5]. - A deficiency in LARP-1 significantly reduces mitochondrial protein levels, disrupts the organization of mitochondrial cristae, and affects ATP production [5]. Group 2 - The research identifies that the synthesis of MICOS subunit IMMT-1 (MIC60) and ATP synthase β subunit ATP-2, which are critical for mitochondrial cristae organization, is decreased in LARP-1 deficient worms [5]. - During aging and starvation, LARP-1 MATO dissociates from the mitochondria; however, its persistent presence in mitochondria can protect mitochondrial health and greatly extend lifespan [5][7].