Eight genes enough to convert mouse stem cells into oocyte-like cells
In a new study published in the journal Nature, researchers in Japan report that activating just eight genes for producing gene-controlling proteins is enough to convert mouse stem cells directly into oocyte-like cells that mature and can even be fer.....»»
Highways to health: Bicontinuous structures speed up cell migration
One of the most important but least understood aspects of healing is cell migration, or the process of cells moving from one part of the body to another. "If you are an ambulance out in the woods," says Karen Xu, an M.D/Ph.D. student in Medicine and.....»»
Parasite engineered to deliver therapy proteins to nerve cells
An international team of neurobiologists has developed a way to use a parasite to deliver protein therapies through the blood–brain barrier to treat nerve cell disorders. In their study published in Nature Microbiology, the group engineered the par.....»»
Boost creativity in schools and build STEM careers, say educators
It opens the mind and is at the heart of innovation, yet while creativity is recognized as a critical skill for Australia's economic future, it is typically confined to the arts, skipping other areas of the curriculum......»»
Scientists convert bacteria into efficient cellulose producers
Bacteria produce materials that are of interest to humans, such as cellulose, silk and minerals. The advantage of producing bacteria in this way is that it is sustainable, takes place at room temperature and in water. A disadvantage is that the proce.....»»
From genes to jeans: New genetic insights may lead to drought-resilient cotton
Cotton is woven into the very fabric of our lives, from soft T-shirts to comfortable jeans and cozy bedsheets. It's the world's leading renewable textile fiber and the backbone of a global industry worth billions......»»
How do cells coordinate their behavior with other cells to create tissue-scale behaviors?
Cells communicate with one another during development, but what are the steps that enable them to transition from local cell-cell communication to a globally synchronized tissue-scale behavior?.....»»
New and improved drug-delivery molecules for skeletal muscle
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a new drug-delivery molecule, a zwitterionic polymer complex that can help get plasmid DNA inside cells when injected into skeletal muscle, a crucial step in the expression of therapeutic RN.....»»
Invasive, blood-sucking fish "may hold the key to understanding where we came from," say biologists
One of just two vertebrates without a jaw, sea lampreys that are wreaking havoc in Midwestern fisheries are simultaneously helping scientists understand the origins of two important stem cells that drove the evolution of vertebrates......»»
Photocatalyst research uncovers better way to produce green hydrogen
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a material that shows a remarkable ability to convert sunlight and water into clean energy......»»
Scientists discover how yeast cells sense physical stresses on the membranes that protect them
Cell membranes play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and functionality of cells. However, the mechanisms by which they perform these roles are not yet fully understood. Scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), in collaboration wit.....»»
Scientists hijack natural delivery system to send engineered proteins to target cells
Each cell in the body has its own unique delivery system that scientists are working on harnessing to move revolutionary biological drugs—molecules like proteins, RNA and combinations of the two—to specific diseased parts of the body......»»
Method can analyze individual, still-living cells that may contain biomarkers for cancer and other deadly diseases
The Ivanov Lab at Northeastern University is paving the way to a whole variety of diagnostic tests that are possible off of a single blood draw, including—someday—cancer......»»
AMD just launched a free tool all serious PC gamers should have
AMD's Frame Latency Meter can measure the latency between moving your mouse and seeing the result on screen......»»
Boosting plant health: The role of gene exchange with bacteria
A recent study has unveiled how plants and bacteria exchange genes to boost plant health and development. The team discovered 75 genes that were transferred between small, fast-growing plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) and its bacterial companions, influ.....»»
Researchers develop novel procedure for isolating primary mouse hepatocytes with holographic acoustic tweezers
Recently, a research team established a comprehensive procedure for isolating primary mouse hepatocytes and maintaining them in long-term culture with significant amplification in a two-dimensional (2D) environment. The team was led by Prof. Li Fei a.....»»
Stress granules found to play an unsuspected role in blood vessel formation
The behavior of the cells that make up our blood vessels is crucial to our well-being. Conditions such as inflammation, oxygen deprivation and viral infection can stress these cells and disrupt the formation of new, often pathological, blood vessels......»»
Smart guide RNAs: Researchers use logic gate-based decision-making to construct circuits that control genes
Researchers have transformed guide RNAs, which direct enzymes, into a smart RNA capable of controlling networks in response to various signals. A research team consisting of Professor Jongmin Kim and Ph.D. candidates Hansol Kang and Dongwon Park fro.....»»
Researchers explore a single cell using advanced X-ray imaging techniques
Every plant, animal, and person is a rich microcosm of tiny, specialized cells. These cells are worlds unto themselves, each with their own unique parts and processes that elude the naked eye......»»
How to unlock a mouse (and why you might need to)
Is your mouse frozen? Locked? Unresponsive? It might be that your laptop or PC has locked, or the mouse itself. Either way, here's how to fix it......»»
New genetic test can help eliminate a form of inherited blindness in dogs
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a group of inherited diseases that causes progressive degeneration of the light sensitive cells at the back of the eye. Dogs with PRA have normal sight at birth, but by the age of four or five they will be totally.....»»