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.....»»
Stem carbohydrate richness in two cycad species
Terrestrial plants have developed strategies to cope with suboptimal conditions. Storage of nonstructural resources is one of those strategies. Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) of plants are primarily sugars and starch, and have been studied extens.....»»
Biofabrication should be sustainable: Researcher calls for a rethink in current practices
Miriam Filippi, a researcher in the field of soft robotics working on developing bioinspired artificial muscle tissues, believes we can make human activities more ecologically sound by harnessing the power of living cells for bio-hybrid materials......»»
Protein signaling pathway provides insights into cell migration and cancer metastasis
The innate immune response is the body's first line of defense against infection, and a successful immune defense takes a village: a combination of physical barriers, chemical attacks, and an army of specialized white blood cells. But maintaining and.....»»
Identifying the genes that viruses "steal" from ocean microbes
The microbes that cycle nutrients in the ocean don't do the work on their own—the viruses that infect them also influence the process. It's a vital job for the rest of the planet, enabling oceans to absorb half of the human-generated carbon in the.....»»
Apple secretly tapped BYD for long-range EV battery tech, report says
Apple and BYD teamed up around 2017 to build a battery system using lithium iron phosphate cells, Bloomberg reported, signaling just how far the iPhone maker went in its efforts to produce a car......»»
Electrophysiology study shows how ant toxin causes extreme pain
University of Queensland researchers have uncovered the workings of ant venom by measuring electric currents through individual channels in cells to understand how it causes pain......»»
Targeting bacteria: Auxiliary metabolic genes expand understanding of phages and their reprogramming strategy
Viruses that infect bacteria—known as bacteriophages—could be used in a targeted manner to combat bacterial diseases. They also play an important ecological role in global biogeochemical cycles. Recent research by researchers at the University of.....»»
Microtubule formation mechanism sheds light on how cells build their internal skeleton
Inside every cell, a network of tiny filaments, called the microtubule cytoskeleton, helps maintain the cell's shape, allows it to divide, and transports vital materials from one part of the cell to another. The filaments that form this network, term.....»»
Is the physics of red blood cells in bats a key to "artificial hibernation" for humans?
The mechanical properties of red blood cells (erythrocytes) at various temperatures could play an important role in mammals' ability to hibernate. This is the outcome of a study that compared the thermomechanical properties of erythrocytes in two spe.....»»
Scientists discover "selfish DNA" crucial for early human development
A critical transition in early human development is regulated not by our own genes, but by DNA elements called transposons that can move around the genome, Sinai Health researchers have found......»»
Light broadens the scope of alkene synthesis
Chemists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a straightforward method to convert common chemicals like carboxylic acids, alcohols, and alkanes directly into valuable alkenes......»»
Calcium transport protein in bacteria offers insights for drug development and food safety
Researchers at Umeå University have revealed details on how bacteria use calcium to regulate vital processes in a way that differs from human cells. This breakthrough is significant in the fight against antibiotic resistance and for increasing safet.....»»
Cells From Different Species Can Exchange ‘Text Messages’ Using RNA
Long known as a messenger within cells, RNA is increasingly seen as life’s molecular communication system—even between organisms widely separated by evolution......»»
Ammonia fuel cells see performance gains with new catalyst layer
The pursuit of clean and efficient energy conversion technologies has led to significant advancements in fuel cell research. A study conducted at Fuzhou University and published in Frontiers in Energy, presents a novel approach to enhance the perform.....»»
Scientists develop a new method to study gene function in cells and tissue
The Gaublomme lab has developed a new optical pooled screening approach called CRISPRmap, which enables the coupling of optical properties of single cells to targeted genetic perturbations. Optical phenotypes are typically inaccessible for sequencing.....»»
Engineering perovskite materials at the atomic level paves way for new lasers, LEDs
Researchers have developed and demonstrated a technique that allows them to engineer a class of materials called layered hybrid perovskites (LHPs) down to the atomic level, which dictates precisely how the materials convert electrical charge into lig.....»»
Study proposes that proteins can compartmentalize and form droplets inside cells
In physics, a system composed of two substances can be modeled in accordance with classical mixture theory, which considers the fraction corresponding to each constituent and the interactions among constituents. Examples include the coexistence of hi.....»»
Plant stem cells: Understanding the biological mechanism of growth control
Researchers from the University of Freiburg have identified the HAN molecule as an important regulator that controls plant growth in conjunction with WOX5. Understanding this mechanism is relevant for breeding more resilient or higher-yielding crops......»»
Expansion technique to image nanoscale structures inside cells makes high-resolution imaging more accessible
A classical way to image nanoscale structures in cells is with high-powered, expensive super-resolution microscopes. As an alternative, MIT researchers have developed a way to expand tissue before imaging it—a technique that allows them to achieve.....»»
Signaling pathway discovery could lead to faster, more reliable human stem cell differentiation
A recent discovery has found a possible avenue to improve human health by better understanding how to engineer human stem cell differentiation......»»