Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, introduced DNA molecules not found in nature to a common bacterium The E. coli bugs are able to grow and reproduce as normal despite containing two extra letters in their genetic code Research involved overcoming a billion […]
A duo of scientists at Penn State University has achieved a major milestone in understanding genomic “dark matter” — called non-coding RNA. This “dark matter” is difficult to detect and no one knows exactly what it is doing or why it is there in our genome, but scientists […]
Contact: Tim Beardsley tbeardsley@aibs.org 703-674-2500 x326 American Institute of Biological Sciences A new technology for creating pesticides and pest-resistant crops could have effects on beneficial species that current toxicity testing will miss Standard toxicity testing is inadequate to assess the safety of a new technology with potential for […]
Finding could lead to new biodegradable devices based on living cells that are capable of detecting changes in the environment Steve Connor Thursday, 28 March 2013 Scientists believe they are close to building the first truly biological computer made from the organic molecules of life and capable of […]
Contact: Heather Buschman, Ph.D. hbuschman@sanfordburnham.org 858-795-5343 Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute Sanford-Burnham researchers discover that microRNAs play an important role in germ layer formation—the process that determines which cells become which organs during embryonic development IMAGE: These are differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells (green = mesoderm […]
Contact: Jann Coury jcoury@scripps.edu 858-784-8245 Scripps Research Institute IMAGE:The new Scripps Research Institute study shows flu virus proteins in the act of self-replication. Shown here is the influenza virus, which encapsidates its RNA genome (green) with a viral… Click here for more information. LA JOLLA, CA – November […]
Contact: Lindsay Brooke lindsay.brooke@nottingham.ac.uk 44-011-595-15751 University of Nottingham Rare parasitic fungi could have anti-flammatory benefits Caterpillar fungi (Cordyceps) are rare parasites found on hibernating caterpillars in the mountains of Tibet. For centuries they have been highly prized as a traditional Chinese medicine – just a small amount can […]
Contact: Elisabeth Lyons elyons@cell.com 617-386-2121 Cell Press In monkeys and humans with AIDS, damage to the gastrointestinal tract is common, contributing to activation of the immune system, progressive immune deficiency, and ultimately advanced AIDS. How this gastric damage occurs has remained a mystery, but now researchers reporting in […]
From vitro to vivo: Fully automated design of synthetic RNA circuits in living cells September 14, 2012 by Stuart Mason Dambrot Schemes of methodology and designs. (A) Thermodynamic scheme of RNA interaction, showing the different free energies at play and the progression of the reaction. We define the […]
Contact: Debra Kain ddkain@ucsd.edu 619-543-6163 University of California – San Diego Protein expression also causes changes in gene splicing IMAGE:This is Gene Yeo, Ph.D. Click here for more information. A study led by researchers at the UC San Diego Stem Cell Research program and funded by the California […]
Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer daniel.oppenheimer@utexas.edu 512-745-3353 University of Texas at Austin Ancient enzymes function like nanopistons to unwind RNA AUSTIN, Texas—Molecular biologists at The University of Texas at Austin have solved one of the mysteries of how double-stranded RNA is remodeled inside cells in both their normal and disease […]
Contact: Kevin Mayhood kevin.mayhood@case.edu 216-534-7183 Case Western Reserve University Control of siRNA could aid regenerative medicine, cancer therapy Some of the body’s own genetic material, known as small interfering RNA (siRNA), can be packaged then unleashed as a precise and persistent technology to guide cell behavior, […]
Contact: Dr. Sibylle Kohlstädt s.kohlstaedt@dkfz.de Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres Numerous viruses are used in the service of science today. They serve as gene taxis to transfer therapeutic genes into body cells or as therapeutic viruses targeted to infect and destroy cancer cells. For such applications, the […]
