Editor's Picks
3-D Structure of Telomerase Enzyme Mapped
April 12, 2013 10:58 am | News | CommentsLike finally seeing all the gears of a watch and how they work together, researchers have, for the first time ever, solved the puzzle of how the various components of an entire telomerase enzyme complex fit together and function in a three-dimensional structure.
Doctors Can ‘See’ Pain
April 10, 2013 5:02 pm | by MARILYNN MARCHIONE - AP Chief Medical Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsIn a provocative new study, scientists reported Wednesday that they were able to “see” pain on brain scans and, for the first time, measure its intensity and tell whether a drug was relieving it. Though the research is in its early stages, it opens the door to a host of possibilities.
Tiny Proteins Prevent Bacterial Gene Transcription
April 10, 2013 10:10 am | News | CommentsIn the search for new antibiotics, researchers are taking an unusual approach: They are developing peptides, short chains of protein building blocks that effectively inhibit a key enzyme of bacterial metabolism. The road from gene to protein has an important stop along the way: ribonucleic acid, or RNA.
Safety Reflectors Reused in Bioterror Detection
April 10, 2013 9:49 am | News | CommentsTiny versions of the reflectors on sneakers and bicycle fenders that help ensure the safety of runners and bikers at night are moving toward another role in detecting bioterrorism threats and diagnosing everyday infectious diseases, scientists said.
Green Coffee Beans Linked to Diabetic Control
April 9, 2013 12:52 pm | News | CommentsScientists described evidence that natural substances extracted from unroasted coffee beans can help control the elevated blood sugar levels and body weight that underpin type 2 diabetes. Their presentation on chlorogenic acids― widely available as a dietary supplement was part of the 245th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Genetic Markers ID Second Alzheimer’s Pathway
April 5, 2013 10:32 am | News | CommentsResearchers have identified a new set of genetic markers for Alzheimer’s that point to a second pathway through which the disease develops.
Obama Proposes $100M For Brain Mapping Project
April 3, 2013 8:50 am | by NEDRA PICKLER AND MALCOLM RITTER | News | CommentsPresident Barack Obama on Tuesday proposed an effort to map the brain's activity in unprecedented detail, as a step toward finding better ways to treat such conditions as Alzheimer's, autism, stroke and traumatic brain injuries.
Research Deciphers HIV Attack Plan
April 2, 2013 9:58 am | News | CommentsA new study defines previously unknown properties of transmitted HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.
Following the Body’s Own Prescription
April 1, 2013 10:22 am | by Cynthia Fox | Articles | CommentsAn intuitive approach, which co-opts the body’s own molecular machinery, has led to massive expansions of umbilical cord blood cells. It and other new approaches “will revolutionize all transplantation,” says University of Minnesota Blood and Marrow Transplantation Director John Wagner.
Stem Cell Fate Depends on ‘Grip’
March 29, 2013 10:52 am | News | CommentsA team of researchers has generated new insight on how a stem cell’s environment influences what type of cell a stem cell will become. They have shown that whether human mesenchymal stem cells turn into fat or bone cells depends partially on how well they can “grip” the material they are growing in.
Common Foods Cause DNA Damage
March 28, 2013 9:35 am | News | CommentsIn a laboratory study pairing food chemistry and cancer biology, scientists tested the potentially harmful effect of foods and flavorings on the DNA of cells. They found that liquid smoke flavoring, black and green teas and coffee activated the highest levels of a well-known, cancer-linked gene called p53.
Counting White Blood Cells at Home
March 27, 2013 10:19 am | News | CommentsEngineers have developed a portable device to count white blood cells that needs less than a pinprick's worth of blood and takes just minutes to run.
Easier Hybridization for Microarrays
March 26, 2013 2:09 pm | by Mike May, PhD | Articles | CommentsMicroarrays started as research tools and now often appear in clinical applications. To survey some of the hybridization systems available for this technology, we talked with experts from Agilent, SciGene, and Tecan.
Monoclonal Antibody Targets, Kills Leukemia Cells
March 26, 2013 10:34 am | News | CommentsResearchers have identified a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets and directly kills chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. The findings represent a potential new therapy for treating at least some patients with CLL, the most common type of blood cancer in the United States.
46-gene Test Can Predict Cancer Treatment Response
March 25, 2013 11:39 am | News | CommentsThe first multi-gene test that can help predict cancer patients' responses to treatment using the latest DNA sequencing techniques has been launched in the NHS. The test detects mutations across 46 genes in cancer cells.
Teaming Up Against Head Injury
March 25, 2013 11:14 am | by Cynthia Fox | Articles | CommentsUnder the crushing weight of many new studies finding even small head injuries can cause massive damage, the National Football League (NFL) has launched a new $60 million brain initiative. The initiative is co-sponsored by General Electric (GE).
The Neuroscience of Finding Lost Keys
March 22, 2013 10:33 am | News | CommentsEver find yourself racking your brain on a Monday morning to remember where you put your car keys? When you do find those keys, you can thank the hippocampus, a brain region responsible for storing and retrieving memories of different environments- such as that room where your keys were hiding in an unusual spot.
Humanoid Robot Helps Train Children with Autism
March 21, 2013 11:32 am | News | CommentsAn interdisciplinary team of mechanical engineers and autism experts at Vanderbilt University have developed a system that demonstrates that robotic systems may be powerful tools for enhancing the basic social learning skills of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Researchers Publish Improved Neanderthal Genome
March 19, 2013 6:32 pm | by FRANK JORDANS - Associated Press - Associated Press | News | CommentsResearchers in Germany said Tuesday they have completed the first high-quality sequencing of a Neanderthal genome and are making it freely available online for other scientists to study. The genome produced from remains of a toe bone found in a Siberian cave is far more detailed than a previous Neanderthal genome sequenced three years ago by the same team.
Life Science Products Debut at Pittcon
March 19, 2013 3:01 pm | News | CommentsPittcon 2013 continues to showcase the release of groundbreaking products for a variety of life science applications.
The Quest to Mimic Spider Silk
March 19, 2013 1:29 pm | by Skip Derra | Articles | CommentsTo many people, spider webs are a nuisance, something that needs to be knocked down and cleared out of the way. They’re reminders that you haven’t cleaned lately. To Jeffery Yarger, spider webs, and more specifically the spider silk that makes up the webs, are structures of beauty, especially when you look at them at the microscopic level.
Pittcon 2013 Kicks Off
March 18, 2013 2:43 pm | News | CommentsAs Pittcon 2013 kicks off this week, companies are unveiling their latest products to the market.
Vitamin E Can Help Prevent Cancer
March 15, 2013 10:31 am | News | CommentsResearchers have identified an elusive anti-cancer property of vitamin E that has long been presumed to exist, but difficult to find.
Dual Approach May Bring Universal Flu Shot
March 15, 2013 9:44 am | News | CommentsResearchers report that influenza virus-specific CD8+ T cells or virus-specific non-neutralizing antibodies are each relatively ineffective at conferring protective immunity alone. But, when combined, the virus-specific CD8 T cells and non-neutralizing antibodies cooperatively elicit robust protective immunity.
The Importance of Genomics for Cancer Research
March 14, 2013 10:20 am | by Ruth Burton, PhD, Product Manager Genomic Solutions, Oxford Gene Technology | Articles | CommentsDespite significant advances, cancer remains one of the predominant causes of mortality in the modern world, and as such has remained a top research priority. It is a complex and continually evolving genetic disease and, as such, requires sophisticated tools for study.
