AIBS awarded Dr. Barbara Schaal for pioneering plant molecular systematics and conservation biology research. Dr. Thomas Lovejoy received the Outstanding Service Award for his biodiversity conservation work. Dr. Diane Ebert-May was honored for her innovative teaching approaches and science education research.
The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara has received two new grants to advance its interdisciplinary biology initiatives. The grants, totaling $2 million, will support workshops, postdoctoral fellowships, and a new summer program aimed at the interface of physics and biology.
Researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory have discovered a 'transformer' protein that allows cells to create vesicles of different shapes and sizes by changing the shape of individual building blocks. This breakthrough provides new insights into the structure and function of COPI protein-coated vesicles.
The San Francisco State University Department of Biology has received a $1.5 million grant to support faculty-led improvements in undergraduate science education. The Biology Faculty Explorations in Scientific Teaching (FEST) program aims to refine teaching skills and assess student learning through evidence-based methods.
A UNC-led team discovers that lung cancer molecular subtypes correlate with distinct genetic alterations and patient response to therapy. The study refines their previous report on three molecular subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer, suggesting new avenues for targeted treatment.
A Tulane research team found that applying high levels of oxygen to a severed bone facilitates bone regrowth, particularly when applied at the right time. This discovery may one day benefit injured soldiers, diabetics, and other accident victims with partial limb regeneration.
A biochemist is presenting his approach to making science accessible to non-science majors through a cooking class. The class combines food preparation with scientific experiments, allowing students to explore the intersection of chemistry and biology in real-world applications.
Research discovered a protein complex called the Translocation and Assembly Module (TAM), which forms a molecular pump allowing bacteria to shuttle disease-causing molecules from inside to outside the bacterial cell. This finding paves the way for designing new drugs that inhibit this process, potentially preventing antibiotic resistance.
The Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has awarded five research scientists from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute with prestigious accolades. The institute's director, Professor Doug Hilton, received the Lemberg Medal for his seminal contributions to blood cell production research.
The TARA OCEANS expedition mapped marine biodiversity across the world's oceans, understanding how microscopic organisms interact with their environment. The project aims to build a global systems biology map of these interactions, using advanced DNA sequencing and microscopy techniques.
Scientists at the University of Toronto have found a molecular mechanism that controls the transition of Candida albicans from yeast to fungus under elevated temperatures. This new pathway highlights the importance of heat in fungal growth and provides a potential target for drug therapies.
The journal will publish all future articles under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License, allowing non-commercial use and citation. This conversion enables wider dissemination of biomedical research and accelerates discovery.
Synthetic biology faces significant environmental risks if not addressed proactively. The authors propose four areas of focus: physiology differences, escaped organisms' impact, evolution, and genetic material exchange. Interdisciplinary research is crucial to mitigate these risks.
Two proteins, Rif1 and Rif2, discovered to deactivate DNA repair surveillance system, preventing cell 'anti-enzyme shield' from malfunctioning. Telomeres provide molecular 'caps' protecting chromosome ends from accidental breaks.
Dr. Zhijian Chen has been recognized for his contributions to understanding cancer and immunity through the discovery of a central signaling pathway component and an unprecedented role for mitochondria in fighting viral infections.
Ziv Bar-Joseph, a Carnegie Mellon University professor, has received the Overton Prize for his outstanding contributions to computational biology. He has made significant breakthroughs in gene regulatory networks and their applications to cancer cells.
EMBL Monterotondo researcher Rocio Sotillo has won a $650,000 Howard Hughes Medical Institute award to support her research on cancer and chromosomal errors. She will use the prize to establish an independent research programme and develop new ways to grow lung cancer cells in three-dimensional cultures.
Researchers found significant cancer-like gene expression changes in healthy smokers' large airway epithelia compared to nonsmokers. The study suggests smoking induces molecular alterations in the large airway epithelium prior to disease development, making it a primary site for lung cancer risk.
A team of scientists recreated the evolution of complexity in a molecular machine by analyzing ancient genes and testing their functions in modern organisms. They found that the increase in complexity was due to complementary loss of ancestral functions rather than gaining new ones.
Elisabetta Ullu has been awarded the inaugural Alice and C.C. Wang award for her discovery of RNA interference (RNAi), a novel mechanism of gene silencing that regulates gene expression in parasites. This breakthrough has significant implications for the understanding of parasitic diseases, including African sleeping sickness.
Researchers have discovered a molecular pathway that can help reduce cardiac damage caused by an enlarged heart, a common result of hypertension or a heart attack. The pathway, activated by stretch of adult cardiac cells, promotes the release of VEGF, which protects cardiac function and keeps cells alive.
Researchers create tube-shaped traps from bottle-brush molecules, capturing particles of specific sizes using negatively charged inner walls. The nanotubes can be used to separate large quantum dots from small ones or separate proteins by size and charge.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified two major molecular signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and division, hallmarks of cancer biology. The study provides new candidate targets for treating soft-tissue sarcomas, which can be controlled but not cured by current treatments.
Researchers outline challenges and potential solutions for synthetic molecular machines to fulfill their promise. The team proposes using metal-organic frameworks to organize molecular switches spatially and temporally.
Researchers found that most molecular markers associated with breast cancer in animals or cell cultures have little predictive value in humans, questioning their validity. The study highlights the need for a better understanding of the connection between experimental models and human biology.
The Biophysical Society has announced its 2012 Society Fellows, recognizing their outstanding research in molecular motors, computational biology, single molecule biology, and protein folding. The fellows are honored at the Awards Ceremony during the Biophysical Society's 56th Annual Meeting.
The IGB and University of Illinois have received a $3.2 million NSF grant to train up to 30 graduate students in vertically integrated training with genomics. Students will learn to integrate genomic tools with traditional taxonomic approaches to study grand challenges in biology.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin have decoded a human genome into its molecular haplotypes, revealing the two chromosome sets differ from each other. The comprehensive analysis identified 159 mutated genes with disease-predisposing potential.
A CSIRO study reveals galaxies have less molecular hydrogen gas than in the past, leading to fewer stars forming. The decline in gas availability is linked to Dark Energy's acceleration of the Universe's expansion.
The Hastings Center Report examines the social challenges of synthetic biology, including ethical considerations and regulatory implications. Experts discuss guidelines for emerging technologies, highlighting the need for responsible stewardship and balanced analysis.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has named 12 scientists as award winners, including Stuart Kornfeld, Lovell Jones, and Susan Marqusee. The awards recognize their outstanding research achievements in various fields, including lipid research, protein folding, and eukaryotic signaling.
Researchers at New York University's Department of Chemistry have created a molecular polyhedron, a 13 Archimedean solid that can serve as a cage-like framework to trap other molecular species. The structure was formed by designing the assembly of two kinds of hexagonal molecular tiles using 72 hydrogen bonds.
Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory have discovered a protein complex called condensin that keeps chromosome arms folded and easy to transport. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of how chromosomes are organized during cell division, with implications for our own cells' ability to divide properly.
A recent study from Lifespan found that molecular lab technology can detect up to 50% more cases of C. difficile (CDI) infection than traditional methods. This increased detection leads to improved patient safety and prevention of hospital-acquired CDI infections.
A team of researchers at the Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology has identified thousands of gene products expressed in planarian flatworms, revealing new insights into the molecular mechanisms of regeneration. This study, which combined two existing sequencing methods, expands and refines planarian research.
Scientists have identified a protective mechanism that tries to collect and detoxify high levels of toxic amyloid beta peptide found in Alzheimer's disease. The molecular chaperone HspB1 works like a waste management company to protect brain cells from damage.
Researchers have successfully used oatmeal products radiolabeled with a medical isotope to image stomach emptying in molecular imaging studies. The study demonstrated that prior boiling and labeling of oatmeal improves radiolabeling efficiency, making it an effective alternative to egg meal for patients with dietary restrictions.
The ASU research group is studying the FoF1 molecular motor using a gold nanorod attached to the c-ring, which allows them to measure the rotary motion of the c-ring. They have found that the rotation is periodically interrupted, similar to a ratchet mechanism, and are exploring its potential for use in synthetic molecular motors.
A new high-performance method has determined the structure of protein molecules in several cases where previous methods failed. This breakthrough aids in fields like nanotechnology, drug design, and disease research by understanding a protein's molecular shape and function.
Scientists at Yale University used fluorescent stains to create movies of cellular actin filaments disassembling, shedding light on their mysterious process. The study reveals the location of breaks along the filaments, crucial for cell movement and maintenance.
Job Dekker, an associate professor at UMass Medical School, has been awarded the Young Investigator Award by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He developed methods to analyze millions of chromosome interactions in parallel, opening a new field of study.
The Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM) awarded its Best Paper Awards for articles published in 2010. These awards recognized excellence in Clinical/Preclinical and Translation Research, Experimental Biology, and Interdisciplinary Research categories. The winners were honored at the 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting.
Axel T. Brunger, a Stanford University professor, has been awarded the inaugural DeLano Award for Computational Biosciences for his work on structural biology and crystallographic refinement methods. The award recognizes his contributions to making computer technology accessible to the scientific community.
Johnson was chosen for pioneering site-specific incorporation of non-natural amino acids and biophysical fluorescence approaches to study complex molecular machines. His work remains the most powerful tools to study biochemical systems, emphasizing mentorship over enterprise.
Researchers discuss recent developments in DNA replication, recombination, and repair, highlighting their importance in cancer development and gene therapy. The thematic program brings together experts to present discoveries on aberrant DNA repair, site-specific recombination, and genomic instability.
Dozens of D.C.-area junior high science teachers will partner with college faculty to develop hands-on activities in biochemistry and molecular biology. The partnership aims to encourage students to pursue high-tech studies and careers, starting earlier in their education.
Cheryl A. Kerfeld, a structural biologist, has won the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology's Award for Exemplary Contributions to Education for her innovative approach to teaching genomics and bioinformatics. Her educational programs have been adopted by over 65 institutions, empowering undergraduate students to ann...
Experts at EB2011 discuss the links between metabolic function and disease onset, highlighting recent findings on mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic signal transduction. The meeting focuses on the biochemical reactions that sustain life and their impact on serious diseases.
The Experimental Biology 2011 conference showcased cutting-edge research in biochemical battle of the bulge, DNA replication, and bone health. Researchers presented findings on obesity, cancer, and gene therapy, highlighting the importance of understanding cellular processes in disease prevention.
Researchers unveiled groundbreaking cellular analysis tools, drug-delivery methods, and novel approaches to high-throughput drug discovery. The session highlighted advances in imaging and simultaneous identification of biological compounds, as well as the use of peptides as potential drugs and biological probes.
The molecular disease model for melanoma (MDMM) classifies the disease into molecular subtypes and provides treatment guidelines for each subtype. The MDMM is maintained online and updated continuously based on input from the melanoma community.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab are advancing systems biology research to improve understanding of cellular networks and their behavior. By integrating experimental and computational technologies, they aim to bridge the gap between correlative analysis and mechanistic insights.
A special edition of Fungal Biology Reviews features 76 videos on fungal cell biology, produced by renowned researcher Professor Gero Steinberg. The collection is expected to become a primary teaching resource in the field.
Researchers have developed a programmable molecular robot that can move between track locations separated by 6nm and choose among different branches of a molecular track. The robot uses a 'fuel hairpin' molecule to propel itself along the track and receive routing instructions, enabling precise control over its route.
Aeroecology is a new discipline that focuses on the aerosphere and its influence on airborne organisms. Organisms such as bats, birds, and insects rely on this aerial environment for their existence, but are also affected by human-altered landscapes and climate change.
Scientists discovered a molecular assistant called Spy that helps bacteria produce stable, functional proteins. The 'spy' helper aids in protein refolding and protects unstable proteins from degradation.
Researchers Anatoly Kolomeisky and Alexey Akimov decoded the behavior of molecular whirligigs attached to a gold surface through simulations. Their findings could lead to new materials in nanoscale machines, including radio filters with finely tuned signals.
A recent study found that only 28% of high school biology teachers implement National Research Council recommendations on evolution, while 13% explicitly advocate creationism. The remaining 60% use strategies to avoid controversy, undermining scientific literacy and legitizing creationist arguments.
A new molecular imaging technology has been developed by researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid to detect live cellular processes. This technology differs from conventional medical imaging, allowing for earlier detection of anomalies and facilitating treatment.
Researchers found NGC 1266, an early-type galaxy, expelling molecular gas at high speeds, potentially leading to its transformation into a 'red and dead' state. The galaxy's gas loss could be a key mechanism in the evolution of galaxies from star-forming spirals to gas-poor red and dead galaxies.