A new study by Cardillo and Bromham found that medium-sized mammals were not at greater risk of extinction, contrary to the widely accepted theory. Instead, small mammal species are the least vulnerable to extinction due to high population densities and reproductive rates.
UT Southwestern Medical Center has acquired a custom-crafted cryo-electron microscope to propel its cell-research capabilities. The new technology enables the analysis of sub-cell structures at sites in the cell where processes take place, providing valuable insights into cellular biology and disease mechanisms.
Paul Ehrlich was named Eminent Ecologist by the Ecological Society of America (ESA) in 2001. The award recognizes his groundbreaking work on population biology and coevolution. Ehrlich is a leader in developing conservation biology as a discipline.
Rutgers is launching a National Program of Excellence in Biomedical Computing to study the biology of transcription and gene expression. The program aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that govern gene expression, which is crucial for solving pressing human health problems such as cancer and infectious diseases.
The Merck Company Foundation and AAAS announced the 2001 winners of the expanded program providing research experiences in chemistry and biology for undergraduates. The awards aim to build bridges between chemistry and biology fields to encourage students to pursue graduate education.
At Temple University, students are participating in a month-long course to study the biology of coral reefs, with a field trip to Belize's Great Barrier Reef. Researchers from Temple and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have also discovered early evidence of root crop cultivation in the Americas, dating back nearly 7,000 years.
The program combines classroom instruction with investigative learning experiences at St. Louis science institutions to develop engaging biology curriculum for middle and secondary students. Eight topic areas will be covered, including genetics, animal behavior, and human impact on ecosystems.
The international Arabidopsis Genome Initiative has successfully completed the sequencing of the entire genome of Arabidopsis thaliana, a powerful tool in plant molecular biology. The study reveals vast chromosomal regions have been duplicated in the genome, and approximately 70% of genes can be functionally predicted.
The American Society of Plant Physiologists has self-published a comprehensive 1400-page textbook on biochemistry & molecular biology of plants, featuring original drawings and photographs. The book is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses, and was introduced to sell well over 600 copies at the ASPP Annual Meeting.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded $50.3 million to 53 colleges and universities to expand and update laboratories, recruit new faculty members, and provide research opportunities for undergraduates. The grants support interdisciplinary programs linking biology and other fields, as well as programs attracting biology major...
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has selected 48 talented researchers to join its investigator program, including 12 in computational biology. The new recruits will contribute to biomedical advances in areas like genomics and cognitive neuroscience.
Scientists studying amphibian decline are exploring the role of pathogens like iridovirus and chytrid fungus in causing mass extinctions. The project, funded by a $3 million grant, aims to develop an integrative approach combining expertise from various fields.
The National Research Council will assemble a committee of experts to consider how undergraduates can gain knowledge and skills needed for research careers in the rapidly changing biomedical sciences. The committee will produce a report with recommendations, along with case studies and a review of best practices.
The University of Chicago is set to receive a new laboratory complex, the Interdisciplinary Research Building, thanks to a $131.5 million investment from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The 375,000-gross-square-feet building will bring together researchers from various fields, enhancing collaboration and idea-sharing.
The medical school will recruit four researchers in structural biology, including Michael Weiss, to study molecular processes leading to disease. The HHMI grant aims to enhance the medical school's research enterprise and develop scientific breakthroughs.
The University of Chicago has been awarded a $2.4 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to expand its programs in immunology and structural biology. The grant will be used to fund six new junior faculty members, support pilot projects, and establish shared facilities.
Scientists identify key lipids essential for proper myelin sheath formation, providing new insights into myelin biology and multiple sclerosis. The discovery sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying nerve sheath abnormalities.
New research predicts that up to half of African primate species could go extinct within decades due to habitat loss. The study suggests an 'extinction debt' has been incurred as a result of widespread deforestation in Africa.
Graduate students will work with leaders in biorobotics and neuro-mechanical prostheses, designing agile robots and creating devices to restore movement. The program aims to educate scientists and engineers for multidisciplinary teams.
Babbitt envisions integrating conservation biology into urban planning to preserve at-risk species habitats. The approach was successfully implemented in Southern California's Habitat Conservation Plans covering 210,000 acres.
The Committee for the National Institute for the Environment is launching an electronic meeting place to facilitate collaboration between conservation biologists and natural resource managers. This initiative aims to promote interdisciplinary research and answer resource managers' questions, addressing a need for large-scale studies in...
Hereditary colorectal cancer tumors with high microsatellite instability (MSI) levels show a lack of genes responsible for DNA mismatch repair, vital to DNA replication. This can lead to faulty repair and colon cancer development.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded $1.32 million to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to support advanced courses in molecular biology, neuroscience, and structural biology. The institution will also construct a new teaching laboratory and provide scholarships for scientists worldwide.
Scientists have discovered a biochemical connection between presenilin and Notch, a protein controlling crucial aspects of developmental biology. This link may lead to new insights into the causes of Alzheimer's disease.
The Wistar Institute's Regeneration Symposium will feature talks on epimorphic regeneration, limb regeneration, and the role of ependymal cells in spinal cord regeneration. Experts like David Stocum, Alejandro Sanchez Alvarado, and Susan V. Bryant will share their research findings.
The Wistar Institute hosted a symposium on regenerative biology, featuring experts discussing recent advances in understanding regeneration in metazoans, stem cells, and nervous systems. Key findings included insights into limb regeneration, spinal cord repair, and muscle cell replacement.
A newly discovered fossil provides unprecedented insights into the biology of theropod dinosaurs, revealing they had high metabolic rates and lacked bird-like lungs. The findings confirm that these ancient reptiles were cold-blooded, contradicting previous theories about their potential avian ancestry.
The divide between biology and behavioral sciences is growing, leading to misconceptions about cause-and-effect relationships in health. Researchers warn that this gap may hinder the development of effective therapies and treatments.
Human sperm contain receptors for cannabinoids, which can inhibit the acrosome reaction, regulate swimming patterns, and prevent sperm binding to the egg. The study found that marijuana-like compounds can significantly alter these processes, with implications for diagnosis of infertility and understanding human biology.
The university will use the funds to enhance science classrooms, provide research opportunities, and strengthen outreach programs for middle and high schools. The grant will also support the development of a new computer laboratory and introduce active learning experiences in biology courses.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed an animal model for human colorectal cancer, which will facilitate research into the molecular mechanisms of the disease. The model, based on a colon cancer mouse, allows for testing of chemoprevention agents and new drug treatments.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have shown that the transmission of mtDNA in yeast is organized and finite, rather than random. This discovery has implications for understanding genetic disorders caused by mtDNA mutations in humans, where the mother passes on a minority of her mtDNA copies to the fetus.
The event aims to encourage minority students into biomedical research and set them on a career path. The proportion of researchers from minority groups is strikingly lower than their percentage in the overall population.
Nancy Roseman, assistant professor of biology at Williams College, has been awarded a $266,191 NSF grant to study the biochemistry of dUTPase, an enzyme involved in DNA metabolism. Her research uses the vaccinia virus as a model to understand viral/host interactions and DNA replication.
UD and Lincoln University researchers investigate the break-down of carbon in coastal waters by studying chitin degradation, which could help predict atmospheric carbon levels. The study aims to better understand the role of biology in global climate change.
The E. coli genome, consisting of 4,639,221 base pairs, has been fully sequenced, revealing 1,333 known genes and 1,000 unknown functions. The completion of the genome paves the way for a similar analysis of human DNA.
A survey of UMass biology graduates found that those with research experience are significantly happier in their present job. Over 85% of these graduates report being satisfied, compared to just 46% of those without research experience.
The review paper reviews powerful computational tools in studying ecology, genetics and evolution, infectious diseases and immunology. Computational biologists use models to understand the behavior of entire systems, mediated by smaller and larger scales.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation in the TIE-2 gene responsible for venous malformations, the most common type of birthmark. The mutation disrupts the normal molecular dialog between endothelial cells and their environment, leading to abnormal blood vessel formation.
A team of researchers at Northwestern University and the Mayo Clinic have identified two new proteins, Cyp-40 and p23, that act as molecular chaperones to fold proteins into an intermediate state. This discovery expands our understanding of what molecular chaperones are and their role in enhancing hormone sensitivity in cells.