Researchers will create an open, dynamic evolutionary framework to continuously update the tree of life, incorporating new biodiversity data. Computational tools will enable scientists to visualize and analyze the entire tree, facilitating comparative biology research and discovery of new medicines.
The FASEB MARC Program has awarded a $1,650 travel grant to Shanelle Joseph from Southern University and A tM College for her poster/platform presentation at the 2012 meeting. The program aims to increase underrepresented minority engagement in biomedical research.
LaJoyce Debro has made significant contributions to fostering research training among underrepresented minorities in microbiology. She is recognized for her dedication to mentoring students and promoting diversity in scientific careers.
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.
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researcher Professor Terry Speed was awarded the 2012 Thomson Reuters Citation Award in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His research has been cited more than other Australian researchers, with applications to infection, immunity, inherited diseases, and cancer.
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.
A Case Western Reserve University class has been awarded a Science magazine prize for its innovative approach to teaching biology and computer science. The 'Dynamics of Biological Systems' class uses an inquiry-based learning model, where students work on real-world problems using online interactive tools and mathematical models.
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.
The UK's world-leading researchers in synthetic biology will establish platform technology with a new grant of almost £5 million. The platform technology will be based on an information system – SynBIS – which uses a web-based environment, hosting BioCAD and modelling tools for the field.
Researchers studied thale cress under high temperature conditions, finding that plants with reduced stomata exhibit greater water loss and leaf evaporative cooling. This adaptation may promote the diffusion of water vapor from stomata, cooling the plant.
Researchers at KAIST develop microorganisms to produce natural and non-natural chemicals from renewable biomass through systems metabolic engineering. The study presents new general strategies for improving cellular characteristics and designing synthetic metabolic pathways, enabling high-efficiency production of desired chemicals and ...
Researchers confirmed long-held belief that studying shared genes with other species is useful. They analyzed 400,000 gene pairs and found that studying orthologs is more relevant to understanding human biology than previously thought.
A team of Indiana University biologists has shown that species diversity is maintained on a spatial scale of unparalleled scope due to the survival of tree seedlings under their own parents. This discovery highlights the role of conspecific negative density dependence in driving diversity from boreal forests to sub-tropical forests.
The study confirms that studying genes shared with other animals is a viable means of extrapolating information about human biology. Researchers analyzed 400,000 pairs of genes and found only a weak decrease in functional similarity between orthologs.
The PULSE program seeks faculty members to lead a national effort to stimulate systemic change in undergraduate biology education, building on the 2011 Vision and Change report. The initiative aims to modernize the approach to undergraduate education in the life sciences.
Northwestern University researchers have received two Grand Challenges Explorations grants to develop new compounds for malaria treatment and biosensors for low-cost diagnoses. The projects aim to improve the health of people in developing countries using synthetic biology techniques.
A $1.5 million gift from Motorola Solutions will create the Gregory Q. Brown Endowed Chair at Rutgers University's Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience. The gift aims to find treatments for stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia, as a tribute to Brown's mother, who suffers from dementia.
A new essay examines what constitutes 'life' and the probability of discovering new life forms. Professor Gerald Joyce argues that a truly new life form would arise through chemistry, not biology, and that humans long for intelligent life in the universe.
Two scientists, Elaine Fuchs and Howard Green, have been awarded the March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology for their groundbreaking research on skin stem cells and inherited skin disorders. Their work has saved thousands of lives and holds promise for new therapies for baldness and other diseases.
Research at the Experimental Biology Conference presents promising findings on avocado's potential benefits for heart health, weight management and type 2 diabetes. The study supports a multi-year effort by the Hass Avocado Board to build a scientific foundation for avocados' nutritional benefits.
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.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have identified a protein called endoglin that regulates the creation of fat cells. By decreasing the amount of this protein on the surface of cells, it may be possible to force fat cells to transform into other cell types, potentially leading to new treatments for osteoporosis and obesity.
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.
Preliminary data suggests that neem compounds target the HIV protease, a protein essential for virus replication. Researchers hope that further studies will validate these findings and lead to new HIV-AIDS therapies.
The Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM) recognizes the best papers published in 2011, with winners awarded in Clinical/Preclinical and Translational Research, Experimental Biology, and Interdisciplinary Research. The Interdisciplinary Research Award honors Nobel Laureate Dr. Alan MacDiamid.
The Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM) has awarded ten young investigators for their groundbreaking research in the field of biomedical sciences. The awardees include Jie Xie and Zachary Berwick from Indiana University, who investigated human adipose-derived stem cells and coronary microvascular dysfunction respectively.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has received a $70,450 NSF grant to improve middle and high school science education. The program includes two workshops and annual mini-grant opportunities for teachers to develop hands-on curricula.
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.
Dr. Eric N. Olson, chairman of molecular biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has been awarded the 2012 Steven C. Beering Award for his work on major genetic pathways controlling heart and muscle formation. Several drugs based on his research are currently under study.
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.
A symposium on TMJ stem cell biology and engineering presents novel clinical therapy approaches for TMJ disorders. Researchers discuss the origin, homeostasis, differentiation, hormonal regulation, and bioengineering of temporomandibular joint tissues.
The FASEB MARC Program has announced the travel award recipients for the Experimental Biology 2012 meeting, aiming to promote entry of underrepresented minority students and postdoctorates into the mainstream of basic science. A total of 122 awards worth $201,300 were conferred this year.
Scientists at Whitehead Institute have made a breakthrough in understanding planarian stem cells, discovering genes that regulate two main functions: differentiation and renewal. The study, published in Cell Stem Cell, provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying regenerative medicine.
Researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center predicted and confirmed how E. coli bacteria hijack a cell's sense of direction by manipulating actin polymers. This study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanisms controlling disease-causing agents and normal mammalian cell behavior.
Aging and longevity expert Colin Farrelly suggests shifting research focus from disease causes to understanding the causes of health and happiness. This approach, known as positive biology, could lead to significant medical breakthroughs in slowing down the aging process.
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.
Scientists have developed a method to imbue yeast with magnetic properties, enabling potential applications in medical, industrial, and research settings. The technology could be used to target and isolate specific cells, guiding them toward certain manufacturing processes or interacting with non-living machinery.
Researchers are exploring X-ray imaging as a next-generation tool for gathering detailed structural and functional information on biomolecules. The technology has the potential to surpass traditional X-ray crystallography, enabling the study of complex biological systems in unprecedented detail.
Researchers at EMBL Hamburg used advanced techniques to study myomesin's three-dimensional structure and its role in maintaining muscle fibers. The discovery sheds light on the protein's function in living organisms, particularly in animal models.
The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has committed $2 million to two new cancer research laboratories at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. The new facilities will enable researchers to study the biology of epithelial cancers and develop new treatments for breast, ovarian, lung, and leukemia patients.
A rare subset of diseases affecting the lymphatic system, including lymphangiomatosis and Gorham's disease, are focused on in a special issue of Lymphatic Research and Biology. The articles shed light on current knowledge, ongoing research, and key differences from other lymphatic disorders.
The new journal will publish original research articles, review articles, and other content on a range of scientific topics. All articles will be fully open access and published online within 4 weeks.
Researchers developed Meta!Blast, a 3D video game that teaches cell biology to students. The game simulates a plant crisis and requires players to shrink to microscopic size to rescue lost scientists and save the world.
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.
A study published in The Journal of Cell Biology reveals how DGK-alpha, a lipid-converting enzyme, enables invasive cancer cells to recycle integrins, providing better traction on fibronectin fibers. This process is essential for tumor progression and metastasis.
Research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that high levels of estradiol prior to ovulation weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infection. This natural dip in immunity may allow spermatozoa to survive and fertilize an egg successfully.
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 discovered neutrophils exist in the spleen without an infection, contributing new knowledge to biology. These cells have an immunoregulating role, interacting with B lymphocytes to produce antibodies.
Nikolaus Rajewsky, a Professor at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), will receive Germany's most prestigious research award, the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize. His work on microRNAs and gene regulation has led to significant advances in understanding complex biological processes.
Steve Caplan, a scientist-novelist, presented new data on cellular endocytic trafficking at the American Society for Cell Biology's 51st Annual Meeting. His second novel, 'Welcome Home, Sir,' explores divisions between science and national identity, as well as personal struggles of an Israeli-American researcher in the US.
Researchers at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have discovered the SHARPIN protein, which regulates human cell activity and movement. The study's findings may have significant implications for conditions such as Crohn's disease, psoriasis, rheumatism and multiple sclerosis.
The Galaxy platform is now available as a cloud computing resource, providing researchers with access to powerful computing power and vast data storage capacity. This development enables scientists to perform large-scale DNA analyses without investing in expensive computer infrastructure.
A recent study published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology found that mild fever-range hyperthermia enhances the generation and differentiation of CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells, which can destroy virus-infected cells and tumor cells.
Dr. Modesto Orozco has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant for his project SimDNA, a computational biology initiative aiming to unravel the structure and properties of nucleic acids. The five-year grant provides funding of around 2-3 million Euros.
Bioengineers from Rice University are testing a new law of biology to predict when critically ill patients will worsen, and which treatment is likely to prevent it. The study aims to provide clinicians with a patient-specific 'forecast' using data from electrocardiograms and other vital signs.
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.
Washington University in St. Louis has been awarded a $2.2 million US Department of Energy grant to create a fuel-producing cyanobacterium using systems biology and synthetic biology approaches. The project aims to develop a novel organism that can efficiently produce fuels from sunlight, water, and CO2.
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.
University of North Carolina cardiologist Cam Patterson received the 2012 Judah Folkman Award in Vascular Biology. His groundbreaking work on angiogenesis and VEGF cell receptor signaling has led to basic research findings being translated into clinical trials for new cardiovascular therapies.
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.