Researchers will explore how gene networks in the rice leaf respond to changing environmental conditions, particularly temperature and water availability. The study aims to develop crop varieties that can thrive under a range of circumstances, improving food security globally.
Researchers engineered a computer-designed yeast chromosome with an inducible evolution system, allowing them to rapidly introduce genetic changes. This allows for the custom design of organisms that can grow better in adverse environments or produce more ethanol.
The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, is a significant insect pest reducing US soybean yields by $2.4 billion annually. Biological control, host plant resistance, and other factors affecting its populations are reviewed.
A Stanford team cataloged the bacterial genome's essential elements, revealing 12% crucial for survival. The researchers used an efficient new method to map the genome and identify 480 protein-coding genes, 402 promoter regions, and 130 non-coding segments of unknown function.
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.
Using a 'systems biology' approach, researchers identified proteins in the blood that change in abundance long before aggressive breast cancer is clinically detectable. The study found that host tissues respond to and amplify signals from tumor cells, leading to changes in blood-protein levels.
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.
Scientists discovered a novel compound, piperlongumine, that selectively targets cancer cells' response to oxidative stress, inducing cell death without harming normal cells. The compound's effectiveness surpassed that of a commonly used chemotherapy drug, paclitaxel.
The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) has received a $60,000 grant from Nature Publishing Group to support childcare expenses at its Annual Meetings. The ASCB Childcare Awards can be used by scientist-parents to cover costs such as airfare, hotels, and fees related to participating in the five-day event.
Susan R. Wessler, a distinguished professor of genetics at the University of California, Riverside, has been awarded the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Excellence in Science Award. She is internationally recognized for her work on plant genome structure and stability.
Susan R. Wessler receives the FASEB 2012 Excellence in Science Award for her pioneering work on plant transposable elements and their impact on gene and genome evolution. Her research has led to significant advancements in understanding the role of transposons in shaping genomes.
Joseph R. Ecker, a renowned plant biologist, has been selected as an HHMI-GBMF Investigator for his pioneering work on Arabidopsis thaliana genome sequencing and genomic methylation patterns. His research aims to explore epigenetic mechanisms in plants and their relevance to human health and disease.
A revised college science course design improved overall student performance and narrowed the achievement gap for educationally disadvantaged students. The highly structured format, which includes daily practice with problem-solving and data analysis, reduced the gap by 45%, according to research published in Science.
The FASEB MARC Program has awarded six travel grants totaling $15,000 to support underrepresented minority students at the 2011 ISMB/ECCB Conference. The program aims to increase diversity in biomedical and behavioral research.
The American Society of Plant Biologists has awarded 15 summer undergraduate research fellowships to outstanding students for meaningful plant biology research early in their college careers. The fellowships support each student's presentation of a poster at the annual meeting, promoting undergraduate research in plant science.
Researchers aim to create biological circuits using RNA molecules for the engineering of programmable genetic networks. They have successfully eliminated protein requirements and developed a system that can sense RNA input and synthesize output signals, performing logic operations and regulating multiple genes. This breakthrough has si...
Vaccine development for 'big three' diseases is being accelerated by new approaches like systems biology and structure-based antigen design. Systems biology enables the capture of massive biological data to predict vaccine behavior.
Scientists discovered an epigenetic marker system to predict the fate of progenitor cells, which can be used to guide stem-cell differentiation. This finding may lead to new approaches in regenerative medicine therapies, such as generating liver and pancreas cells for transplantation.
A team of scientists at A*STAR have discovered a way to convert proteins involved in controlling genes into other types of cells by changing a single amino acid. This breakthrough has implications for generating stem cells more efficiently and could help develop treatments for diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
Virginia Tech researchers aim to fuse top-down and bottom-up approaches to study cells, combining computational models with experimental analysis to understand cellular responses.
Two scientists, Patricia Ann Jacobs and David C. Page, received the 2011 March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology for their research on the X and Y chromosomes, expanding medicine's ability to diagnose and understand infertility and other diseases.
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.
Researchers have discovered that defects in RNA biology contribute to the development of ALS, a disease caused by misfolded proteins. The study found that genes related to stress granules can rescue FUS-related toxicity, suggesting new targets for developing drugs.
Brown and Goldstein will present their award lecture on the SREBP pathway and its application to cholesterol regulation at Experimental Biology 2011. The pair's joint discoveries have placed them at the forefront of regulatory biochemistry, a field pioneered by Earl Stadtman.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
The Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine has recognized seven outstanding young investigators with the 2011 Young Investigator Award. These researchers demonstrated originality, importance, and presentation of their data in various fields of study, including vascular dysfunction and skeletal muscle microvascular rarefaction.
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.
Yusuf Hannun has pioneered the understanding of bioactive sphingolipids, a class of lipids regulating multiple cell functions. His research group is one of the best-funded lipid research groups in the US.
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.
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.
Researchers developed a chemical cocktail to convert mouse muscle fibers into cells that form the first stages of regenerating limbs. The methods have implications for regenerative medicine and stem cell biology, potentially speeding wound healing and creating new tissues.
Researchers created a computational model that describes how intestinal cells in mice respond to TNF, revealing the importance of location and protein interactions in cell fate. The study demonstrates the power of systems biology in modeling complex biological systems and predicting disease outcomes.
Ruhul Abid's groundbreaking research reveals that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a beneficial role in activating eNOS and maintaining coronary vasodilation, challenging the long-held notion of ROS being harmful. The discovery has potential implications for the development of therapeutic modalities for vascular diseases.
A rigorous bioinformatic analysis of the strengths and limitations of a screening protocol method recommended by the federal government was conducted, leading to the development of GenoTHREAT. The software tool helps detect the use of synthetic DNA as bioterrorism agents and is being released in an open-source format.
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.
The FASEB MARC Program has awarded 132 travel grants totaling $216,650 to support underrepresented minority students and scientists at the Experimental Biology 2011 meeting. This year's award recipients include students from various universities across the US, promoting diversity in biomedical research.
Graham Walker's education research group developed resources to address science education challenges, including a protein folding software that sparks creativity and engagement. Their work aims to transform science education into an interdisciplinary endeavor that reflects the excitement of real research.
Dan Graur, a UH biologist, has received the Humboldt Research Award for his groundbreaking work in evolutionary biology and genomics. His research focuses on mutation processes and genome analysis, with potential applications in flu vaccine development.
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.
A study published in Biology Letters reveals a strong correlation between habitat change and significant adjustments in body size among turtles and tortoises. The research shows that chelonians living in marine or island habitats have an optimal body size several times larger than their cousins on the mainland.
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.
Researchers discover naturally occurring viral infections in C. elegans, a millimeter-long worm used extensively for decades to study many aspects of biology. The findings provide insights into the way viruses and their hosts interact, shedding light on fundamental phenomena such as RNA interference and cell self-destruction.
Researchers found that the nematode C. elegans, a millimeter-long worm used extensively for decades to study biology, gets naturally occurring viral infections. The discovery means C. elegans is likely to help scientists study the way viruses and their hosts interact.
The Micropilot software brings machine learning to microscopy, analyzing low-resolution images and automatically performing complex experiments when cells with interesting features are detected. It has been used to uncover the roles of proteins in cell division and will be a key tool for European systems biology projects.
Research published in BMC Evolutionary Biology shows that polygamous mice produce more fertile offspring due to increased sperm competitiveness. After 12 generations of competitive selection, polygamous males outperformed monogamous males in both paternity and fertility rates.
Researchers found that young female chimpanzees carry and play with sticks, suggesting a biological basis for sex-specific play in humans. This behavior is linked to adult behavior, as females carry infants more than males, indicating a possible influence of biology on toy selection.
The ASCB's annual film and image contest, Celldance, recognizes 10 members for their visually engaging and scientifically important videos and images. The winning videos and images will be shown on Saturday, Dec. 11, at the ASCB's 50th annual meeting in Philadelphia.
A team of scientists has discovered that microRNA profiles can predict the type of cell, including whether it's cancerous or not. This finding has significant implications for the use of stem cells in repairing damaged body parts, as it highlights the potential risks of creating cancer.
The University of Illinois has received a $662,836 NSF grant to establish a program mentoring Latino undergraduate students in quantitative biology and informatics. Four cohorts of students will participate in one-year research experiences, receiving fellowships for their work.
A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that perinatal bisphenol-A exposure may decrease fertility and fecundity in female mice. The researchers compared the effects of BPA to diethylstilbestrol (DES) and concluded that they were comparable, with low doses causing reproductive problems only when evaluated over mult...
Cancer treatment decisions will be based on biology as medical oncologists need skills and knowledge to implement personalized medicine. Governments, companies, and clinicians must adapt drug development with targeted patient selection, shorter trials, and cost-effectiveness improvements.
Professor Ilkka Hanski is awarded the European Latsis Prize for his pioneering work in metapopulation biology, shedding light on mechanisms maintaining biodiversity and informing conservation. His research on the Glanville fritillary butterfly has become a model system to study general questions.
University of Illinois researchers developed microsensors that can track individual cells' masses and divisions over time. They found that cells grow faster as they grow heavier, rather than at a fixed rate throughout the cell cycle. The sensors also allow for imaging and tracking of cellular processes in conjunction with changes in mass.