A new study identifies the fragile X protein's role in regulating DNA packaging, offering clues for treatment. The protein oversees a set of genes that alter how DNA is packaged, and its absence leads to fragile X syndrome.
Researchers observed reduced pulsing activity at night and delayed responses to stimulation in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea. The findings suggest that jellyfish do indeed sleep, but the study also raises more questions about the origin of sleep and its relationship with neural systems.
The HHMI Hanna Gray Fellows Program supports 15 early career scientists from underrepresented groups with up to $1.4 million in funding over eight years. Fellows will receive mentoring and active involvement within the HHMI community, aiming to drive real change in academia.
Researchers have visualized the intricate three-dimensional structure of three neural proteins and discovered their surprising cooperation in releasing chemical messages. The study suggests that the complex interaction locks down the SNARE proteins, requiring synchronization of neurotransmitter release.
Chemists have developed a technique to create a spectrum of glowing dyes, offering scientists a way to adjust the properties of existing dyes deliberately. This expanded palette could help researchers better illuminate the inner workings of cells.
Researchers have created laboratory models of 12 types of pediatric cancer, enabling the study of tumor development and sensitivity to drugs. The HHMI is making these models and related data freely available to the scientific community, aiming to accelerate the discovery of new therapies for childhood cancers.
A study published in Science reveals that archaeal DNA folding is identical to the process found in more complex organisms, suggesting an early prototype for the eukaryotic nucleosome. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origins of genome folding and raises questions about the common ancestor of life.
A study by Charles Zuker and colleagues has shown that the taste system wires itself through a process of cellular reconnection, allowing flavor information to flow from tongue to brain. The researchers found that specific chemical signals in newborn taste receptor cells can pull the right nerve cell connections towards them.
Scientists have obtained and analyzed genome sequences from ancient Minoans and Mycenaeans, shedding light on their origins and relationships. The research suggests that the Minoans and Mycenaeans share a significant amount of genetic heritage from the first farmers of the Aegean Sea.
Researchers have identified a new mechanism for silencing imprinted genes in cells, which could shed light on developmental disorders such as Angelman syndrome. The discovery also raises questions about the difficulty of cloning mammals, with potential implications for treating developmental failures.
Researchers used machine learning to track 400,000 fruit flies' behaviors over 225 days and matched specific behaviors to different groups of neurons. The resulting brain-wide atlas offers insight into fly neural circuitry and could inform understanding of human behavior.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Inclusive Excellence initiative has selected 24 schools to improve their institutions' capacity for inclusion in STEM fields. These schools aim to address barriers and create a more inclusive climate through curriculum changes, faculty training, and student engagement programs.
Researchers at Janelia Research Campus have discovered how fruit flies use a specialized nerve cell system to navigate their environment, involving the activation and suppression of neighboring neurons. The discovery sheds light on the fly's internal picture of the outside world and its cognitive processes.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation have awarded $26.7 million to 41 international researchers, providing them with the freedom to pursue innovative projects in various biological and medical research areas.
Researchers found that breathing low-oxygen air reversed brain damage caused by mitochondrial defects in mice. The study suggests that hypoxia therapy may be a potential treatment for mitochondrial diseases, including Leigh syndrome. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and develop a practical regimen.
The HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program has selected 79 medical and veterinary students for a year-long research experience, with 53% female awardees. The program provides a multilevel mentoring approach to help fellows establish a foothold in the research world.
A vast collection of genetically modified wheat seeds with over 10 million sequenced mutations has been developed to aid in the study and improvement of wheat plants. This new resource is freely available to researchers and breeders worldwide, enabling them to develop crops with enhanced nutritional value, yields, and climate resilience.
The new 'smart' light-sheet microscope analyzes a specimen continuously and adjusts its settings to optimize image quality. Researchers achieved improvements in spatial resolution and signal strength by a factor of 2 to 5, making it easier to produce high-quality images of larger specimens.
Two mouse mutants, Sleepy and Dreamless, have been identified with excessive and reduced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, respectively. The mutations have been linked to specific genes, offering a new perspective on the regulation of sleep and wakefulness.
Researchers identify Alx3 gene as key to African striped mouse's characteristic light-colored stripes. Analysis reveals similar stripe patterns in North American chipmunks, indicating independent evolution of trait.
Researchers designed and built large protein icosahedra with potential applications in targeted drug delivery and vaccine development. The structures were created using computational and biochemical approaches, allowing for the design of complex structures from scratch.
Researchers sequenced whole genomes and epigenomes of 1,001 Arabidopsis plants to illuminate evolutionary history and interaction between genetic and epigenetic variation. The study found that approximately 25% of genes exhibit diversity in their methylation state, with correlations to climate and geographic location.
Researchers designed a novel mTOR inhibitor, Rapalink, to combat drug-resistant tumors. In animal experiments, Rapalink reduced the size of tumors resistant to earlier-generation inhibitors.
New genetic data shows two major changes in prehistoric human populations, linked to the end of the last Ice Age. The data also reveal mixture with Neanderthals and evidence of natural selection removing Neanderthal ancestry.
Researchers discovered a molecular link between mood disorders and circadian rhythms in a study on familial advanced sleep phase (FASP) and faulty PER3 gene variants. Mice carrying the faulty gene exhibited depression-like symptoms when exposed to short light periods, mirroring human seasonal affective disorder.
Researchers identified 27 genes in brain stem cells prone to DNA damage, which could promote disease but also benefit brain diversity. The fragility of these genes may lead to mutations or deletions in cancers and neuropsychiatric disorders.
A study published in Science found that mutations before birth can disrupt heart and nervous system development, leading to congenital heart disease and developmental delays. Researchers identified damaging mutations in genes crucial for heart and brain formation, which may enable early DNA testing to identify at-risk children.
The IsoView light sheet microscope produces high-resolution images of entire organisms in all three dimensions at sub-second temporal resolution and sub-cellular spatial resolution. This breakthrough enables scientists to monitor brain activity, track cell movement, and study developmental processes with unprecedented clarity.
A new study by HHMI scientists found that a single neuron in an adult human brain may have more than 1,000 genetic mutations not present in surrounding cells. These mutations mostly arise while genes are in active use after brain development is complete.
Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus have developed new imaging techniques that dramatically improve spatial resolution in living cells. The new methods offer extraordinary visual detail of structures inside cells with unprecedented clarity and speed.
Researchers found that the most common genetic defect in ALS causes nuclear pore dysfunction, leading to cell death. This discovery empowers the search for genetic causes of sporadic ALS and offers new hope for treatment options.
HHMI scientists have discovered functional liver stem cells that proliferate and give rise to mature hepatocytes, even in healthy livers. The newly found stem cells require Wnt signals to maintain their identity and are responsible for replenishing the liver's population.
Research reveals that salicylic acid shapes the microbial community at a plant's root by keeping certain families of bacteria out and letting others in. The hormone also recruits desirable bacterial families, a discovery that could lead to increased plant productivity.
A 40,000-year-old jawbone discovered in Europe has revealed that modern humans interbred with Neanderthals after their arrival in the continent. The study, led by HHMI investigator David Reich, found that six to nine percent of the individual's genome is from Neanderthals, indicating a recent ancestry.
Researchers have developed VirScan, a method that can analyze a single drop of blood to identify past and present viral infections. The technology shows promise in uncovering unexpected factors affecting individual patients' health and expanding opportunities for large-scale analysis.
Researchers discovered that fruit flies use a brain structure called the ellipsoid body to navigate and maintain their bearings. The ellipsoid body cells locked onto visual patterns, allowing the fly to track its orientation in the dark.
Scientists found that AGRP neurons, responsible for unpleasant feelings of hunger, help explain why it's hard to stick to a diet. These neurons teach animals to respond to sensory cues that signal the presence of food, making them more likely to snack.
Scientists have developed a single automated process to synthesize 14 distinct classes of small molecules from common building blocks. The approach enables the production of thousands of potentially useful molecules with a single machine, revolutionizing drug discovery and technology development.
Researchers have developed a new fluorescent protein called CaMPARI, which permanently marks neurons that are active at a particular time. This allows scientists to visualize neural activity beyond the limited field of view of a microscope and capture snapshots of neural activity during complex behaviors.
A team of scientists has identified a brain circuit in mice that regulates thirst, with two distinct cell types working together to maintain fluid balance. The study found that activating one set of cells triggers drinking behavior, while silencing the other population suppresses thirst.
Scientists have discovered that dragonflies employ a sophisticated system of movement and prediction to catch their prey. By analyzing the intricate movements of their heads and bodies, researchers found that dragonflies use internal models to guide their behavior and anticipate the movements of their prey.
The new lattice light sheet microscope collects high-resolution images rapidly, minimizing damage to cells. It enables biologists to visualize the three-dimensional activity of molecules, cells, and embryos in fine detail.
Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus found that the brain can temporarily disconnect past experiences from decision-making circuits, triggering random behavior. The team manipulated a stress hormone called norepinephrine to switch between random and strategic modes.
Researchers found that modern-day Europeans have ancestry from three previously unrecognized groups: hunter-gatherers, early farmers, and a newly identified group of ancient north Eurasians. This discovery shifts scientists' ideas on human migration and interaction across the globe thousands of years ago.
Scientists alter emotional associations of specific memories by manipulating connections between the hippocampus and amygdala, finding that changing the emotional valence can transform a negative memory into a positive one. The research demonstrates potential for treating depression and anxiety.
Scientists have developed a new gene technique to find disease-causing mutations in patients with brain malformations. The technique uses next-generation sequencing technology to sequence hundreds of copies of genes in a panel of candidate genes, identifying somatic mutations that were previously undetectable.
A new library of tools called Thunder enables neuroscientists to quickly analyze large amounts of brain activity data, generating unprecedented insights into how the brain works.
Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus have created a computational method to rapidly track cell movements in data-rich images. This enables the automation of reconstructing an animal's developmental building plan cell by cell, with potential applications in understanding how the nervous system forms.
New research reveals how a quick-escape circuit in the fly's brain overrides slower behavior when an urgent threat is detected. Flies can choose between long and short escapes, with quicker escapes often resulting in clumsier movements.
HHMI researchers have pinpointed a single-letter change in the genetic code that generates blond hair in humans. This variation is common in Northern Europeans and fine-tunes the regulation of an essential gene involved in hair color, showcasing how independent changes can be encoded to produce specific traits.