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Université de Genève


No need to dig too deep to find gold!

The study found that the depth of porphyry copper and gold deposits influences their composition, with deeper deposits containing more copper and shallower deposits containing more gold. Over 95% of gold is lost to the atmosphere through volcanic emissions, making it challenging for companies to extract this metal.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 14, 2020

Water governance: Could less sometimes be more?

A study of six European countries' water governance systems from 1750 to 2006 found that the introduction of new regulations can lead to conflicts, inefficiencies, and a decrease in system coherence. The researchers argue that less regulation may be more effective in achieving positive environmental impacts.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalEcological Economics·DateJan 10, 2020

Indeterminist physics for an open world

A UNIGE physicist proposes altering the mathematical language of classical physics to allow for indeterminism and randomness, resolving contradictions with quantum physics. This shift would enable a more intuitive approach to understanding the world, closer to our everyday experience.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 7, 2020

Aging in good health: The inequalities are widening

Researchers found that life expectancy in Switzerland has increased, but the country's population who only attended compulsory schooling are living longer in poor health. The gap between men and women is also widening, with women experiencing a smaller increase in healthy years due to their higher life expectancy

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalInternational Journal of Public Health·DateNov 11, 2019

New chemical weapon to combat cancer

Researchers at UNIGE have developed a new formula, C2, composed of four anti-cancer drugs that target and kill tumour cells while leaving healthy cells intact. The formula has shown promising results in reducing the risk of resistance and side effects associated with high-dose treatments.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCancers·DateOct 23, 2019

Cancer: The origin of genetic mutations

Researchers at UNIGE unveil a mutation mechanism essential for cancer development by linking DNA replication failures in cancer cells to their genetic instability. They successfully corrected the effects of replication stress in diseased cells, showing that this phenomenon is controllable and potentially exploitable for therapy.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 25, 2019

Type 2 diabetes is not just about insulin

Researchers at UNIGE found that the liver can produce glucose independently of hormonal signals, challenging the long-held belief about its role in glucose regulation. This autonomous glucose production may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes in patients with a fatty liver syndrome.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateSep 11, 2019

The birth of vision, from the retina to the brain

Researchers at UNIGE identified key genes regulating retinal cell differentiation and axon guidance, offering insights into the construction of vision and potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The study's findings have significant implications for regenerative medicine and could lead to new therapies for optic nerve damage.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalDevelopment·DateSep 9, 2019

How our brain filters sounds

The study reveals that auditory sensory gating filtering begins at the brainstem, contradicting earlier hypotheses. This finding has significant implications for understanding schizophrenia, a condition characterized by difficulty prioritizing and ranking sounds.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournaleNeuro·DateSep 6, 2019

Brain stem cells have a good memory

Researchers at UNIGE have discovered that brain progenitor cells can recover their past skills and rejuvenate when transplanted into a young mouse embryo. This finding sheds light on how the brain constructs itself and opens up new possibilities for cortical neuroregeneration.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·DateAug 28, 2019

When a diseased liver disrupts the brain

Researchers have discovered that chronic liver diseases can cause cerebral molecular disturbances as early as two weeks after liver malfunction, even without physical symptoms. The study found two new molecules involved in the disease process: creatine and vitamin C.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalJournal of Hepatology·DateAug 19, 2019

On-demand control of terahertz and infrared waves

Graphene's ability to control infrared and terahertz waves using magnetic fields has been confirmed experimentally, opening up new possibilities for opto-electronics, telecommunications, and medical diagnostics. The research also shows that graphene can be used to observe molecular chirality and search for life on exoplanets.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJul 9, 2019

Schizophrenia: Adolescence is the game-changer

Researchers at UNIGE discovered that the development of the hippocampus, responsible for memory and emotions, is severely impacted in adolescence following the onset of psychotic symptoms. The study suggests that a 'second hit' later in development may determine further hippocampal atrophy and psychotic symptom emergence.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateJun 17, 2019

When social interaction helps you choose your food

Studies using rodents demonstrate how sensory stimuli linked to social contacts modify neural connections involved in food choice, highlighting the importance of social transmission of food preferences. This mechanism may be deficient in individuals with autistic disorders, contributing to their social difficulties.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScience·DateJun 7, 2019

Poor semen quality in Switzerland

The first nationwide study on semen quality in Switzerland found that 38% of young men have semen parameter values above the WHO norms. Poor semen quality is associated with an increased risk of testicular cancer and infertility, with 25% of men having less than 40% motile spermatozoa.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalAndrology·DateMay 22, 2019

The insulin under the influence of light

Scientists uncover how light influences insulin sensitivity and metabolic homeostasis, shedding light on the circadian rhythms' impact on diabetes. The study suggests that taking into account time of day can help patients better manage their treatment and reduce risks associated with daily insulin injections.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCell Reports·DateMay 21, 2019

Back to the sources of neural diversity

Swiss and Belgian researchers decipher the genetic programmes of neurons in the cerebral cortex to understand how specific cell types are generated. They found temporal patterns of gene expression that control the developmental scenario, which may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScience·DateMay 9, 2019

Necrophagy: A means of survival in the Dead Sea

Researchers from UNIGE discovered that bacteria can thrive in the Dead Sea's sediments, surviving extreme conditions by feeding on ancient corpses. This finding has significant implications for searching for life on other planets and highlights the importance of understanding how microorganisms adapt to hostile environments.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalGeology·DateApr 15, 2019

Human cells can also change jobs

Researchers at UNIGE show that human pancreatic cells can be converted to produce insulin in a sustainable way, potentially compensating for lost or dysfunctional cells. The conversion was successful in both diabetic and non-diabetic donors, with modified alpha cells showing improved resistance to autoimmune diabetes.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·DateFeb 13, 2019

The physical forces of cells in action

Researchers from Université de Genève and NCCR in Chemical Biology create probes inspired by lobster cooking to visualize physical forces in action, enabling imaging of forces within organelles like mitochondria. This breakthrough allows scientists to study mechanobiology and revolutionize life sciences.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 12, 2019

A solid scaffolding for our cells

Researchers at UNIGE have deciphered the fundamental role of the Not1 protein in regulating ribosome activity, allowing proteins to assemble at the right time and place. This discovery sheds light on a crucial element of cellular machinery and its potential link to diseases.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateJan 28, 2019

To sleep well, let yourself be rocked!

Researchers from UNIGE, HUG, and UNIL demonstrate that slow and repeated movement during sleep modulates brain wave activity, leading to improved deep sleep and memory consolidation. Rocking has been shown to synchronize brain waves and reinforce deep sleep, with benefits also observed in mice studies.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 24, 2019

Why do Hydra end up with just a single head?

Researchers at UNIGE discovered the identity of Hydra's inhibitor, protein Sp5, which maintains a single-headed adult body and regulates regenerative response. The mechanism has been conserved throughout evolution, suggesting potential therapeutic applications in human tumors.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 18, 2019