Apoptosis. Synonymous with the phrase “cell suicide,” it was initially discovered in 1842 by German scientist Carl Vogt. However, it wouldn’t be until 1972 that the now popularized term (from Greek, apo plus ptosis, or “falling off”) gained significance within the scientific community for the role it plays in fetal development, aging, and the formation […]
Death by design: Using apoptosis as a cancer treatment Read More »
Since the dawn of life, a relentless battle has raged between bacteria and bacteria-infecting viruses known as bacteriophages (or simply, “phages”). These primitive adversaries have fundamentally opposing goals. While bacteria seek to survive and reproduce, phages aim to hijack a bacterial cell’s inner machinery to replicate their own genes — killing the cell in the
Gene transfer agents: How bacteria have tamed their greatest enemy Read More »
What is the best way to discover how a gene works when it is on? In many cases, the answer is to turn it off. Gene silencing is the process by which gene expression, or the proper “effect” stimulated by the activation of a gene, is diminished or prevented completely. In plants and animals, this
“Turning off” select genes aids medicine Read More »
For nearly 1.7 million Americans affected by type 1 diabetes, the thought of being free from a lifetime of insulin therapy is unheard of. However, a recipient of a new stem cell–based therapy is producing her own insulin less than three months after the injections. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disorder that destroys
Stem cell therapy reverses diabetes Read More »
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by rapid escalation of cell loss, a consequence of progressive decay of structure and function of neurons. Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurodegenerative condition in which central nervous system function is degraded. Atrophy refers to the death of neuronal cells which can have dramatic effects on an individual’s function.
From protein to pathology: Investigating multiple system atrophy Read More »
DNA and RNA are often hailed as the “code of life.” This isn’t far from the truth. DNA and RNA are nucleic acids, made up of a sequence of chemical components called nucleotides. The order of these nucleotides encodes genetic information in the form of genes, which are transcribed from DNA into RNA before directing
A new RNA: Nobel prize awarded to Cambridge scientists for discovery of microRNA Read More »
After the revolutionary discovery of antibiotics in 1910, bacterial infections — once the leading cause of human mortality — became readily preventable, contributing to a 23-year rise in average lifespan. Although traditional antibiotics like amoxicillin and doxycycline continue to save millions, decades of overprescription are catalyzing the rise of deadly new pathogens. Prolonged exposure to
Crisis on the nanoscale: Can metal nanoparticles stop the spread of superbugs? Read More »
Have you ever gotten a flu at the same time as your siblings and wondered why your sister’s fever went away days ago while your brother is still battling with it bedridden? COVID–19 is what really brought to attention the influence sex plays on one’s immune system when men started dying from the disease at
Unveiling the hormonal influences on immunity Read More »
Imagine sinking into bed after a long day, ready for the blissful escape of sleep. The dreams that follow are expected to be the usual blend of random absurdities — maybe a stroll through a cotton candy city, a conversation with a talking cat, or being chased through the clouds by an old friend. But
In your wildest dreams: Sleep science seeks to manipulate the mind Read More »