Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular
Published

Unlocking the secrets of cell antennas      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The NSL (non-specific lethal) complex regulates thousands of genes in fruit flies and mammals. Silencing the NSL genes leads to the death of the organism, which gave the complex its curious name. Researchers have now discovered that the genes regulated by the NSL complex also include genes of the intraciliary transport system. This enables different cell types to form cilia on their surface, which are important for cell communication. The study shows that these genes are 'switched on' by the NSL complex, regardless of whether a particular cell has cilia or not. The researchers found that this class of cilia-associated genes is crucial for the function of podocytes. This is a highly specialized cell type of the kidney that, paradoxically, does not have cilia. These findings have important implications for ciliopathies and kidney disease.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology
Published

Epigenetic mechanism that causes bitter taste distortion discovered      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A bitter taste in the mouth is often a symptom or side effect of illness, which may be the result of how the body reacts to pathogens. A new study sheds light on the mechanisms involved in the complex interplay between taste perception and immune function. Their work also highlights the potential of a sequencing tool for investigating epigenetic mechanisms that affect taste-cell gene expression.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular
Published

Researchers describe rebuilding, regenerating lung cells      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered a novel approach for engrafting engineered cells into injured lung tissue. These findings may lead to new ways for treating lung diseases, such as emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis and COVID-19. The two studies describe the methodologies for engineering lung stem cells and transplanting them into injured experimental lungs without immunosuppression.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular
Published

The 'treadmill conveyor belt' ensuring proper cell division      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered how proteins work in tandem to regulate 'treadmilling', a mechanism used by the network of microtubules inside cells to ensure proper cell division.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental
Published

Noncoding DNA explains a majority of the heritability of dairy cattle traits, like milk production and fertility      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Regulatory genes -- genes that control how other genes are used -- are responsible for 69% of the heritability of dairy cattle traits such as milk production and fertility, according to a new study. This contribution is 44% more than expected and much higher than previous studies of regulatory genes in humans. The findings, reported by a team of animal and human geneticists, could improve the efficiency of agricultural breeding programs. The study also helps solve the longstanding mystery of why mammalian genomes contain so much noncoding DNA.

Biology: Developmental
Published

Cracking the code that relates brain and behavior in a simple animal      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers model and map how neurons across the tiny brain of a C. elegans worm encode its behaviors, revealing many new insights about the robustness and flexibility of its nervous system.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

'Viral relicts' in the genome could fuel neurodegeneration      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Genetic remnants of viruses that are naturally present in the human genome could affect the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers come to this conclusion on the basis of studies on cell cultures.

Biology: Developmental
Published

Certain sugars affect brain 'plasticity,' helping with learning, memory, recovery      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Can you recognize an old friend, but forget what you had for breakfast yesterday? Our brains constantly rearrange their circuitry to retain information, but the molecular basis behind this process isn't well understood. New research suggests that complex sugars called glycosaminoglycans might play a major role in the 'plasticity' of the brains of mice and could be used to repair neural connections after injury.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Microbiology
Published

Building muscle in the lab      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new method allows large quantities of muscle stem cells to be safely obtained in cell culture. This provides a potential for treating patients with muscle diseases -- and for those who would like to eat meat, but don't want to kill animals.

Biology: Developmental
Published

Scientists discover external protein network can help stabilize neural connections      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The Noelin family of secreted proteins bind to the external portion of AMPA glutamate receptors and stabilize them on the neuronal cellular membrane, a process necessary for transmission of full-strength signals between neurons, according to a new study.

Biology: Developmental Physics: Optics
Published

New algorithm captures complex 3D light scattering information from live specimens      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a new algorithm for recovering the 3D refractive index distribution of biological samples that exhibit multiple types of light scattering.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Microbiology Mathematics: Modeling
Published

Distribution of genetic information during bacterial cell division      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A mathematical model provides new insights into the distribution of genetic information during bacterial cell division

Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary
Published

Global consortium creates large-scale, cross-species database and universal 'clock' to estimate age in all mammalian tissues      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international research team details changes in DNA that researchers found are shared by humans and other mammals throughout history and are associated with life span and numerous other traits.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Microbiology
Published

Researchers engineer bacteria that can detect tumor DNA      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Creating new technologically advanced sensors, scientists have engineered bacteria that detect the presence of tumor DNA in live organisms. Their innovation could pave the way to new biosensors capable of identifying various infections, cancers and other diseases.

Biology: Developmental
Published

Scientists reverse hearing loss in mice      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research has successfully reversed hearing loss in mice. Scientists used a genetic approach to fix deafness in mice, restoring their hearing abilities in low and middle frequency ranges.

Biology: Developmental
Published

Surprising discovery of low-noise genes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While engaging in cell division research, researchers made a surprisingly quiet discovery. When cells express RNA, there is always some fluctuation, or noise, in how much RNA is produced. The scientists found several genes whose noise dips below a previously established threshold, known as the noise floor, during expression.

Biology: Developmental Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

The 'unknome': A database of human genes we know almost nothing about      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers hope that a new, publicly available database they have created will shrink, not grow, over time. That's because it is a compendium of the thousands of understudied proteins encoded by genes in the human genome, whose existence is known but whose functions are mostly not.

Biology: Developmental
Published

Mineralization of bone matrix regulates tumor cell growth      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Tumor cells are known to be fickle sleeper agents, often lying dormant in distant tissues for years before reactivating and forming metastasis. Numerous factors have been studied to understand why the activation occurs, from cells and molecules to other components in the so-called tissue microenvironment.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Microbiology
Published

Astonishing complexity of bacterial circadian clocks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Bacteria make up more than 10% of all living things but until recently we had little realization that, as in humans, soil bacteria have internal clocks that synchronize their activities with the 24-hour cycles of day and night on Earth. New research shows just how complex and sophisticated these bacterial circadian clocks are, clearing the way for an exciting new phase of study.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Microbiology
Published

Parasites of viruses drive superbug evolution      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism by which bacteria share their genetic material through virus parasites. The insights could help scientists to better understand how bacteria rapidly adapt and evolve, and how they become more virulent and resistant to antibiotics.