Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

A rare enzyme role change with bacterial defense system assembly      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have revealed a never-before-seen phenomenon in a protein: Alone, the enzyme processes DNA and RNA but, when bound to another protein as part of a defense system, interacts with a completely different type of compound to help bacteria commit suicide.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Molecular
Published

A sugar analysis could reveal different types of cancer      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In the future, a little saliva may be enough to detect an incipient cancer. Researchers have developed an effective way to interpret the changes in sugar molecules that occur in cancer cells.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

A new mechanism by which rotavirus makes you sick      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists report a new mechanism by which rotavirus induces diarrhea by interfering with the normal absorption of nutrients in the intestine.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Published

AI chatbot shows potential as diagnostic partner      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Physician-investigators compared a chatbot's probabilistic reasoning to that of human clinicians. The findings suggest that artificial intelligence could serve as useful clinical decision support tools for physicians.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Zika's shape-shifting machinery, and a possible vulnerability      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Viruses have limited genetic material -- and few proteins -- so all the pieces must work extra hard. Zika is a great example; the virus only produces 10 proteins. Now researchers have shown how the virus does so much with so little and may have identified a therapeutic vulnerability.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

How immune cells recognize their enemies      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In order for immune cells to do their job, they need to know against whom they should direct their attack. Research teams a have identified new details in this process.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

New genes can arise from nothing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The complexity of living organisms is encoded within their genes, but where do these genes come from? Researchers resolved outstanding questions regarding the origin of small regulatory genes, and described a mechanism that creates their DNA palindromes. Under suitable circumstances, these palindromes evolve into microRNA genes.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Fungus-fighting protein could help overcome severe autoimmune disease and cancer      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A protein in the immune system programmed to protect the body from fungal infections is also responsible for exacerbating the severity of certain autoimmune diseases such as irritable bowel disease (IBS), type 1 diabetes, eczema and other chronic disorders, new research has found.  The discovery could pave the way for new and more effective drugs, without the nasty side effects of existing treatments. In addition to helping to manage severe autoimmune conditions, the breakthrough could also help treat all types of cancer.  

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular
Published

Influx of water and salts propel immune cells through the body      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have shown that an influx of water and ions into immune cells allows them to migrate to where they're needed in the body.  

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Exposure to soft robots decreases human fears about working with them      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Seeing robots made with soft, flexible parts in action appears to lower people's anxiety about working with them or even being replaced by them. A study found that watching videos of a soft robot working with a person at picking and placing tasks lowered the viewers' safety concerns and feelings of job insecurity. This was true even when the soft robot was shown working in close proximity to the person. This finding shows soft robots hold a potential psychological advantage over rigid robots made of metal or other hard materials.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Sugar permeation discovered in plant aquaporins      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Aquaporins, which move water through membranes of plant cells, were not thought to be able to permeate sugar molecules, but researchers have observed sucrose transport in plant aquaporins for the first time, challenging this theory.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular
Published

Macrophages 'eat' insulin-producing cells to regulate insulin after mice have given birth      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Pregnancy brings a rise in pancreatic beta cells -- the cells that produce insulin. Shortly after birth, these cells return to their normal levels. The mechanisms behind this process had remained a mystery. But now a research group has revealed that white blood cells called macrophages 'eat' these cells. 

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Published

AI networks are more vulnerable to malicious attacks than previously thought      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Artificial intelligence tools hold promise for applications ranging from autonomous vehicles to the interpretation of medical images. However, a new study finds these AI tools are more vulnerable than previously thought to targeted attacks that effectively force AI systems to make bad decisions.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Researchers have cracked the cellular code on protein folding, offering hope for new therapeutic avenues for many diseases      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While we often think of diseases as caused by foreign bodies -- bacteria or viruses -- there are hundreds of diseases affecting humans that result from errors in cellular production of its proteins. A team of researchers recently leveraged the power of cutting-edge technology, including an innovative technique called glycoproteomics, to unlock the carbohydrate-based code that governs how certain classes of proteins form themselves into the complex shapes necessary to keep us healthy.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
Published

New technique efficiently offers insight into gene regulation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a new technique called MAbID. This allows them to simultaneously study different mechanisms of gene regulation, which plays a major role in development and disease. MAbID offers new insights into how these mechanisms work together or against each other.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Physics: Optics
Published

A color-based sensor to emulate skin's sensitivity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a step toward more autonomous soft robots and wearable technologies, researchers have created a device that uses color to simultaneously sense multiple mechanical and temperature stimuli.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Molecular Ecology: Invasive Species Geoscience: Geochemistry Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Unlocking the secret strength of marine mussels      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

How do you create strong, yet quick-release connections between living and non-living tissues? This is a question that continues to puzzle bioengineers who aim to create materials that bond together for advanced biomedical applications. Looking to nature for inspiration, this research zeroed in on the marine mussel byssus, a fibrous holdfast, which these bivalve mollusks use to anchor themselves in seashore habitats.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Shedding light on the synthesis of sugars before the origin of life      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Pentoses are essential carbohydrates in the metabolism of modern lifeforms, but their availability on early Earth is unclear since these molecules are unstable. Now, researchers reveal a chemical pathway compatible with early Earth conditions, by which C6 aldonates could have acted as a source of pentoses without the need for enzymes. Their findings provide clues about primitive biochemistry and bring us closer to understanding life's origin.