Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have a unique resource in the form of the Center for Biomolecular Condensates at the McKelvey School of Engineering, which draws scientists from around the world to study the biochemical reactions…
Category: 5. Biology
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Tapping the engines of cellular electrochemistry and forces of evolution
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3′UTR-derived small RNA couples acid resistance to metabolic reprogramming in Salmonella within macrophages
Acid resistance is a crucial property that enterobacteria must possess to withstand host acidic environments during infection, including the gastrointestinal tract and macrophage phagosomes. The facultative intracellular pathogen Salmonella…
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New DNA 'page numbers' method enables accurate assembly of long genetic sequences
The power of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computing has made it possible to design genetic sequences encoding for diverse biological applications, such as proteins that form the building blocks of materials stronger than steel, or…
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New sensor surface distinguishes aggressive cancer cells by physical behavior
A new study reveals a simple and fast, label-free way to distinguish aggressive cancer cells by how they physically behave. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed this novel way to identify aggressive cancer cells, not…
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Early warning for wine spoilage glows in the dark
Researchers built a living biosensor made of bacteria that lights up when it detects acetic acid, the main chemical signal that wine is starting to spoil. It works in real time, even in high-alcohol conditions, so wineries can catch problems…
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Epigenetic switch found to halt fat cell formation in adipose tissue
Metabolic diseases such as obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance are rapidly increasing worldwide, but fundamental methods to regulate the process of fat formation remain limited. In particular, once adipocytes (fat cells) are formed, they…
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How starfish control tube feet without a central nervous system or brain
Starfish, also known as sea stars, are equipped with an almost alien-like anatomy. Despite lacking a brain, blood, and central nervous system, these odd creatures still have locomotive abilities. The structure of their many flexible tube feet has…
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Moisture availability, not fertilizer alone, affects long-term fate of soil phosphorus
Phosphorus is crucial for crop growth. But too little can lower crop yields, and too much can lead to pollution downstream. Studies show that some soils are losing phosphorus, while others are accumulating and leaking into waterways, says…
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Harvestmen arachnids apparently use fluorescent patterns for species recognition
A research team from Munich has identified a previously unknown communication mechanism in harvestmen. Five closely related species show species-specific, strongly fluorescent structures on their backs that become especially visible under…
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AI generates short DNA sequences that show promise for gene therapies
Scientists at the Broad Institute and Mass General Brigham have built a generative AI model that creates short DNA segments that can control gene activity in specific cells. These sequences, called cis-regulatory elements (CREs), make up a large…
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