The research field of “cellular IRESes” lay dormant for decades, as there was no uniform standard of reliable methods for the clear characterization of these starting points for the ribosome-mediated control of gene expression. Researchers at the…
Category: 5. Biology
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Researchers discover Achilles heel of Lyme disease pathogen
Researchers have discovered that an enzyme can serve as an ideal target for developing new therapeutics against Lyme disease, and most likely other tick-borne diseases as well. The finding was reported in mBio, a journal of the American Society…
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Study identifies viruses in red tide blooms for the first time
A new study led by researchers at the University of South Florida shines light on the environmental drivers of red tide blooms.
Published in the American Society for Microbiology’s journal mSphere, the study is the first to identify viruses…
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Why do lymphatic vessels form a jigsaw puzzle-like pattern?
The lymphatic system plays a key role in maintaining the body’s fluid balance and supporting immune defences. Lymphatic vessels are composed of a single layer of endothelial cells, allowing the transfer of fluids, cells and large molecules from…
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Peatlands’ potential to capture carbon upgraded as temperatures rise
According to a predictive model developed by a CNRS researcher1 and his European colleagues, the microalgae present in peat bogs could offset up to 14% of future CO2 emissions, thanks to their photosynthetic activity2. This conclusion was reached…
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Adaptive defenses against malicious jumping genes
Adverse genetic mutations can cause harm and are due to various circumstances. “Jumping genes” are one cause of mutations, but cells try and combat them with a specialized RNA called piRNA. For the first time, researchers from the University of…
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Breakthrough molecular movie reveals DNA’s unzipping mechanism with implications for viral and cancer treatments
Scientists at the University of Leicester have captured the first detailed “molecular movie” showing DNA being unzipped at the atomic level — revealing how cells begin the crucial process of copying their genetic material.
The groundbreaking…
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Restored stream supports new wild salmon run
Almost everywhere in California, salmon are on the decline. But in Putah Creek — a restored stream running through the University of California, Davis, campus — wild salmon are not only increasing, they also are completing their life cycle.
A…
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The cell’s powerhouses: Molecular machines enable efficient energy production
Mitochondria are the powerhouses in our cells, producing the energy for all vital processes. Using cryo-electron tomography, researchers at the University of Basel, Switzerland, have now gained insight into the architecture of mitochondria at…
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Scientists Reveal Why We Can’t Remember Our Earliest Years
A new fMRI study reveals that babies as young as 12 months can encode memories, contradicting theories that memory formation is impossible in infancy. Instead, the inability to recall early life may stem from retrieval failures rather than memory…
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