The Global Syndicator - biology

Biology in Pictures: “monster” cell - triple labeled

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:24:04 +0000

This is a “monster” culture cell - a huge mutant with two nuclei and one centrosome. A normal cell can be seen at the lower right. “monster” cell - triple labeled on Flickr - Photo Sharing!.

Learning Suffers If Brain Transcript Isn’t Transported Far Out To End Of Neurons

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:47:07 +0000

Neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center have solved a mystery that lies at the heart of human learning, and they say the solution may help explain some forms of mental retardation as well as provide clues to overall brain functioning.

3D Animation explaining basics of the human genome

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:21:25 +0000

A dynamic 3D computer animated video takes you “inside” for a close-up look at how we’re made. 3D modeling and animation created by Bill Baker, Bakedmedia, Inc. and Mike Fisher for the Nationa

Prevailing theory of aging challenged in worm study

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:14:24 +0000

Age may not be rust after all. Specific genetic instructions drive aging in worms, report researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Their discovery contradicts the prevailing theory that aging is a buildup of tissue damage akin to rust, and implies science might eventually halt or even reverse the ravages of age.

A new cellular pathway linked to cancer

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:12:23 +0000

In the life of a cell, the response to DNA damage determines whether the cell is fated to pause and repair itself, commit suicide, or grow uncontrollably, a route leading to cancer. In a new study, pu

Biology in Pictures: Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:41:31 +0000

Morphology: Thrombocytopenia, 4+ schizocytes, 3+ spherocytes, 4+ polychromatophilic rbc. Diagnosis: Disseminated carcinomatosis with DIC DIC With Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia on Flickr - Photo Sh

Scientists have developed a new method for making biological ‘chips’

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:24:30 +0000

Protein chips – or ‘protein arrays’ as they are more commonly known – are objects such as slides that have proteins attached to them and allow important scientific data about the behaviour of proteins to be gathered.

Biology in pictures: Mimivirus

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:58:16 +0000

Mimivirus on Flickr - Photo Sharing!.

Relearning process not always a ‘free lunch’

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:47:12 +0000

Researchers at Sheffield University and the University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom, have helped determine why relearning a few pieces of information may or may not easily cause a recollection of other associated, previously learned information.

Being a control freak aids dividing cells

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:37:20 +0000

Micromanagers may generate resentment in an office setting, but they get results in your body. New data indicate that a dividing cell takes micromanagement to the extreme, tagging more than 14,000 different sites on its proteins with phosphate, a molecule that typically serves as a signal for a variety of biological processes.

Researchers Unveil Near-complete Protein Catalog For Mitochondria

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:09:16 +0000

Imagine trying to figure out how your car’s power train works from just a few of its myriad components: It would be nearly impossible. Scientists have long faced a similar challenge in understanding cells’ tiny powerhouses — called “mitochondria” — from scant knowledge of their molecular parts.

Supercomputer explores biochemical landscape to find memory switches

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:04:15 +0000

Switches are a part of daily life, from snoozing your alarm, turning on the coffee maker, firing up your car engine, and so on until we turn off the lights at night. Researchers have now cataloged even more templates of possible switches within a living cell than we use throughout our day.

Biology enters ‘The Matrix’ through new computer language

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:58:11 +0000

Ever since the human genome was sequenced less than 10 years ago, researchers have been able to access a dizzying plethora of genomic information with a simple click of a mouse. This digitizing of genomic data—and its public access—is something that would have been unthinkable a generation earlier.

Excellent animation explaining the mechanism of RNAi technology

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:40:09 +0000

This superb animation from Youtube explains the RNA interference mechanism that recently won the Nobel prize for its discovery. The original video is from the journal Nature.

Hot peppers really do bring the heat

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:28:09 +0000

Chili peppers can do more than just make you feel hot, reports a study in the August 1 Journal of Biological Chemistry; the active chemical in peppers can directly induce thermogenesis, the process by which cells convert energy into heat.