Genetics & Molecular Biology

Chemical Signals: Sexual Attraction, Pheromones And Being Ready At The Right Time

The exchange of chemical signals between organisms is considered the oldest form of communication. Acting as messenger molecules, pheromones regulate social interactions between conspecifics, for example, the sexual attraction between males and females. F ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 29 2014 - 9:49pm

Sugar Substance Methylglyoxal Damages Good HDL Cholesterol- Study

A new study finds that 'good' cholesterol is damaged by a sugar-derived substance, methylglyoxal (MG), was found to damage the 'good' cholesterol High Density Lipoprotein- HDL- which removes excess levels of bad cholesterol from the bo ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 1 2014 - 9:00am

E. Coli Strain Responsible For Food Poisoning Gets Its Genome Sequenced

A strain of E. coli that is a common cause of outbreaks of food poisoning in the United States has had its genome sequenced. E. coli strain EDL933 was first isolated in the 1980s but gained national attention in 1993 when it was linked to an outbreak of f ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 2 2014 - 8:47am

Making Diseased Cells Synthesize Their Own Drug

In a new study, scientists have adapted a chemical approach to turn diseased cells into unique manufacturing sites for molecules that can treat a form of muscular dystrophy. In general, small, low molecular weight compounds can pass the blood-brain barrier ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 3 2014 - 8:00am

LncRNA FAL1- The Dragon Cancer Oncogene Found In Junk DNA

In order to understand the genesis and treatment of cancer scientists are searching for links between genetic alterations and those diseases.  Historically, most of those studies have focused on the portion of the human genome that encodes protein – about ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 7 2014 - 2:19pm

Genetic Modification Of Peaches In 5,500 BC

If you enjoy a sweet, fleshy peach today, give some thanks to scientifically minded, free-market farmers in China 7,500 years ago. A new analysis has found that the domestic peaches popular worldwide today can trace their ancestry back to the lower Yangtze ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 6 2014 - 12:24pm

Single-Celled Organism Smashes And Rebuilds Its Own Genome

A new study has found that the pond-dwelling, single-celled organism Oxytricha trifallax has the remarkable ability to break its own DNA into nearly a quarter-million pieces and will then rapidly reassemble those pieces when it's time to mate. Why? N ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 8 2014 - 3:02pm

Unusual Biochemistry: Fat Proteins Interact Directly With Mitochondria

Researchers have revealed an unusual biochemical connection: ft (Fat) genes interact directly with mitochondria in cells. Mitochondria are the primary sources of energy production within our cells and there are some 200 pathologies linked to mitochondrial ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 11 2014 - 6:00pm

When Remodeling Is Destruction: How Cartilage Contributes To Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis causes chronic pain and inflammation in joints, such as those in the hands and feet, as well as knees and hips. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can destroy the cartilage that lubricates and cushions the joints. In essence, it 're ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 14 2014 - 12:00pm

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reset To Pristine State

A decade ago there was mass hysteria among the fringes of science academia because American President George W. Bush limited federal funding for human embryonic stem cells to existing lines. Accompanying claims were that Alzheimer's Disease wouldn ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 14 2014 - 2:00pm