Genetics & Molecular Biology

Quorum Sensing And Regeneration Response: Cure Baldness By Pulling Out Hair

Shaved heads have come in and out of fashion over the past few decades, but some people don’t have the option of allowing their locks to grow. Thankfully, for those who do suffer from hair loss, or alopecia, help may be at hand. Somewhat counter-intuitive ...

Article - The Conversation - Apr 14 2015 - 10:05pm

Autoimmune Process Linked To Rejection Of Secondary Corneal Transplants Uncovered

Researchers have identified an important cause of why secondary corneal transplants are rejected at triple the rate of first-time corneal transplants. The cornea- the most frequently transplanted solid tissue- has a first-time transplantation success rate ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 20 2015 - 5:18pm

The Immune System Reason We Are Sensitive To Bitter Taste

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), an immune system regulatory protein that promotes inflammation, also helps regulate sensitivity to bitter taste, a finding which may provide a mechanism to explain the taste system abnormalities and decreased food intake that ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 23 2015 - 8:00am

Gendered Innovations: Female Liver Cells More Susceptible To Adverse Effects Of Drugs

Female liver cells, and in particular those in post-menopausal women, are more susceptible to adverse effects of drugs than their male counterparts, according to new research carried out by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC). It is establ ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 21 2015 - 8:42am

Nature Turned The Sweet Potato Into A GMO

Sweet potatoes, one of the most important food crops for human consumption, contain genes from the bacterium Agrobacterium but that was not done by scientists. The foreign DNA that turned sweet potatoes into a GMO was put there by nature. The researchers ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 23 2015 - 7:00am

No Three-Parent IVF Needed: Genome Editing In Mitochondria Prevents Disease Inheritance

A proof-of-concept study in mice showed it is possible to prevent transmission of mitochondrial disease to children without resorting to controversial cytoplasmic transfer- "three-parent" IVF. Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 23 2015 - 1:15pm

Bumblebee Genomes Create A Buzz In The Pollination Field

Bees play an invaluable role in maintaining biodiversity and in pollinating the crops that feed the world, so it is essential to improve our understanding of their biology and to investigate how they respond to environmental threats. Despite their often s ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 27 2015 - 12:53pm

Stem Cell And Feeder Cell Link Challenged

Stem cells cling to feeder cells as they grow in petri dishes and it has been thought that this attachment occurs because feeder cells serve as a support system, providing stems cells with essential nutrients. ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 27 2015 - 8:08am

Beyond Genes: Centrioles As Carriers Of Biological Information

Centrioles- barrel-shaped structures inside cells- are made up of multiple proteins and since mutations in the proteins that make them up can cause a broad range of diseases, including developmental abnormalities, respiratory conditions, male sterility an ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 27 2015 - 9:14am

Modified Smell Enzyme Could Reduce Pesticide Use

There may be more a natural way to reduce the use of pesticides but still save plants from attack-  by recreating a natural insect repellent based on smell. Scientists from Cardiff University and Rothamsted Research have created tiny molecules which mirro ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 27 2015 - 9:02am