Molecular & Structural Biology

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Using fungi to transform ocean plastic waste into key pharmaceutical components

Research on fungi underway at the University of Kansas has helped transform tough-to-recycle plastic waste from the Pacific Ocean into key components for making pharmaceuticals.

18 Jan 2023

New scalable approach for the diagnosis of multiple respiratory viruses

Cambridge scientists have created a novel test that “fishes” for many respiratory viruses at once using single strands of DNA as “bait” and provides extremely accurate results in under an hour.

18 Jan 2023

Innovative approach to mRNA delivery

A group of scientists spearheaded by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has created a unique messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery system utilizing extracellular vesicles (EVs).

16 Jan 2023

Ten years and 1,000 studies later, epigeneticists discover problems in their arsenal

Twenty years ago, following the initial sequencing of the human genome, geneticists started carrying out extensive genome-wide association studies to find genomic regions connected to human disease.

16 Jan 2023

Quicker and affordable method of extracting DNA from elephant dung

With the aid of a novel DNA-collection technique, researchers can now collect genetic data from elephants without endangering the animals or endangering themselves.

16 Jan 2023

Importance of involving descendant communities in ancient DNA research

Researchers can track human evolution and make crucial findings about modern populations by analyzing ancient DNA.

13 Jan 2023

Breeding climate-proof crops aided by exotic wheat DNA

Research from the Earlham Institute in Norwich, in partnership with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), provides much-needed hope for enhancing crop resilience and food security in the face of climate change following a year in which temperature records have been broken.

11 Jan 2023

Effective anticancer strategy for selective killing of cancer cells

A study team headed by Dr Yuanliang Zhai from The University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) School of Biological Sciences and his associates from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Institut Curie in France discovered a new mechanism of the human MCM2-7 complex in controlling replication initiation, which can be employed as a unique and effective anticancer method with the potential for selective death of cancer cells.

11 Jan 2023

Chilling tolerance trait in rice with the codon repeats at a single site

A recent study performed by Professor Chong Kang’s group from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has disclosed a fact that a novel cold domesticated repair mechanism for DNA damage in rice.

11 Jan 2023

Argonne scientists awarded DOE funding to study plant-microbe communication

Argonne scientists awarded funding for bioimaging project to study communication between plants and microbial symbionts.

10 Jan 2023

Elucidation of mitochondrial membrane pore formation

Human metabolism depends on mitochondria, which are regarded as the power plants of cells. But since 40% of the proteins in the mitochondria are dysfunctional and are linked to human diseases, mitochondria also play a significant role in medical research.

6 Jan 2023

Scandinavian gene pool development via DNA analysis

The complex relationships between geography, ancestry, and gene flow in Scandinavia are resolved in a new study based on 297 ancient Scandinavian genomes that were analyzed along with the genomic data of 16,638 modern Scandinavians.

6 Jan 2023

Uncovering new function for small RNAs in Salmonella infections

Millions of people get sick from Salmonella each year because they are food-borne pathogens. These bacteria rely on a sophisticated network of genes and gene products that give them the ability to sense environmental conditions to do this.

4 Jan 2023

Ultrafast, highly sensitive detection of proteins using simple laser irradiation

Protein detection based on antigen–antibody reaction is vital in early diagnosis of a wide range of diseases. How to effectively detect proteins, however, has frequently bedeviled researchers.

4 Jan 2023

Key immune alarm protein that regulates inflammation identified

Trinity researchers have made a significant advance in understanding how inflammation is controlled. They recently discovered that a crucial immunological alarm protein that was previously thought to quiet the immune response apparently performs the opposite.

20 Dec 2022

New DNA analysis leads to first accurate tuberculosis genome identification

A novel genome assembly tool that has been created by researchers could lead to the creation of fresh antibiotics for the bacterial infections that cause tuberculosis and other diseases.

From Rutgers University 20 Dec 2022

CT scanning and 3D modeling shed light on evolution of pelvic fins in shark embryos

Curtin University researchers have revealed how the pelvic fins of fish such as sharks and chimeras have evolved from their sudden appearance in the fossil record over 410 million years ago.

16 Dec 2022

Octopuses' acuity may provide a critical link in understanding the evolution of complex life

Octopuses have captured the attention of scientists and the public with their remarkable intelligence, including the use of tools, engaging in creative play and problem-solving, and even escaping from aquariums.

16 Dec 2022

Involvement of the piRNA pathway in brain plasticity and successful aging

The Neurobiology of miRNA team, headed by Davide De Pietri Tonelli of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology), established a link between a family of small RNA molecules known as piRNAs and brain inflammation.

16 Dec 2022

The potential of cellular “glue” in regenerative medicine

Scientists at UC San Francisco have created molecules that function as “cellular glue,” enabling them to precisely control how cells adhere to one another. The discovery is a significant step toward regenerative medicine’s long-term goal of creating new tissues and organs.

14 Dec 2022