After more than a decade of sometimes incremental, sometimes paradigm-shifting advances in stem cell biology, most people with a basic understanding of life sciences know that stem cells are the basic form of cell from which all specialized cells, and eventually organs and body parts, derive. But what makes a “good” stem cell, one that […]
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Picture This: Heavy History
Mid-Flight Check-Up
A member of a WCS surveillance team prepares to release a whooper swan on a Mongolian lake, following sample collection and fitting of a neck collar. The check-up was part of ongoing health studies, examining avian flu strains in wild birds. Researchers identified 116 avian flu strains in wild birds, more than 10 times the […]
Whither NATO?: Difficulties in the Trans-Atlantic Relationship
Revelations about NSA spying and an unequal sharing of military burdens has cast a recent shadow over the trans-Atlantic relationship. But NATO remains just as important as ever. It is time for all alliance members to recognize that fact.
Higher levels of omega-3 in diet are associated with better sleep, study shows
Higher levels of omega-3 DHA, the group of long-chain fatty acids found in algae and seafood, are associated with better sleep, shows a randomized, placebo-controlled study. The study finds that higher blood levels of the long-chain omega-3 DHA (the main omega-3 fatty acid found in the brain) are significantly associated with better sleep, including less […]
‘Most complete’ picture of gene expression in cancer cell cycle caught
Uncontrolled cell growth and division is a hallmark of cancer. Now a research project has provided the most complete description to date of the gene activity that takes place as human cells divide. Researchers have managed to gather data which details the behavior of protein molecules encoded by over 6000 genes in cancer cells, as […]
Can the millions in urban India live among greenery?
Large swathes of wilderness alternating with pockets of urbanization may be a reality in some countries, but in India boundaries are soft. Where a city ends and where a village begins in its outskirts is somewhat fuzzy. Rapidly developing megacities like Bangalore and Pune, localities like Gurgaon outside New Delhi, have been subsuming surrounding villages […]
The Gospel of Matteo: Italy’s New Prime Minister Promises Radical Reform
New Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is a neophyte on the national stage. But he has lofty ambitions nonetheless. A look back at his time as the mayor of Florence provides a glimpse of how he might run Italy.
Computational tool offers new insight into key biological processes
Researchers have developed a computational tool designed to guide future research on biochemical pathways by identifying which components in a biological system are related to specific biochemical processes, including those processes responsible for gene expression, cell signaling, stress response, and metabolism.
Genetic techniques have role in future of dental care
A visit to the dentist could one day require a detailed look at how genes in a patient’s body are being switched on or off, as well as examining their pearly whites, according to researchers. “In the case of oral health, epigenetic factors may help to orchestrate healthy and unhealthy states in our mouths. They […]