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Showing posts from January, 2022

Brain Fog Caused by Long COVID and Chemo Appear Similar

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3INhLfS Data from mouse models for mild coronavirus infections and human tissue samples offer further evidence that it doesn’t take a severe infection—or even infection of brain cells at all—to cause long-term neurological symptoms. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 29, 2022 at 03:25AM

How Soft or Stiff Substrates Direct Stem Cell Differentiation

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/34f5q52 https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 29, 2022 at 02:23AM

Scientists Investigate Omicron Subvariant BA.2

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3AHWilq This strain of SARS-CoV-2 is causing new outbreaks in Europe and Asia and may spread slightly faster than the better-known BA.1 Omicron subvariant, although it's too early to say for sure. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 29, 2022 at 12:30AM

Pioneering Geneticist C. Thomas Caskey Dies at 83

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3Ha2iGf Caskey's contributions to the field were instrumental to modern genetics. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 29, 2022 at 12:08AM

Gut Microbes Help Ground Squirrels Endure Hibernation

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3Ho2C4t By breaking down urea, the animals' gut bacteria recycle nitrogen, which can be then used to build new molecules during prolonged fasting. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 28, 2022 at 03:18AM

Study Reveals Outsize Role of mRNA Region in Tuning Expression

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3u6VzZN A new method helps researchers uncover the rules of ribosome recruitment in yeast. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 28, 2022 at 02:24AM

Genome Spotlight: Lychee (Litchi chinensis)

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3o2R5j8 Whole genome sequences reveal multiple domestications of this agriculturally important tree and may hold the secrets to producing the sweet fruit year round. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 27, 2022 at 09:30PM

Ancient DNA Boom Underlines a Need for Ethical Frameworks

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/32C0Ygl The field of ancient DNA, which combines archaeology and anthropology with cutting-edge genetics, is requiring scientists to have frank conversations about when research is justified and who it benefits. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 27, 2022 at 07:30PM

Drug Cocktail Triggers Regeneration of Amputated Frog Legs

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3H6lepm A new chemical treatment allowed African clawed frogs, which normally don’t regenerate limbs, to regrow functional hind legs following amputation. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 27, 2022 at 03:40AM

Studies Identify Risk Factors for Long COVID

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3KMmmAH Two recent papers provide insight into possible risk factors for developing the chronic condition, including autoantibodies and diabetes. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 27, 2022 at 02:15AM

Doubts Raised Over Whether Mice Can Truly Inherit Immunity

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3fXmHT5 An independent lab fails to replicate results suggesting mammals exposed to pathogens could pass on immunological protections through epigenetic mechanisms. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 27, 2022 at 12:10AM

The Brain Inside Out: Mapping the Nervous System's Wiring

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3rQPhL9 An expert panel will describe their efforts to chart billions of neuronal connections and discuss how this data provides unparalleled insight into neuronal cell biology, signal processing, and behavior. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 25, 2022 at 09:33PM

Essential Genes Protected from Mutations

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3qZZIgk Epigenetic structures appear to reduce the rate of changes in genes essential for survival and reproduction, a study finds, challenging the notion that mutations are evenly distributed throughout the genome prior to selection. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 26, 2022 at 03:13AM

A Platform for Automated CRISPR-Based Microbial Genome Engineering

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/33OfbqU Discover how you can design and generate genomic edits to optimize heterologous protein expression and activity in E. coli. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 26, 2022 at 01:51AM

Most Medical Papers Didn't Disclose Industry Payments: Preprint

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3fVLpTz Authors of papers published in JAMA and NEJM received millions in undisclosed payments in 2017, an analysis finds. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 25, 2022 at 03:31AM

How the Gut Differentiates Artificial Sweeteners from Sugars

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3tOAp2w Signals from sweeteners and sugars are relayed from the gut to the brain by different neural pathways, a new study concludes. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 22, 2022 at 04:05AM

Mysterious Havana Syndrome Not a Foreign Attack: CIA

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3FILh4l Sharing interim findings of an investigation into strange illnesses among US diplomats and intelligence officials, the CIA says it's unlikely that they are the result of directed energy or other weapon levied by an adversary. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 21, 2022 at 01:33AM

Leaping Larvae Intrigue Scientists

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3qHu2fv The Scientist spoke with entomologist Matt Bertone about the characteristics of Laemophloeus biguttatus larvae jumps—a previously unreported behavior in this group of beetles. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 20, 2022 at 11:56PM

Caught on Camera

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/33G6iQ6 Selected Images of the Day from the-scientist.com https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 20, 2022 at 11:30PM

What Scientists Learned by Putting Octopuses in MRI Machines

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3rDobab The size and complexity of cephalopod brain structures differ depending on the habitats the creatures occupy, a study finds. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 20, 2022 at 10:41PM

Uncovering the Cancer Proteome with Automated Western Assays

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3nErEUS A robust, automated western blot system accelerates immunotherapy development. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 20, 2022 at 12:14AM

Assigning Meaning: Genetic Variant Interpretation in Hereditary Cancer

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3qHMfJR Improving the reliability of genetic variant annotation and clinical interpretation https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 20, 2022 at 12:10AM

Automating DNA Extraction for High-Throughput Bacterial Plasmid Purification

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3AdvgSV How automated liquid handling accelerates plasmid purification. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 20, 2022 at 12:07AM

Choosing the Right Nanoparticle Probe for SARS-CoV-2 Lateral Flow Assays

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/32jJOnC Performance-based pros and cons of common nanoparticle probes https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 20, 2022 at 12:04AM

Getting More Lateral Flow Test Sensitivity with Nanoshell Probes

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3nIs6S3 Silica-gold nanoshells highlight how good probe design can boost assay performance. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 19, 2022 at 10:39PM

"Nocebo" Effect May Cause Majority of COVID-19 Vaccine Symptoms

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3rNJSEX A negative version of the placebo effect may be behind many instances of mild side effects associated with the jabs, a study suggests. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 19, 2022 at 02:27AM

Technique Talk: The Inside Scoop on Successful ATAC-seq Experiments

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3FFLXaC Discover how to best map a cell’s epigenetic landscape https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 17, 2022 at 09:45PM

Roxanne Beltran Dives into Seal Research

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3qymLi4 This University of California, Santa Cruz, biologist is dedicated to her marine mammal research, as well as to making the field more diverse and equitable. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 17, 2022 at 10:30AM

Adapting with a Little Help from Jumping Genes

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3A7BZhm Long lambasted as junk DNA or genomic parasites, transposable elements turn out to be contributors to adaptation. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 17, 2022 at 10:30AM

Infographic: How Transposable Elements Can Shape Evolution

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3fw72K6 The movements of so-called jumping genes can generate the genetic diversity needed to drive evolutionary change in populations over time. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 17, 2022 at 10:30AM

Twitter's Science Stars Fight Misinformation

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3FzdHOf COVID-19 has thrown science and scientists into the spotlight. Some have accepted the challenge, amassing hundreds of thousands of followers and using the ongoing pandemic as a "teachable moment." https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 17, 2022 at 10:30AM

Infographic: How Genome-Packaging Protein Cohesin Handles DNA

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3GCr3dY The hinge region of cohesin pulls DNA to two head regions, like a person’s hand-to-hand motion of pulling on a rope. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 17, 2022 at 10:30AM

Ancient Mesopotamians Bred Horselike Hybrids

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3FqafW1 A genomics study reveals the parentage of a long-mysterious creature called a kunga, the earliest-known hybrid animal bred by humans. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 15, 2022 at 12:30AM

Are Rapid Tests Worse at Detecting Omicron—and Does It Matter?

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/33AqnHg Anecdotal reports and results from small studies on the diagnostics’ accuracy have prompted questions about the devices' usage with the new variant, but researchers say more data are needed and emphasize the continued importance of SARS-CoV-2 testing. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 14, 2022 at 11:30PM

How Mild Is Omicron Really?

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3GsJMbN Early reports that Omicron causes less-severe disease than Delta seem to be borne out, but it's not yet clear to what extent that's due to the variant itself versus the populations it's infecting. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 14, 2022 at 08:00PM

Epstein-Barr Virus Causes Multiple Sclerosis: Study

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3AaGV57 Experts say new research provides strong evidence that a common herpesvirus can trigger the chronic inflammatory disease. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 14, 2022 at 03:58AM

Discover how implementation of next-generation Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) can be optimized and streamlined to pave the way to faster pharma digitalization.

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/34IdkE9 Discover how implementation of next-generation Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) can be optimized and streamlined to pave the way to faster pharma digitalization. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 14, 2022 at 12:36AM

Tinkering with Gut Microbes Boosts Brain Plasticity in Mice

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3I5wF0n Intestinal bacteria contribute to the effect of stimulating environments on the brain’s ability to adapt, a study concludes. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 13, 2022 at 09:17PM

Researchers Train Goldfish to “Drive”

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3qlplYD The Scientist spoke with cognitive neuroscientist Ronen Segev about how he taught goldfish to maneuver a moveable tank over land toward a visual target. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 13, 2022 at 02:10AM

Harnessing microRNAs for Cancer Therapeutics

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3Fg3mGQ Andrea Kasinski and Masako Harada will discuss the role of microRNAs in cancer, as well as the potential and challenges of using microRNAs for cancer therapeutics. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 13, 2022 at 01:03AM

"Godfather of Biodiversity" Thomas Lovejoy Dies at 80

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3rbVHV5 The famous ecologist was a lifelong champion for conservation. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 12, 2022 at 11:30PM

Doctors and Researchers Probe How COVID-19 Attacks the Heart

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3qgWWmt Experts have a decent grasp on how COVID-19 impacts cardiovascular health in the near term. The implications of long COVID, however, remain mysterious. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 12, 2022 at 09:10PM

Biophysicist Adrianus Kalmijn Dies at 88

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3qkejmB His work revealed that sharks use an electromagnetic sense to navigate and detect prey. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 12, 2022 at 02:19AM

Man Receives Transplanted Heart from Genetically Modified Pig

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3taNR0t The procedure, performed last Friday, is a milestone in a long effort to boost the number of organs available for safe transplantation. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 11, 2022 at 04:51AM

Mummified Gut Bugs Reveal Ancient Dietary Secrets

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3r3gMRm Reconstructing the diet and microbiome of human ancestors shows an astonishingly rapid loss of microbiome diversity. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 10, 2022 at 11:04PM

Columbia University Student Strike Ends with Tentative Deal

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3GjA7UP In a contract that still needs to be ratified by union members, the university has agreed to boost student pay and allow for independent arbitration in cases of alleged misconduct and discrimination. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 11, 2022 at 01:50AM

Antibiotics May Influence Brain Development

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3f5Pqoh Low doses of continuous penicillin exposure altered mouse pups’ microbiomes and gene expression in brain areas associated with emotional and cognitive function. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 10, 2022 at 11:14PM

Legendary Crystallographer Donald Caspar Dies At 94

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3JSSKkA He coined the term “structural biology.” https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 08, 2022 at 03:08AM

Avian Flu Case Numbers Soar in Europe

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3F5S2Nh The Scientist spoke with the UK’s chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, about this winter’s high bird flu prevalence, the effects of the disease, and efforts to combat it. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 08, 2022 at 12:41AM

ExpressCells and Funakoshi Establishes Japanese Distribution Agreement

via The Scientist RSS https://ift.tt/3q3wbC3 Partnership will Introduce ExpressCells' Genetically-Edited Cell Lines to Japan https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 07, 2022 at 08:40PM