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‘Smart’ food packaging material kills microbes and keeps food fresh

A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, US, has developed a 'smart' food packaging material that is biodegradable, sustainable and kills microbes that are harmful to humans. It could also extend the shelf-life of fresh fruit by two to three days.

From Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore) 29 Dec 2021

Genes key to microbial colonization of plant roots discovered

Some microbes can form thin films called biofilms. These biofilms give them an advantage over other microbes by protecting them from stresses such as a lack of nutrients or the presence of harmful substances in the environment.

24 Dec 2021

Unraveling how DNAzymes work in real time

DNAzymes are precision biocatalysts that destroy unwanted RNA molecules. However, major obstacles to their use in medicine remain.

23 Dec 2021

Study identifies two proteins as novel markers of aggressive prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and is among the top five causes of cancer-related death. In most cases, prostate cancer can be successfully treated but there is a group of patients who suffer an aggressive course and often fatal outcome.

23 Dec 2021

Researchers identify genes responsible for “spinach teeth”

People are generally familiar with “spinach teeth,” the harmless but gritty-chalky mouthfeel triggered because of a vegetable.

23 Dec 2021

Researchers cultivate an archaeon that breaks down oil all by itself

Microbes are capable of converting oil into natural gas, i.e., methane.

From The Max Planck Institute 23 Dec 2021

Gene mutation for Parkinson's disease drives mislocalization of iron in activated microglia

A common gene mutation for Parkinson's disease drives mislocalization of iron in activated microglia, according to a new study publishing December 16th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, by Mark Cookson of the National Institute on Aging and colleagues.

17 Dec 2021

Researchers create a healthier form of starch in the cassava plant

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan have recently created a healthier form of starch in the cassava plant. Published in the scientific journal Plant Molecular Biology, the study shows how reducing levels of starch branching enzymes (SBEs) in cassava plants changes the composition of tapioca starch, making it more resistant to digestion and healthier for us to eat.

17 Dec 2021

Researchers use CRISPR-Cas9 to successfully target brown fat

Fat is an essential component of life, however too much fat leads to numerous health issues. Investigating the role played by fat or adipose tissue is significant to get a better understanding of obesity and other problems.

17 Dec 2021

What Role do Genes Play in the Development of Antibodies?

In this interview, we speak to researchers from the University of Toronto about their latest research that investigated the role genes play in the development of antibodies.

From University of Toronto 16 Dec 2021

Developing Sperm Cells from Primate Stem Cells

We speak to Professor Charles Easley about his latest research into male infertility, and how sperm cells could be potentially developed from primate stem cells.

From University of Georgia 15 Dec 2021

Gene writing helps develop advanced therapies safely and effectively

An international, multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Translational Synthetic Biology Laboratory at Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona, Spain), led by Dr. Marc Güell, has published an article in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

14 Dec 2021

Study shows how proteases help keep cells clean

Waste collectors collect and dispose of household waste. In cells, a similar process works to eliminate damaged and potentially hazardous proteins.

13 Dec 2021

Scientists unravel the structure of octopus-like Lassa viral polymerase

Endemic in Western African countries, Lassa virus is transmitted to humans through food or household items that are contaminated with the urine or faeces of Mastomys rats.

7 Dec 2021

Cancer drug effective against Alzheimer’s disease, says research

According to recent research carried out by researchers from the Weill Cornell Medicine, a gene mutation associated with Alzheimer’s disease changes a signaling pathway in specific immune cells of individuals with the disease.

7 Dec 2021

Researchers come up with a novel technique to produce single-sex litters

Researchers from the Francis Crick Institute along with the University of Kent utilized gene-editing technology to produce male-only and female-only mice litter with 100% efficacy.

7 Dec 2021

Live-cell probes enable visualization of the elongation phase of transcription

A genetically encoded “live-cell” probe developed by scientists from Tokyo Tech pinpointed phosphorylated Ser2 in the enzyme RNA polymerase II.

7 Dec 2021

Researchers identify a new approach to triggering differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia

In the late 1980s, scientists developed a revolutionary approach to treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer. Called differentiation therapy, it amounted to a bona fide cure for many patients.

2 Dec 2021

Study identifies genes that protect ovarian cancer from antitumor immunity

Immunotherapies are exhibiting better clinical benefit in the treatment of numerous cancers, particularly when used along with chemotherapy.

2 Dec 2021

Scientists test the accuracy of enzymes that copy DNA under weightlessness

Researchers at Queen’s University boarded a modified Falcon 20 aircraft at Ottawa airport on May 22nd, 2019 as part of a scheduled “vomit comet” flight. In this mode of flight, the plane repeatedly climbs in a steep parabola to 8 km, alternating with a freefall descent.

2 Dec 2021