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Tag Archives: cells

Deadly new flu

By Stephen Ornes / April 24, 2013

The germ responsible carries genes from other flu viruses

Posted in Body & Health | Tagged Ana Fernandez-Sesma, animals, Beijing, bird flu, cells, chicken, China, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, gene swapping, genetics, getinvolved, H7N9, infection, infectious disease, Influenza, microbes, microbiology, Rongbao Gao, Shanghai, topstories, virus, World Health Organization, zoonotic

Big squid: All one family

By Stephen Ornes / March 28, 2013

A giant squid is unloaded by fishermen at a wharf in Melbourne, Australia. Credit: David Paul/University of Melbourne

Genes show all giant squid belong to one, worldwide species

Posted in Animals | Tagged cells, Clyde Roper, Copenhagen, DNA, getinvolved, giant squid, M. Thomas Gilbert, Natural History Museum, North Atlantic Ocean, Ocean, Smithsonian Institution

Bad for breathing

By Stephen Ornes / March 8, 2013

Researchers have connected exposure to high levels of pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, to a greater likelihood of having asthma and allergies. Caption: Photo courtesy of the EPA

New study connects pollution to several common diseases that affect the lungs and airways

Posted in Body & Health, Environment & Pollution | Tagged air pollution, allergy, asthma, biochemistry, cells, combustion, getinvolved, immune system, immunity, inflammation, Kari Nadeau, lungs, medicine, Ohio University, PAHs, Pollution, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Stanford University, swelling, T-regs, T-regulatory cells, Todd Rambasek, topstories

Concussion: More than ‘getting your bell rung’

By Alison Pearce Stevens / February 20, 2013

Scientists are studying the brain and helmets to better understand and prevent concussions. Researchers at Virginia Tech use this device to test how well helmets protect heads. Credit: Courtesy of Steven Rowson

This common brain injury can cause serious — and lasting — damage

Posted in Brain & Behavior | Tagged athletic injury, axon, balance, brain, brain injury, cells, concentration, concussion, Dennis Molfese, dizziness, feature, football, headache, memory, nervous system, neuron, sledding, STAR helmet ratings, Steven Rowson, Summer Ott, unconsciousness, University of Nebraska, University of Texas Medical Center, Virginia Tech

Fancy feather gene

By Stephen Ornes / February 15, 2013

This Indian fantail, one of 350 breeds of rock pigeons, has a tuft of feathers called a peak crest. Scientists recently pinpointed the gene mutation responsible for this feather formation. Credit: Michael Shapiro

A tweak in a single pigeon gene causes a distinct feather formation

Posted in Animals | Tagged birds, cells, crests, DNA, feathers, genes, genetic mutations, genetics, getinvolved, Michael Shapiro, University of Utah

Baby brain, adult disease

By Stephen Ornes / January 24, 2013

Newborns with a certain version of a gene are more likely to have a smaller medial temporal lobe (blue spots). This brain region is also smaller in adults with Alzheimer’s disease. People with the gene version are three times more likely to develop the disorder, which affects memory.

Scientists find signs of Alzheimer’s disease in the brains of infants

Posted in Brain & Behavior | Tagged Alzheimer’s disease, ApoE, brain, cells, gene, genetic variant, getinvolved, medial temporal lobe, memory, molecular genetics, nervous system, neurology, neuroscience, newborns, psychiatry, Rebecca Knickmeyer, topstories, University of North Carolina

Healthier mice, through X-rays

By Stephen Ornes / November 29, 2012

Scientists found that sickly agouti mice, which carry a gene that colors their coat yellow, benefit from a small dose of radiation. These benefits were blocked by vitamins, though, turning conventional ideas about radiation and vitamins upside down. Credit: The Transgenic Core Facility

In sickly mice, small doses of radiation helped while vitamins harmed

Posted in Body & Health | Tagged biology, cells, DNA, epigenetics, genetics, getinvolved, methylation, radiation, topstories, toxicology, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Wisconsin–Madison, X-rays

The rest of your DNA

By Stephen Ornes / September 25, 2012

An international team of scientists has determined that a good chunk of our DNA may act as switches that turn genes “on” and “off.” Credit: National Human Genome Research Institute

Surprise: Scientists find most of human DNA molecule carries out important functions

Posted in Body & Health | Tagged cells, DNA, ENCODE, Eric Green, gene, genetic material, genetics, genome, getinvolved, human genome, National Human Genome Research Institute, proteins, topstories

Twins don’t share everything

By Stephen Ornes / July 31, 2012

At birth, identical twins have differences in the chemical markers attached to their DNA. These differences may help explain why they don't look exactly the same. Credit: Todd Huffman

Twins carry different flags on their DNA, even from birth

Posted in Body & Health | Tagged Arturas Petronis, cells, classical genetics, DNA, embryos, epigenetic, epigenetics, genes, genetics, getinvolved, heredity, Jeffrey Craig, methyl groups, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, twins, University of Toronto, wins

From Stem Cell to Any Cell

By Emily Sohn / October 11, 2005

The search is on for ways to use stem cells to treat injuries and cure diseases.

Posted in Body & Health | Tagged cells, differentiation, mitosis, reproduction, Stem cells

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