Staying connected: interneuron development in the mouse visual pathway
The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) is a processing station located in a central part of the brain called the thalamus, and serves to relay visual information between the retina and the...
View ArticleAlessandro Vespignani and Stefano Merler on the odds of containing a lab...
Research into the dynamics of human infection with influenza viruses has been spurred on in recent years by outbreaks of avian influenza (also known as bird flu) that have led to human fatalities....
View ArticleStephen Tong and colleagues discuss their new maternal blood test for fetal...
Fetal hypoxia can arise due to a number of different causes, from infection of the placenta to occlusion of the umbilical cord. The subsequent decrease in oxygen supply to the developing fetus can lead...
View ArticlelncRNAs on the loose
Where does each class of RNA reside in the cell? The spatial arrangement of RNAs is an interesting question that necessitates an improved understanding of the proteins bound to RNAs – as showcased in...
View ArticleRNA editing: why bother?
In recent years, a spirited debate has taken place on the topic of RNA editing, a process in which (classically) proteins of the ADAR family edit adenosine bases in RNA to inosine. The most hotly...
View ArticleEmmanuela Gakidou on breastfeeding to battle child health inequity
Breastfeeding provides a vital source of nutrition to infants and in low income countries, where resources are limited, it is particularly important in combating infant mortality. According to the...
View ArticleStem cell face off: are BMSCs, ASCs or SVF cells best at battling autoimmune...
Autoimmune diseases affect approximately one in twenty people and significantly impact both morbidity and mortality. While some can be managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications,...
View ArticleCan stem cells improve the long-term complications of necrotizing...
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a condition where sections of the bowel undergo tissue death, is a common cause of mortality and morbidity in neonates, particularly those born prematurely. Even after...
View ArticlePatricia Lemarchand on the effect of smoking on mobilising cells to aid...
Acute myocardial infarction is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In those that survive an attack, damage to the heart muscle can lead to heart failure. In an effort to repair this damage,...
View ArticleA tale of two continents: Chris Tyler-Smith on modeling male lineage...
Tracking the origins of human civilisation entered a new era with the development of large scale DNA sequencing, lending support to the now widely accepted theory that modern humans originated in...
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Island evolution: exploring the population genomics of the giant Galápagos...
Remote, oceanic islands such as the Galápagos are often seen as natural laboratories for the study of species evolution. One of this archipelago’s most striking inhabitants, the giant Galápagos...
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Doris Au discusses the gender gap: medaka fish as a model for female longevity
Women characteristically live significantly longer than men, and it is thought that this increased longevity is facilitated by longer telomeres present in womens’ DNA. Oestrogen is suggested to play a...
View ArticleShape over sequence in the RBPome
The shapes of RNA secondary structures that mediate interactions with proteins is the subject of a new study published in Genome Biology, as part of a special issue on the RBPome. Transcription factors...
View ArticleA bug’s life: genetic insights to the social lives of sweat bees and fig wasps
The remarkable success of the insect order Hymenoptera – which includes bees, wasps and ants – is probably a consequence of their immense range of behavioural adaptation, often evolving complex social...
View ArticleSexual selection may help resulting offspring tolerate infection
Sexual selection is widespread in the animal kingdom, usually in the form of females choosing the male they wish to mate with. The criteria by which females judge males varies considerably from species...
View ArticleFeminising fish: Charles Tyler and Patrick Hamilton on the population...
Approximately 1500 km3 of wastewater is produced globally every day, according to the UNESCO World Water Development Report. Estimates suggest that around two thirds of the world’s freshwater is used...
View ArticleGreg Gibson and Thanawadee Preeprem on a new approach for interpreting...
Personal genomics – a process of determining the genome sequences of an individual and assessing the likely consequences of that person’s genetic variation – is increasingly the source of much...
View ArticleDouglas Grindlay, Rachel Dean and Marnie Brennan on the awareness of...
When it comes to making the most out of the latest research findings in any given field, communication is key. Reporting guidelines can provide authors with the necessary advice on how best to report...
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Eric Wolbrecht and David Reinkensmeyer discuss their stroke rehab robot, FINGER
After suffering a stroke, many patients will be left with functional impairment requiring rehabilitation. Over the past few decades, it has been increasingly recognised that robotic devices may have a...
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Teaching old genes new tricks: clues to the evolution of novelty in butterfly...
Heliconius butterfly. Image source: Flickr, Wildcat Dunny Heliconius butterflies, native to the Neotropics and known to feed on passion flower vines for which they are eponymous, show a huge diversity...
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