Scientists have discovered that stem cells inside the soft tissues of the tooth come from an unexpected source, namely nerves. These findings contribute to brand new knowledge of how teeth are formed, how they grow and how they are able to self-repair.
Jul 28th, 2014
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Around 75 per cent of the supposed functionless DNA in the human genome is transcribed into so-called non-coding RNAs (ribonucleic acid). To date, little is known about its function. Researchers have now been able to demonstrate that the production of non-coding RNAs is precisely regulated. They suspect that non-coding RNAs might play a role in regulating cellular processes or in the modified immune response following exposure to environmental toxicants.
Jul 23rd, 2014
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Similarities between proteins reveal that their great diversity has arisen from smaller building blocks.
Jul 22nd, 2014
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Researchers have demonstrated a dramatically improved technique for analyzing biological cells and tissues based on characteristic molecular vibrations. The new technique is an advanced form of Raman spectroscopy that is fast and accurate enough to create high-resolution images of biological specimens, with detailed spatial information on specific biomolecules, at speeds fast enough to observe changes in living cells.
Jul 22nd, 2014
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A EUR 7 million EU-funded project has been launched with the intention of replacing chemical cosmetic production techniques with eco-friendly alternatives. By doing so, the OPTIBIOCAT project hopes to provide the natural cosmetics sector with the necessary technical sophistication to meet growing consumer demand for natural, environmentally friendly products.
Jul 22nd, 2014
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A scientist has developed a pioneering new way - using samples of beating heart tissue - to test the effect of drugs on the heart without using human or animal trials.
Jul 21st, 2014
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Researchers have developed a scalable, next-generation platelet bioreactor to generate fully functional human platelets in vitro. The work is a major biomedical advancement that will help address blood transfusion needs worldwide.
Jul 21st, 2014
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Scientists have developed a powerful new single-cell technique to help investigate how the environment affects our development and the traits we inherit from our parents. The technique can be used to map all of the 'epigenetic marks' on the DNA within a single cell.
Jul 21st, 2014
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A membrane curls fast and furiously when it comes into contact with a solvent vapour.
Jul 21st, 2014
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Scientists reveal the structure of one of the most important and complicated proteins in cell division - a fundamental process in life and the development of cancer - in research published today.
Jul 20th, 2014
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Recent advances in imaging technology are transforming how scientists see the cellular universe, showing the form and movement of once grainy and blurred structures in stunning detail. But extracting the torrent of information contained in those images often surpasses the limits of existing computational resources. Now, researchers have created a new computational method to rapidly track the three-dimensional movements of cells in such data-rich images.
Jul 20th, 2014
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Scientists were able to measure the amount of protein molecules in living human cells required to form an important structure of the chromosome, the centromere. This study presents new methodologies that may also be used to unveil other biological problems.
Jul 18th, 2014
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A non-damaging x-ray technique makes it possible to investigate the detailed structure of large biomolecules, leading to a better understanding of their biological functions.
Jul 18th, 2014
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Scientists are investigating how to use methane-producing microbes, known as methanogens, to generate renewable biofuels.
Jul 17th, 2014
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Conductivity could charge up futuristic disease treatments.
Jul 16th, 2014
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A library of sequences that modify relative gene expression enables tighter control over protein production.
Jul 16th, 2014
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Researchers developed a new technique to quickly uncover novel, medically relevant products produced by bacteria. Past techniques involved screening more than 10,000 samples to find a novel product, but the method yielded a novel product after screening just a few dozen soil bacteria.
Jul 14th, 2014
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Researchers engineer bacterial proteins that can transport substances across the cell membrane.
Jul 14th, 2014
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