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A key molecule developed at Hybrid Plastics now forms a main component in an effort to develop synthetic human organs for medical treatment. Such organs include tear ducts, blood vessels and windpipes.
Jun 6th, 2014
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When stem cells are used to regenerate bone tissue, many wind up migrating away from the repair site, which disrupts the healing process. But a research team makes use of hydrogel polymers in keeping the stem cells in place, resulting in faster and better tissue regeneration.
Jun 6th, 2014
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Diagnostic test aimed at detecting virus in infants, viral loads in older patients in low-resource settings.
Jun 5th, 2014
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Strong cell-to-cell bonds are important to heart health and fighting cancer. The bonds connecting heart cells have to withstand constant forces caused by continuous pumping. And, in some cancers, bonds no longer resist forces, allowing cancer cells to detach and spread.
Jun 5th, 2014
Read moreA team of researchers studying a flowering plant has zeroed in on the way cells manage external signals about prevailing conditions, a capability that is essential for cells to survive in a fluctuating environment.
Jun 5th, 2014
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In laboratory tests, researchers have used electrical stimulation of retinal cells to produce the same patterns of activity that occur when the retina sees a moving object. Although more work remains, this is a step toward restoring natural, high-fidelity vision to blind people.
Jun 5th, 2014
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The transport routes of nutrients and messenger cargos can be compared to the traffic system of a city: A worldwide unique quantitative study of cell biologists shows that cells regulate the main routes, side routes and intersections by an intricate traffic control system, which guides the spatial and temporal distribution of substances within the cell.
Jun 5th, 2014
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The reason why many people are allergic to birch pollen has not been fully clarified yet. It is known that a specific birch pollen protein causes the immune system to overreact. What makes it an allergen has now been discovered by scientists at the Vetmeduni Vienna. The pollen protein can bind iron. Without iron load the protein becomes an allergen. Environmental factors are possibly the reason for low iron loads in plants.
Jun 5th, 2014
Read moreResearchers have investigated the interaction between the plant's barrier, plant protection products and adjuvants that are added to increase the effect of the plant protection product. The results of this research can be applied to minimise the use of plant protection products in agriculture.
Jun 5th, 2014
Read moreA new protein engineering technique developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute gives researchers a powerful new tool for fighting potentially harmful toxins and pathogens.
Jun 4th, 2014
Read moreResearchers have shown that a new line of genetically modified pigs will host transplanted cells without the risk of rejection, opening the door for future stem cell therapy research.
Jun 4th, 2014
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Scientists have been able to reproduce, for the first time in human cells, chromosomal translocations associated with two types of cancer: acute myeloid leukemia and Ewing's sarcoma. The discovery opens the door to the development of new therapeutic targets to fight these types of cancer.
Jun 3rd, 2014
Read moreScientists have discovered how a molecular 'scaffold' which allows key parts of cells to interact, comes apart in dementia and motor neuron disease, revealing a potential new target for drug discovery.
Jun 3rd, 2014
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Like exploring the inner workings of a clock, a team of researchers is digging into the inner workings of the tiny cellular machines called spliceosomes, which help make all of the proteins our bodies need to function. In a recent study, they have captured images of this machine, revealing details never seen before.
Jun 2nd, 2014
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The impact of the environment on our genetic makeup has long been a topic of discussion among researchers. Now a European consortium (EURATRANS) has taken the opposite approach. The scientists have investigated for the first time to what extent specific genetic predispositions influence the processes of gene regulation.
Jun 2nd, 2014
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Next time you spot an earthworm sliding through fresh dirt, take a closer look. What you're seeing is an organic movement called peristaltic locomotion that has been meticulously refined by nature.
May 30th, 2014
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The gap between stem cell research and regenerative medicine just became a lot narrower, thanks to a new technique that coaxes stem cells to take the first step to specialization for the first time in a laboratory. Researchers demonstrated that not only is it possible for mouse embryonic stem cells to form three distinct germ layers in the lab, but also that it requires correct timing, chemical factors and mechanical environment.
May 30th, 2014
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Pioneering 'tweezers' that use ultrasound beams to grip and manipulate tiny clusters of cells under electronic, push-button control could lead to life-changing medical advances, such as better cartilage implants that reduce the need for knee replacement operations.
May 30th, 2014
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