Genetic study reveals easily-exploitable "chinks in the armor" of MRSA superbugs

Humans are currently locked in an arms race against pathogenic bacteria – and we’re losing. After we developed antibiotics, starting with penicillin in the early 20th century, bacteria have evolved resistance to each new drug we created, thre… Continue reading Genetic study reveals easily-exploitable "chinks in the armor" of MRSA superbugs

Brain study reveals type of schizophrenia similar to neurodegenerative disease

Research from Johns Hopkins Medicine has revealed some cases of schizophrenia can be associated with abnormal protein buildup in the brain similar to that seen in cases of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders. It’s hoped the disc… Continue reading Brain study reveals type of schizophrenia similar to neurodegenerative disease

Protein from the blood of young mice found to extend lifespan of older mice

New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is offering a novel hypothesis to possibly explain the long-standing idea that transfusions of young blood can help reverse the effects of aging. The study reveals when o… Continue reading Protein from the blood of young mice found to extend lifespan of older mice

New CRISPR-based system inserts new DNA without cutting and pasting

The CRISPR gene-editing system is a powerful tool that looks set to revolutionize the way we treat diseases, as well as basically anything else that can benefit from precisely manipulating DNA. The problem is that sometimes cutting and pastin… Continue reading New CRISPR-based system inserts new DNA without cutting and pasting

Boosting a radiation-protecting protein could help cancer patients and astronauts

Radiotherapy is an effective method for killing cancer, but the downside is that it harms healthy cells at the same time, sometimes leading to complications. Now researchers from CNIO in Spain have found that boosting levels of a certain prot… Continue reading Boosting a radiation-protecting protein could help cancer patients and astronauts

Cell division recreated outside of a cell for the first time

Cell division is one of the most fundamental biological functions, vital to life – but there’s still so much about it that we don’t understand. In an attempt to find out more, researchers at the University of Chicago have now managed to recre… Continue reading Cell division recreated outside of a cell for the first time

Provocative study shows how the herpes virus can speed up the onset of Alzheimer’s disease

New research suggests a mechanism by which certain virus particles may be accelerating the accumulation of ...

An intriguing new study from researchers at Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet has described a mechanism by which virus particles can interact with proteins in biological fluids and become more infectious, while also accelerating the formation of plaques often associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

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Continue reading Provocative study shows how the herpes virus can speed up the onset of Alzheimer’s disease

Simple, Low-Cost Rig Lets the Budding Biohacker Run DNA Gels

We all the know the basic components for building out an electronics lab: breadboards, bench power supply, a selection of components, a multimeter, and maybe an oscilloscope. But what exactly do you need when you’re setting up a biohacking lab?

That’s the question that [Justin] from The Thought Emporium is trying to answer with a series of videos where he does exactly that – build a molecular biology lab from scratch. In the current installment, [Justin] covers the basics of agarose gel electrophoresis, arguably the fundamental skill for aspiring bio-geeks. Electrophoresis is simply using an electric field to separate a …read more

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How Peptides Are Made

What does body building, anti-aging cream and Bleomycin (a cancer drug) have in common? Peptides of course! Peptides are large molecules that are vital to life. If you were to take a protein and break it into smaller pieces, each piece would be called a peptide. Just like proteins, peptides are made of amino acids linked together in a chain-like structure. Whenever you ingest a protein, your body breaks it down to its individual amino acids. It then puts those amino acids back together in a different order to make whatever peptide or protein your body needs. Insulin, for instance, …read more

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