We each carry thousands of different species of microorganisms in our gastrointestinal tracts, and that gut microbiome has a powerful influence on various aspects of our health. Scientists have been learning more about what a healthy gut microbiome is composed of, and research has shown that the composition of the gut microbiome can vary significantly… Continue reading Humans and Our Gut Microbes Evolved Together
Category: Genetics
Thousand-Year-Old Poop Teaches us About an Ancient Parasite
The whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) was once found all over the world, and it has infected people for thousands of years. It’s also been identified in about 70 other species. The whipworm is now known as a parasite that can cause serious illness in areas where access to proper sanitation is difficult; the world’s poorest areas… Continue reading Thousand-Year-Old Poop Teaches us About an Ancient Parasite
Understanding Oral Microbe Evolution, Which May Aid in the Hunt for Antibiotics
New research has suggested that bacteria that live in the human mouth could work as model organisms that can help us find new antibiotics. The human body host microorganisms in many places. Studies have indicated that at least 700 species of bacteria live in the human mouth. We still don’t know a lot about many… Continue reading Understanding Oral Microbe Evolution, Which May Aid in the Hunt for Antibiotics
New Imaging Tools Provide Insights Into Cell Stress
In cells, active genes are transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, which can be edited and processed in a variety of ways to ultimately create the right protein. While molecular machines called ribosomes can translate mRNA molecules into proteins, those proteins have to be folded into the right 3D structure so they will function correctly.… Continue reading New Imaging Tools Provide Insights Into Cell Stress
Novel Approach Developed for Ear Replacement Surgery
In a recent study published in Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine, a team of researchers have developed a new method for ear replacement surgery, which is traditionally quite difficult using a patient’s rib cartilage. This study has the potential to produce simpler, faster, and more accurate ear replacement surgeries, and was conducted by researchers… Continue reading Novel Approach Developed for Ear Replacement Surgery
Human Protein Crucial to Infection & Disease is Discovered
The pandemic virus SARS-CoV-2 caused many scientists to begin studying infectious disease, in search of ways to stop the pathogen. With cell culture models and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, researchers were able to conduct huge screens of proteins to look for host cell factors that were aiding viral infection. In one study, investigators systematically turned… Continue reading Human Protein Crucial to Infection & Disease is Discovered
CGP: Simplifying the path from tumor to treatment
The promise of NGS in personalized cancer care For years, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled oncologists to identify DNA mutations that are associated with the onset, growth, and metastasis of individual tumors—empowering them to select treatments that are most likely to be effective and extending patients’ lives. This type of information-driven treatment is one of… Continue reading CGP: Simplifying the path from tumor to treatment
Some Gene Variants May Encourage Active or Sedentary Lifestyles
There is still a lot of debate about how much a person’s genes influence their behavior. Twin studies are one way to help decipher the links between genetics and some trait, because if two people with the same DNA have a trait in common, it suggests the trait is likely to have a genetic link.… Continue reading Some Gene Variants May Encourage Active or Sedentary Lifestyles
A New Kind of Human Cell for Research
It is extremely challenging to study human development. There are animal models that can tell us how general aspects of biology work, but the details can be difficult to decipher, especially because we cannot experiment on human embryos. Scientists have sought to create synthetic models that can replicate various developmental stages, however, which has given… Continue reading A New Kind of Human Cell for Research
Grad Student Highlights: Shannon Barry (Florida Institute of Technology)
This interview series is focused on the graduate student experience across all STEM fields that allows them to get their research, or corresponding graduate coursework, out in front of a large global audience and share their experiences in graduate school. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of STEM students to pursue graduate studies… Continue reading Grad Student Highlights: Shannon Barry (Florida Institute of Technology)