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A brain enzyme plays an important role in waking up neural stem cells

Researchers studying an enzyme in fruit fly larvae have found that it plays an important role in waking up brain stem cells from their dormant 'quiescent' state, enabling them to proliferate and generate new neurons.

12 Feb 2021

Creating a 'library' of genetic information for future yam breeders

Yams are a staple food in West Africa, which produces over 90% of the world's yams each year. Yams play a key role in the food security, economic income, and traditional culture for the region.

11 Feb 2021

Descriptions on infant and toddler food products may not accurately reflect ingredient amounts

The descriptions on the fronts of infant and toddler food packages may not accurately reflect the actual ingredient amounts, according to new research.

10 Feb 2021

Novel plastic film can deactivate 99.99% of the new coronavirus in 15 minutes

A consortium comprised by companies Braskem, AplFilm and Nanox and the UFSCar (Brazil) and Jaume I of Castellón (Spain) universities have released a plastic film capable of deactivating 99.99% of the new coronavirus in 15 minutes.

8 Feb 2021

Researchers develop systems to detect an atypical fungus responsible for severe pneumonia

The group led by Dr. Enrique J. Calderón - "Clinical Epidemiology and Vascular Risk" at the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville - IBiS/University Hospitals Virgen del Rocío and Macarena/CSIC/University of Seville, also a member of CIBERESP, participated in a project with researchers from CIBER-BBN, in which they developed systems to detect Pneumocystis jirovecii, an atypical fungus responsible for very severe pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients.

6 Feb 2021

Researchers call for trials of rapamycin to treat COVID-19

Researchers in the United States, China, and the UK have called for immediate large-scale clinical trials of an antibiotic called rapamycin as a prophylactic and treatment approach to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in older individuals.

4 Feb 2021

School gardens may get children to eat more vegetables

Getting children to eat their vegetables can seem like an insurmountable task, but nutrition researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have found one way: school gardens and lessons on using what's grown in them.

4 Feb 2021

Synthetic biology can help create complex embryo

Richard Feynman, one of the most respected physicists of the twentieth century, said "What I cannot create, I do not understand". Not surprisingly, many physicists and mathematicians have observed fundamental biological processes with the aim of precisely identifying the minimum ingredients that could generate them. One such example are the patterns of nature observed by Alan Turing.

2 Feb 2021

Study uncovers advanced navigating skills of black howler monkeys

An international team of researchers led by Oxford Brookes University shows that black howler monkeys in Mexico not only remember where important events took place in their habitat, but also when to return to such locations.

30 Jan 2021

RPS-12 protein overproduction appears to trigger breast cancer and other malignancies

Using the developing eye of the fruit fly as a test platform, researchers found that RPS-12 protein overproduction appears to trigger triple-negative breast cancer and possibly some other malignancies.

29 Jan 2021

Scientists study how different genes dance to the circadian rhythm

In 2017, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to three scientists who uncovered the molecular mechanisms that control the circadian rhythm, otherwise known as the "wake-sleep" cycle.

29 Jan 2021

Melatonin reduces cysts in the renal tubules of fruit flies

A hormone commonly associated with sleep-wake regulation has been found to reduce cysts in fruit flies, according to Concordia researchers. It's a finding that may affect the way we treat some kidney diseases and reduce the need for kidney transplants.

27 Jan 2021

Genetic interactions may shed light on NGLY1 deficiency

In 2012, four-year-old Bertrand Might became the first-ever patient diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called N-glycanase (NGLY1) deficiency. The discovery of this condition and Bertrand's diagnosis allowed doctors to look for other children with the same genetic defect. Since then, more than 60 additional patients have been found.

26 Jan 2021

Scientists discover mechanism for transient memory lapse

In a landmark neurobiology study, scientists from Scripps Research have discovered a memory gating system that employs the neurotransmitter dopamine to direct transient forgetting, a temporary lapse of memory which spontaneously returns.

21 Jan 2021

School-provided lunches could be a solution to better childhood nutrition

Packing a lunchbox with fruit, sandwiches, and snacks is common practice for most Australian families. But what if there was another way?

21 Jan 2021

Deep sleep has restorative power to clear waste from the brain

A new Northwestern University study reaffirms the importance of getting a good night's sleep.

20 Jan 2021

Study explores how choice of foods influences aging and lifespan in fruit flies

Having a choice of foods may accelerate aging and shorten the lifespan of fruit flies, according to a study published today in the open-access eLife journal.

19 Jan 2021

Early administration of ivermectin could help reduce viral transmission in COVID-19 patients

A small pilot study suggests that early administration of ivermectin can reduce viral loads and symptom duration in patients with mild COVID-19, which in turn could help reduce viral transmission.

19 Jan 2021

WHO sets nutrition criteria to increase the availability of healthy food

Public settings, such as schools, childcare centers, nursing homes, hospitals and correctional facilities and all other canteens of public institutions, can play a key role in ensuring people are provided with healthy food and helping prevent the 8 million annual deaths currently caused by unhealthy diets.

18 Jan 2021

Computational method uses heat map data to reverse engineer 3D chromosome models

Genome analysis can provide information on genes and their location on a strand of DNA, but such analysis reveals little about their spatial location in relation to one another within chromosomes -- the highly complex, three-dimensional structures that hold genetic information.

15 Jan 2021