Written by Professor James Davie, University of Manitoba, Canada The nucleus produces an array of protein-coding and non-protein coding (nc)RNAs. There is growing appreciation and excitement in the role of the ncRNA in genome organization and function. ncRNA may have a role as genome organizing architectural factors of transcribed chromosomal domains (1, 2) and/or have a… Read more »
The field of mobile DNA is currently a very exciting area of genetics and genomics research. It was once assumed that transposable elements were useless DNA sequences that incorporated into host genomes, forming ‘junk DNA’. In recent years, however, the significance of these genetic elements has been increasingly realized, with studies regularly being published hinting… Read more »
Goats are well known for their high adaptability and ability to survive in inhospitable and food scarce environments. It turns out that this behavioural flexibility has played a key role in the evolution of complex cognition in goats, which are much more intelligent than had previously been thought. Goats are able to quickly learn to… Read more »
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Recent headlines reporting contaminated floodwaters invading British towns and villages may have left you wondering what’s really lurking in these waters. If the floodwater is contaminated, as has been suggested, with bacteria such as E. coli, campylobacteria (a common cause of food poisoning) and norovirus in Surrey and the Somerset levels, what other microscopic entities… Read more »
From plastic bags to nylon to fuels, ethylene is a key ingredient in a vast variety of production processes. This widespread use has made ethylene the most produced organic compound in the world. The chemical industry needs ethylene, and this demand is currently being kept at bay by its production from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels… Read more »
Congratulations to the winners of the annual Ming K Jeang Award for Excellence in Cell & Bioscience for 2013. The winning papers (below), have been chosen for their innovation, high-quality execution and lasting contribution to the biosciences. The winners are chosen by a committee of internationally renowned Cell & Bioscience Editors, chaired by Dr Chris… Read more »
Written by Professor Lucia Altucci, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli A growing body of evidence has proved the ability HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) to exert anti-cancer actions in many tumor systems. Currently, HDACi are extensively used to sensitize tumor cells for treatment with chemotherapy. The main disadvantage of HDACi is the broad inhibition of the… Read more »
Congratulations to the winners of the annual Ming K Jeang Award for Excellence in Cell & Bioscience for 2013. The winning papers (below), have been chosen for their innovation, high-quality execution and lasting contribution to the biosciences. The winners are chosen by a committee of internationally renowned Cell & Bioscience Editors, chaired by Dr Chris… Read more »
Today the genome of the loblolly pine was published in Genome Biology – the largest yet sequenced. This paper is mostly important because the authors made real improvements to the process that scientists use to sequence large and complex genomes like that of the loblolly pine. Because let’s face it, they’re not likely to hold the… Read more »
You’re a conservationist with a list of threatened species and a limited budget. What are you going to save? Pandas or polar bears? Corals or condors? Leopards or leatherbacks? You have little time to deliberate, and you need a rational basis for your decision. Performing phylogenetic triage How to advise those in the unenviable position… Read more »