As the cell’s molecular control center, the mTor kinase regulates cellular metabolism, growth and division. However, in cells affected by pathological change, the regulation goes array. Therefore, it would be helpful if the central control could be simply turned off to suppress insulin resistance or cancerous growth for example. Scientists at the Leibniz–Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare...
Category: <span>Miscellaneous</span>
Post
Xtandi is Expensive, But Here’s How to Get It for Less
There has been a lot of news this week about the outrageously high cost of Xtandi, a drug for advanced prostate cancer. Although developed with funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Xtandi (enzalutamide) is being sold to Americans at about four times the price at which it is sold in other countries. In January, a...
Post
CRISPR Gene Editing Can Cause Hundreds of Unintended Mutations
Structure of the gene editing enzyme Cas9 interacting with guide RNA and DNA (PDB ID: 4OO8). Source: Gabriel Velez (Mahajan Lab) As CRISPR-Cas9 starts to move into clinical trials, a new study published in Nature Methods has found that the gene-editing technology can introduce hundreds of unintended mutations into the genome. “We feel it’s critical that the...
Post
It is ‘inevitable’ that we will one day REGROW limbs after scientists reveal the hidden code behind worm self-healing
Researchers successfully rewrote cell bioelectric patterns that control healing The technique allowed an injured flatworm to grow a head instead of a tail Move takes experts a step closer toward regrowing human organs and limbs One researcher claims that human regeneration technology is ‘inevitable’ Scientists have unlocked the ‘hidden code’ behind worm body regeneration in a...
Post
Stem cells can be encouraged to sprout by changing the surface of the plastic growth substrate
Controlling the patterning on the surface of plastics may soon enable us to grow bone, fight infections and reproduce stem cells, thanks to research at Swinburne. Variations in the nanoscale structures on the surface of a material can alter the development of cells in the vicinity according to the work of Swinburne’s Polymer NanoInterface Engineering Group. It...
Post
The man who built a virtual nervous system explains how humans will interact with machines in ten years
Mark Sagar invented a virtual nervous system that powers autonomous animated avatars. He is best known for developing Baby X, a virtual infant that learns through experience. Sagar says people will learn how to work cooperatively with AI powered robots. Mark Sagar showing facial emotion recognition technology with Baby X. In ten years artificially intelligent...
Post
The Proteasome: A Powerful Target for Manipulating Protein Levels
The proteasome’s ability to target and degrade specific proteins is proving useful to researchers studying protein function or developing treatments for diseases. Although they are not alive themselves, proteins nonetheless progress through a life cycle of sorts: they are created by the cell, serve a specific purpose in the organism, and ultimately expire either by...
Post
The Future of 3D Printing Drugs In Pharmacies Is Closer Than You Think
3D printing drugs is not a fantasy anymore. Unbelievable shapes and any kind of drug can be fabricated with the groundbreaking technology. The UK biotech company, FabRx believes it could even appear as a regular technique in hospitals and pharmacies for creating personalized drugs in specific doses within 5-10 years. Print out starfish-shaped drugs for...
Post
Do probiotics actually do anything?
Lactobacillus casei The supplement aisles of most grocery stores and pharmacies in the United States are bursting with probiotics. These billions of bacteria stuffed into once-a-day capsules claim to provide digestive relief, among other benefits. They’re extremely popular, with sales of $36.6 billion in 2015. And for good reason. For many people, various gastrointestinal issues come and...
Post
A fresh look inside the protein nano-machines
Proteins perform vital functions of life, they digest food and fight infections and cancer. They are in fact nano-machines, each one of them designed to perform a specific task. But how did they evolve to match those needs, how did the genes encode the structure and function of proteins? Researchers from the University of Geneva...