Molecular & Structural Biology

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Viruses play a key evolutionary role in mammals' ability to reproduce and survive

As the world scrambles to control the growing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, new research in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology shows viruses also play a key evolutionary role in mammals' ability to reproduce and survive.

7 Sep 2020

Statistical model uses genomic data to predict a person's risk for esophageal cancer

7 Sep 2020

Fly brain structure governed by lineage-dependent repulsion mechanism between neurons

The brain's structure has columnar features, which are hypothesized to arise from nerve cells (neurons) stemming from the same parent cell, initially forming radial units. How exactly this process unfolds at the molecular level remains unexplained, however.

5 Sep 2020

Study addresses evolutionary rates of larval and adult life stages at a large scale

If you have any children in your life, imagine for a moment that they don't look anything like their parents, they don't eat anything humans normally eat, and they're active only while adults sleep.

5 Sep 2020

New model offers insight into how the brain becomes aware of information

When we watch a movie or hear an orchestra playing, it seems that we perceive images and sounds as a continuous stream of information.

3 Sep 2020

Research provides a map of coronavirus entry factors across the human body

An infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 can affect multiple organs. With this in mind, researchers of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cornell University in the US have investigated cellular factors that could be significant for an infection.

3 Sep 2020

Researchers identify a pattern in cancer’s chromosomal chaos

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and the UCL Cancer Institute have identified how different cancers go through some of the same genetic mutations at the same point in their evolution.

3 Sep 2020

Scientists aim to find cortisone alternatives with fewer side effects

Many people use cortisone of a regular basis. It is used for treating rheumatism, asthma, multiple sclerosis, or even COVID-19.

2 Sep 2020

Researchers create new and quicker method of diagnosing diseases

A new and quicker method of diagnosing diseases in patients has been created by researchers at the University of Leeds.

2 Sep 2020

New EU research project seeks to kickstart the development of "Organoid Cell Atlas"

HCA|Organoid is a new EU research project that combines single-cell profiling and organoid technology to validate organoids as faithful models of human biology.

31 Aug 2020

'Jumping' DNA influences the differentiation, physiological functioning of neurons

The human genome contains over 4.5 million sequences of DNA called "transposable elements", these virus-like entities that "jump" around and help regulate gene expression.

28 Aug 2020

Exploring the structure and dynamics of biological nanomachine

A small but important step towards a successful immune reaction is performed by an impressive nanomachine. Researchers use simulations to understand how it works.

28 Aug 2020

Inhibiting STING activation could be new therapeutic strategy to treat ALS and FTD

Alberto Yáñez Boyer, Ramón y Cajal researcher at BIOTECMED (Interdisciplinary Research Structure in Biotechnology and Biomedicine) and the Department of Microbiology and Ecology at the University of Valencia (UV), participates in a study on the C9orf72 gene and its mutations in the immune system.

28 Aug 2020