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Scientists develop novel technology that uses CRISPR to map genetic mutations

A team of scientists led by Virginia Commonwealth University physicist Jason Reed, Ph.D., have developed new nanomapping technology that could transform the way disease-causing genetic mutations are diagnosed and discovered.

21 Nov 2017

Study finds sensors to detect biomarkers

A new study conducted at Purdue University suggests that small vibrating sensors or microelectromechanical resonators can be used to identify biological markers in small amounts of blood. This method is expected to be useful for detecting a myriad of diseases, infections, and different medical conditions in their early stages.

21 Nov 2017

New mechanism in cancer cells to disarm attacking immune cells, study reveals

A new study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, identified a substance Gdf-15, which is secreted by pancreatic cancer cells and shields cancerous cells from attack by immune cells known as macrophages.

21 Nov 2017

Promega Maxwell modular automated nucleic acid preparation system offers labs new workflow flexibility

A modular automated liquid handling and purification system offers labs new found flexibility compared to large all-in-one instruments.

From Promega Corporation 21 Nov 2017

KNAUER celebrates 55th anniversary and awards science prize

Anniversary celebrations are often the occasion for a retrospective of successes and achievements. This is also the case with KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Geräte GmbH, founded in 1962.

From KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Geräte GmbH 21 Nov 2017

Probing living cells with AFM

An interview with Prof. David Alsteens, Université Catholique de Louvain conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Cantab).

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 21 Nov 2017

New technique may reveal clues about role of centromeres in Down syndrome, other birth defects

Some scientists call it the "final frontier" of our DNA -- even though it lies at the center of every X-shaped chromosome in nearly every one of our cells.

20 Nov 2017

VTT researcher develops disposable optical test substrate for microbial detection

Harmful microbes and toxic micromolecules in food and drinking water can cause serious health problems around the world. For her PhD thesis, VTT researcher Sanna Uusitalo has developed a disposable optical test substrate for use in microbial detection

20 Nov 2017

Simple mirror technique boosts the performance of diSPIM, study says

Researchers from the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) have significantly improved the efficiency, resolution, and speed of a light-sheet microscope, by using a simple mirror technique and not-so-easy computational analysis, with a wide range of applications for better imaging of embryos and live cells.

20 Nov 2017

Study records video of colliding organic nanoparticles

A new study conducted at the Northwestern University, published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, captured a video of organic nanoparticles colliding and fusing together, a breakthrough in nanotechnology.

20 Nov 2017

Researchers develop new tool to share clinico-genomic data

Researchers from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid have developed a new tool that provides standard and shared clinico-genomic data among European healthcare institutions.

20 Nov 2017

Leaf-eating ability of beetle largely due to bacteria inside the insect

A leaf-eating beetle has evolved a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that allows the insect to break down pectin -- part of a plant's cell wall that is indigestible to most animals.

17 Nov 2017

Biologists resolve immune protein structure to provide insight into pathogen-defense strategies

Biologists have resolved the structure of a ring of proteins used by the immune system to summon support when under attack, providing new insight into potential strategies for protection from pathogens.

17 Nov 2017

New eDNA tool helps identify invasive clams before they become a problem

When seeking a cure for a disease, early detection is often the key. The same is true for eliminating invasive species. Identifying their presence in a lake before they are abundant is vital. A recent University of Illinois study successfully used environmental DNA to detect invasive clams in California and Nevada lakes. Researchers believe this tool can help identify pests before they become a problem.

17 Nov 2017

Researchers map first-ever proteome of healthy human heart

A healthy heart beats about two billion times during a lifetime – thanks to the interplay of more than 10,000 proteins. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and the German Heart Centre at the Technical University of Munich have now determined which and how many individual proteins are present in each type of cell that occurs in the heart.

17 Nov 2017

CRISPR shows potential to reduce diseases spread by mosquitoes

Research at the University of California, Riverside, have shown that it is possible for transgenic mosquitos to stably express the Cas9 enzyme in their germline. Cas9 addition will allow the utilization of the CRISPR gene editing tool to carry out efficient and highly targeted changes to the DNA of the mosquitoes.

16 Nov 2017

Applying AFM to study the viscoelastic properties of cells

An interview with Prof. Manfred Radmacher, Universität Bremen conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Cantab).

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 16 Nov 2017

Foods made with biofortified corn flour and eggs retain vitamin A after cooking

Fortified and biofortified foods are at the forefront of efforts to combat vitamin A deficiency worldwide. But little is known about what influence processing may have on the retention of vitamin A precursors in these foods.

16 Nov 2017

UTEP researchers one step closer to developing effective vaccine for cutaneous leishmaniasis

A research team at The University of Texas at El Paso is one step closer to developing an effective human vaccine for cutaneous leishmaniasis, a tropical disease found in Texas and Oklahoma, and affecting some U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

15 Nov 2017

Scientists find key that allows neural differentiation of microRNA-deficient pluripotent stem cells

The more than 200 different types of human cells have the same DNA but express different ensembles of genes. Each cell type was derived from embryonic stem cells, which are called pluripotent stem cells because they can differentiate to all those different cell fates.

15 Nov 2017