Category archives: Molecular biology

Precise cell division and cognition in modern humans

Precise cell division and cognition in modern humans

BiologyBiomedicineGeneticsMolecular biology

By Daniel Moreno Andrés

Cell division, or mitosis, is a breathtaking choreography that showcases the grandeur of life. The primary objective of this process is to meticulously separate the two copies of the cell genome, presented in the form of chromatin, and allocate them between two daughter cells. Consequently, it holds paramount significance for the reproduction of unicellular organisms […]

A new imaging technique allows visualisation inside intact animals

A new imaging technique allows visualisation inside intact animals

BiomedicineMolecular biology

By Rosa García-Verdugo

One of the biggest challenges of medical imaging technologies is actually resolving the structures of interest, be it a tumour, a lung or a blood vessel, without the “noise” from other bodily parts like skin or muscle. A new imaging technique allows for visualisation inside intact animals at higher resolution than ever before. A team […]

Intermittent fasting could improve nerve regeneration

Intermittent fasting could improve nerve regeneration

Molecular biologyNeuroscience

By Rosa García-Verdugo

Intermittent fasting is more than the latest diet fad, it has proven benefits –at least in animal models– against longevity, and it appears that it could even improve nerve regeneration, according to new research. The problems with axons in the peripheral nervous system is that their regenerative capacity is not very high. There are certain […]

Proteins can also act as brain messengers

Proteins can also act as brain messengers

Molecular biologyNeuroscience

By Rosa García-Verdugo

Brain cells communicate through neurotransmitters like glutamate or dopamine, the substances we got used to reading about when learning about brain function. However, it seems this is not the only way neurons can communicate. A new study suggests that certain proteins can act as brain messengers in the brain. Previously, only pathological proteins like tau […]

An ancient stress-related mechanism helps worms keep their cool

An ancient stress-related mechanism helps worms keep their cool

BiomedicineMolecular biology

By Rosa García-Verdugo

How an organism can sense and cope with warming temperatures is key for survival, particularly under current global warming trends. The importance of this subject was recognized by 2021’s Nobel prize in Physiology & Medicine awarded to work on TRP channels, key mammalian peripheral heat sensors. Endotherms -such as mammals and birds – maintain their […]

3 medical innovations fueled by COVID-19 that will outlast the pandemic

3 medical innovations fueled by COVID-19 that will outlast the pandemic

Computer scienceGeneticsHealthMedicineMolecular biologyPharmacy

By Invited Researcher

A number of technologies and tools got a chance to prove themselves for the first time in the context of COVID-19. Three researchers working in gene-based vaccines, wearable diagnostics and drug discovery explain how their work rose to the challenge of the pandemic, and their hopes that each technology is now poised to continue making […]

STOP the STOP in cancer: evading pathogenic premature translation termination of tumor suppressors

STOP the STOP in cancer: evading pathogenic premature translation termination of tumor suppressors

BiomedicineMedicineMolecular biology

By Invited Researcher

Inherited or somatic mutations targeting genes which encode essential cell growth regulatory proteins favor the emergence of cancer. Cells carrying these mutations acquire growing and survival advantages that trigger the emergence of the tumor. A large number of tumor-associated mutations, as well as many mutations found in the germline of hereditary cancer patients, are single-nucleotide […]

Mapping PTEN: basic research to assist precision oncology

Mapping PTEN: basic research to assist precision oncology

BiomedicineMedicineMolecular biology

By Invited Researcher

In the last two decades, the easiness in the obtaining of genetic information from patient biological samples, together with the advanced knowledge on the physiological consequences of patient genetic alterations, has transformed the daily clinical practice in our hospitals. As a result, the current use of the precision medicine concept, as disseminated today in the […]