An artificial intelligence system known as AlphaFold has enabled an unprecedented expansion of the knowledge of the structure of tens of thousands of previously unmapped proteins, based merely on their amino acid sequences.
The DNA helix within all living cells carries the template or code for the production of the many different proteins essential for life.
In experiments with the bacterial genus Bartonella, Israeli researchers discovered a new mechanism of mutation that the pathogen uses to survive antibiotic attack.
All organisms have some portion of their DNA that does not code for proteins, but the amounts vary greatly. Bacteria average about 2% non-coding DNA, while in humans the non-coding DNA comes to 98% of the total.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have achieved a deeper understanding of the chemical structure of intestinal mucus, a key part of the body’s innate immune system.
Systems engineering is the technique used for planning and managing the huge array of materials, manpower, methods and flows required in modern manufacturing and construction projects.
A recent paper by two Cambridge University scientists shows how a concept important in physics as a whole, called “gauge,” plays out in the specific theory of electromagnetism.
Tuberculosis is currently the deadliest infectious disease in the world, affecting nearly 2 billion people. It is caused by the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Daphnia pulex, the common water flea, has been extensively studied to help science understand human disease processes. Daphnia’s short reproductive cycle makes it ideal for studies of genetic changes over generations. It was the first crustacean to have its full genome sequenced.
The full genome of nine different bacteriophages used in one of the first modern applications of this promising type of antibacterial agent in the United States was published last month. Also published were the genomes of three strains of the multidrug-resistant bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii, that the phages targeted.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's 14,300-pound James Webb Space Telescope, launched into space Dec. 25, 2021, aboard a French Ariane 5 rocket from the European Spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana. This heralds a new chapter in deep space astronomy.
A first-of-its-kind review of the recent literature suggests that cannabis use could affect emotion processing, which can lead to difficulties with social relationships and possibly exacerbate the use of cannabis. The authors note, however, that more study is necessary to be certain of the findings.
DNA, the famous double-strand helix that holds the genetic code, can break along one or both strands. Double-stranded breaks can kill a cell or create an opportunity for cancerous growth.
A solar-powered system for generating liquid hydrocarbon fuels from the hydrogen and carbon dioxide contained in air is currently in operation on a rooftop of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich.
An increase in COVID-19 vaccinations brings with it the risk that a vaccine-resistant strain could still emerge.
Only a small part of the DNA in eukaryotes (organisms with a cell nucleus) codes for the production of the proteins that make life possible. The rest is called non-coding, or sometimes, “junk” DNA. In humans this may be as much as 98% of the total DNA strand.
How new species evolved from existing ones has been a leading question in biology for nearly two centuries. Now new research is pointing to the role of transposons, repetitive DNA sequences that move from one location to another within the genome, in creating fundamental changes in the genetic code.
A new blood assay, designed to detect four different antibodies associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, promises to increase diagnostic accuracy and to help researchers understand the spread of COVID-19.
Recent advances in the development of monoclonal antibodies have shown promise in the treatment of infectious diseases.
A new study by researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the University of California Irvine shows that the conformation of proteins can be significantly distorted by the practice of freezing with liquid nitrogen preparatory to analysis by X-ray crystallography.