Power Failure
Does mitochondrial dysfunction lie at the heart of common, complex diseases like cancer and autism?
By Megan ScudellariMay 2011
Table of Contents
Cover Story
Features
Wrestling with Recurrent Infections
By Gayatri Vedantam and Glenn S. TillotsonClostridium difficile is evolving more robust toxicity, repeatedly attacking its victims, and driving the search for alternative therapies to fight the infection.
Best Places to Work Industry, 2011
By Hannah WatersBy forging new relationships and finding novel uses for existing technologies, this year’s top companies are employing creative ways to advance their science.
Departments
Editorial
Channeling the Microbiome
By Sarah GreeneThe new discipline of sociomicrobiology is revealing life’s struggle tooth and nail—and gut.
Notebook
One Hip Dino
By Jef AkstA closer look at some dinosaur bones accumulating dust since their 1994 discovery reveals a new, athletic sauropod species.
Lobster-Pot Science
By Richard P. GrantBuilding tiny houses to study how bacteria behave in natural environments
New Blood for Gene Therapy
By Megan ScudellariA promising gene therapy trial, derailed by cancerous side effects in a young patient, is set to reboot with the help of next generation gene-transfer vectors.
Micro Farmers
By Cristina LuiggiDustin Rubenstein discusses how the discovery of amoebas that farm their own food links the development of agriculture with the evolution of social behavior.
Speaking of Science
Speaking of Science
May 2011′s selection of notable quotes
Thought Experiment
Skeleton Keys
By Lewis WolpertThere are a surprising number of unknowns about how our limbs come to be symmetrical.
Critic At Large
If Bacteria Can Do It…
By H. Steven WileyLearning community skills from microbes
The Literature
An Insoluble Problem?
By Robert Michael StroudThe challenges of crystallizing membrane proteins—and how they’re being overcome
Compact Model T
By Hannah WatersEditor’s Choice in Immunology
Hangover Headache
By Hannah WatersEditor’s Choice in Neuroscience
Control from Without
By Richard P. GrantEditor’s Choice in Developmental Biology
Reading Frames
Wanted: Another Scientific Revolution
By Laura J. SnyderIn the 19th century, four friends changed the way scientists viewed themselves. It’s time for another shake-up.
Profile
Making the Gradient
By Karen HopkinRon Kaback didn’t believe that electrochemical gradients could power the transport of sugars and amino acids across cell membranes—until he proved that they do.
Scientist to Watch
Andrew Carter: Dynein Trailblazer
By Hannah WatersGroup Leader, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Medical Research Council. Age: 36
Lab Tools
Going with the Flow
By Kelly Rae ChiA guide to the new wave of budget, easy-to-use flow cytometers
Careers
Simplifying Teaching
By Hannah WatersHow to make your teaching more efficient, effective, and enjoyable without slighting your lab projects
Capsule Reviews
Capsule Reviews
By Bob GrantBiopunk, The Belief Instinct, Biology Is Technology, Medical Muses
Foundations
Medical Posters, circa 1920
By Edyta ZielinskaWilliam Helfand began buying medically themed collectibles in the 1950s when he started working for Merck & Co. Over his…
Contributors
Contributors
Meet some of the people featured in the May 2011 issue of The Scientist.
Multimedia
Micro Farmers
By Cristina LuiggiColumbia University evolutionary ecologist Dustin Rubenstein explains just why it’s so interesting and important to find slime molds that engage…
