cell & molecular biology

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A human mesenchymal stem cellWikimedia Commons, Ghanson

Could Stem Cells Cure MS?

By Megan Scudellari

A growth factor isolated from human stem cells shows promising results in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

National Human Genome Research Institute

DNA Hard Drive

By Megan Scudellari

Researchers design the first rewritable biological data storage system.

Deep-sea sediment bacteriaShelly Carpenter, NOAA Ocean Explorer

Live Slow, Die Old

By Ed Yong

Ancient bacteria living in deep-sea sediments are alive—but with metabolisms so slow that it’s hard to tell.

Flickr, William Warby

Synchronized Clocks

By Megan Scudellari

Researchers identify the first circadian clock component conserved across all three domains of life.

Cobalt graphene nanoparticleWikimedia Commons, Supermaster2011

Gene Signaling by Remote

By Edyta Zielinska

Researchers use radio signals to switch on nanoparticles that activate insulin production in mice.

Telomeres

Six Threats to Chromosomes

By Ed Yong

Researchers identify two new DNA repair systems, in addition to four that were already known, that can attack unprotected telomeres.

Nude mouseNational Cancer Institute, Linda Bartlett

Nervous Mice Get Worse Cancer

By Edyta Zielinska

Anxious mice are more likely to come down with aggressive skin cancer than those who show less stress on behavioral tests.

photoreseachers, Hybrid Medical (Manipulation by Lucy reading-ikkandA)

Telomeres in Disease

By Rodrigo Calado and Neal Young

Telomeres have been linked to numerous diseases over the years, but how exactly short telomeres cause diseases and how medicine can prevent telomere erosion are still up for debate.

Infographic: Telomere Basics  View full size JPG | PDF  Scott Leighton, CMI

Telomere Basics

By Rodrigo Calado and Neal Young

Telomeres are repetitive, noncoding sequences that cap the ends of linear chromosomes. They consist of hexameric nucleotide sequences (TTAGGG in…

Not Peng PengWikimedia Commons, Keven Law

Building a Better Sheep

By Bob Grant

Chinese scientists claim to have cloned a lamb carrying a roundworm gene that aids in the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids.