100 years biochemical sciences tutorial
As our brain develops, neurons need to connect to each other through synapses. We study a family of proteins called clustered protocadherins that help ensure that only proper…
In a recent paper in Neuron (PDF) the Engert and Schier labs uncover striking similarities in stimulus representation and computation across biological and artificial neural networks performing temperature…
When we think of the neurons that control pain-induced behavior, what usually comes to mind are the simple peripheral and spinal reflex circuits described in medical textbooks. This…
The first time Vayu Maini Rekdal manipulated microbes, he made a decent sourdough bread. At the time, young Maini Rekdal, and most people who head to the kitchen,…
Most bacteria swim through fluids by rotating helical flagella, driven at their base by a macromolecular rotary motor. The motor drives the flagellum against the viscous resistance of…
A recent study in Cell (PDF) from the Schier lab defines candidate genes for schizophrenia and identifies shared roles for these genes. Schizophrenia is a devastating psychiatric disorder.…
Ketamine for clinical use is clouded in controversy. Hallucinogenic party drug (“Special K”) and well-known anesthetic, it is increasingly touted as a panacea at low-doses for unresponsive depression…
We have discovered that cancer might arise faster than previously thought: by combining evolution of yeast cells and human cell culture experiments Miguel Coelho and Andrew Murray were…
Transport proteins embedded in the cellular membrane move chemical cargo into and out of cells, thus facilitating the acquisition of essential nutrients. Many transport proteins evolved from a…
As a particularly accessible part of the central nervous system, the mouse retina has emerged as a favorite model for analyzing the development, structure and function of neural…
