Human Biology News

September 9, 2016

Zika Virus May Persist in Eyes, May Be Infectious

Virus 'Gave' Females Placenta; Males, Muscle Mass

Why Pneumococci Affect Primarily Humans

Those Research Cells Not Always What You Think

Latest Headlines

updated 12:31am EDT

Reactive Oxygen Species Switch Immune Cells from Migratory to Murderous

Sep. 8, 2016 — Neutrophils are the superheroes of the body's immune system. Normally mild-mannered, they travel through the bloodstream until they reach an emergency situation, such as a cut or infection, where ... read more

Researchers Uncover New Potential Genetic Links to Common Brain Disorder

Sep. 8, 2016 — A set of 30 inherited recessive genes that play a role in intellectual disability, a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects as many as 213 million people around the world, has been, for the first ... read more

Medication Against Schizophrenia Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer, Research Shows

Sep. 7, 2016 — A receptor for the dopamine neurotransmitter promotes growth and spread of pancreatic cancer -- and schizophrenia drugs, which block the function of this receptor, slowed tumor growth and metastatic ... read more

The Whole of Epigenetic Regulation May Be Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

Sep. 7, 2016 — Scientists may be closer to answering a long-standing question in biology -- how do the components of cells' molecular machinery work together to transmit vital gene regulatory information from one ... read more

Novel Nanoscale Detection of Real-Time DNA Amplification Holds Promise for Diagnostics

Sep. 7, 2016 — A novel label-free method of measuring DNA amplification in real time has now been developed by researchers. The technique detects changes in the ... read more

Humans May Be Uniquely Identified by the Proteins in Their Hair

Sep. 7, 2016 — Unique protein markers in hair could be used alongside DNA profiling for human identification, according to a new ... read more

Scientists Identify Genes That Disrupt Response to Breast Cancer Treatment

Sep. 7, 2016 — In breakthrough research on breast cancer, a team discovered that higher levels of the nuclear transport gene XPO1 indicate when a patient is likely to be resistant to the ... read more

Intestinal Bacteria Influence Food Allergies

Sep. 7, 2016 — Countless microorganisms live in the intestinal tract. Researchers have been able to demonstrate that intestinal bacteria also play a role in determining the strength of anaphylactic reactions to ... read more

Antimicrobial Chemicals Found With Antibiotic-Resistance Genes in Indoor Dust

Sep. 7, 2016 — University of Oregon researchers have found links between the levels of antimicrobial chemicals and antibiotic-resistance genes in the dust of an ... read more

Computer Simulation Reveals P53 Weak Spots, Opens New Avenues Against Cancer

Sep. 7, 2016 — Using microsecond timescale molecular dynamics simulations, a new study reveals p53 weak spots and sheds light on the protein instability, which is ... read more

Wearable Device Delivers Automatic Support for Weak Muscles

Programmable Vaccines to Protect Against Zika and Fight Cancer

Apollo Astronauts' Health Issues Reveal A Hurdle To Deep-Space Travel

Exercise Plus Electro-Stimulation Boosts Calorie Burn, Study Says

Linking RNA Structure and Function

Sep. 8, 2016 — Several years ago, biologists discovered a new type of genetic material known as long noncoding RNA. This RNA does not code for proteins and is copied from sections of the genome once believed to be ... read more

Measuring Forces in the DNA Molecule

Sep. 8, 2016 — DNA, our genetic material, normally has the structure of a twisted rope ladder. Experts call this structure a double helix. Among other things, it is stabilized by stacking forces between base pairs. ... read more

Risk Factors for Congenital Heart Defects May Lie Both Inside and Outside the Heart

Sep. 8, 2016 — Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are a leading cause of birth defect-related deaths, but many of the critical genes involved are unknown, and those that are known often contribute only small increases ... read more

Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome: Molecular Pathways That Lead to Microcephaly

Sep. 8, 2016 — Scientists have succeeded in generating induced pluripotent stem cells from a rare disorder called Nijmegen breakage syndrome and to push these cells to become early neurons, revealing the mechanisms ... read more

Study Generates Soviet Anthrax Pathogen Genome from Autopsy Specimens

Sep. 7, 2016 — A new study used deep DNA sequencing methods to generate the anthrax genome sequence from the victims of the 1979 anthrax outbreak in Sverdlovsk, Russia, when it was part of the ... read more

Structure of Mammalian Protein Complex of Respiratory Chain Solved at Atomic Level

Sep. 6, 2016 — The mitochondrial Complex I plays a central role in cellular respiration and energy metabolism. The ~1 Megadalton L-shaped protein complex is the largest protein assembly of the respiratory chain and ... read more

Gene Discovered That Is Essential for the DNA-Replication Process

Sep. 6, 2016 — Millions of cells in our body are constantly dividing to repair tissue damage and ensure our continuity. This is one of the most complex processes that cells go through and, in order for it to be ... read more

Twin Study Helps Unravel the Genetic Blueprint of the Human Brain

Sep. 6, 2016 — Researchers have found a strong genetic contribution to almost all cortical and subcortical brain structures, and have identified three clusters of genetically related structures. The research paves ... read more

Common Bacteria Show Promise for Treating Celiac Disease

Sep. 6, 2016 — Researchers have isolated an enzyme from bacteria present in human saliva that has potential as a therapy for celiac disease (CD), an autoimmune disorder that causes severe digestive and other health ... read more

Nanotechnology Supports Treatment of Malignant Melanoma

Sep. 6, 2016 — Changes in the genetic make-up of tissue samples can be detected quickly and easily using a new method based on nanotechnology. A new study in first clinical tests with genetic mutations in patients ... read more

Doughnut in a Cage Holds the Key to Bacteria's Survival

Sep. 6, 2016 — Scientists have shed new light on how bacteria survive – they rely on a doughnut. The researchers found that bacteria have a unique doughnut-shaped protein that sits in a cage inside their cells ... read more

Obesity Linked to Improved Survival in Kidney Cancer

Sep. 6, 2016 — Obesity almost always increases cancer risk and worsens outcomes, but researchers report that overweight patients with advanced kidney cancer had significantly longer survival than those who were ... read more

Gene Defect as a Potential Gateway for Targeted Prostate Cancer Therapy

Sep. 5, 2016 — The loss of CHD1, one of the most frequently mutated genes in prostate tumors, sensitizes human prostate cancer cells to different drugs, including PARP inhibitors. This suggests CHD1 as a potential ... read more

Aberrant Epigenetic Regulation Behind the Intestinal Symptoms in Celiac Disease

Sep. 5, 2016 — A mechanism causing aberrancies in celiac disease and colorectal cancer has been discovered by researchers. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in genetically susceptible individuals and is ... read more

Study Opens Door to Targeted Treatments for Esophageal Cancer

Sep. 5, 2016 — Esophageal cancer can be classified into three different subtypes, paving the way for testing targeted treatments tailored to patients' disease for the first time, scientists have ... read more

Asthma Gene's Effect on Respiratory Symptoms in Infancy Depends on Breastfeeding Status

Sep. 4, 2016 — Infants who have a genetic profile linked with asthma risk could be protected against respiratory symptoms if they are breastfeed, according to a new ... read more

New Knowledge About the Building Blocks of Life

Sep. 2, 2016 — A study of an enzyme that helps build and repair DNA in living organisms increases our understanding of how these processes are controlled and how we can use this to combat ... read more

Hereditary Diseases Are the Price of Protection Against Infections

Sep. 2, 2016 — Balancing selection is responsible for helping us fend off pathogens, but also for the occurrence of mutations in our genome that predispose us to hereditary ... read more

Luminous Heart Cells: Jellyfish Proteins Assist in Heart Rhythm Disorder Research

Sep. 2, 2016 — Cell models from stem cells serve an ever-increasing role in research of cardiac dysfunction. Researchers have succeeded in producing cells which offer new insights into properties of the heart. They ... read more

X Chromosome: The Structure Makes the Difference

Sep. 2, 2016 — In male cells of the fruit fly Drosophila, the X chromosome is twice as active as in female cells. Researchers have now discovered how the enzyme responsible recognizes the ... read more

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Wednesday, September 7, 2016