GMO’s aid in developmental arrest of malarial parasite

Scientists have genetically engineered a mosquito to release a sea-cucumber protein into its gut which impairs the development of malaria parasites, according to new research. Researchers say this development is a step towards developing future methods of preventing the transmission of malaria. Malaria is caused by parasites whose lives begin in the bodies of mosquitoes. [...]

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Human variations, abnormal slicing, and BMI’s. A new LINK.

Researchers report new insights into how genetic variation may create phenotypic differences between individuals. This study investigates the influence of mutations associated with obesity on the mechanism of splicing. Many visible differences are apparent between individuals, ranging from height and weight to hair and eye color. While the extent of genetic variation between individuals is [...]

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Key proteins in brains function identified.

The team, led by MIT biology professor Frank Gertler, found that a certain family of proteins is necessary to direct the formation of axons and dendrites, the cellular extensions that facilitate communication between neurons. The work focuses on cellular outgrowths called neurites, which are the precursors to axons and dendrites. Understanding how neurites form could [...]

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