News Archive
New compounds block master regulator of cancer growth, metastasis
Diana Yates
Scientists have developed new drug compounds that thwart the pro-cancer activity of FOXM1, a transcription factor that regulates the activity of dozens of genes. The new…
For CRISPR, tweaking DNA fragments yields highest efficiency rates yet
Liz Ahlberg Touchstone
University of Illinois researchers achieved the highest reported rates of inserting genes into human cells with the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system, a necessary step for…
Scientists develop gentle, microscopic hands to study tiny, soft materials
Lois Yoksoulian
Handling very soft, delicate items without damaging them is hard enough with human hands, let alone doing it at the microscopic scale with laboratory instruments. Three new…
Single-molecule detection of cancer markers brings liquid biopsy closer to clinic
Liz Ahlberg Touchstone
A fast, inexpensive yet sensitive technique to detect cancer markers is bringing researchers closer to a “liquid biopsy" – a test using a small sample of blood or serum to…
MAGIC system allows researchers to modulate activity of genes acting in concert
Claudia Lutz
Genomic research has unlocked the capability to edit the genomes of living cells; yet so far, the effects of such changes must be examined in isolation. In contrast, the…
Mathematical models provide snapshot of human gut microbial community
Alisa King
Microbial communities can be found everywhere – from lakes to the soil on the ground, they are omnipresent yet invisible to the naked eye. Within those environments there exist…
iGEM Team: Cleaning up our Crops
April Wendling
Herbicides are an integral component of modern farming. However, glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in the United States and the main ingredient in formulations like…
By imaging brain, scientists can predict aptitude for training
Diana Yates
People with specific brain attributes are more likely than others to benefit from targeted cognitive interventions designed to enhance fluid intelligence, scientists report in…
Structurally designed 'DNA star' creates ultrasensitive test for dengue virus
Liz Ahlberg Touchstone, adapted from content provided by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
By folding snippets of DNA into the shape of a five-pointed star using structural DNA nanotechnology, researchers have created a trap that captures dengue virus as it floats in…