AI has learned the ins and outs of proteins. Gene editing gives scientists control of life’s molecular machinery. Together they could lead to a revolution in biotechnology.
Scientists are discovering viral genetic sequences in the wild faster than they can analyze them. A kind of ChatGPT for proteins can help make sense of all that data.
What if a simple blood test could diagnose otherwise undetected breast cancer?
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Identifying proteins that are only present in bodily fluids when a patient has breast cancer could provide a way to screen healthy people for the disease.
When buying pre-packaged foods, consumers with allergies rely on the declarations in the list of ingredients to identify safe foods.
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Tracing isotopes of carbon inside amino acid molecules has revealed the ‘metabolic fingerprints’ of how different animals store and use energy.
The same amino acid can be encoded by anywhere from one to six different strings of letters in the genetic code.
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Many of the amino acids that make up proteins are encoded by genetic material in more than one way. An information theorist explains how principles of nature may account for this variance.
Despite the filthy waters they often reside in, saltwater crocodiles don’t get sick that often. Perhaps we could one day harness the special proteins that help them.
Cells move their genetic material from one place to another in the form of RNA.
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Making sure RNA molecules are in the right place at the right time in a cell is critical to development and normal function. Researchers are figuring out exactly how they get to where they need to go.
In what form do you eat your annual share of the approximately 5 million tons of cocoa produced worldwide?
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There’s a lot of interesting science behind the fermenting, roasting, grinding and melting that turns chocolate into the bars, bonbons and baked goods you know and love.
Cryo-electron tomography shows what molecules look like in high-resolution – in this case, the virus that causes COVID-19.
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Many microscopy techniques have won Nobel Prizes over the years. Advancements like cryo-ET that allow scientists to see the individual atoms of cells can reveal their biological functions.
Type 2 diabetes, characterised in its advanced stages by insulin resistance, is an important risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
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Impaired insulin receptors in the blood vessels between the blood and the brain may contribute to the insulin resistance observed in Alzheimer’s disease.
Imaging the proteins on the surface of HCV has been challenging because of the virus’s shape-shifting nature.
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Using a Nobel Prize-winning technique called cryo-EM, researchers were able to identify potential areas on the hepatitis C virus that a vaccine could target.
Water microdroplets provide a unique interface that can significantly speed up chemical reactions.
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The chemical reaction that forms essential biomolecules like proteins and DNA normally doesn’t occur in the presence of water. Microdroplets provide a unique environment that make it possible.
Some human coronaviruses cause seasonal colds or other mild symptoms. Others can be severe and even fatal.
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Gene therapies and vaccines are often injected into muscle cells that are inefficient at producing desired proteins. Making them work more like liver cells could lead to better treatment outcomes.
The proteasome is a cellular machine that chews up misfolded and unwanted proteins, and can promote cell death, making it an interesting target for cancer treatment.
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Faulty cellular waste management machinery can lead to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, but researchers are also targeting this machinery to treat these diseases.