The synthesis of short protein chains (polypeptides) begins with the production of their components, the amino acids. A group of Chinese researchers report a new method that is similar to olefin…

Evolution isn't always obvious and some new species haven't been identified because their outward appearance masks their genetic differences. Research published in BMC Evolutionary Biology suggests…

A thumb’s up for “I’m good.” The rubbing of a pointed forefinger at another for “shame on you.” The infamous and ubiquitous middle finger salute for—well, you know. Such gestures that convey meaning…

There are hundreds of thousands of proteins for which amino acid sequence data are available, but whose structure and function remain unknown. Now a research team, led by University of Illinois…

Researchers across the world have been trying to answer the question of how RNAi works for many years. A research group headed by Prof. Renée Schroeder (MFPL) and Dr. Javier Martinez (IMBA) based at…

Argonaute 2 (Ago2) is unique among its family: It is the only one of the four mammalian Argonaute proteins that exhibits endonuclease “slicer” activity (facilitation of miRNA-guided cleavage of…

Our brain consists of billions of nerve cells enabling to learn, remember and reason. Every time we think and experience, touch, smell or fear, millions of neurons in our brain becomes active. These…

Freeing knotted shoelaces with fingers that are frozen stiff is extremely difficult and can even be painful. The reason that sensitivity and dexterity are poor is that both nerves and muscles perform…

By making careful observations of the growth of a layer of molecules as they gradually cover the surface of a small silicon rectangle, researchers from the National Institute of Standards and…

A hundred years since Russian microbiologist Elie Metschnikow first discovered the invertebrate immune system, scientists are only just beginning to understand its complexity. Presenting their…