Life Sciences

Your genome has been decoded. What's next?

New genetic companies for about $ 1 thousand will scan the genome of anyone who wishes and inform the customer of the information they are interested in. But does commercial DNA scanning contribute to improving the health of individuals and the nation as a whole?

How to draw genes

At the current stage of development of functional genomics, it has become possible to determine which genes are expressed in different parts of the body — "work" and which "sleep". And not just to determine, but to obtain three—dimensional images of the distribution of gene activity in all organs and tissues - to create so-called atlases of gene expression.

Doctors draw conclusions

Science often discovers completely new properties in seemingly well-studied objects.

Computer games and the Internet help to keep the mind young

Internet use improves brain activity, at least in middle-aged and elderly people, by stimulating the brain centers responsible for decision-making and complex reasoning. And 10 hours of a computer game specially designed for elderly drivers for 10 years "rejuvenate" the brain according to its functional capabilities.

A new system for delivering quantum dots to living cells

Nanoparticles of the quantum dot class were encapsulated in a biodegradable hydrogel and modified with antibodies specifically binding to cell membrane receptors. The resulting nanocomposite structure penetrates the cells without destroying the membrane, and then hydrolyzes in the cytoplasm, releasing individual quantum dots.

Nobel Prize – for HIV and the papilloma virus

The 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine will be shared by Harald zur Hausen ("for the discovery of human papillomavirus causing cervical cancer") and Francoise Barre-Sinussi and Luc Montagnier ("for the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus").

Lactic acid is an alternative source of nutrition for the brain

Previously, it was believed that the brain works exclusively on glucose. Using spectral analysis, scientists found that the brain receives not only glucose from the blood coming to it, but also lactic acid, an excess of which is observed in the blood during active muscle work.

IV Biologie Prospective Conference "Functional Genomics for Personalized Medicine"

The Eternal Youth Foundation was represented at the conference by the author of this article, who made a poster presentation "Analysis of gene polymorphisms by pharmacy biochip in newborn and elderly people from the North-West region of Russia".

Another source of pluripotent stem cells

The primordial cells of the male testicles, which produce spermatozoa during division, have the property of pluripotency, that is, they are able to transform into all known types of cells of an adult organism. In this sense, they are completely "equal" to embryonic stem cells.

Something happened to my memory…

Often, especially from elderly people, you can hear: "I forgot again. Damn sclerosis!" Those who are younger usually say this in jest. Older people tend to be concerned about their forgetfulness. Is memory deterioration an inevitable process?

Bioethics of terrorism

Some organizations fighting for animal rights attack the homes of scientists, smash the offices of pharmaceutical companies, steal and release laboratory animals into the wild and persecute "knackers" even after death.

Erythropoietin – doping for the brain?

It should not be forgotten, however, that the effect of all memory stimulators, including erythropoietin, is rather short-lived and does not lead to a more efficient functioning of the brain's own mechanisms, creating only the effect of additional activation of neurons, and even then largely indiscriminate.

An embryo in every cell

American doctors were able to turn exocrine cells of the pancreas into insulin-secreting beta cells. This reprogramming was carried out in a living organism – more precisely, in the pancreas of a mouse.

Bacteriophages instead of antibiotics

Antibiotics are as "more effective" than bacteriophages as carpet bombing is a carefully planned special operation.

New biological products

Enzymes instead of antibiotics, yeast instead of opium poppy, synthetic heparin and prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

Directed assembly of microgels containing cells to create three-dimensional tissue structures

The proposed method of creating three-dimensional tissue structures using a bottom-up controlled assembly of hydrogel microparticles loaded with cells is based on the ability of multiphase liquid systems to minimize the surface area of the phases and, accordingly, the free surface energy of the phase separation.

Mitochondrial free radical theory of aging – at what stage are we?

To date, one of the most popular theories of aging is a version of the free radical theory, according to which mitochondria are both a source and a target of reactive oxygen species. We present a critical overview of the state of the key principles and concepts on which this theory is based.

References to the article "Mitochondrial free radical theory of aging - at what stage are we?"

Diseases have matured during evolution

Gene diseases are an unavoidable property of all living things. Most of the genetic diseases are associated with genes inherited from the most primitive organisms. Billions of years of evolution have not made individual genes or their functions more resistant to mutations.

Pain is not only a symptom, but also the cause of osteoarthritis

Pain is more than just a symptom of osteoarthritis. Pain impulses arising in the affected joints and biochemical signals triggered by them in the spinal cord aggravate the course of the disease and contribute to its spread throughout the body.