Learning from endangered zebra stem cells

Scientists from Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) and Wildlife Research Centre have produced stem cells from the endangered Grévy's zebra using human reprogramming factors. Further ...

How mussels maintain adhesion underwater

Bathroom accessories mounted on tile walls often fall off if not mounted correctly. This is because the moisture in the bathroom weakens the surface adhesion. Conversely, mussels boast amazing adhesion as they stick firmly ...

A peptide hydrogel for efficient production of cell spheroids

Prof. Zhimou Yang, who has wored in the research field of peptide self-assembly biomaterials for more than 15 years, has designed a peptide hydrogel for cell spheroids production. "Supramolecular hydrogels of self-assembling ...

Myelin is a gift from retroviruses

A viable molecular explanation for the origin of compact myelin of vertebrates has been a long time coming. While many invertebrates are certainly capable of wrapping their axons with crude glial extensions, none can manage ...

Bringing cells closer to form new tissues

The field of tissue engineering is constantly exploring the possibility of using different properties of various biomaterials to achieve tissue regeneration. However, a key factor in creating effective tissues that can ameliorate ...

Protein domain structures affect the quality of stem cells

The original iPS cells were reprogrammed by transducing four genes: OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC. Later experiments would show that c-MYC can be replaced with MYCL. Both are MYC proteins and thus oncogenes, but animal experiments ...

Swirling bacteria mimic Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night'

Scientists have discovered a way to transform millions of predatory bacteria into swirling flash mobs reminiscent of painter Vincent Van Gogh's "The Starry Night" as the unexpected result of experiments on a genetic circuit ...

Synthetic biology yields easy-to-use underwater adhesives

Several marine organisms, such as mussels, secrete adhesive proteins that allow them to stick to different surfaces under sea water. This attractive underwater adhesion property has inspired decades of research to create ...

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