Among the contenders for the world's largest living organism is something usually considered much smaller than a blue whale, or a towering sequoia. This particular organism is so big, one needs an aerial map to grasp its ...
Biotechnology
Oct 30, 2017
0
62
A microbiological mystery of how one bacterium could invade another and grow inside it without breaking the other bacterium instantly has been illuminated by scientists at the University of Nottingham and Indiana University.
Cell & Microbiology
Oct 4, 2017
0
62
(Phys.org)—Lignin is an important component of the cell wall in plant cells and accounts for rigid structures, such as tree bark. It is an organic polymer that is insoluble in water, and encases cellulose fibers via attachment ...
Researchers at the University of Delaware are looking into what causes that gut feeling in livestock animals such as cows and chickens.
Plants & Animals
Sep 25, 2017
0
7
The plant toxin ricin is one of the most poisonous naturally occurring proteins, making it an extremely dangerous bioweapon. Ricin attacks have made headlines a number of times over the years, including the spectacular "umbrella ...
Cell & Microbiology
Sep 20, 2017
0
3
An enzyme discovered at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) proves adept at breaking down cellulose fibers regardless of whether their crystalline structure is simple or highly ...
Biotechnology
Sep 18, 2017
0
87
Many bacteria release membrane vesicles, which are nanoscale spheres consisting of a cellular membrane containing biomolecules. Membrane vesicles can transport DNA and proteins, and are involved in bacterial interactions. ...
Cell & Microbiology
Sep 7, 2017
0
4
Using plants and trees to make products such as paper or ethanol leaves behind a residue called lignin, a component of plant cell walls. That leftover lignin isn't good for much and often gets burned or tossed into landfills. ...
Materials Science
Aug 23, 2017
0
4
Bacteria come in all shapes and sizes—some are straight as a rod, others twist like a corkscrew. Shape plays an important role in how bacteria infiltrate and attack cells in the body. The helical shape of Helicobacter pylori, ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 26, 2017
0
95
Twenty years ago, microbiologist Barry Goodell, now a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and colleagues discovered a unique system that some microorganisms use to digest and recycle wood. Three orders of ...
Biotechnology
Jul 24, 2017
0
34
