Biomedical Beat Blog – National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Follow the process of discovery
The CRISPR gene-editing tool was recognized today by Science magazine as its “breakthrough of the year.” We support a number of researchers working in this exciting area and have featured it on this blog. To learn more about this exceptionally promising new method, see below for our illustrated explanation of the CRISPR system and its …
We asked the heads of our scientific divisions to tell us about some of the big questions in fundamental biomedical science that researchers are investigating with NIGMS support. This article is the third in an occasional series that explores these questions and explains how pursuing the answers could advance understanding of important biological processes. Ubiquitin …
These bright, amorphous loops represent a never-before-seen glimpse at how proteins that play a key role in cell duplication are themselves duplicated. Credit: Sue Jaspersen, Zulin Yu and Jay Unruh, Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Looking like necklaces stacked on a dresser, these bright, amorphous loops show the outlines of yeast proteins that make up …
As Halloween approaches, we turned up some spectral images from our gallery. The collection below highlights some spooky-sounding—but really important—biological topics that researchers are actively investigating to spur advances in medicine. Cell Skeleton The cell skeleton, or cytoskeleton, is the framework that gives a cell its shape, helps it move and keeps its contents organized …
Continue reading “Cool Images: A Halloween-Inspired Cell Collection”
A computer-generated sketch of a DNA origami folded into a flower-and-bird structure. Credit: Hao Yan, Arizona State University. This image of flowers visited by a bird is made of DNA, the molecule that provides the genetic instructions for making living organisms. It shows the latest capability of a technique called DNA origami to precisely twist …
The biggest prizes each science “award season”: powerful glimpses into fundamental life processes that can yield deeper understanding of health and disease. Credit: Stock image. Roll out the red carpet and shine up your shoes—it’s “award season” for science. The biggest prizes: powerful glimpses into fundamental life processes that can yield deeper understanding of health …
More than 70 percent of new drugs approved within the past 30 years originated from trees, sea creatures and other organisms that produce substances they need to survive. Since ancient times, people have been searching the Earth for natural products to use—from poison dart frog venom for hunting to herbs for healing wounds. Today, scientists …
Credit: New York Academy of Sciences Sarkis K. Mazmanian, Ph.D. Born in: The country of Lebanon, moved to Los Angeles when he was 1 Fields: Microbiology, immunology, neuroscience Works at: California Institute of Technology Awards won: Many, including the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” grant Most proud of: The success of his trainees! “There’s nothing that comes …
Continue reading “Meet Sarkis Mazmanian and the Bacteria That Keep Us Healthy”
We asked the heads of our scientific divisions to tell us about some of the big questions in fundamental biomedical science that researchers are investigating with NIGMS support. This article is the first in an occasional series that will explore these questions and explain how pursuing the answers could advance understanding of important biological processes. …
Credit: Kristan Jacobsen Nels Elde, Ph.D. Fields: Evolutionary genetics, virology, microbiology, cell biology Works at: University of Utah, Salt Lake City When not in the lab, he’s: Gardening, supervising pets, procuring firewood Hobbies: Canoeing, skiing, participating in facial hair competitions “I really look at my job as an adventure,” says Nels Elde. “The ability to …
Continue reading “Meet Nels Elde and His Team’s Amazing, Expandable Viruses”