Online Editorials
Recent Papers from European Labs – The Yin and Yang of Sex Change
(Feb. 8th, 2010) Researchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg are challenging the dogma that in mammals developing female traits is the default pathway after fertilization. Rather, male development needs to be actively repressed.
more...Cocaine Addiction Leaves its Mark on Chromatin
(Feb. 4th, 2009) So far, there is no proven effective pharmacological treatment of cocaine addiction. US neuroscientists now provide evidence that chromatin modifications and chromatin modifying enzymes might be useful potential drug targets to deal with cocaine dependence.
more...Flightless Biological Myths
(Feb. 1st, 2010) One solution to the loss of biodiversity on Earth might be the creation of new life forms, at least on paper. Historically, mankind has invented all sorts of mythical creatures, but could these animals really have lived? A distinguished biology professor has now analysed the biology behind the myths. Jeremy Garwood reports on his findings.
more...You Are What You Eat!
(Jan. 21st, 2010) Star date 4315.5. After a long day at work you finally come home and all you can think of is a juicy mammoth steak. You go to your incubator (home edition) that the guys from the company installed in your apartment last week and take out the freshly grown muscle tissue. Yummy, you think, now let’s peel some potatoes… Wishful thinking? This might not be science fiction for too much longer.
more...From Origins to Extinction (4) – What if the Biosphere Collapses Taking Mankind with it?
(Jan. 14th, 2010) Ongoing extinctions of other animal and plant species may not excite much interest in ordinary citizens, but what about their own extinction? Could mankind so completely unbalance the planetary biosphere as to threaten its own survival? In this final report, Jeremy Garwood presents research defining the limits to viable life on earth as we know it, and the risk that Homo sapiens may become extinct for lack of future vision.
more...From Origins to Extinction (3) – Species as Economic Collateral Damage
(Dec. 22nd, 2009) How do you decide what to save when you know it needs saving? Is it economic folly to try to prevent further extinctions? Even when consensus agrees that species are doomed without direct intervention, the scientific debate on preventing extinction is caught up in thorny questions of ‘economic reality’. Just how many species can you save with limited financial resources? By Jeremy Garwood.
more...Santa Claus at Risk
(Dec. 18th, 2009) Santa Claus definitely needs supernatural powers to cope with the massive efforts of Christmas. That’s at least the conclusion of Krister Svahn, information officer of Gothenburg University, after conducting a survey among the university’s researchers.
more...Current Issue
From the Content
Analysis: cientific misconduct Honesty is a virtue but how far will some scientists go for success?
We scientists have our own special brand of rock stars. Granted, their fashion sense is usually questionable and a detailed mechanical explanation of what lies under the hood of a sports car may be more forthcoming. Nevertheless, as their Birkenstock-clad feet hit the accelerator of their trusty 15-year old Honda, they are our unassuming heroes who literally save the world every day. From penicillin to the atomic bomb, the last century has brought with it an explosion of scientific discoveries that have changed the way we currently live. moreObservations of The Owl -
Valuable Vestiges
Who’re more perfect – humans or owls? I think you know my opinion, just as I’m quite sure about yours. Compromises impossible, I guess. Nevertheless, let’s talk a bit about perfectness. Of course, owls and humans lead very different life styles for which, as a consequence, we have developed very different adaptive skills and features. morePublication Analysis 1996-2007: Plant and animal ecology
Who’s a cell biologist and who’s not? Today, the answer might produce more grey figures than black and white ones. Just take a look, for example, at how the Journal of Cell Biology describes its editorial scope, “Areas of interest include, but are not restricted to: cell adhesion and motility; cellular communication; cell cycle and division; cell growth, survival, and death; cell structure and dynamics; cellular disease mechanisms; cytoskeleton and molecular motors; gene expression and RNA metabolism; ...” moreTips and tricks of the trade: Drag ‘n’ Drop Proteins
Researchers, who occasionally use alignment programmes, appreciate intuitive graphical user interfaces that follow general conventions, while advanced users go for alignment programmes that offer a wide range of embedded algorithms, data visualisation and work flow to thoroughly analyse protein sequences and structures. The free open source protein alignment programme STRAP, may be worth a try for both novice and advanced alignment programme users, since it is especially designed to streamline repeated programm tasks. more
