Category Uncategorized

Seven days after OLIG2 was switched on, cultured human stem cells started expressing neuronal marker gene (red). Credit: Hokkaido University; Copyright image

Scientists have developed a new technique to unleash silenced genes and change cell fates using CRISPR/Cas9. The ability to control gene expression in cells allows scientists to understand gene function and manipulate cell fate. Gene-editing tool CRIPSR/Cas9, employs a system naturally used by bacteria as protection against viruses. The tool allows scientists to precisely add, remove or replace specific parts of DNA. CRISPR/Cas9 is the most efficient, inexpensive and easiest gene-editing tool available to date. However, scientists have not yet managed to effectively use it to activate genes in the cells.

A team, led by Toru Kondo at H...

Skeletal myotubes grown for three weeks on gelatin hydrogel. Credit: Archana Bettadapur, Gio Suh, Evelyn Wang, Holly Huber, Alyssa Viscio and Megan McCain

Muscles-on-a-chip could be used to study muscle development and disease, as well as provide a relevant testing ground for new potential drugs. During normal embryonic development, skeletal muscles form when myoblasts fuse to form muscle fibers, myotubes. In past experiments, mouse myotubes have detached or delaminated from protein-coated plastic scaffolds after approximately one week and failed to thrive.

In this experiment, the researchers fabricated a gel scaffold from gelatin, a derivative of the naturally occurring muscle protein collagen, and achieved much better results...

The device allows flow of the streams of Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 (yellow) and the Potassium Ferricyanide (white) into the chambers. Proton exchange membrane is placed between the two chambers to separate the two liquids as well as allow the positively charged ions released in the biocatalytic breakdown of the anolyte to flow from the anode to the cathode. Credit: TECHNOLOGY

A team has demonstrated a proof-of-concept 3D paper-based microbial fuel cell (MFC) that could take advantage of capillary action to guide the liquids through the MFC system and to eliminate the need for external power.The paper-based MFC runs for 5 days and shows the production of current as a result of biofilm formation on anode. The system produces 1.3 μW of power and 52...

This is a black hole visualization. Credit: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

Scientists have devised a method of distinguishing black holes from compact massive objects that are externally indistinguishable from one another. The method involves studying the energy spectrum of particles moving in the vicinity – in one case it will be continuous and in the other it will be discrete.

Black holes, which were predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity, have an event horizon – a boundary beyond which nothing, even light, can return to the outside world. The radius of this boundary is called the Schwarzschild radius, ie radius of an object for which the escape velocity is greater than the speed of light, which means that nothing is able to overcome its gravity.

Black holes of ...