The hottest Molecular Biology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Dear Shambolic Oligarchs: Here’s What I Did This Week

Viruses Must Die • 96 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🔬 Science Virology Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Vaccines Health Research
  1. There's a plan to create a vaccine for chickens using yeast to help them fight bird flu. This involves some complex science but aims to protect poultry.
  2. Efforts are underway to upload massive amounts of viral data to a federal cloud, making it easier for scientists to access crucial information. However, workplace issues are causing worries about delays.
  3. A colleague discovered a cancer treatment but was let go during a staff change, which highlights the challenges faced by dedicated scientists and the impact of workplace stress on their work.

No human genes have truly 100% penetrance

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 970 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🔬 Science Genetics Molecular Biology Health Bioethics Research
  1. No human genes have 100% penetrance, meaning not all who have a certain gene will show the related traits. This makes predicting health outcomes based on genetics challenging.
  2. Genetic diseases like Huntington's seem like they have high penetrance, but variability in symptoms and onset can make them unpredictable. It highlights the complexity of genetics beyond simple Mendelian traits.
  3. The body's systems, especially the immune system, add layers of complexity that affect how genes express themselves. This makes it really hard to guarantee that a specific gene will always result in the same outcome.

Mitochondria Are Alive

Asimov Press • 735 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🔬 Science Biology Evolution Molecular Biology Genetics
  1. Mitochondria are more than just cell parts; they are alive and have their own functions. They carry their own DNA and replicate just like bacteria.
  2. Thinking of mitochondria as living beings can help us understand their role better in our health and in biology. Many diseases are linked to problems with mitochondria.
  3. Mitochondria can interact with their environment and even move between cells, which shows they can adapt and play important roles in complex biological systems.

Francis Crick Was Misunderstood

Asimov Press • 386 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🔬 Science Biology Genetics Molecular Biology Evolution Research
  1. The Central Dogma explains that information in cells flows mainly from DNA to RNA to proteins, but it's more complex than just that. It actually includes several other information transfers that many people don't realize.
  2. Francis Crick named his idea the Central Dogma, but it’s not an unchangeable belief; it's a scientific hypothesis based on evidence. Even though people often misunderstand it, he believed in testing ideas with experiments.
  3. Recent discoveries show that some processes in biology may seem to contradict the Central Dogma, but they don't actually break its rules. The essential point is that information can only flow from nucleic acids to proteins, never the other way around.

Why Engineer Biology?

Niko McCarty • 39 implied HN points • 10 Sep 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology Genetics Molecular Biology Environmental Science Health Science
  1. Cells can help solve big problems like hunger and climate change by using chemistry and physics to rearrange atoms into useful materials. They are like natural tools that can be engineered to do tasks we need.
  2. Engineering biology has a successful history, like when Norman Borlaug improved wheat crops in Mexico. These achievements show that one innovative solution can make a huge difference over time.
  3. Now is a great time to work in biotechnology because tools for studying and changing genes are getting cheaper and easier to use. This means more people, from different backgrounds, can contribute to solving biological challenges.
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Real-Time Multistep Asymmetrical Disassembly of Nucleosomes and Chromatosomes Visualized by High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy

Axial • 7 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biology Genetics Research Methods Molecular Biology
  1. Researchers used a special microscope to watch how nucleosomes and chromatosomes come apart in real-time. This lets us see important details about how these DNA structures change.
  2. The study found that the disassembly process is not symmetrical; some parts come off before others. This shows a new way that DNA is accessed for various functions.
  3. Linker histone H1 plays a big role in how these structures disassemble. When H1 is present, it makes the process slower and changes the way the nucleosomes fall apart.

DNA in Covid-19 vaccines: 7 pieces of context missed from Florida Surgeon General’s unnecessary warning

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1815 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Vaccines DNA Molecular Biology Immune Response Safety
  1. The amount of DNA fragments in Covid-19 vaccines is relatively small compared to other particles.
  2. DNA fragments are present in all vaccines and various medical treatments, and are kept at minimal levels for safety.
  3. Human bodies have natural mechanisms to deal with foreign DNA and prevent integration into our genes.

Single molecule imaging of the central dogma reveals myosin-2A gene expression is regulated by contextual translational buffering

Axial • 22 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🔬 Science Molecular Biology Cell Biology
  1. Researchers created a special cell line to study how the MYH9 gene works, focusing on its role in myosin-2A production. This new approach allows them to see all stages of gene activity with high precision.
  2. The study found that changes in the cell cycle can affect how MYH9 is expressed, especially during cell division, helping to control when myosin-2A is made.
  3. They also discovered a 'buffering' system that adjusts protein production based on how much RNA is available, showing how cells adapt their response to different situations.

Functional protein mining with conformal guarantees

Axial • 14 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🔬 Science Bioinformatics Molecular Biology Machine Learning Genomics Proteomics
  1. A new method is developed for predicting protein functions using something called conformal prediction. This makes the predictions more reliable and provides a clear way to understand risks when selecting proteins.
  2. The approach helps in annotating genes and predicting enzyme functions more accurately without needing new training models. This is great for speeding up research in life sciences.
  3. It also offers a smart way to reduce the number of proteins needing full analysis, making the process quicker and cheaper while still keeping good accuracy.

Birth of protein folds and functions in the virome

Axial • 14 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🔬 Science Virology Genetics Molecular Biology Bioinformatics
  1. A lot of viral proteins have unique structures, showing there's still much to discover in the viral world. More than half of these proteins are structurally different from anything we've seen before.
  2. Some viral proteins are surprisingly similar to human proteins, which allows viruses to trick our cells. This understanding could lead to new ways to combat viral infections.
  3. Using advanced techniques to study protein structures is really powerful. It can reveal function and relationships that traditional methods might miss, helping us understand viruses better.

Unbiased mapping of cereblon neosubstrate landscape by high-throughput proteomics

Axial • 14 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🔬 Science Biochemistry Proteomics Drug Discovery Molecular Biology Cancer Research
  1. A new method helps find powerful compounds that can target hard-to-reach proteins for drug development. These compounds are called molecular glue degraders, and they can help break down unwanted proteins in the body.
  2. The study found many new targets for these compounds, including some that haven't been studied much before. This expands the potential for developing new treatments for diseases like cancer.
  3. The researchers created a process that combines different scientific techniques, making it easier to design and improve these drugs. This means we might see more precise and effective medicines in the future.

In vivo photoreceptor base editing ameliorates rhodopsin-E150K autosomal-recessive retinitis pigmentosa in mice

Axial • 14 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🔬 Science Gene Therapy CRISPR Molecular Biology
  1. Researchers are using CRISPR technology to fix a genetic mutation that causes a type of blindness in mice. This mutation is in the rhodopsin gene, which is important for vision.
  2. Timing is really important for the treatment to be effective. Treating mice earlier resulted in better preservation of their eyesight compared to treating them later.
  3. Despite progress, there are challenges in translating this therapy for humans. The mutation is rare, making it tough to conduct clinical trials, and the therapy needs further development for success.

Praetorian PTEN: Protecting Cells from Cancer

Holodoxa • 39 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
🔬 Science Genetics Cell Biology Cancer Research Molecular Biology
  1. PTEN acts as a crucial barrier against cancer growth by regulating cell growth and proliferation.
  2. The structure of PTEN, spanning 105 thousand DNA base pairs on chromosome ten, reveals its functional capabilities and how it interacts with cellular components.
  3. PTEN's loss of function, often due to mutation, influences the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, impacting cellular signaling and potentially leading to tumorigenesis.

The New Genetics — Part III: Genes Don’t Express Themselves

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 16 Feb 11
🔬 Science Genetics Molecular Biology Cell Biology
  1. Genes by themselves are inactive; it's the cells that activate genes and express them.
  2. A complex process involving multiple proteins is needed for a cell to make a functional protein from a gene.
  3. Cells have intricate mechanisms to adjust gene expression based on their needs and the environment, highlighting the complexity of genetic regulation.

The Hidden Heroes of the Genome

Nano Thoughts • 0 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🔬 Science Genetics Molecular Biology Biotechnology Health Bioinformatics
  1. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were once thought to be useless 'junk DNA,' but they actually play important roles in regulating our genes and maintaining cellular stability.
  2. Recent advancements in lncRNA research are leading to better cancer diagnostics and new treatments, showing their potential as key players in medicine.
  3. The study of lncRNAs challenges our old views of genetics and shows that biological systems are much more complex and interconnected than we previously thought.

Biotech Needs Its Hydrogen Atom

Niko McCarty • 0 implied HN points • 25 May 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology Physics Molecular Biology Genomics Research Methods
  1. Biotechnology needs a common foundation, much like how hydrogen is essential to physics. This foundation would help scientists work together more effectively and share their findings.
  2. If scientists could collaborate and understand life better, they could design solutions for diseases and other challenges. This could lead to a future where we have more control over creating living organisms for our needs.
  3. Focusing on studying a simple organism like Mycoplasma genitalium could be key to building this foundation. By deeply understanding it, we could create models that help us predict how other cells function.