Every year, Science names one discovery or advancement as the “Breakthrough of the Year.” Sometimes the discovery or advancement contributes to biology or medicine, while other times it tackles questions about physics or outer space. Back in 1997, Science named Dolly the sheep as the Breakthrough of the Year after scientists successfully cloned her, the […]
Dolly’s Legacy: In Support of Fundamental Research Read More »
Lumba Lab research sheds light on germination mechanisms of the parasitic plant “We asked, ‘How does it break the rules?’ ” mused Michael Bunsick, a graduate student in the Department of Cell & Systems Biology at the University of Toronto. “By figuring out how it breaks the rules, we actually learned what the rules are.” Bunsick
Breaking the Rules: How Witchweed Wreaks Havoc on Sub-Saharan Crops Read More »
Meet Barbara McClintock, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who revolutionized the field of modern genetics. Although McClintock is unfortunately not as well-known as other scientists, her contributions to genetics are immeasurable. Throughout her career, McClintock is credited with making ground-breaking discoveries in cytogenetics – the structure and function of chromosomes – where she studied maize (corn).
Scientist Profile: Barbara McClintock Read More »
Arsenic poisoning plagues over 100 million people around the world, mostly because of contaminated water. In countries like Bangladesh, where improperly filtered groundwater is used, the drinking water has particularly high levels of arsenic. Arsenic poisoning can manifest in a variety of symptoms from darkened spots on skin and weakened immune systems, to respiratory diseases,
What makes humans different from our great ape relatives? Many people would say the evolution of larger brains was the key for humans to develop into the creatures we are today. While true, this is not the only important aspect for our development. Bipedalism, or the ability to walk on two feet, is also a
One Small Step for Danuvius, One Big Step for Understanding Human Evolution Read More »
If you’ve been following the news recently, you’ve probably heard that a second patient has been ‘cured’ of HIV. Not even a week ago, an unedited manuscript describing HIV remission in a patient after a stem cell transplant was published in the journal Nature, replicating the outcomes of a study produced a decade ago. Sounds
Understanding the ‘Cure’ for HIV Read More »