May 1, 2020Natural Killers: Lymphocytes Lead the Fight for Immune Therapy in CancerNatural Killers: Lymphocytes Lead the Fight for Immune Therapy in CancerImmunotherapy23 min readImmunotherapy23 min read
Dec 17, 2019Synthetic BiologySpark of life! Image from Mel Brookes Young Frankenstein 1974Science6 min readScience6 min read
Sep 27, 2018REGENERATIVE MEDICINE how to build an organBuilding organs for repair or replacement. Image by Barbara GilhoolyScience6 min readScience6 min read
Sep 21, 2018Genes, DNA, and RNA -Last time we left off with Mendel’s experiments on inherited traits (or phenotypes) of peas. We mentioned these traits are passed down from their DNA sequence and genes. But what do we mean by DNA sequence? The structure of DNA was elucidated in the early 1950’s by Francis Crick and…Science5 min readScience5 min read
Sep 12, 2018More on RNA and DNA -Previously, we formed a basic outline of what genes, RNA, and DNA are. Now we’ll take a closer look at how these impact our development and how their malfunction can lead to disease. The DNA in all of our cells is the same. For the most part. It turns out…Science4 min readScience4 min read
Sep 12, 2018Gene Control -Previously, we mentioned there are sections of the DNA (called non-coding DNA) that do not lead to the production of a protein because they get cut out of the RNA before it leaves the nucleus of the cell. These sections of non-coding DNA are called introns. But what is in…Science4 min readScience4 min read
Sep 11, 2018Signal Transduction part 2In part 1 we learned that even though two cells may have the same DNA they can behave differently because of how and when they are expressing proteins. Much like a fork in a path of dominoes, cascading events can cause these cells to go down very different paths. Gene…Science2 min readScience2 min read
Sep 11, 2018Signal Transduction part 1 -Where do babies come from? Developmental biology is a field of study that attempts to answer this question with modern genetics. How is it that starting with one cell (the egg) following fertilization we become trillions of cells in hundreds of tissues that is us? Cells divide to form two…Science2 min readScience2 min read
Sep 11, 2018Gene Switches and Decision Trees Determine our DevelopmentGenes can be turned on and off just like switches. The switches are complex little machines with many pieces that we are only now just beginning to understand. Imagine confronting a light switch with no knowledge of how it works only that it makes lights go on and off. …Science3 min readScience3 min read
Sep 11, 2018Protein Synthesis — Breaking the Code -Francis Crick (right) and James Watson (middle) with Maclyn McCarty (left). Image from Lederberg J, Gotschlich EC (2005) A Path to Discovery: The Career of Maclyn McCarty. PLoS Biol 3(10): e341 doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030341 DNA has four “letters” (a,c,t,g) with which to define proteins that are long chains of chemicals called amino…Science3 min readScience3 min read
