A screen of the bacterium that causes tuberculosis reveals that it makes hundreds of useless, tiny proteins. — How can you predict which proteins an organism can make? To answer this question, scientists often use computer programs that can scan the genetic information of a species for open reading frames — a type of DNA sequence that codes for a protein. …

A molecule used to study a specific cellular compartment may also act elsewhere in the cell. — Animal and plant cells synthesize a significant fraction of their proteins on a structure known as the endoplasmic reticulum. Researchers often use the molecule dithiothreitol to specifically target this compartment and learn more about its role. The toxin works by disturbing the complex chemical environment present in the reticulum, which…

A desire to conform to the group may help people make better decisions by encouraging them to gather information from others that mitigates their individual biases. — When it comes to making decisions, like choosing a restaurant or political candidate, most of us rely on limited information that is not accurate enough to find the best option. Considering others’ decisions and opinions can help us make smarter choices, a phenomenon called “collective intelligence”.

New insights about key biological processes in methane-producing organisms called Archaea may have implications for understanding their role in climate change. — Archaea are single-celled organisms that were discovered over half a century ago. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in these microbes because theyplay a key role in climate change by controlling greenhouse gas emissions, like methane. …

Coordinated flagella movements help crop pest propagules called zoospores target host plants. — Microorganisms of the Phytophthora genus are serious agricultural pests. They cause diseases in many crops, including potato, onion, tomato, tobacco, cotton, peppers, and citrus. These diseases cause billions of dollars in losses each year. …

A computer model can analyse changes to the amount of DNA in cells to identify their role in severe and treatment-resistant cancers. — DNA contains all the information that cells need to function. The DNA inside cells is housed in structures called chromosomes, and most healthy human cells contain 23 pairs. When a cell divides, all chromosomes are copied so that each new cell gets a complete set. However, sometimes the process of…

Black-capped chickadees flexibly use their memories to store and retrieve food. — Humans form new memories about what is happening in their lives every day. These autobiographical memories depend on a part of the brain called the hippocampus. But how these memories are recorded remains unclear. Studying certain birds may help to provide more insight. Black-capped chickadees, for example, are memory specialists…

Researchers have developed a new framework for making small changes to DNA in fish that provides new insights into human disease. — DNA contains sequences of four different molecules known as bases that represent our genetic code. In a mutation called a single nucleotide variant (or SNV for short), a single base in the sequence is swapped for another base. This can lead the individual carrying this SNV to produce a slightly…

The way in which actin filaments join together helps maintain the shape of a cell’s leading edge. — In every human cell, there are tens of millions of proteins which work together to control everything from the cell’s shape to its behavior. One of the most abundant proteins is actin, which organizes itself into filaments that mechanically support the cell and help it to move. These filaments are…