IN THE LAB
Cellular Spring Cleaning Implicated In Brain Diseases
Neurological diseases such as autism and schizophrenia are linked to impaired autophagy in neurons, say researchers in Japan.
Fungus Becomes Factory For African Sleeping Sickness Drug
By genetically modifying a fungus, researchers in Japan can produce large quantities of ascofuranone, a promising antibiotic for the treatment of African sleeping sickness.
Deep Microbes Shed Light On Carbon Cycle
Scientists have discovered a way to track the activity of microbes that degrade hydrocarbons, which could lead to a better understanding of the Earth's carbon cycle.
Monkeys With Human Gene Show Improved Cognitive Performance
Researchers in China have improved the working memory and reaction time of transgenic monkeys bearing a human gene that regulates brain development.
Dealing With The Mental Burden Of Debt
Financial debt is a strain on cognitive resources, negatively impacting decision-making, which in turn prevents the poor from escaping poverty, say researchers in Singapore.
Better Protection Needed For Tiger Geckos In Vietnam
International trade in tiger geckos is decimating the population of the 19 species of lizard native to China, Vietnam and Japan.
Polysulfide Donor Suppresses Inflammation
By linking multiple sulfur atoms to the artificial amino acid acetylcysteine, researchers in Japan have found a way to dampen inflammation in mice.
Scientists Sequence Okinawan Sea Grape Genome
Not only did researchers in Japan decode the genome of the Okinawan sea grape, they also compared the genome to 15 other plant genomes to shed light on plant evolution.
Collagen Gel Helps Turn Stem Cells Into Neurons
Scientists in South Korea have cultivated neurons from stem cells using collagen gel from the tilapia fish, which mimics the stiffness of the human brain.
