news from the lab 2011
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Medicine / Pharmacology - Life Sciences - 19.12.2011 
Starving cancer
A research group has developed a new strategy to fight cancer. Blood vessels in the environment of tumours are killed with a new molecule which leads to the „starvation” of the tumour. Compared to currently applied treatments, this new strategy has a series of advantages. Modern cancer therapeutics produced by biotechnological methods, often are based on antibodies.
Life Sciences - 30.11.2011 
The importance of wine swirling
Every wine aficionado knows that wine has to be swirled in a glass in order for it to release its aroma.
Life Sciences - Medicine / Pharmacology - 28.11.2011 
Finger malformation reveals surprise
Explaining the diversity of leg shapes in the animal kingdom and hereditary defects in finger Scientists have discovered a genetic mechanism that defines the shape of our members in which, surprisingly, genes play only a secondary role.
Medicine / Pharmacology - Life Sciences - 24.11.2011 
Repairing UV damage in the skin
Scientists have elucidated the mechanisms underlying the repair of UV-induced damage in DNA, which frequently causes skin cancer. The protein structures additionally determined by these researchers will improve our understanding of how the body protects itself against skin cancer. These studies lay the foundations for the development of a new class of anti cancer agents.
Life Sciences - Medicine / Pharmacology - 04.11.2011 
Enzymatic complex revealed
Researchers have now completed the three-dimensional structure of the ribosome from a higher organism. Ribosomes are cellular machines responsible for protein synthesis. Their structure will facilitate the development of drugs against bacteria, fungi or viruses. The machinery that reads genetic information within a cell and translates it into corresponding proteins, the so-called ribosome, is among the most complex cellular enzymes known in biology.
Medicine / Pharmacology - Life Sciences - 14.09.2011 
Camera reveals blood circulation
A device shows how blood is circulating in the skin. It already facilitates the work of burn specialists and plastic and reconstructive surgeons.
Medicine / Pharmacology - Life Sciences - 01.09.2011
Life Sciences - Medicine / Pharmacology - 30.08.2011 
Combating fungal diseases
Scientists have discovered a potential new approach for inhibiting the growth of pathogenic fungi. Ultimately, immunocompromised patients with fungal infections, in particular, could benefit from this work. As temperatures soar and more and more people cool off at outdoor pools, the incidence of so called swimmer's ear - an infection of the ear canal - also rises.
Medicine / Pharmacology - Life Sciences - 17.08.2011 
Holograms Reveal Brain’s Workings,
Like far away galaxies, powerful tools are required to bring the minute inner workings of neurons into focus. A team of scientists report how Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) can now be used to observe neuronal activity in real-time and in three dimensions—with up to 50 times greater resolution than ever before.
Life Sciences - Chemistry - 27.07.2011 
A closer look at cells
Many substances and nutrients are exchanged across the cell membrane. Scientists have developed a method to observe these exchanges, by taking a highly accurate count of the number of proteins found there. Proteins on the cell surface play an essential role in the survival of the cell. They govern the exchanges between the interior and the exterior.
Medicine / Pharmacology - Life Sciences - 01.07.2011 
Tackling tumors with iron oxide
Detecting cancer cells and destroying them, injecting drugs with extreme precision into diseased cells in the human body - these are just two examples of what scientists are attempting to accomplish using iron oxide nanoparticles.
Environment / Sustainable Development - Life Sciences - 27.05.2011 
Underground waters resist forced depollution
An experiment has demonstrated the role played by micro-organisms in the degradation - without oxygen - of a very common pollutant: vinyl chloride. The traces of human industrial activity persist deep inside the ground. And sometimes for a long time! In Switzerland alone, the Federal Office for the Environment records no less than 50,000 polluted sites, including 4000 that have been declared “contaminated” and require clean-up operations.
Life Sciences - 02.05.2011 
Brain structures associated with learning discovered
Scientists have discovered neuronal connections which are formed in the brain when learning occurs, and which ensure the precision of memory.
Medicine / Pharmacology - Life Sciences - 21.04.2011 
HIV: alerts sent by a protein
Scientists now understand how the TRIM5 protein works and particularly how it temporarily blocks spread of the retrovirus in humans.
Life Sciences - Medicine / Pharmacology - 11.03.2011 
Basic structures of sight deciphered
During the process of sight, light passes into the eye and triggers a whole series of chemical reactions.
Life Sciences - Medicine / Pharmacology - 07.02.2011 
DNA mandalas
Mandalas are symbolic illustrations in Hinduism and Buddhism that have been created for religious purposes for many thousands of years.
Medicine / Pharmacology - Life Sciences - 12.01.2011 
Pain killers increase risk of heart attack
If you regularly take pain killers - even those available over the counter - you often expose yourself to higher risks of heart attack and apoplexy.
Environment / Sustainable Development - Life Sciences - 04.01.2011 
Corals provide evidence of Global Warming
Examination of deep sea corals reveals that there have been drastic changes to oceanic currents in the western North Atlantic since the 1970s.
Life Sciences
Results 1 - 18 of 18.
A research group has developed a new strategy to fight cancer. Blood vessels in the environment of tumours are killed with a new molecule which leads to the „starvation” of the tumour. Compared to currently applied treatments, this new strategy has a series of advantages. Modern cancer therapeutics produced by biotechnological methods, often are based on antibodies.
Every wine aficionado knows that wine has to be swirled in a glass in order for it to release its aroma.
Explaining the diversity of leg shapes in the animal kingdom and hereditary defects in finger Scientists have discovered a genetic mechanism that defines the shape of our members in which, surprisingly, genes play only a secondary role.
Scientists have elucidated the mechanisms underlying the repair of UV-induced damage in DNA, which frequently causes skin cancer. The protein structures additionally determined by these researchers will improve our understanding of how the body protects itself against skin cancer. These studies lay the foundations for the development of a new class of anti cancer agents.
Researchers have now completed the three-dimensional structure of the ribosome from a higher organism. Ribosomes are cellular machines responsible for protein synthesis. Their structure will facilitate the development of drugs against bacteria, fungi or viruses. The machinery that reads genetic information within a cell and translates it into corresponding proteins, the so-called ribosome, is among the most complex cellular enzymes known in biology.
A device shows how blood is circulating in the skin. It already facilitates the work of burn specialists and plastic and reconstructive surgeons.
Profiler at the cellular level
Researchers have successfully incorporated a diagnostic biological "computer" network in human cells. This network recognizes certain cancer cells using logic combinations of five cancer-specific molecular factors, triggering cancer cells destruction. Yaakov (Kobi) Benenson, from ETH Zurich, has spent a large part of his career developing biological computers that operate in living cells.
Researchers have successfully incorporated a diagnostic biological "computer" network in human cells. This network recognizes certain cancer cells using logic combinations of five cancer-specific molecular factors, triggering cancer cells destruction. Yaakov (Kobi) Benenson, from ETH Zurich, has spent a large part of his career developing biological computers that operate in living cells.
Scientists have discovered a potential new approach for inhibiting the growth of pathogenic fungi. Ultimately, immunocompromised patients with fungal infections, in particular, could benefit from this work. As temperatures soar and more and more people cool off at outdoor pools, the incidence of so called swimmer's ear - an infection of the ear canal - also rises.
Like far away galaxies, powerful tools are required to bring the minute inner workings of neurons into focus. A team of scientists report how Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) can now be used to observe neuronal activity in real-time and in three dimensions—with up to 50 times greater resolution than ever before.
Many substances and nutrients are exchanged across the cell membrane. Scientists have developed a method to observe these exchanges, by taking a highly accurate count of the number of proteins found there. Proteins on the cell surface play an essential role in the survival of the cell. They govern the exchanges between the interior and the exterior.
Detecting cancer cells and destroying them, injecting drugs with extreme precision into diseased cells in the human body - these are just two examples of what scientists are attempting to accomplish using iron oxide nanoparticles.
An experiment has demonstrated the role played by micro-organisms in the degradation - without oxygen - of a very common pollutant: vinyl chloride. The traces of human industrial activity persist deep inside the ground. And sometimes for a long time! In Switzerland alone, the Federal Office for the Environment records no less than 50,000 polluted sites, including 4000 that have been declared “contaminated” and require clean-up operations.
Scientists have discovered neuronal connections which are formed in the brain when learning occurs, and which ensure the precision of memory.
Scientists now understand how the TRIM5 protein works and particularly how it temporarily blocks spread of the retrovirus in humans.
During the process of sight, light passes into the eye and triggers a whole series of chemical reactions.
Mandalas are symbolic illustrations in Hinduism and Buddhism that have been created for religious purposes for many thousands of years.
If you regularly take pain killers - even those available over the counter - you often expose yourself to higher risks of heart attack and apoplexy.
Examination of deep sea corals reveals that there have been drastic changes to oceanic currents in the western North Atlantic since the 1970s.
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