During the oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET), the length of the mRNA poly(A) tail is closely linked to its translational efficiency. Regulation of the poly(A) tail is essential for selective protein translation in early embryos. However, the mechanisms that determine and maintain the length of maternal mRNA poly(A) tails remain unclear.

A research team led by Prof. Feng Wei at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has made significant strides in understanding the BORC complex, a key player in lysosome transport and localization.

Wider sample used data from across 29 countries and 5 million people, with a quarter from non-European ancestriesA global study has identified 300 previously unknown genetic risk factors for depression because it included a much wider population sample.According to the World Health Organization, 3.8% of the population has depression at any one time, affecting about 280 million people. Continue reading...

Most microscopes can only illuminate objects down to a certain size before tiny features blur together. This blurring is known as the diffraction limit of light. Super-resolution imaging techniques, however, can distinguish between tiny biomolecular features, especially when thermal fluctuations are minimized.

Plant-based dairy products are a great alternative for people who avoid animal products, but manufacturers have a hard time replicating the creamy, cheesy qualities that make dairy so indulgent.

Hemp has become increasingly popular for its versatile uses: CBD-rich varieties are in high demand for pharmaceutical products, while fiber-rich varieties are valued for industrial applications like textiles. Now, a University of Houston study of hemp microbes, published in the journal Scientific Reports, may help scientists create special mixtures of helpful microbes to make hemp plants produce more CBD or have better-quality fibers.

Researchers at the University of Southampton have proposed that some wild plant species possess certain attributes which make them more suitable for human cultivation than others.

A team of physicists and engineers at the University of Strathclyde, in Scotland, working with a colleague from the University of Glasgow, has developed the means for 3D printing a microscope, including the lens, for under $60. In their paper posted on the bioRxiv preprint server, the group describes how they came up with the plans for the microscope and notes that the end result has a resolution strong enough to make out individual blood cells in test samples.

An international team of researchers led by the University of California San Diego has developed a new strategy to enhance pharmaceutical production in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which are commonly used to manufacture protein-based drugs for treating cancer, autoimmune diseases and much more.

Iowa State University scientists have made a significant breakthrough in scientists' ability to identify specific proteins within individual plant cells. Professor Justin Walley and Christian Montes, a research scientist in the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, led the work to develop a method for single-cell proteomics, or SCP. Their findings were published in New Phytologist.

A research team from the Department of Chemistry at UNIST has announced that they have identified a novel pathway through which blue light can damage cellular proteins. Blue light, which emanates from sunlight, LED-based display devices, and indoor lighting, is a form of high-energy visible light that is not effectively blocked by standard sunscreen. This type of light can penetrate the cornea and lens of the eye, reaching the retina.

While many studies have looked at possible evolutionary links between men's strength and sexual behavior, a Washington State University study included data on women with a surprising result. Women, as well as men, who had greater upper body strength tended to have more lifetime sexual partners compared to their peers.

Giant isopods of the genus Bathynomus, which can reach more than 30 cm in length, are known as bọ biển or "sea bugs" in Vietnam. For the first time, one such species was described from Vietnamese waters and named Bathynomus vaderi. The name "vaderi" is inspired by the appearance of its head, which closely resembles the distinctive and iconic helmet of Darth Vader, the most famous Sith Lord of Star Wars.

Study has linked a soft and liquid diet to smaller jaw size in children, but others say evolution is more likely the causeUltra-processed foods (UPFs) have caused concern among experts for their potential impact on human health, but now scientists have warned they might also affect how our bodies develop, in particular our jaws.We take a look at the issue and explore what, if anything, should be done. Continue reading...

Scientists looked at multiple techniques used to measure the modified viruses deployed in some gene therapy research and treatments. One technique, known as SEC-MALS, was the most precise and accurate, while another proved 'problematic.'