The Literature

As scientists realize the multifaceted role of mitochondria, some feel that the “powerhouse of the cell” analogy is out of date.

Engineered bacteria sound the alarm on a common oncogenic mutation.

Hair-coloring stem cells must swing back and forth between their maturity states to give hair its color.

How will a new version of epigenetic clocks aimed at validating the age of people older than 100 years of age balance accuracy and anonymity?

The transcriptional profiles in the brains of prairie voles changed after a long breakup, revealing a molecular shift that might help them cope with the loss of a partner.

Two groups independently discovered that Fanzor proteins in eukaryotic organisms are CRISPR’s genome-editing cousins.

A newly discovered way to induce scarless healing in mice depends on a highly conserved signaling pathway that is also present in humans.

A subset of hypothalamic neurons mirrors aggression in mice, challenging previous views on the location and functional role of these cells.

Male patients who recover from mild COVID-19 have baseline immune states primed to mount stronger responses to future challenges than female patients.

A metabolic pathway used for tail regrowth may be critical for tissue regeneration in some cells, a study suggests. 

Researchers identify hundreds of candidate histone proteins in bacteria, including one with an unusual way of binding to DNA.

A study finds that T cells induced by heroin cross the blood-brain barrier to wreak havoc on the brain, hinting at new ways to prevent withdrawal.

The bacterium produces a particular protein that allows it to sneak past the human immune system even while triggering inflammation.

Expected increases in lightning strikes due to climate change could alter the botanical composition of tropical forests.

Researchers identified mutations in genes that may be involved in fat regulation, fur growth, and morphology.

An unexpected find shows that sweet-sensing receptors also help epithelial cells in Drosophila larvae stay alive amid proteotoxic stress.

The relative sizes of specific parts of the guppy brain may explain why some fish are better at learning certain tasks than others. 

The ability to activate different sets of genes has likely helped the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis spread widely in amphibians, resulting in global population declines. 

Aridity appears to configure landscapes with a greater diversity of plant species that rely on symbiotic bacteria for nitrogen.