Biology

Inactivation of Type I Interferon Necessary for Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells

Inactivation of Type I Interferon Necessary for Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells

Biology, Medicine / By

Figure 1: IFNγ (purple, bottom) is one kind of interferon, which are proteins that are key in activating cells vital to the immune response. Upon inhibition of its pathway, by mechanisms like those to be described, activation of those cells fails and immunosuppressive conditions result Source: Wikimedia Commons Interferons are a class of molecules involved …

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The Brain and Sign Language — Evidence of a Universal Language Center?

The Brain and Sign Language — Evidence of a Universal Language Center?

31 Comments / Biology, Neuroscience / By

Figure 1: The English alphabet and numbers 1-9 as signed in American Sign Language (ASL) Source: Wikimedia Commons Most think of the spoken, verbal communication between people when considering language. However, they would really only be considering one aspect of language, as language is much more than just an auditory phenomenon. Aside from so-called “non-verbal …

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Beginning stages of CRISPR detection in athletes Cover

Beginning stages of CRISPR detection in athletes

Biology, Medicine / By

Figure 1: This image outlines CRISPR and its delivery mechanism. It has become a popular tool to combat diseases and improve crops, but it has also become a topic in ethical discussions. Such ethical discussions include the idea that athletes could soon have the ability to modify their genes to improve athleticism and gain an unfair …

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METMAP: Mapping metastatic progression

METMAP: Mapping metastatic progression

Biology, Medicine / By

Figure 1: The start of metastasis – the movement of tumor cells from the initial site of tumor growth to other regions of the body Source: Wikimedia Commons Metastasis is an outcome that often turns treatable cancer into a fatal disease.  It occurs when circulating tumor cells acquire the ability to penetrate the walls of lymphatic or blood vessels; …

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A woman studying wildlife to identify different species. Originally shot as part of a promotion for the citizen science event “Loodusvaatluste maraton” where citizens focus on recognizing and identifying wildlife species in pre-designated areas

Beyond the White Coat Worker: An Overview of Citizen Science

Biology, Environment, Medicine, Social Science / By

By: Olivia Brado1, Luz Mariana Cumpa Gomez1, Shirin Dadina1, Katrina Miciek1, Priscilla Rubio1, and Elizabeth Schoemer1 1Trinity College, 2/14/21 Figure 1: A woman studying wildlife to identify different species. Originally shot as part of a promotion for the citizen science event “Loodusvaatluste maraton” where citizens focus on recognizing and identifying wildlife species in pre-designated areas …

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Factors in the Onset of Obesity – An American Public Health Crisis

Factors in the Onset of Obesity – An American Public Health Crisis

Biology, Medicine / By

Figure 1: Obesity is typically diagnosed based on BMI. The different levels of obesity are shown here Source: Wikimedia Commons Introduction: Obesity is one of America’s greatest public health concerns. For both children and adults, rates of obesity have generally been on the rise since 1980 (Hales et al., 2018). In 1980, 4.8% of men …

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Anti-SLAMF7 Treatment for Multiple Myeloma by the Elimination of Immunosuppressive T Cells

Anti-SLAMF7 Treatment for Multiple Myeloma by the Elimination of Immunosuppressive T Cells

Biology, Medicine / By

Figure 1: Smear preparation of bone marrow from a patient with multiple myeloma, the cancer of plasma cells Source: Wikimedia Commons Activated B lymphocytes, or plasma cells, are the only cells capable of secreting antibodies and thus play a critical role in mediating immune response to pathogens (D’Souza & Bhattacharya, 2019).  The production of an …

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CellChat Enables Biologists to Understand Cellular Communication

CellChat Enables Biologists to Understand Cellular Communication

Biology, Neuroscience / By

Figure 1: CellChat, an open-source R package, provides researchers with the tools to understand how cells communicate Source: Pixabay The human body is an extremely complex structure and only recently have researchers begun to unravel its many mysteries. The function of the large organs such as the heart, lungs, and liver are widely known. However, …

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Regulating Regulatory T Cells to Fight Cancer

Regulating Regulatory T Cells to Fight Cancer

Biology, Medicine / By

Figure 1: The different ways a tumor can provide protection for itself through Treg (seen as circular, pink cells above) recruitment Source: Wikimedia Commons Researchers have discovered a potential new immunotherapy for certain tumors that involves downregulating a type of immune cell called Regulatory T Cells (or Tregs) in and around the target tumor. Tregs …

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SARS-CoV-2 is not the only virus living among us

1 Comment / Biology, Medicine / By

Figure 1: The human gut is home to a rich ecosystem of microbes. Recent research has highlighted the extent of viral diversification within the gut microbiome that has wide potential implications for human health Source: Pixabay Despite the intense focus on SARS-CoV-2, the ubiquity and diversity of viruses is extraordinary; after all they are the …

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