Monthly Archives: February 2012
CSaP Event: Dr Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley – Algae for energy and industrial biotechnology
Speaker: Dr Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge In order to realise the enormous potential for bioenergy production from microalgae, several challenges must be overcome, including ensuring that there is a net carbon balance, and that it is economically viable. One way in which this might be addressed is to consider developing [...]
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Towards a universal flu vaccine
New research suggests that vaccines targeting key influenza proteins could provide immunity against multiple strains of flu. Currently, the success of influenza vaccination programs relies on accurately predicting which particular strain of virus will be most prevalent during any given winter season. Vaccination with “dead” virus enables recipients to produce protective antibodies against the virus. [...]
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Males and females run on different programmes
Variations in gene expression within the brain have been implicated in some of the fundamental behavioural differences between the sexes. Nirao Shah’s laboratory has recently discovered molecular events that may underlie behavioural differences between males and females. Some of the most pronounced sex differences arise in sexual and parenting characteristics, which have previously been linked to an [...]
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The immortal devil’s contagious cancer
Cancer is still one of the biggest killers worldwide, arising when our own cells turn against us and grow out of control. As human life expectancy continues to increase, so too does our risk of cancer. The saving grace is that at least you can’t catch cancer from sufferers. Not so for Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus [...]
Posted in Life sciences, News 1 Comment
DNA analysis may be open to interpretation
The genetic sequence encoded within the double helical strands of an individual’s DNA has long been considered decisive evidence for criminal conviction in court. However, a study published recently in Science and Justice claims to provide controversial experimental data that may suggest otherwise. According to the study, DNA analysis can be subjective and inconsistent, even [...]
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New insights into malaria mechanisms
A recent study in Cell reveals the way deadly malaria parasites transport proteins in infected red blood cells. Targeting this transport pathway may offer new opportunities for malaria treatment. Malaria is an infectious disease that kills almost 1 million people a year, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. The illness [...]
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A human wind turbine
At 12 noon on Friday 10th February, Cambridge University students gathered on Parker’s Piece to rally for renewable energy. The campaigners formed themselves into the shape of a giant wind turbine, which was photographed from the air. Then people linked arms and the human wind turbine was made to rotate. The scene was filmed from [...]
Posted in Earth & environment, News 1 Comment
Turning a mouse into an elephant
“Animals get bigger through time”. This, in a nutshell, is the evolutionary ‘rule’ named after the American palaeontologist Edward Drinker Cope. Although not universally true for all taxonomic levels, an international team of biologists has recently published the most detailed study to date into how long it takes for these changes in body size to [...]
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CSaP Event: Understanding the Exposure of National Infrastructure to Cyber Attack