Biologists ID new cancer weakness
Drugs that block new target gene could make many tumors more vulnerable to chemotherapy.
Solving chromosomes’ structure
Scientists find that loops of DNA are key to tightly packing genetic material for cell division.
A worm’s-eye view of immunity
Biology professor Dennis Kim seeks to understand the physiology and evolution of host-microbe interactions by studying a simple worm.
Controlling genes with light
New technique can rapidly turn genes on and off, helping scientists better understand their function.
Research update: Genome editing becomes more accurate
Improved technique makes it easier to add or delete genes in living cells, with less risk of off-target DNA damage.
Reading DNA, backward and forward
MIT biologists reveal how cells control the direction in which the genome is read.
Cheaters lessen colony survival under stress in yeast experiment
MIT researchers find that high ratio of freeloaders makes it more likely colony will die from sudden shock to environment.
Research update: Imaging fish in 3-D
Automated system for high-speed analysis of vertebrate larvae could aid drug development.
Cardiac development needs more than protein-coding genes
Biologists find that long non-coding RNA molecules are necessary to regulate differentiation of embryonic stem cells into cardiac cells.
Editing the genome with high precision
New method allows scientists to insert multiple genes in specific locations, delete defective genes.
Evolution: It’s all in how you splice it
MIT biologists find that alternative splicing of RNA rewires signaling in different tissues and may often contribute to species differences.
MIT team builds most complex synthetic biology circuit yet
New sensor can detect four different molecules, could be used to program cells to precisely monitor their environments.
Deciphering the language of transcription factors
A new method identifies the precise binding sites of transcription factors — proteins that regulate the production of other proteins — with 10 times the accuracy of its predecessors.
Researchers identify biochemical functions for most of the human genome
New map provides a reference for interpreting function of disease-associated regions.
Turning on key enzyme blocks tumor formation
Drug-like molecule restores normal cell metabolism, preventing cancer cells from growing.