For Laypeople and Lab Rats.
Whoever read the newspaper lately, probably came across this story: the BBC has written about it, but also The Guardian and the Washington Post: there might be life now on the moon! The questions: since when? from where? and what kind? are easy to answer: since April 2019, from Earth and it’s water bears or tardigrades. I still remember my biology undergrad classes: tardigrades were a highlight in them! … Read more
When in 1979 six research groups independently described a 53 kDa protein, none of the participants suspected to which genetic superstar this protein would develop. This protein, which due to its molecular weight was given the not-so-impressive name p53, is perhaps the most important policeman in our cells; but only as long as it works properly. If p53 loses its functionality, it’s getting pretty dangerous. In fact, no other gene is mutated more frequently in tumor cells than p53. So how does normal p53 manage to keep all of our body cells in check and what does it all have to do with CRISPR?… Read more
Well, actually there are two BRCA (pronounced “Brakka”) genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2. Few genes have caused so many headlines in recent years as they did. The BRCA genes are so hotly debated as an American biotech company was holding an extremely lucrative patent on these two genes. What that means I would like to explain later; but first, why are BRCA1 and 2 so important?… Read more
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of the Special Prize of the Editor
for the best Science Blog in 2019
by "Wissenschaft kommuniziert"
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