Topics
Opossums are the first genome edited marsupials
A new piezoelectronic microinjection method has allowed the first successful genome editing in marsupials: albino opossums.
Methylation mutation directly linked to autism
A mutation in a gene needed for H3K9 methylation is directly linked to autism spectrum disorders and early neurodevelopment.
Melatonin in mice, circadian rhythms, and daily torpor
A new breed of lab mouse allows the study of naturally occurring melatonin. These mice will adjust better to jetlag than regular lab mice and experience daily torpor.
Why (mouse) mothers take risks to protect their infants
The calcitonin receptor and its ligand amylin act in the brain to motivate mouse mothers to protect their pups, even in risky/dangerous situations.
Dietary amino acid linked to cancer in flies
Researchers have found a dietary amino acid linked to oncogene expression / tumor formation; reduced consumption reduced cancer in flies.
Cancer cells killed with artificial glycosylated metalloenzyme
Scientists have developed two cancer therapies that use an artificial glycosylated metalloenzyme to specifically target cancer cells in mice.
H2AK119ub1: How you inherit acquired traits from your mom
H2AK119ub1. Say that three times really fast! But seriously, it allows maternally acquired traits to be inherited.
COVID-19: Changing the way we do research
COVID-19 series — Part #4: Team Leader Aki Minoda from RIKEN IMS talks about how the pandemic has affected the way we work.
Telework: a societal game-changer
COVID-19 series — installment #3: Team Leader Osamu Sakura (@RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project) talks about how the pandemic has affected society through the need for telework.
Decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 series — installment #2: RIKEN CBS Unit Leader Rei Akaishi talks about government decision-making during the pandemic.
Confronting a string of epidemics including COVID-19
COVID-19 series — installment #1: RIKEN Executive Director Shigeo Koyasu talks about epidemics and what a good response looks like.
Next stop: clinical hair regeneration
A new recipe for continuous cyclical hair regeneration in mice. This means that the hair will continue to fall out and regrow like normal hair.
Godzilla-sized zooplankton for better aquafarming
Scientists have created extra large zooplankton to help feed the fish in aquafarms. The new plankton were created using an ion beam to generate mutations.
Electric rays to help us map the ocean floor
Electric rays and sting rays could map the ocean floor through their natural behavior, helping us find resources and collect data on other ocean life.
Bacterial drug resistance studied by robotic E. coli evolution
Experimentally evolving E. coli under pressure from a large number of antibiotics was able to identify constraints underlying evolved drug resistance.
New artificial skin helps avoid animal testing
A new artificial skin that reproduces proper tension can be used to research skin function and disease while reducing the need to experiment on animals.
Social novelty in the brain: haven’t I seen you someplace before?
Social novelty and contextual novelty are segregated in the SuM region of the hypothalamus and in projections to the hippocampus, allowing memories of meeting new people to be formed separately from memories of new places.
FABP4: A preschool-aged biomarker for autism
Reduced FABP4 was found in preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder, making it a potential new biomarker for the condition.
Microbial infections are a parasitic plant’s dream
Parasitic plants use quinones produced by their host to attack. Now we know that crops produce quinones as an immune response against microbial infection. How can we protect crops from both kinds of attack?
Gut bacteria double team worsens symptoms of multiple sclerosis
Joint activity of two gut bacteria leads to excessive MOG-specific T-cell activity and demyelination of neurons in the spinal cord of a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.
Something smells fishy: categorizing odors in the brain
Calcium imaging and mathematical model explain how categories and mixtures of odors are represented in the fly brain and consistent across individual flies.
Photosynthetic bacteria spin spider silk for the masses
A little genetic engineering and a special recipe allows photosynthetic bacteria to mass-produce super lightweight spider silk for use in manufacturing.
Blood cell mutations linked to leukemia are inevitable
Researchers show that blood cell mutations increase with age identify risk factors for developing leukemia in Japanese and European populations.
Organic nitrogen in soil helps crop growth
Scientists used a multi-omics analysis to show that soil solarization helps crops grow because it increases organic nitrogen in the soil.
Consciousness, brain connections, and the claustrum
Research shows that the claustrum acts as a ‘consciousness conductor’ that synchronizes and connects areas within the mouse brain.
A new imaging biomarker for the aging brain
Enlarged ventricles is a sign of an aging brain. New research shows that this phenomenon can be predicted by lagging brain circulation that is detected by MRI.
Sphingolipid S1P: Potential new target for schizophrenia treatment
Sphingolipid S1P is reduced in brain white matter of people with schizophrenia, making S1P receptors a good target for new treatments.
Staining that lights up whole organs and bodies
Scientists have developed a staining procedure that makes see-through tissue, organs, and bodies useful.
Artificial gravity protects the immune system of mice in space
Mice who experienced artificial gravity on the ISS suffered less damage to their immune system (thymus) than weightless mice did.
Ultraprecise clocks and the Tokyo Skytree verify Einstein’s theory of relativity
Time measured at the top and bottom of the Tokyo Skytree with ultraprecise clocks has verified the time dilation effect predicted by Einstein.
Low-protein diet changes sperm and health of future offspring
Low-protein diets in male mice alter sperm and result in offspring that have metabolic problems like diabetes in adulthood.
Physiological origami and proper body development in flies
Genetics and mechanical origami in the fly embryo helps proper body development by fighting off “noisy” fluctuations is the environment.
Efficient and durable ultra-thin solar cells
Ultra-thin, flexible, organic solar cells that degrade less than 5 percent after 3,000 hours and an energy conversion ratio of 13%.
Tape and vermilion: ingredients for mapping artifact origins
Vermilion samples taken from ancient artifacts with sulfur-free tape can tell us about trade patterns 3000 years ago.
Are you “at risk” of being a habitual coffee drinker?
Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are related to dietary habits, including coffee, tea, tofu, and yogurt consumption.
Astrocytes powered by norepinephrine during fear-memory formation
Norepinephrine released in the locus coeruleus during fear learning is accompanied by increased calcium and cAMP levels in nearby astrocytes.
Brain wave synchrony can predict memory age
The degree of neuronal synchrony between the anterior cingulate cortex and the hippocampus during recall is an indication of memory age (in mice).
AI identifies features associated with cancer recurrence
Artificial intelligence has successfully identified features relevant to cancer prognosis that were not previously noted by pathologists
Longevity in supercentenarians linked to cytotoxic T-cells
Blood analysis in supercentenarians showed that they have many more cytotoxic CD4 T-cells than people with average life spans.
Opossums are the first genome edited marsupials
A new piezoelectronic microinjection method has allowed the first successful genome editing in marsupials: albino opossums.
Methylation mutation directly linked to autism
A mutation in a gene needed for H3K9 methylation is directly linked to autism spectrum disorders and early neurodevelopment.
Melatonin in mice, circadian rhythms, and daily torpor
A new breed of lab mouse allows the study of naturally occurring melatonin. These mice will adjust better to jetlag than regular lab mice and experience daily torpor.
Why (mouse) mothers take risks to protect their infants
The calcitonin receptor and its ligand amylin act in the brain to motivate mouse mothers to protect their pups, even in risky/dangerous situations.
Dietary amino acid linked to cancer in flies
Researchers have found a dietary amino acid linked to oncogene expression / tumor formation; reduced consumption reduced cancer in flies.
Cancer cells killed with artificial glycosylated metalloenzyme
Scientists have developed two cancer therapies that use an artificial glycosylated metalloenzyme to specifically target cancer cells in mice.
H2AK119ub1: How you inherit acquired traits from your mom
H2AK119ub1. Say that three times really fast! But seriously, it allows maternally acquired traits to be inherited.
COVID-19: Changing the way we do research
COVID-19 series — Part #4: Team Leader Aki Minoda from RIKEN IMS talks about how the pandemic has affected the way we work.
Telework: a societal game-changer
COVID-19 series — installment #3: Team Leader Osamu Sakura (@RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project) talks about how the pandemic has affected society through the need for telework.
Jul
26
Opossums are the first genome edited marsupials
A new piezoelectronic microinjection method has allowed the first successful genome editing in marsupials: albino opossums.
Jul
19
Methylation mutation directly linked to autism
A mutation in a gene needed for H3K9 methylation is directly linked to autism spectrum disorders and early neurodevelopment.
Jun
25
Melatonin in mice, circadian rhythms, and daily torpor
A new breed of lab mouse allows the study of naturally occurring melatonin. These mice will adjust better to jetlag than regular lab mice and experience daily torpor.
Jun
2
Why (mouse) mothers take risks to protect their infants
The calcitonin receptor and its ligand amylin act in the brain to motivate mouse mothers to protect their pups, even in risky/dangerous situations.
May
26
Dietary amino acid linked to cancer in flies
Researchers have found a dietary amino acid linked to oncogene expression / tumor formation; reduced consumption reduced cancer in flies.
Apr
30
Cancer cells killed with artificial glycosylated metalloenzyme
Scientists have developed two cancer therapies that use an artificial glycosylated metalloenzyme to specifically target cancer cells in mice.