You know that characteristic buzzing and that itchy feeling that comes with a mosquito bite. As you scratch your new bite, you may wonder exactly why mosquitoes are so attracted […]
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Category: Molecular Biology
The Genetic Origins of Cancer
In 2016, an estimated 595,690 people died from cancer in the United States. That’s a little less than the population of Boston. New advancements in treatment have lowered the cancer […]
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2017 Nobel Prize for Circadian Rhythm
The 2017 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Dr. Michael Young, Dr. Jeffrey Hall, and Dr. Michael Rosbash for the discovery of the molecular mechanisms controlling circadian […]
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Tanning Without the Sun
Whenever I go to the beach I have to slather on the sunblock and hide under an umbrella, and even then I still sometimes get burnt. UV exposure is the […]
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How We Fit 2 Meters of DNA in Our Cells
Each cell in the human body has 2 meters of DNA. 2 meters is a little more than 6 feet 5 inches which is about the height of Michael Jordan. […]
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The Trouble with Genetic Diversity – Part 2 – Cancer!
In 2016, over 1.5M cases of cancer were diagnosed in the United States and about 600,000 people died from the disease. To put that into perspective, 600,000 is the number of […]
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The Trouble with Genetic Diversity – Part 1
What do antibiotic resistance, the many colors of butterflies, and the fact that life still exists on this planet all have in common? Genetic Diversity! Genetic diversity is awesome! It’s what […]
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How Fish Adapt to Darkness
There are millions of examples of plants and animals adapting to their environment. Need to blend in? Change your coloring. Need to crack a different kind of nut? Change your […]
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