After decades of unsuccessful attempts to develop an HIV vaccine—primarily due to the virus's high mutation rate—scientists at Gilead Pharmaceuticals have developed a novel small molecule drug that prevents HIV infection by disrupting the assembly of HIV capsid proteins, which encapsulate the virus's genome. Remarkably, since capsid proteins are present in all viruses, this innovative [...]
The Summer 2025 workshops on molecular medicine are now open for applications! These workshops are designed for motivated middle school and high school students, with both online and in-person options available. In-person workshops will take place at prestigious institutions such as UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Columbia University, and University College London, as well as [...]
One of the empowering aspects of molecular biology is the realization that every health-related phenomenon has a molecular mechanism behind it. This applies not only to life-threatening, tangible health issues like cancer, but also to subtle experiences like the fleeting feelings that flash across the subconscious mind. In other words, there is no "magic"—every phenomenon [...]
GLP-1 agonist drugs, such as Ozempic, have revolutionized the treatment of obesity and its associated comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. These drugs mimic proteins naturally produced after eating and they act on the brain to stimulate feelings of satiety. However, the long-term effects and efficacy of these medications remain unclear. For [...]
Our ability to visualize molecular biology has grown exponentially, and the images and movies are often very beautiful. Here, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) provides a portal into this world. You’ll need some bandwidth! Beautiful Biology
Some Nobel Prizes come as a surprise, but not this one. The research recognized by this award has been enormously influential in the field of structural biology. Congratulations to David Baker from the University of Washington, and Demis Hassabis and John Jumper from Google DeepMind in London, UK, for winning this year’s Nobel Prize in [...]
Summer 2025 workshops will be scheduled soon, but in the meantime our winter break workshops for 2024 are scheduled and applications are being accepted! Join us for our in-person workshops in the Bay Area, CA (Biomedical Research, Cancer Research) to meet great people and learn cutting-edge molecular biology techniques from 12/26-12/31. Alternatively, join us for [...]
Mosquitoes are significant vectors for diseases like malaria, Zika, and dengue fever, which has led to the development of numerous pesticides aimed at controlling their populations. However, these pesticides often have harmful "off-target" effects on beneficial insects, such as pollinators. Understanding mosquito-specific molecular biology is essential for creating new mosquito-specific insecticides that minimize collateral damage. [...]
Science can be beautiful, both conceptually and visually. Here, researchers at the University of Geneva present captivating work detailing the components and assembly of the centrioles, cellular structures vital for organizing the cell’s skeleton, known as the cytoskeleton. Centrioles are crucial for many aspects of cell biology, particularly the formation of the mitotic spindle that [...]
The immune system ages, just like every other tissue. With age, the two “halves” of your immune system (the lymphoid and the myeloid) become unbalanced, resulting in immune dysfunction that makes us vulnerable to infection and the onset of inflammatory diseases. Why does this happen, and is there any way to rejuvenate an aged immune [...]