Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog

Category: biotech/medical – Page 269

Cyborg Brain Implants: The Organoid Brain-Computer Interface (Human + Mouse + Computer)

Try brilliant FREE for 30 days: https://brilliant.org/ihm/
And get 20% off an annual membership!

Can you implant lab-grown brain tissue to heal brain damage? Kind of. What if you also implant an electrical stimulation device? The next generation of brain implants may be the Organoid Brain-Computer Interface (OBCI).

Learn about: brain organoids, dendritic spines, synapses, presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons, neurotransmitters.

Story of Einstein’s Brain: https://www.npr.org/2005/04/18/4602913/the-long-strange-jour…eins-brain

This New Tech Revolutionizes Biology… — YouTube

Dr. Michael Levin is on the verge of revolutionizing medicine by unlocking the bioelectric code that governs how cells communicate, heal, and build complex structures. His work reveals that intelligence exists at every level of biology—allowing us to reprogram tissues, regenerate limbs, and even suppress cancer by restoring cellular memory and connection.

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe.

Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com.

Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE

Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos):
/ @theoriesofeverything.

Links:

Continue reading “This New Tech Revolutionizes Biology… — YouTube” | >

Genetic diversity and molecular evolution of 3-carboxymuconate cyclase (Gp60–70), the major antigen in pathogenic Sporothrix species

Sporotrichosis, a neglected tropical disease caused by Sporothrix species, is a growing concern, particularly due to the emergence of highly virulent, cat-transmitted S. brasiliensis. Rapid diagnosis and surveillance are crucial for controlling sporotrichosis. This study investigated the 3-carboxymuconate cyclase (CMC) gene, which encodes the major Sporothrix antigen (Gp60–70), as a molecular marker to understand the genetic diversity and evolution of these fungi. Analysis of 104 isolates (S. brasiliensis, S. schenckii, S. globosa, and S. luriei) revealed 79 unique haplotypes, demonstrating superior discriminatory power over traditional molecular markers. High–CMC polymorphisms, especially in S. brasiliensis and S. schenckii, suggest recent population expansion or positive selection, potentially driven by environmental pressures such as polyaromatic hydrocarbon pollutants. The conserved chromosomal location of CMC in pathogenic Sporothrix and its absence in less virulent species suggest a role in virulence. Identifying conserved residues within predicted B-cell epitopes provides targets for diagnostics and therapeutics. Additionally, we identified N-linked glycosylation sequons (e.g. NGS at 62, NNT at 225, and NGT at 373/374) conserved in pathogenic Sporothrix but absent in environmental Sordariomycetes, possibly contributing to pathogenicity and niche adaptation. This study establishes CMC as a valuable marker for understanding Sporothrix evolution and virulence, aiding in sporotrichosis management.

Display full size.

Light-induced symmetry changes in tiny crystals allow researchers to create materials with tailored properties

Imagine building a Lego tower with perfectly aligned blocks. Each block represents an atom in a tiny crystal, known as a quantum dot. Just like bumping the tower can shift the blocks and change its structure, external forces can shift the atoms in a quantum dot, breaking its symmetry and affecting its properties.

Scientists have learned that they can intentionally cause symmetry breaking—or symmetry restoration—in quantum dots to create new materials with unique properties. In a recent study, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have discovered how to use light to change the arrangement of atoms in these minuscule structures.

Quantum dots made of semiconductor materials, such as lead sulfide, are known for their unique optical and due to their tiny size, giving them the potential to revolutionize fields such as electronics and medical imaging. By harnessing the ability to control symmetry in these quantum dots, scientists can tailor the materials to have specific light and electricity-related properties. This research opens up new possibilities for designing materials that can perform tasks previously thought impossible, offering a pathway to innovative technologies.

UbiREAD: Cracking the ubiquitin code of protein degradation

Ubiquitin marks proteins for degradation, whereby ubiquitin molecules can be combined in different types and numbers forming different chains. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB) have developed the new UbiREAD technology to decode the various combinations of ubiquitin molecules—the ubiquitin code—which determine how proteins are degraded in cells.

Using UbiREAD, scientists label with specific codes and track their degradation in cells. The study, published in Molecular Cell, revealed which ubiquitin code can or cannot induce intracellular protein degradation.

Proteins are the building blocks of life, maintaining cellular structure and function. However, when proteins become damaged, misfolded, or obsolete, they can lead to a range of diseases, from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to cancer and muscular dystrophy. To prevent this, cells have developed a sophisticated system to mark unwanted proteins for degradation with a small protein called ubiquitin.

Patterned spintronic emitter enables room-temperature THz polarization control for wireless and biomedical applications

Terahertz (THz) waves are located between microwaves and infrared light in the electromagnetic spectrum. They can pass through many materials without causing damage, making them useful for security scanning, medical imaging, and high-speed wireless communication. Unlike visible light or radio waves, THz waves can reveal structural details of biological molecules and penetrate nonmetallic objects like clothing and paper.

THz waves hold great promise, but to harness them effectively, their polarization (the direction in which the waves vibrate) must be controlled. Polarization control is crucial for optimizing THz applications, from enhancing to improving imaging and sensing.

Unfortunately, existing THz polarization control methods rely on bulky external components like wave plates or metamaterials. These solutions are often inefficient, limited to narrow frequency ranges, and unsuitable for compact devices. To overcome these limitations, researchers have been exploring approaches to control THz polarization directly at the source.

Study reveals controlled proton tunneling in water trimers

A research team led by Professor Hyung-Joon Shin from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UNIST has succeeded in elucidating the quantum phenomenon occurring within a triangular cluster of three water molecules. The work is published in the journal Nano Letters.

Their findings demonstrate that the collective rotational motion of water molecules enhances proton tunneling, a quantum mechanical effect where protons (H+) bypass energy barriers instead of overcoming them. This phenomenon has implications for and the stability of biomolecules such as DNA.

The study reveals that when the rotational motion of water molecules is activated, the distances between the molecules adjust, resulting in increased cooperativity and facilitating proton tunneling. This process allows the three protons from the water molecules to collectively surmount the energy barrier.

/* */