Humanity's viral stowaway is now a defense against our greatest diseases
Engineered viruses may be the key to HIV and tuberculosis vaccines
I’m a PhD student in Biological Engineering at MIT. Around two billion people in the world are infected with a microscopic bug called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Despite this, only a fraction develop tuberculosis. And a fraction of those infected – almost 5,000 a day – die. I put on Stranger Things-esque protection equipment and probe these bacteria to ask, what allows them bacteria to win this tug-of-war? To understand this variation, I look at how both human and bacteria cells change on a genetic level in response to each other, as a member of the Blainey Lab, located in the Broad Institute, and Bryson Lab, located in the Ragon Institute and MIT.
Haven't heard of RNA therapy yet? You will
After a decade of painstaking progress, the underdog is on the brink of treating a broad range of diseases
How dogs are helping us understand human allergies
If your dog has allergies, chances are you do too. Thanks, microbes
Billionaires are rushing into biotech. Inequality is following them into science
'Free-market philanthropy' raises yet more questions about the future of American public research
Vaccines aren't yet using our immune system's full potential
The most important invention in medicine could save even more lives
Earth's weirdest creatures are genetic treasure chests
From the axolotl's regenerating limbs to naked mole rat cancer resistance, new sequencing is uncovering new possibilities
How scientists are mapping the building blocks of life
A microscopic moonshot hopes to revolutionize biology
Why there probably won't be a 'magic bullet' for cancer
Researchers increasingly view the disease as a sprawling, evolving metropolis of cells
Futuristic organ-on-a-chip technology now seems more realistic than ever
Researchers have pioneered what may be the most accurate simulation of kidney function to-date
1 peer comment
A new study shows that some are 'immune' to CRISPR. What does it mean for biology's breakthrough editor?
It's complicated, and the road from lab to clinic is long
3 peer comments
Should peer review stop being anonymous?
Prominent researchers can take the gamble, but junior scientists risk retribution
4 peer comments
To better target cancer, scientists find clues on the surface of cells
New research finds that we might need to take a step back from the inside of cells
1 peer comment
Plants are not conscious, whether you can 'sedate' them or not
A New York Times story is a case study in what can go wrong in translating science
2 peer comments
How paper towels could revolutionize DNA analysis
A new method could make it more affordable to diagnose diseases
2 peer comments
Evolution is a lot messier than we thought
Cells evolved haphazardly, not in one overall arc
2 peer comments
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Why teamwork is better than attempting lone heroism in science
A story of failure, collaboration, and incredibly tiny medicine
2 peer comments