Investigating the Primary Cilium: Q & A With Xuecai Ge
Credit: Courtesy of Dr. Xuecai Ge. The brain is a large and complex organ, but some very small structures guide its development. Xuecai Ge, Ph.D., an associate professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of California, Merced (UC Merced), has devoted her career to understanding one of these structures called the primary cilium. In an interview, Dr. Ge shared how her childhood experience inspired her to study science and what makes the primary cilium fascinating. Q: How did you first become interested in science? A: When I was a little kid, my mom was a primary care doctor, and I saw her treat patients...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - March 27, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Cells Cellular Processes Profiles Source Type: blogs

What Is the Microbiome?
Have you ever noticed a skin care product advertised as “microbiome friendly” and wondered what that meant? The microbiome is the collection of all the microbes—including bacteria, viruses, and fungi—that live in a specific environment, such as on the skin or in the digestive tract. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterial species commonly found in the human intestine. While some strains of E. coli cause foodborne illness, others are helpful members of the gut microbiome.Credit: Mark Ellisman and Thomas Deerinck, National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego. It’s ...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - March 20, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Cells Common questions Microbes Microbiome Source Type: blogs

Science Snippet: Examining Enzymes
Structure of a pyruvate kinase, an enzyme that adds a phosphate group to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Credit: PDB 7UEH. Every day, our cells must produce all the various molecules they need to stay alive. But the chemical reactions to create these molecules can’t occur without help—which is where enzymes come in. Enzymes are biological catalysts, meaning they speed up the rate of specific chemical reactions by reducing the amount of energy needed for the reaction to occur. Most enzymes are proteins, but some RNA molecules can also act as enzymes. Thousands of different enzymes ...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - March 13, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Cells Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Cellular Processes Proteins Science Snippet Source Type: blogs

Quiz: Do You Know Your Immune System?
This post is part of a miniseries on the immune system. Be sure to check out the other posts in this series that you may have missed. Credit: NIGMS. Throughout our immunology miniseries, we introduced the immune system and its many functions and components. Additionally, we highlighted how vaccines train your immune system, how the system can go awry, and how NIGMS-supported researchers are studying immunology and infectious diseases. Put your knowledge about the immune system to the test by taking the quiz below. QUIZ START Learn more in our Educator’s Corner. Other Posts You May Like Quiz: Do ...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - March 11, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Cells Injury and Illness STEM Education Common questions Immunology Miniseries Infectious Diseases Medicines Microbes Quiz Source Type: blogs

Research Organism Superheroes: Axolotls
The friendly-looking axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) doesn’t seem to have much in common with its namesake, Xolotl—the Aztec god of lightning, death, and fire. In fact, axolotls can regrow lost limbs and other body parts like organs and parts of their central nervous systems—which goes against the concept of death! The axolotl can regenerate almost any body part, including brain, heart, jaws, limbs, lungs, ovaries, spinal cord, skin, and tail. This ability makes it an excellent research organism to study in the search for regenerative medicine. Credit: Marko Pende, MDI Biological Laboratory; MDI Biological Labor...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - March 6, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: STEM Education Tools and Techniques Coloring Pages Cool Creatures Regeneration Research Organisms Source Type: blogs

Amie Fornah Sankoh Achieves a Scientific Dream
Credit: LinkedIn. “I wanted to give up so many times. Although I tried to remain positive, I never thought I’d be able to finish my Ph.D. But I made it, and I’m extremely proud of myself,” says Amie Fornah Sankoh, Ph.D., a research scientist with Dow Chemical Company who received NIGMS support as a graduate student. Human and Plant Communication Dr. Sankoh has loved science and mathematics since she was just a child growing up in Sierra Leone. When she was 3 years old, Dr. Sankoh became deaf from a childhood disease. Math, unlike other subjects, is very visual, which played a part in her interest in it. “...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - February 28, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Profiles Training Source Type: blogs

Developing Low-Cost Lab Techniques: Q & A With Abraham Badu-Tawiah
Credit: Ohio State University. “I never thought I could make an impact on chemistry and students’ lives. But now, I’m the head of a lab with several Ph.D. and undergraduate students and a postdoctoral researcher; and we’re developing simple, low-cost lab techniques that can be adopted by labs across the world,” says Abraham Badu-Tawiah, Ph.D., the Robert K. Fox Professor of Chemistry at Ohio State University in Columbus. We talked with Dr. Badu-Tawiah about his career progression, research, and advice for students hoping to launch a career in science. Q: How did you get started on the path to a career in sci...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - February 21, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Tools and Techniques Profiles Source Type: blogs

Cool Images: Radiant in Red
Happy Valentine’s Day! In place of red roses, we hope you’ll accept a bouquet of beautiful scientific images featuring rich, red hues. Be sure to click all the way through to see the festive protein flowing through your blood! For more scientific photos, illustrations, and videos in all the colors of the rainbow, visit our image and video gallery. .featured { opacity: 1 !important; transform: scale(1) !important; z-index: 1 !important; } .featured a:hover::after { content: "Click to view on NIGMS image gallery"; /*Image hover tool tip*/ background-color: #fff;...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - February 14, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Cells Molecular Structures Cellular Imaging Cool Images Proteins Source Type: blogs

What Does an Immunologist Do?
This post is part of a miniseries on the immune system. Be sure to check out the other posts in this series that you may have missed. Immunology is the study of the immune system, including all the cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect you from germs. A person who studies immunology is called an immunologist, and there are three types: Researchers, who study the immune system in the laboratory to understand how it works or how it can go awry and find new treatments for immune system-related diseases Doctors, who diagnose and care for patients with diseases related to the immune system, such as ...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - February 12, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Cells Injury and Illness Immunology Miniseries Infectious Diseases Medicines Microbes Research Roundup Source Type: blogs

Broadening Opportunities for Students in STEM at Brown University and Beyond
Credit: Courtesy of Brown University. Andrew G. Campbell, Ph.D., a professor of medical science at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and previous dean of the graduate school, is passionate about researching understudied diseases and helping students reach their full potential. Dr. Campbell’s lab has studied the single-cell organism Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), a parasite transmitted through the bite of the tsetse fly, which is only found in specific regions of Africa. In humans, T. brucei causes African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness. Symptoms of this illness include headache, weakne...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - February 8, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist STEM Education Profiles Training Source Type: blogs

Increasing Opportunities in STEM at Brown University and Beyond
Credit: Courtesy of Brown University. Andrew G. Campbell, Ph.D., a professor of medical science at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and previous dean of the graduate school, is passionate about researching understudied diseases and helping students reach their full potential. Dr. Campbell’s lab has studied the single-cell organism Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), a parasite transmitted through the bite of the tsetse fly, which is only found in specific regions of Africa. In humans, T. brucei causes African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness. Symptoms of this illness include headache, weakne...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - February 7, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist STEM Education Profiles Training Source Type: blogs

Putting West Virginia Students on the Path to Scientific Careers
Credit: NIGMS. Two NIGMS-funded programs are teaming up to shape the future of science and technology in West Virginia (WV). One engages high school students in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEM+M); introduces them to research; and provides direct access to college through tuition waivers. In the other program, undergraduate students are paired with a researcher at their institution for a paid internship—an important step toward a career in science. The Health Sciences & Technology Academy “We liken our students to rosebuds. As they grow, you see them blossom into self-confident lea...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - January 31, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist STEM Education SEPA Training Source Type: blogs

What Do Fats Do in the Body?
It’s common knowledge that too much cholesterol and other fats can lead to disease and that a healthy diet involves watching how much fatty food we eat. However, our bodies need a certain amount of fat to function—and we can’t make it from scratch. Hepatocytes, like the one shown here, are the most abundant type of cell in the human liver. One important role they play is producing bile, a liquid that aids in digesting fats. Credit: Donna Beer Stolz, University of Pittsburgh. Triglycerides, cholesterol, and other essential fatty acids—the fats our bodies can’t make on their own—store energy, ins...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - January 24, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Cells Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Common questions Source Type: blogs

Research Organism Superheroes: Fruit Flies
Credit: iStock. Those pesky little bugs flying around the overripe bananas in your kitchen may hold the key to understanding something new about how our bodies work. That’s right, the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is a widely used research organism in genetics because of its superpower of reproducing quickly with similar genes to people. Researchers have been studying fruit flies for over a century for many reasons. First, they’re easy to please—just keep them at room temperature and feed them corn meal, sugar, and yeast (or those bananas on your counter!). Second, they reproduce more quickly and have shor...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - January 17, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: STEM Education Tools and Techniques Cool Creatures Research Organisms Source Type: blogs

RISE-ing Stars From Northern Arizona University
Chantel Tsosie at her college graduation, wearing her Tribe’s formal, traditional rug dress that her grandmother made. Credit: Courtesy of Chantel Tsosie. “Science is for everyone. It’s in everything. It exists in cultures everywhere,” says Chantel Tsosie, a master’s student in the NIGMS-supported Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) program at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff. The program aims to prepare a diverse group of students for research careers through culturally relevant support, hands-on research experiences, and a tailored curriculum. Chantel started her bachelor’...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - January 10, 2024 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Profiles Training Source Type: blogs