Cell biology – The Conversation

Given the right conditions, certain types of cells are able to self-assemble into new lifeforms after the organism they were once part of has died.

Not only do mitochondria serve as the engine of the cell – they also act as watchtowers for the immune system.

Cells degrade and recycle damaged parts of themselves through a process called autophagy. When this “self-devouring” goes awry, it may promote cancer and neurodegenerative disease.

Preclinical studies are an important part of biomedical research, often guiding future trials in humans. Failure to replicate research results suggests a need to increase the quality of studies.

Sugar molecules called glycans cover the surface of all cells, acting as ID cards that broadcast what they are to the rest of the body.

Autophagy may be Nobel-winning research, but so far there’s no evidence that boosting how your cells recycle nutrients makes you live longer or lose weight.

Insight on how a unique protein plays a role in cellular stress responses may provide more clues on how to treat diseases like ALS and Alzheimer’s.

Researchers discovered a previously unknown function of RNA, potentially opening the door to new ways to treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

It’s relatively easy to grow a bunch of animal cells to turn into a burger. But to grow a steak made of cultured meat is a trickier task. Bioengineers must create organized, three-dimensional tissues.

The daunting complexity of biological data requires tailored visualisation tools to reveal buried insights.

Thomas Durcan’s lab is growing 3D mini-brains in the search for a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Over the next year he is giving all his lab’s protocols, methods and results away.

Many microscopy techniques have won Nobel Prizes over the years. Advancements like cryo-ET that allow scientists to see the individual atoms of cells can reveal their biological functions.

Asthma attacks can result from immune cells overreacting to a harmless allergen. Tamping down iron levels in certain immune cells can help control their activity.

The goal of creating synthetic cells is not to replace nature, but to learn more deeply about biology and reengineer it to help society.

Your cells die to keep you alive. Cell death does everything from fighting cancer cells and pathogens to forming your fingers and toes.

As people age, the chemical signaling pathways in muscles become less potent, and it gets harder to build muscle and maintain strength. But the health benefits of strength training only increase with age.

Many tumors have cancer stem cells that help them grow and evade treatments. Differentiation therapy forces these cells to mature, stopping growth with less toxicity than traditional treatments.

Superresolution microscopy allowed researchers to view cells at the molecular level. Improvements on the technique can help study the building blocks of complex cell processes over time.

Studying why heart cells are less likely to become cancerous can provide clues to improving heart regeneration and treatments for heart disease.