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Genetics

Drug-resistant cells of multiple myeloma (purple-blue) under a microscope. The laboratory of Prof. Ido Amit, Weizmann Institute

A genetic signature of drug resistance in multiple myeloma blood cancer has been revealed

From the patient's bed to the laboratory and back: collaboration between the institute's scientists and doctors in Ichilov may lead to personalized treatments for multiple myeloma patients, who do not respond to drugs - and paves the way for personalized treatments in other types of cancer
The lining of the large intestine of a mouse under a microscope. The mucosa of normal mice (top, left) malfunctions as inflammation progresses (top, middle) and promotes the development of cancer (top, right). In contrast, in mice without HSF1 (bottom, left), inflammation does not develop (bottom, middle and right)

A slippery and inflamed slope

The anatomy of the cells in the human body. Photo: depositphotos.com

The revolving door of the cells

Weizmann Institute of Science scientists have mapped the rate of regeneration of our body * Every year and a half we produce 50 kilograms of cells, as the average weight of the cells in our body
A swarm of hexagons is crushed into a passing car. Photo: shutterstock

The humming of the tentacles' inclusions

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The tentacles, relatives of the mosquitoes, have a strange wedding custom, they choose their spouse in a huge swarm of tentacles and yet continue to stick together. A new study managed to decipher the phenomenon
Cell membrane receptors. Photo: depositphotos.com

A new computational method significantly shortens the process of identifying receptor roles

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Since most of the drugs today work by activating or blocking receptors, the new method has the ability to significantly shorten the drug production process
Micro RNA. Illustration: Prof. Robert Johnson, Temple University

Deepening our knowledge in understanding the RNA molecule allowed us to produce a rapid vaccine for Corona

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This is according to the decision of the Wolf Prize Committee for 2021 in medicine. The judges' announcement stated that these scientists made breakthrough discoveries in the mechanisms that regulate RNA and demonstrated that RNA is not a passive template between DNA and protein but plays a dominant role in regulating and diversifying genetic expression
Horizontal gene transfer. The genetic information is transferred between individuals who are not related to each other and can even belong to another species

Lateral transfer of genes: in the evolution test copying is allowed

Through "evolution in vitro" experiments, Weizmann Institute scientists have shown what happens when bacteria copy genetic information from their neighbors
Prof. Nir Friedman. Courtesy of the Hebrew University

A method for diagnosing a wide variety of diseases by a simple blood test instead of invasive tests

The changes in the sex hormone testosterone in men throughout the year, based on about 130 thousand samples

Four Seasons Hormone

Analysis of millions of Israelis' blood tests reveals hormonal fluctuations affected by the calendar
As we add ingredients to a fruit smoothie, it will be difficult to put our finger on the contribution of each ingredient to the final result. A fruit salad, on the other hand, allows you to combine flavors without masking the unique contribution of each fruit. Similarly, when checking the average gene expression in a certain tissue (left), it is not possible to distinguish the differences between different cells in the same tissue. Technological developments of recent years make it possible to measure the expression of genes in a tissue at the level of the single cell (right), thus characterizing with unprecedented resolution differences between cells in the same tissue

Each and every cell is stressed: first mapping of the "stress axis" at the individual cell level

From the brain to the adrenal glands - scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Max Planck Institute have mapped the entire "stress axis" and shown how chronic stress affects and changes these tissues at the individual cell level. The scientists discovered a new subpopulation of endocrine cells involved in regulating the response to chronic stress
The consequences of damage to the control mechanism for the separation of chromosomes (SAC) and the KIF18A enzyme in normal cells compared to aneuploid cells

New research reveals a weak point in cancer cells

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Researchers from Tel Aviv University shed light on a 140-year-old mystery in an article published in Nature. The research shows for the first time how an abnormal number of chromosomes (aneploidy) - a unique feature of cancer cells that has been known to researchers for decades - can become a weak point of these cells. The research may in the future lead to the development of drugs that will take advantage of this weak point for targeted damage to cancer cells
Salmonella bacteria (bright green) inside macrophages (yellow-brown) of a mouse. Dr. Roy Avraham, Weizmann Institute

Salmonella melons

This is how bacteria turn the cells of the immune system into an all-inclusive hotel: bacteria swallowed by macrophages sometimes succeed not only in surviving but even thriving inside them, as if they were incubators that help spread the infection in the body - and not soldiers in the service of the immune system
Excavations in the volcanic ash in Santorini. Photo: shutterstock

A volcano, an atomic bomb and an olive branch

Liron Grover and Prof. Ehud Ahisher. with a sensitive eye. Weizmann Institute spokeswoman photo

Eyes closed

Mouse brain tissue. The octopus-like microglial cells are marked in red. In green - blood vessels. Courtesy of the Weizmann Institute

calm the microglia in the brain

In degenerative brain diseases, Alzheimer's for example, there is an overactivity of the representatives of the immune system in the brain. Weizmann Institute of Science scientists have revealed the mechanism that allows these cells to return to normal
Yeast in a milk drink - kefir. Photo: depositphotos.com

Cow's milk - the next generation will be produced from yeast

The hook proteins on the virus. If the virus is not there to support them - they collapse. source

The programming language of life: what is included in the RNA vaccine that a million Israelis have already received

If they had to choose the outstanding scientific development of 2020 it would undoubtedly be an mRNA-based vaccine. Dr.Roey Tsezana explains
protein folding. Illustration: depositphotos.com

For the first time, the decline of the protein control system was demonstrated in human cells

Technion researchers present new findings concerning the gradual damage to the protein control system during the aging period. The research published in PNAS - the journal of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States
speed of light. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Yes, break the speed of light

On time, message transmission and quantum phenomena
3. In the diagram: on the left: the vaccines. mRNA vaccines are based on introducing artificial mRNA into cells so that it will serve as a template for building the viral protein that will activate the immune system. Shortly after the entry of the mRNA molecules into the cell, they begin to initiate the production of the immune proteins required by the cell. mRNA contains several chemical changes, which improve its activity in the cell. Right: the natural mechanism. The study published in Nucleic Acids Research shows how similar chemical modifications, naturally present in mRNA, serve as binding sites for regulatory factors. This link affects the activity of the ribosome and thus enables the production of proteins in more precise quantities and in accordance with the needs of the organism.

Dynamic, sophisticated and sensitive to the environment: this is how the mRNA formulates its instructions to the ribosome

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Huge waves. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Each wave carries a souvenir (from another wave)

mildew. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The surprising genetic evolution of ancient plants

Plastic waste on the beach. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Light and indestructible: the plastic particles that are carried by the wind and we breathe

Prof. Ilan Koren: "Even if we stop polluting the beaches tomorrow morning, we are expected to see more and more microplastic particles emitted into the atmosphere - since it takes time for the plastic waste that has already found its way to the sea to break down into particles"
Biohacking or biological hacking. Illustration: depositphotos.com

A new cyber attack could cause scientists to produce a virus without their knowledge

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Cyber ​​researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev warn of a cyber attack that could mislead biologists and cause them to produce dangerous toxins in their laboratories
Immortality. Illustration: Shutterstock

Things that Yoram knows: when and why did we give up immortality?

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