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Genetics

Prof. Shani Stern. Photo - Haifa University Spokesperson

A new study at the University of Haifa found for the first time a connection between Parkinson's disease and the extracellular matrix in the brain

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Extracellular matrix is ​​the part of the tissue that surrounds the cells and provides them with structural support. Beyond the structural function of the matrix, it is used for a variety of roles, such as separating tissues from one another and controlling intercellular communication, hence its role in this disease
Dr. Lonnie Johnson. Photo: Avi Blizovsky

"Technology accelerates human evolution"

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Dr. Lonnie Johnson, an inventor who registered over 100 patents and developed a solid-state battery based on them, describes human evolution as an interactive process between biology and technology, in which each influences and is influenced by its own
Mouse, rabbit and human embryos (right to left) in the same developmental stage - gastrulation (days 8-7.5 of pregnancy in rabbits and mice and around day 18 of development in humans). At this stage the human, rabbit and other vertebrate embryos are almost flat disc-shaped, while the mouse embryo is elongated cylinder-shaped. The images of the mouse and rabbit embryos were created as part of the current study, the image of the human embryo is taken from a study published in 2021 (Richard CV Tyser et al. Single-cell transcriptomic characterization of a gastrulating human embryo. Nature 600: 285-289)

In the rabbit hole

The institute's scientists developed a method that allows real-time monitoring of the development of embryos at the beginning of their journey and applied it for the first time to rabbits. The comparison they made between embryonic development in rabbits and mice gave rise to answers to fascinating questions about the formation of humans
Reconstruction of a Neanderthal family in the Neanderthal Museum in Croatia. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The encounter between Neanderthals and modern man as told by their genomes

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On the right: sperm cell of a healthy mouse. On the left: the product (protein) of the SCAPER gene (colored in red). The photograph shows that SCAPER is located at the head of the sperm cell, including in the nucleus

Between the retina, brain and fertility

On the spectrum of disorders caused by a defect in one gene
X and Y chromosomes. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The complete sequence of the human Y chromosome was assembled for the first time

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Scientists have successfully sequenced the entire human Y chromosome, revealing critical genomic features. This groundbreaking research offers deep insights into human biology and potential medical advances. The new sequence reveals genomic factors in fertility, including sperm production.
A scene demonstrating what the Neolithic period looked like. Created using Dali 2

A study conducted in Morocco found genetic kinship between African hunter-gatherers, European farmers and shepherds from the Mazat

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This complex interaction of cultures between 5500 and 4500 BC in the Maghreb region led to exchanges of knowledge, cultural changes and mutual genetic influences
Lung macrophages infected with human cytomegalovirus. In bright green - the cells where there is an active infection

On dormant viruses and protective proteins

New discoveries about how the result of infection with a virus from the herpes family is determined and where dormant viruses may hide in the body
Daphnias or not to be... a sick Daphnia (the red one) and a healthy Daphnia. Photo: Einav Marcus

Despite the negative connotation: parasites have a positive effect on biodiversity and play a crucial role in maintaining it

New research shines a positive light on biological stigma
Wheat and rice are the most common food plants in the world. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Researchers have succeeded in deciphering the movement mechanism of the plant hormone gibberellin, which is of great importance to humanity

According to the researchers, it is a hormone, a small signal molecule, which controls the growth of plants. The decoding may help a lot in expanding agricultural crops and dealing with the global food crisis
Different species of foraminifera. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The marine microorganisms that indicate climate change

What makes foraminifera species sensitive to heat?
Epilepsy in children. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Innovative gene therapy may help a severe and fatal developmental epilepsy syndrome that affects children

The research team hopes that the tools developed in this study will pave the way for the development of similar treatments for other rare diseases
The human genome represents a collection of genetic sequences from a diverse group of people. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The first human "pangenome" is intended to catalog genetic diversity

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Scientists have published draft results from a comprehensive research effort underway to capture all human genetic variation
Mice. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Mice with two fathers: Scientists create eggs from male cells

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The researchers behind the new study were able to create baby mice with genetic material from two males without any genetic changes. They achieved this by using stem cells to create primordial germ cells (PGCs), which differentiate into sperm and egg.
Quantum tunneling. Photo: depositphotos.com

Does quantum tunneling cause genetic mutations?

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The human DNA molecule contains about three billion bases and replicates every day about two trillion times. For the cellular structure to be preserved, the replication process must be incredibly precise, but at the same time, the appearance of mutations shows that the process is not immune to errors. With the help of computer simulations, physicists and chemists from the University of Surrey In England they showed that errors in replication may occur due to quantum tunneling. 
Prof. Dan Farr (Photo: Yonatan Blum)

Unique RNA technology for personalized cancer medicine

The nanomedicine that attacks cancer twice: both improves the effectiveness of chemotherapy and strengthens the immune system
Dr. Vivian Salon. Photo: Tel Aviv University Spokesperson

Dr. Vivian Salon - winner of the Rosalind Franklin Award for Young Researchers

Image from a confocal microscope of the inner ear. Photo credit: Prof. Keren Avraham and Shahar Tiber

For the first time in the world: in a family from Israel, 25 new genes that cause deafness were discovered in Israel and Israel

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One of the genes, called ATOH1, was found for the first time in the world to be involved in deafness. Family members in Israel are the first people in the world to be found to have a mutation in this gene - which is responsible for hearing loss
Selection of genetic traits. Illustration: shutterstock

It is not certain that it is possible to choose whether the child born through in vitro fertilization will be taller or smarter

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cell division (mitosis). Illustration from PIXABAY.COM

Proteins are also allowed to make mistakes

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Tovia Kushnir. From Wikipedia

In memory of Tovia Kushnir

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The team of researchers - Lina Kwasami, Maya Brown, Irin Guberman and Dr. Yuval Tabah. Photo courtesy of Dr. Emiliano Cohen, Hebrew University.

A mechanism was found that may explain over 30 genetic diseases

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Human embryo, from Wikipedia

Israeli researchers have developed a method that will enable the detection of thousands of genetic diseases in fetuses at the beginning of pregnancy through a blood test of the mother

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X-ray photograph of breast cancer tumors. Photo: shutterstock

Discovery of gene properties will allow treatment against a particularly violent type of breast cancer

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wheat From Wikipedia

A new protein family was discovered in plants that is part of the plant's immune system

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