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Mutations

Cells infected with the corona virus. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Medicines in the evolution test

Drug safety tests often focus on "physiological safety", meaning their possible effect on patients. Weizmann Institute of Science scientists propose a new type of test: evolutionary safety
A segment of the lymph node. Illustration: depositphotos.com

New information about phagocytic cells of the immune system may lead to treatments for incurable autoimmune diseases

The origin of the mysterious macrophages, known in scientific language as Tingible Body Macrophages (TBM), is in progenitor cells of the blood system that emerge from the bone marrow and settle in the lymph nodes, where they quickly and efficiently digest the remains of antibody-producing cells of the immune system
Omicron variant of the corona virus. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Here's what we know so far about Ba.2, the "brother" of the Omicron

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The World Health Organization now defines it as a species under investigation. This is not the first version to have sub-dynasties. Late last year, the Delta "Plus" or AY.4.2 was widely reported and then came Omicron
A cancer cell divides. Illustration: depositphotos.com

"Silent" mutations can predict the development of cancer cells

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Researchers from Tel Aviv University have shown that silent mutations, i.e. those that do not change the amino acid sequence of the proteins, are also not innocent
Graphic summary of Corona mutation research. Illustration, Ben Gurion University

Israeli research: Pfizer's corona vaccine is less effective against the South African strain

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Scientists from Ben-Gurion University found that the effectiveness of the Pfizer company's vaccine against the corona virus decreases in the case of the South African strain. However, the vaccine highly effectively neutralizes infection by the original virus, or its British version. The study was published in the prestigious journal Cell Host Microbe.
Searching for mutations in the corona virus. Illustration: depositphotos.com

A new complex mutation of the corona virus is spreading in the UK - a genomics researcher explains

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The variant carries 14 defining mutations, seven of which are in the spike protein - the protein that mediates the entry of the virus into human cells. This is a relatively large number of changes compared to the many versions of the virus around the world
Prof. Atzmon in his laboratory. Source: Courtesy of Haifa University.

A genetic mutation was found that contributes to longevity in men

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Photo: Vincent van Zalinge.

How do mammals and birds maintain their body temperature?

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URSs, as mentioned, inhibit protein translation and may be fatal to the cell and the entire organism. The right part of the diagram shows their "damage mechanism", and the left part of the diagram shows a normal and normal process in the absence of URSs. Above: The genetic information, which encodes the sequence of amino acids, reaches the ribosome with the help of a molecule called mRNA. Amino acids (colored circles) join into a sequence and the new protein is pushed out of the exit channel of the ribosome. On the left side we see a normal sequence that creates normal proteins, while on the right side the row of amino acids contains the strong URS CMYW (in E. coli bacteria), which inhibits the protein on its way out and thus prevents the translation of additional proteins. In the middle: on the left side the proteins are organized in normal clusters, while on the right side - under the influence of the URS - less normal proteins are translated and damaged proteins are formed that were not translated to the end. Below: E. coli cells grow on plates in the presence (+) or absence (-) of IPTG - a substance that causes protein translation. On the left, i.e. on the normal side where the translated protein (+) does not contain URS, the number of bacterial colonies is the same as the number of bacterial colonies that grew without a translation command (-). On the right, on the disrupted side where the translated protein contains a URS (+), the number of colonies is much smaller than the number of colonies grown without the translation command (-).

Molecular evolution eliminates lethal sequences

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A blue eye and a green eye. The differences between the photos are not only in the tone but also in the genome. From Wikipedia

All those with blue eyes have a common father

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"Bad luck" of random mutations plays an important role in most cancers, except those caused by smoking and sun exposure

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Male fertility. Illustration: shutterstock

Mutants from Venus, Mutants from Mars

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Melanoma cells. Photo: shutterstock

The characterization of the different types of skin cancer (melanoma) will enable the development of personalized treatment

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Danit Oz Levy and Amir Gelman. Standing in the back, from the right: Prof. Doron Lantz and Prof. Zebulon Elazar. rare mutations

Mistakes on the way to recycling

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Deer mouse. From Wikipedia

One gene - many mutations: the gene that controls the color of the mice's fur has evolved nine times

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A group of famous Americans of African descent. From Wikipedia

A mutation allowed the first humans to migrate within Africa

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The white moth Biston betularia that became extinct due to the soot that covered the trees during the industrial revolution and was replaced by a black moth. From Wikipedia

A few words for the skeptics

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