Bioscience Research Papers

New insights into DNA repair

March, 2012

DNA within the nucleus of cells can be damaged by normal metabolic processes and environmental factors, such as exposure to UV light, other forms of radiation, and certain environmental chemicals. DNA repair processes exist within cells to repair...

Galectins - newly identified danger receptors for invading bacteria

March, 2012

Damaged or unwanted cellular components are normally broken down into basic molecules within the lysosomes of cells for recycling. This process, known as 'autophagy', has many functions, one of which is to rid cells of bacterial infection. The ef...

Cancer cells 'move out' to escape regulatory neighbours

March, 2012

Cancer is the name given to illnesses that involve the growth of tumours, which can develop from any cell type in the body. The development of a tumour starts when just one cell, or a small group of cells, starts to multiply uncontrollably. Genet...

New hope for hyaline cartilage repair

February, 2012

Hyaline cartilage is found at the joint surface of many bones, where it helps to cushion and protect the bone surfaces. Hyaline cartilage does not have a blood supply or nerve supply and consequently has a limited capacity for growth and repair -...

Nuclear pores - an unknown role in mitosis?

January, 2012

The pores are known as 'nuclear pore complexes' (NPCs) and are composed of distinct protein sub-complexes or 'nucleoporins' with specific locations and functions. Some are involved in anchoring the pore to the cell membrane while others mediate t...

Brown adipose tissue activity controls triglyceride clearance

February, 2011

Brown adipose tissue (BAT), or brown fat is a type of adipose tissue rich in mitochondria (hence its brownish colour) found in mammals. It has an important role in newborn and hibernating animals, as its function is to convert energy into heat to...

Imaging centers: partnering academia

June, 2009

Over a period of about eight years, Nikon has collaborated internationally with selected universities to establish Nikon Imaging Centers (NICs). NICs provide researchers with access to the very latest imaging products as well as technical experti...

Nanobacteria: Living or crystalline? New evidence

November, 2008

Nanotechnology is an exciting field that has revealed novel nanoscale properties of commonplace materials such as carbon and silicon. However, the discovery of calcifying nanoparticles (CNPs) (or 'nanobacteria') in human blood and blood products ...