Harvard researchers sequence Sapria genome

Sapria genome shows astonishing gene loss and gene theft.

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science-technology genetics fas charles-davis current-biology liming-cai rafflesiaceae sapria-himalayana timothy-sackton

Catching cancer in the act

Using CRISPR technology, researchers are tracking the lineage of individual cancer cells as they proliferate and metastasize in real-time.

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dna genetics crispr cancer biology research cells school-of-science national-institutes-of-health-nih whitehead-institute

Stickiness is a weapon some plants use to fend off hungry insects

For some sand-dwelling plants, stickiness is a defense tactic that keeps predators at bay.

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insects biology plants botany ants evolutionary-biology seeds convergent-evolution camouflage caterpillars

Understanding antibodies to avoid pandemics

Structural biologist Pamela Björkman shared insights into pandemic viruses as part of the Department of Biology’s IAP seminar series.

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women-in-stem health medicine public-health covid-19 biology pandemic immunology data vaccines disease research school-of-science special-events-and-guest-speakers whitehead-institute drug-delivery independent-activities-period

Figs show that nonnative species can invade ecosystems by forming unexpected partnerships

As invasive species transform the world, frontline agencies take solace that species needing unique partners can’t invade alone. A new study on figs shows they may find new partners to invade anyway.

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biology plants botany pollinators pollination introduced-species wasps invasive-species flowers native-species non-native-species

Why cancer cells waste so much energy

MIT study sheds light on the longstanding question of why cancer cells get their energy from fermentation.

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dna cancer biology research cells school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf national-institutes-of-health-nih koch-institute

Model analyzes how viruses escape the immune system

Using this computational system, researchers can identify viral protein sequences that could make better vaccine targets.

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mathematics genetics artificial-intelligence covid-19 hivaids broad-institute microbes vaccines viruses research school-of-engineering school-of-science electrical-engineering-computer-science-eecs computer-science-and-technology computer-science-and-artificial-intelligence-laboratory-csail national-science-foundation-nsf biological-engineering mit-schwarzman-college-of-computing

Laser-steering microrobot offers surgeons high-speed precision

Robotic engineers from Harvard’s Wyss Institute and John A. Paulson School for Engineering and Applied Science have developed a laser-steering microrobot in a miniaturized 6 by 16 millimeter package that can be integrated with existing endoscopic tools.

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science-technology harvard-universitys-wyss-institute-for-biologically-inspired-engineering robert-wood endoscopic-tools john-a-paulson-school-for-engineering-and-applied-science laser-steering-microrobot minimally-invasive-surgeries transnasal-operations

What is a protein? A biologist explains

A biologist explains where proteins come from and what role the 20,000 or so proteins in your body play in keeping you alive and kicking.

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biology proteins amino-acids curiosity-question

Inspired by kombucha tea, engineers create “living materials”

A symbiotic culture of specialized yeast and bacteria can generate tough materials able to perform a variety of functions.

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microbes research sensors school-of-engineering electrical-engineering-computer-science-eecs biological-engineering