Category Archives: Biology

For a 79-year-old retired biology professor living in Sivas, carpet weaving is a way of life. Prof. Yener Okatan has woven a map of the world onto a world globe, using a unique loom he designed himself. His self-designed loom allowed the retired professor to realize his dream, even gaining a patent on his woven globe in 2007. Okatan stated that he hopes to provide weaving courses applying his own unique style to carpet weaving instruction. Currently teaching 10 students at the Sivas Public Education Center's Evening Art School as a volunteer, Okatan conducts his workshops using a unique loom with 10 spools, representing the colors on the globe. The completed versions of the globes woven by his students will soon be sent out to local corporations and displayed at museums. Speaking to the press about what inspired him to pursue this dream, Okatan said that he was once mesmerized by an embossed carpet he saw in Istanbul during his time as a student there. Having no knowledge of carpet weaving, Okatan started to work toward realizing his dream by designing his own loom in 2005 after retiring from his career as a biology professor. 'Sivas has the globe carpet' … Continue reading →

Synthetic biology is an exciting and rapidly evolving field of research that can broadly be defined as the design (or redesign) and construction of novel artificial biological pathways, organisms, or devices. Applying engineering principles to biological components allows us to probe, manipulate, and modify cell function. The core synthetic biology toolkit is comprised of both biological and engineering functions: molecular manipulation, deep data analysis, and computer algorithms. Below are just a few innovations highlighted at the SynBioBeta conference, which took place in London in April. Synthetic Biology is here to stay, says John Sgouros, consultant, Biomax Informatics. Customization of molecules and whole microorganisms creates tremendous opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, environmental biotechnology, and industrial materials. However, optimizing the discovery, genetic engineering, and manufacturing processes driving these innovations is highly dependent on systematic analysis of vast amounts of data. Data accumulate rapidly and exponentially, often in an unstructured manner, siloed between internal and external databases, according to Sgouros. Biomaxs BioXM knowledge management platform deals with data in a systematic manner: from digitalization to the semantic integration of diverse content and workflows, and further, to systematic feedback of results to find the optimal way forward. Database integration is done by configuration (i.e., … Continue reading →

June 12, 2017 Bruce S. Serlin, associate professor of biology at DePauw University and a member of the faculty for more than 30 years, died suddenly of cardiac arrest last night in Greencastle. He was 64 years old. (2007 photo at right by Alex Turco '10/The DePauw) Born on August 4, 1952 in New York, Serlin earned his B.S. in biology-environmental geology from Alfred University, an M.Sc. in botany from Cornell University, and the Ph.D. in botany from University of Texas at Austin, where he also served as a post-doctoral researcher. Dr. Serlin, whose specialty was cellular biology, joined the DePauw faculty in 1985 as as assistant professor of biological sciences. He was promoted to associate professor in 1992 and served as director of DePauw's Honor Scholar Program from 1997-2000 and 2001-04. He also chaired DePauw's Committee on Academic Policy and Planning. Professor Serlin also conducted research at Ohio State and Cornell universities, and spent the 200708 academic year as a visiting scholar at Wabash College's Center of Inquiry as a visiting scholar. In 1987 he received a research grant of $21,500 from the Research Corporation, a foundation for the advancement of science and technology, to fund his research on … Continue reading →

Send this article by email What is your name? Please indicate below the emails to which you want to send this article: UNCG biology research abuzz Enter one email per line. No more than 5 emails. Send Close The UNCG Bee Station is located a few blocks to the east of campus and, at this moment, is buzzing with research. UNCG Professor of Biology Olav Rueppell and his research team have just received a nearly $1 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate honey bees natural defenses against their main pest, the Varroa mite, and how to activate them. Dr. Olav Rueppell indicates nurse bees who perform hygienic behavior. Varroa mites are tiny, amber-colored circular creatures that live on the bodies of the honey bees. They feed on the bees blood and amplify a colonys level of infection from illnesses such as Deformed Wing Virus or Israeli Acute Paralysis. Bee health started to decline significantly about a decade ago in the U.S. for unknown reasons, Rueppell said. So that caused a lot of awareness and research. Now we understand that theres not one single factor, but its a perfect storm where multiple factors interact to … Continue reading →

June 12, 2017 Accumulation of extracellular material in mice uterus. Credit: EPFL Hyaline Fibromatosis Syndrome (HFS) is a rare but severegenetic disease that affectsbabies, children, and adults. A glassy substance called hyalineaccumulates in the skin and various organs of patients, causing painful deformities and may lead to early death.The disease is caused by genemutations that destroythe function of a protein whosephysiological function is little understood.EPFL scientists have now studied and characterized its function for the first time, showing that it binds and controls the body levels of an important type of collagen. The work is published in Nature Communications. HFS is caused by a mutation of a gene called CMG2,also abbreviated asANTXR2 because it renders cells sensitive to anthrax infections. Thegene produces a protein that is embedded in the membrane of cells, and is known to bind anthrax toxins internalizing them into the cell where they exert their action. This is however not the physiological function of this protein. The HFS mutation of the gene causes the proteinto lose its function. A hallmark of the disease is theaccumulation of collagen in large nodules under the skin. Collagen isthe most abundant protein in mammals, found in skin, cartilage, blood vessels, and … Continue reading →

The podocyte adhesome Nature.com Loss of podocyte adhesion is a major contributing factor to the progression of glomerular disease; however, comprehensive understanding of the role of focal adhesions (FAs) in podocyte biology is lacking. New research has identified the FERM-domain ... Visit link: The podocyte adhesome - Nature.com … Continue reading →

Expedition 51 performed hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science. But those boiled over last week with demands that the school fire several people, including a biology professor, Bret Weinstein. The findings have far broader implications than pinpointing the neurological source of dreams , though, said the study's principal investigator, John Peever, a professor of cell and systems biology at the University of Toronto. The class will cover the history of beekeeping, honeybee biology, plant and pollinator relationship and essential equipment. During Barack Obama's time in the White House, members of the president's science council included Google executive Eric Schmidt and academic experts in disciplines ranging from physics to biology. Education: Bachelors in molecular biology from Vanderbilt; But these devices shouldn't lead to less physical interaction with our pets, says Dr. Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and author of several books about animal ethics. UCI professor wins Alzheimers research grant A UC Irvine assistant professor of molecular biology and biochemistry has won a $150,000 grant to be awarded over three years. Here is the original post: Biology | Definition of Biology by Merriam-Webster … Continue reading →

A A For some high school seniors throughout Washington, the opportunity to walk across the stage, smile, shake hands, and receive a diploma in the coming weeks is dependent upon the Legislature. That is because several hundred students have been unable to pass the states standardized biology test one of three basic knowledge exams that are required for graduation, along with English and math. Problematically, the biology test is outdated, with state officials having adopted new science standards and preparing a new general science exam for future graduation requirements. Given that fact and the fact that failure rates for the biology exam are more than twice that of the English exam and four times that of the math exam, lawmakers should step in. Allowing students who have met all other requirements to graduate would appropriately serve those students. Yet while some leeway should be allowed regarding the biology test, the situation also provides an opportunity to reiterate the value of standardized tests as a graduation requirement. The Legislature approved such requirements in 1993, and in 1996 Gov. Mike Lowry vetoed a bill to overturn those requirements, writing, These reforms were historic because, for the first time in our states history, … Continue reading →

PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) - Colorado State University-Pueblo has confirmed a professor died Friday morning when he crashed into a car while riding his bike. Colorado State Patrol identified the man who died as 56-year-old Daniel R. Caprioglio from Pueblo. The school says he was a "well respected biology professor at the university." He began teaching at the university in 1993. The crash is under investigation by both Colorado State Patrol and Pueblo police. Troopers say it was reported around 7:30 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Highway 47 and Pete Jiminez Parkway on the east side of the city. The crash involved a car and a bicyclist. Troopers say the bicyclist, later identified as the professor, died when he turned east onto Pete Jiminez Parkway in front of a car. The driver of the car, 19-year-old Carter Braune, stayed on scene and cooperated with law enforcement. Troopers say when the bicyclist turned in front of the car, which was a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire, they collided and Caprioglio was ejected. He was wearing a helmet during the crash, but was unfortunately pronounced dead on scene. Braune was not injured. Troopers say speed or alcohol are not suspected in the crash. The … Continue reading →

The biology assessment is holding up high school graduation for about 3,300 students in Washington state. Two years ago at this time, about 2,000 students faced the same prospect, and lawmakers suspended the requirement. Now its time to kill it until a better science assessment can be devised, but legislators should not take the value of assessment down with it. Two years ago, the state Board of Education agreed that the test itself was the problem. The board had adopted new science standards, but the test was based on old ones. Plus, students across the state had varying exposure to the subject. While few people are fond of the biology assessment, some lawmakers see this as an opportunity to sever the link between the math and English assessments and graduation. Not so fast. The failure rate on the biology assessment far exceeds that for English and math, according to May figures released by the Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction. Its two times higher than the rate for English and four times higher than the rate for math. Yet another indicator that the biology test itself is the problem. Plus, students take many English and math classes before they … Continue reading →