Understanding evolution is one of the cornerstones of biology -- evolution is, in fact, the sole explanation for life's diversity on our planet. Based on the evolution of proteins, researchers may explain the emergence of new species and functions through genetic changes, how enzymes with novel functions might be engineered, or, for example, how humans are related to their closest relatives such as gorillas or bonobos. One popular approach to the study of evolution is to compare genome data using bioinformatics (computer-aided) tools. Scientists using these approaches may compare specific proteins, which consist of combinations of 20 universal building blocks, called amino acids. So far, the bioinformatics tools used to study the evolution of single proteins have assumed that the speed at which different regions of proteins evolve can be modeled with a statistical distribution whose shape is determined by a single variable. "That assumption, however, does not reflect reality, and it might have led to a large proportion of biased phylogenetic results being published over the last two decades or so," explains Minh Quang Bui, from the Center for Integrative Bioinformatics (CIBIV) and co-author of the study. A new algorithm allows insights into protein evolution Arndt von Haeseler, group … Continue reading →

Virginia Western Community College is one of 15 institutions in the United States to become part of the 10th cohort to participate in the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes (HHMI) Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science project (SEA-PHAGES). The project is intended to spark an interest in science among students by teaching them to creatively and critically use the scientific method to address real-world issues. Thus far, 142 colleges and universities, including Carnegie Mellon, James Madison University, Virginia Tech and Johns Hopkins University, have participated in SEA-PHAGES. Virginia Western is the only community college in Virginia that has been selected to participate. Training for Virginia Western faculty begins this summer and the project will be available to students as part of a two-semester course of study starting Fall Semester 2017. This is an exciting opportunity for students at Virginia Western to be introduced to the scientific method while significantly contributing and connecting to the larger scientific community, says Amy White, Dean of STEM. Our aim, along with HHMIs mission, is to contribute to the scientific body of knowledge and inspire future scientists. Open enrollment for Virginia Westerns Fall Semester will begin on June 21; returning students may … Continue reading →

By Oluwatobi Alabi OLECULAR Biology and Biotechnology Department of Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) will be holding its seventh Annual Molecular Biology Hands-on-Training workshop. The 2017 Molecular Biology Hand-on-training workshop with the theme: Protein Expression is schedule to hold from August 7-11, 2017 at NIMR conference room, Yaba, Lagos. Areas which the conference will focus on during the five-day Hands-on-Training workshop include: Current Methods in Molecular Biology,Ethical issues of challenges in Genetic Research, Molecular Evolution of viruses of Public Health Importance: from Genomics to Proteomics, Introduction and Principles of SDS-PAGE and Basic Protein Interaction Techniques. Also, there will be practical sessions on PCR, SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting. The Molecular Biology hands-on-Training workshop started in 2009 with the theme Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: Roadmap to Specific Diagnosis. The themes for the previous years are: Molecular Biology: The Backbone of Evidence-based Medicine (2010); Role of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in Research and Development (2011); Emerging Infectious Diseases: Combating multi-drug resistance using molecular biology approach (2012); The Importance of Molecular Biology Typing Techniques in Disease Mapping (2013); Practical Applications of Genetic Markers (2014). The idea of MBBT hands-on-training workshop was first muted informally in 2007/2008. In 2009, a total of 48 participants … Continue reading →

Guest column by Nishaa Sharma, sophomore strategic and corporate communications and peace studies major Nishaa Sharma, sophomore strategic and corporate communications and peace studies major I remember the exact moment I realized that the word family means something different for everybody. I was a freshman, getting ready to go to my first high school dance which was our winter formal. My parents had been divorced for five years, and I was living with my sister, my mom and her boyfriend of three years. My father had just started dating his third girlfriend, but I only saw them every other weekend and on special occasions. He wasnt exactly a hands-on parent, and after they split up, he became even less involved in our lives. I was going with a guy friend to winter formal, and was trying on my heels when my moms boyfriend came in and jokingly reminded me that I didnt know how to dance. He patiently led me step-by-step through a waltz as I stumbled around in my heels. Thats when it hit me that somebody doesnt have to be your father to be your dad, and that you dont have to be directly related to someone for … Continue reading →