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Cover art: Chaotic Symmetries - Fabric of Life Series #9 Matrix #1 by John Arabolos Assistant Professor of Visual Arts at the University of New Haven http://arabolosart.com Technical production by Jodi Pfister
A recent study on research creativity suggests it can be identified and encouraged. Above all, creativity occurs in small research groups within large, enabling institutions. Much can be achieved by trusting researchers with funding early in their careers.
The p53-inducible small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase (p53R2) was originally assumed to be involved in DNA repair. A new study finds mutations in the gene encoding p53R2 (RRM2B) in individuals with severe mitochondrial DNA depletion in muscle, demonstrating its central role in mitochondrial DNA synthesis.
The fusion of myoblasts into myofibers has been studied extensively in Drosophila, but it is not known if the same mechanisms operate in vertebrates. A new study suggests an unanticipated degree of similarity in zebrafish.
Although common obesity has a strong genetic component, there has been little success in the discovery of the underlying genetic causes. This has now changed, as two independent studies demonstrate strong association between variants in a gene called FTO and obesity.
Spontaneous, replication-induced DNA breaks are likely to be a primary source of chromosomal rearrangements typical of cancer, but it is unknown how often these breaks occur in normal cells. A new study suggests that they are exceedingly rare but probably up to 100-fold more potent in causing genome instability than previously estimated.
A new study reports that specific combinations of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor and HLA-B alleles influence AIDS progression and plasma HIV RNA levels in HIV-infected individuals. These results suggest that natural killer cells have an important role in recognizing and limiting HIV infection.