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Volume electron microscopy (vEM) generates large 3D volumes of cells or tissues at nanoscale resolutions, enabling analyses of organelles in their cellular environment. Here, we provide examples of vEM in cell biology and discuss community efforts to develop standards in sample preparation and image acquisition for enhanced reproducibility and data reuse.
Despite the constant renewal of their components, cellular actin networks maintain their overall appearance, through a subtle balance of filament assembly and disassembly. This balance is key to the remodelling of cellular architecture. We discuss the significance of in vitro reconstitutions in deciphering the complexity of actin regulation.
Women and gender minorities make defining contributions to science. Despite increased representation of women across the scientific career ladder, institutions routinely fail to support their career advancement or value their input. For an equitable and intersectional future faculty, definitions of excellence must evolve to better value women’s contributions.
With biomedical sciences quickly outgrowing many other application areas in terms of data generation, there is a unique opportunity for life sciences to become one of the greatest beneficiaries of research in machine learning and AI, and also inspire foundational developments in it.
Advances in technology dramatically accelerate biology research, with computation being a standout example. Typically, adapting a new technology follows stages from method creation, via proof-of-concept application to biology, to the development of usable tools. Creating user-friendly software to bridge computer science and biology is a crucial step, yielding high returns on investment and driving biological discoveries. However, we need dedicated resources and a shift in the academic reward system to harness the full potential of computer science in biology.
Intellectual freedom for scientists, unconstrained by commercial interests and direct application, fuels unexpected discoveries. Curiosity-driven, basic science has yielded a deeper understanding of how life forms develop and function in their environment and has had wide implications for health and our planet. Investing in this is vital for scientific progress and is worth protecting in a democracy.
