Lifeboat Foundation

DNA — now with a new base pair! (credit: Romesberg Lab)

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have developed the first stable semisynthetic organism — a bacterium with two new synthetic bases (called X and Y) added to the four natural bases (A, T, C, and G) that every living organism possesses. Adding two more letters to expand the genetic alphabet can be used to make novel proteins for new therapeutics, according to the researchers.

All life as we currently know it contains just four bases that pair up to form two “base pairs” — the rungs of the DNA ladder — which are simply rearranged to create different organisms.

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Foundation and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging join forces on a research program against neurodegenerative diseases.

#aging #crowdfundthecure

RNA interference (RNAi) is an important process, used by many different organisms to regulate the activity of genes. This animation explains how RNAi works and introduces the two main players: small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). We take you on an audio-visual journey, diving into a cell to show how genes are transcribed to make messenger RNA (mRNA) and how RNAi can silence specific mRNAs to stop them from making proteins. The animation is based on the latest research, to give you an up-to-date view.

If you’d like to know more about the structures and processes you see in this video, check out the accompanying slideshow: http://www.nature.com/nrg/multimedia/rnai/animation/index.html

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Recent evidence suggests that a variety of organisms may harness some of the unique features of quantum mechanics to gain a biological advantage. These features go beyond trivial quantum effects and may include harnessing quantum coherence on physiologically important timescales.

Quantum Biology — Quantum Mind Theory

It will and I know some folks are also applying Quantum properties to their bio-research to look at ways to tackle certain brain cancers via (you guessed it) Quantum Biology.

Quantum computing and machine learning will impact most all parts of human life, but one of the first and most compelling benefits we will see is in the field of cancer research, says one expert.

Continue reading “Quantum computing will revolutionize cancer research, says D-Wave co-founder Farris” »

In Brief Antibiotic misuse is a major cause of the rise of superbugs around the world. Doctors, patients, and farmers alike can work together to end the abuse of these essential drugs.

Nevada officials in January reported the death of a woman from an infection resistant to every antibiotic available in the U.S, the type of news we will likely hear more about in the future unless health care providers and consumers change their ways.

A high-level report in 2014 estimated that as many as 10 million people a year could die worldwide from antibiotic resistance by 2050.

#science #newscientist #geneediting #heartdisease #medicine #health

The field of medical AI is buzzing. More and more companies set the purpose to disrupt healthcare with the help of artificial intelligence. Here, I collected the biggest names currently on the market ranging from start-ups to tech giants to keep an eye on in the future.

A short rebuttal of the ‘immortal dictators’ objection.

C’mon now. This isn’t even a serious objection.

Preamble: I’m sure this is obvious, and I have repeated it who knows how many times, but rejuvenation would not make you immortal. Rejuvenation saves your butt from diseases, not from bullets.

That being said, let’s stick to the topic of bullets and guns for a little while. This particular objection to rejuvenation is something like this: Tyrants and oppressors would sure do anything in their power to get their hands on rejuvenation and use it to perpetuate their dictatorship indefinitely. Since an everlasting dictatorship is bad, the rejuvenation therapies that might lead to it are bad too.

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