Biotech & pharma
Metabolic errors can spell doom for DNA
By By Anne Trafton, MIT News Office | 01 Feb 2012
Many critical cell functions depend on a class of molecules called purines, which form half of the building blocks of DNA and RNA, and are a major component of the chemicals that store a cell’s energy. MIT biological engineers have precisely measured the effects of errors in systems for purine production and breakdown
Genetic breakthrough for brain cancer in children
31 Jan 2012
Research team identifies two mutations in crucial gene involved in deadly paediatric brain tumours
Researchers induce Alzheimer’s neurons from pluripotent stem cells
By By Scott LaFee | 27 Jan 2012
For the first time scientists have created stem cell-derived, in vitro models of sporadic and hereditary Alzheimer’s, using induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with the neurodegenerative disorder