biology archive

Gene therapy corrects sickle cell disease in mice - CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- An international team led by an MIT research affiliate has developed a method of gene therapy that corrects sickle cell disease in mice, suggesting future therapies designed to treat the genetic disease in humans. The new method is described in the Dec. 14 issue of Science. December 14, 2001

Buchanan looks back - John M. Buchanan, professor emeritus of biology, discussed the rise of biochemistry as a dynamic field at MIT in the Department of Biology's annual Christmas lecture on Dec. 10. December 12, 2001

RNA editing and brain tumors - A defect in the modification process of messenger RNA may play a role in a common malignant brain tumor, MIT researchers have reported. November 28, 2001

Sackler Lecture scheduled - The inaugural International Lecture in Life Sciences sponsored by Raymond and Beverly Sackler will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 20. November 14, 2001

Gene response identified - Researchers at the MIT/Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research have discovered that a type of human immune cell known as a dendritic cell initiates an important immune response. November 7, 2001

Oceans at risk - A policy tool key to arresting global warming could potentially wreak havoc on the oceans if instituted with no restrictions, warn an MIT professor and colleagues. October 18, 2001

Talk on stem cells rescheduled - A talk on "Stem Cells: Medicine and Myth," originally scheduled for Sept. 12, will take place today (Oct. 3) at 4:30pm in Room 4-370. October 3, 2001

Brain region responds to body images - Researchers at MIT and the U. of Wales report that they have identified part of brain that responds to images, parts of human body. September 27, 2001

Promising cancer results reported - A breast cancer treatment based on MIT radar research is now in Phase II clinical trials, and preliminary results look promising. September 12, 2001

Peptide process touted - If Shuguang Zhang has any say, tiny protein building blocks called peptides will launch the age of designed materials within the next decade. September 12, 2001

Student dives into conference - Pei-Hsin Lin had just finished her junior year at MIT when she jumped at the chance to attend a workshop in Crete. September 12, 2001

Daley discusses stem cells - Daley, a leading investigator in the development of stem cell therapies for blood disorders, will give a talk titled "Stem Cells: Medicine and Myth" today. September 12, 2001

Lindquist elected Whitehead director - Acclaimed molecular biologist Susan L. Lindquist has been appointed director of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. August 15, 2001

Active role for cells found - Certain cells previously thought to be merely undertakers are actually the Jack Kevorkians of the cell world, MIT researchers reported in the July 12 issue of Nature. July 18, 2001

Clones may be abnormal - Scientists have found the first evidence to show that even seemingly normal-looking clones may harbor serious abnormalities affecting gene expression. July 18, 2001

Role for cell undertakers in cell death - Certain cells previously thought to be merely undertakers are actually the Jack Kevorkians of the cell world, MIT researchers report. July 11, 2001

Enzyme able to synthesize RNA - Scientists at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research have created an RNA catalyst, or a ribozyme, that possesses some of the key properties needed to sustain life. June 13, 2001

Biology department awards five - The Department of Biology presented the following awards to five seniors in biology at its annual senior dinner on May 3. June 6, 2001

Gene finding speeds discovery - Scientists at the Whitehead Institute have found that SNPs in northern Europeans travel together in blocks that are much larger than previously thought. June 6, 2001

Scientists build cancer model - A Center for Cancer Research scientist has genetically engineered cancer-prone mice that carry cells that switch on a cancer-causing gene spontaneously, generating cancers much like humans do. May 9, 2001

Baltimore chats during visit - Cloning, the differences between MIT and Cal Tech, and the pros and cons of being a university administrator were among the topics at MIT on March 23. April 4, 2001

Jaenisch against cloning - Professor of Biology Rudolf Jaenisch took an active role last week in standing up for responsible science and being a spokesperson against embarking on human cloning. April 4, 2001

Sperm genes found on X - MIT/Whitehead scientists and colleagues have found that nearly half of all genes related to the earliest stages of sperm production reside on the X chromosome. April 4, 2001

Worms offer longevity clues - An MIT researcher reported in the March 8 issue of Nature that he has helped roundworms live up to 50 percent longer. March 14, 2001

Lander celebrates milestone - Eric Lander, founder and director of the Whitehead Institute/MIT Center for Genome Research, gave a stirring lecture to the MIT community. February 28, 2001

WH finds new weight control - Researchers from the Whitehead Institute and Genset Corp. have found a new compound that controls weight gain in obese mice without affecting their food intake. February 7, 2001

Clues to film formation - At first glance, yeast cells growing on a Jello-like medium look breathtakingly beautiful -- like gossamer flowers with radial spokes emanating from a central hub. February 7, 2001

Animals have complex dreams - Animals have complex dreams and are able to retain and recall long sequences of events while they are asleep, MIT researchers have reported. January 31, 2001

Animals have complex dreams - Animals have complex dreams and are able to retain and recall long sequences of events while they are asleep, MIT researchers report. January 24, 2001

New protein blocks HIV entry - In a promising advance in the war against AIDS, scientists have designed a potent new protein that can prevent HIV infection by blocking its entry into human cells. January 24, 2001

Researcher's "decoys" deactivate fibrils - A researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed "decoy" compounds that can render harmless toxic fibrils that grow in brains of Alzheimer's patients. January 17, 2001

Radar research treats cancer - An MIT researcher's work on radar technology to detect missiles will be applied in FDA-approved Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of breast cancer. January 10, 2001

Discovery could treat Alzheimer's - Biologist Vernon M. Ingram has developed "decoy" compounds that can render harmless the toxic fibrils that grow in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. January 10, 2001