The best kept secret

The best kept secret: 

How to trick normal cells into becoming neurons.

credits: Ana Costa.
A variety of different proteins characterizes each cell type.

A recent report (17th january, Cell) has presented evidence that cell types other than neurons, such as cells of the connective tissues, can be turned into neurons only by controlling the levels of one protein in those cells. 

So far, this “trick” is the simplest and more straightforward way ever reported to obtain neurons in the lab, as other previously employed methods involved the use of many compounds and were less efficient. The results are exciting, but the important step of replicating this work in animals is far from reality, at least for now. At the moment, scientists are trying to understand if they can achieve the same results in whole organisms (moving from in vivo to in vitro systems). Positive results would definitely have a great impact on the way we deal with neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and others).

Strategies aiming at preserving damaged neurons or attempts to slow down the rate of neuron deterioration have not considerably improved the quality of life of those affected with neurodegeneration. Now, these results will prompt the scientists to explore a promising new route: the conversion of cells that lie nearby the damaged neurons into new neurons.

And in addition to the promising new therapeutics, one cannot avoid envisioning a scenario where even healthy individuals could profit from this technique: - Why not ask your doctor to boost your pool of neurons? You may consider getting just a couple more to help you pass the final exams; or you can go big and request a pile of fresh new ones to address the list of long-standing prize money-earning unsolved mathematical problems.

Machine2013

MACHINE 2013

From the brains of the bees

Of bees and…

credits: Ana Costa

From the brains of honeybees, we learned that epigenetics can control social behaviour and career changes.

EpiPost

Epigenetics…let’s get started.

The text below refers to laboratory results published back in 2011. However, those results are a good example of what epigenetics can mean to our lives. If, after reading the post, you’re more confused than before, don’t worry – even senior scientists working in this field for a long time can be surprised by the experimental results related with epigenetics!

I am writing about a paper published more than a year ago to start a new series called: EpiPosts. More to come soon – how can we resist this topic?!

Science and us - part III

credits: Ana Costa

How much do we care about science?

PART3

Nature behaves in such a way that novelty is put before us every day. As a result, we often don’t understand it or comprehend its full meaning. Living organisms, still rocks, or physical phenomena are only a few examples of never-ending sources of pertinent questions. Even, or dare we say, specially, when they obey their natural rules in a remarkable perfect manner. By questioning the well doings of nature, science prepares to understand the misbehaviours that can originate inconvenients, pain and death. The more we know about the governing processes behind the common everyday aspects of what surrounds us, the easier it will be to avoid and overcome the defaults that we are to encounter.

Next time we try to reason how planes can become faster in the future, we could also try to understand how the different birds succeed in the air. 

Eventually, science is there to satisfy our curiosity and our needs. In the end, it may very likely shape our life. But we have to ask the questions to get the answers. So, are we willing to care more about science? If we want our particular issues to be addressed, may they be desperate enquiries or curious doubts, clearly the answer has to be yes.

Science and us - part II

...from PART2:

- what are scientists doing right now in their labs around the world and how is it going to affect us?

Science and us - part II

credits: Ana Costa

How much do we care about science?

PART2

It was long ago that we learned to trust science and, without even knowing how, we now depend on it. We rely on its discoveries to change the way we live and we truly believe that its progresses will create a better future. It has been used to generate prosperity and it now stands as a valuable resource to be used for social and economical development. But in the course of our lives, how many times have we wondered: -what are scientists doing right now in their labs around the world and how is it going to affect us?

These questions do not follow us during the day or prevent us from sleeping at night. Unless something goes wrong, and then we realize there are things we do want to know. The milk left out of the fridge has gone off; - can we have products that last longer? Pollution in our cities increases every day; - can we have new ways to clean the air? It takes too many hours to travel to Australia; - can we have faster planes? And, in the case of deeper concerns: - will we be free of diseases one day? We do want to know if, when attacked by that expected seasonal cold or defied by a terrifying unforeseen cancer, science will give us the answers. To many of us, when things go wrong, hopes are deposited in science.

Commonly, science addresses problems and tries to solve them, from the infinitely small of nanodimensions, to the infinitely big of cosmic spaces. And if many have been solved in the past, more are to be solved soon. But science does more than that and if we don’t realize the broad nature of its achievements, we may be missing the fundamentals of the world we are part of. We can turn to science when things go wrong, but science will give us even more if we ask about the things that go well. To the questions concerning our problems, we should add the questions arising from our amazements. And as irrelevant as they may seem, questions are the first step leading to an explanation. 

PART3, the last one, to be published soon!