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Vertebrates rely on the inner ear to convert the mechanical stimuli of sound and head movements into electrical signals that can be decoded by the brain. This process,…
RNA interference (RNAi) in C. elegans is remarkably potent and efficient. It is potent because minuscule amounts of RNA silencing signals can be amplified and it is efficient…
Monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline are released by small populations of neurons that send information to much of the brain. These neurons function like major…
Iron is a key micronutrient that organisms use in many biological processes. Indeed, aerobic respiration requires iron to transport oxygen in our blood, to catalyze redox reactions of…
Some fundamental cellular activities are directed by RNA-based machines. The RNAs in these machines adopt distinct three-dimensional structures in order to facilitate their function, much in the way…
A longstanding goal of neuroscience is to figure out how the brain reacts to what is happening in the outside world. But it has been challenging to map…
by the astonishing variety of forms, shapes, and colors that have evolved in nature. This variation has allowed organisms to adapt to their local environments, for example, to…
Human brain cells begin their lives as pluripotent cells with the potential to develop into any cell type in the body. As those pluripotent stem cells differentiate and…
Considering both good and bad is fundamental for future planning and decision-making. When animals forage, they may consider how tasty the food is, how much food is available…
As neurons develop in the central nervous system, they encounter many potential synaptic partners, and choose among them to form stable connections with only a few. The specific…
