Illuminating the chicken model through genetic modification

Genetic modification of chicken germ cells

Over the past two decades numerous reports have demonstrated that the genetic modification of poultry genomes has great potential for improving poultry production; moreover, it may be used as a powerful tool for the production of industrial proteins. To date, transgenic techniques have been established for generating transgenic birds that express recombinant human proteins in hen eggs, as well ...

Illuminating the Transcriptome through the Genome

Sequencing the human genome was a huge milestone in genetic research that revealed almost the total DNA sequence required to create a human being. However, in order to function, the DNA genome needs to be expressed as an RNA transcriptome. This article reviews how knowledge of genome sequence information has led to fundamental discoveries in how the transcriptome is processed, with a focus on n...

Illuminating Atherogenesis Through Mathematical Modeling

Illuminating human health through cell mechanics.

Cells reside in mechanically rich and dynamic microenvironments, and the complex interplay between mechanics and biology is widely acknowledged. Recent research has yielded insights linking the mechanobiology of cells, human physiology, and pathophysiology. In particular, we have learned of the cell's astounding ability to sense and respond to its mechanical microenvironment. This seemingly inn...

Illuminating Mental Representations through Speech and Gesture

Can the gestures people produce when describing algebra word problems offer insight into their mental representations of the problems? Twenty adults were asked to describe six word problems about constant change, and then to talk aloud as they solved the problems. Two problems depicted continuous change, two depicted discrete change, and two depicted change that could be construed as either con...