Biochemistry
Category archives for Biochemistry
Getting into the Fray
Posted by Weizmann Science Writer on October 22, 2012 “The public, blog-fueled controversy over the utilization of arsenate instead of phosphate in bacteria was, in the end, a demonstration of what is truly right with scientific quests,” says Prof. Dan Tawfik. “The original findings (that certain bacteria can use arsenate instead of phosphate) may have been overhyped. The research itself may have been underwhelming.…
A Dynamic Trio of Findings
Posted by Weizmann Science Writer on June 13, 2012 Blurring, chopping and blocking. Three online items this week all deal with some pretty dynamic phenomena. The blurring is in our perceptions. It turns out that if you even think you have lost money in an experiment, your ability to distinguish between musical notes will be hampered. What’s the connection? Dr. Rony Paz has been…
Don’t Throw Out Those Introns
Posted by Weizmann Science Writer on March 12, 2012 A somewhat accidental discovery and random meetings between proteins in a cell: These are the subjects of two new online articles. Each, it its way, involves a technological advance that will, in turn, lead to further scientific discovery. The first involves a partnership between a physics group and a cancer-research group. Among other things, such…
Immunization against Autoimmunity
Posted by Weizmann Science Writer on December 27, 2011 Often, simply identifying the structure of a potential drug target protein and designing a molecule to block it are not enough. Just ask Prof. Irit Sagi, a chemist turned biology researcher, who recently developed a clever technique for directing the body to design its own protein-blocking molecules. Sagi studies an enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase 9…
Choose Your Bond
Posted by Weizmann Science Writer on May 30, 2011 Two completely unrelated papers have got us thinking about chemical bonds. When we refer to chemical bonds, we generally mean covalent bonds: Atoms become “wedded,” sharing electrons, and breaking them apart takes energy. By comparison, other types of bonds are weak attractions – mere flirtations, or mild sparks between hydrogen and oxygen in passing water…