Scientists Create First Computerized Model Of Organism’s Entire Lifecycle

For the first time, researchers at Stanford University in California have used computer software to simulate the entire lifecycle of an organism — all 525 genes of the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium. The breakthrough, which is described in a paper published in the journal Cell on July 20, could lead to enormous advances in the fields of genetics, personalized medicine, pharmaceuticals and biology in general, allowing scientists to perform experiments that wouldn’t be possible on actual living organisms. Researchers used 128 computers to model an organism that is actually a sexually transmitted parasite. “I’m a big believer in ‘model-driven discovery’ which simply means that if you have a model of a biological process, you will make discoveries more quickly and efficiently than you would without a model,” said Markus Covert, an assistant professor of bioengineering...

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DST JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW Vacancy in SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram

Qualification & Experience: 1st Class M Sc in Biochemistry and NET. Six months                                                research   experience is desirable. Monthly emoluments : ` 12,000/- + 20 % HRA (Consolidated) for 1st and 2nd year and ` 14,000/-                                      +  20 % HR (Consolidated) during 3rd year. Maximum age as on 31-7-2012 : 35 years. No. of vacancies : One Duration : Three years or till Completion of project, whichever is earlier. Date & Time of interview : 01-8-2012 at 10:30 AM Time of reporting : 09:00 AM Mode of selection : Walk-in-interview Venue : Biomedical Technology Wing, Satelmond Palace,               Poojapura, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 012                (Phone No: 2340801) for more information visit:  http://www.sctimst.ac.in/Recruitment/resources/RESEARCH%20ASSOCIATE%20%20-%20%28TEMP%29.pdf...

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Research Assistant & Project Assistant Jobs in IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur

Project Title INNOVATIVE USE OF UNDULATING DROUGHT PRONE FRAGILE LATERITIC WASTELANDS IN THE REMOTE TRIBAL BELT RECOURSE TO LARGER SCALE PRODUCTION OF A KHARIF MINOR OIL SEED CROP LIKE NIGER (GIUZOTIA ABYSSINICA L.F (CASS) ( IUU ) Reference Number IIT/SRIC/R/IUU/2012/140 DATED 19th March, 2012 Temporary Position(s) Walk-in-interview on 6/8/2012 at 4-00 PM in Rural Dev. Centre for the post of a) Research Assistant and b) Project Assistant Number of vacancies a) 1 b) 1 Consolidated Compensation a) Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 12,500/- per month (depending upon qualification & experience) b) Rs. 8,000/- per month Coordinator / PI Dr. S. C. Mahapatra, , Rural Development Centre Qualifications & Experience a) Master in Agricultural Science, Biotechnology, Economics, Social Science, Anthropology; with a valid GATE / NET score; Ability to work in rural areas and making communication with rural people. b) 1st Class Master Degree in Economics, Agricultural Science, Biotechnology with a good communication skill and working with rural people. Relevant Experience Candidate should send prior intimation with their CV to the email ID scmaha@hijli.iitkgp.ernet.in by 5.8.2012 with a subject heading “Walk in interview for RA/PA ”  Last Date 06 Aug 2012 Application Fee Rs. 50 (not for female candidates) /...

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Viruses' Copying Mechanism Demystified, Opening the Door to New Vaccine Strategies

Certain kinds of viruses such as those that cause the common cold, SARS, hepatitis, and encephalitis, copy themselves using a unique mechanism, according to a team of Penn State scientists that includes David Boehr, an assistant professor of chemistry and a co-leader of the research team. The discovery sheds light on a previously identified, but never-before-understood region of an enzyme associated with the process of replicating genetic material. The research is an important step toward the improvement of existing vaccines, as well as toward the design of vaccines against viruses that have eluded vaccination strategies in the past. The research will be published in the print issue of the journal Structure on Sept. 5. All organisms use enzymes called polymerases to "read" and copy their genetic material. While the genetic material of viruses that cause diseases such as SARS, influenza, and polio is composed of single-stranded RNA, the genetic material of many other viruses, such as those that cause herpes and conjunctivitis, is composed of double-stranded DNA. Regardless of whether the genetic material is DNA or RNA, viruses hijack a host cell's machinery, forcing it to replicate the virus's own genetic material and, ultimately, to make copies of the virus that will spread to and infect other cells. The polymerases of many organisms, including DNA viruses, are known to have a "cupped right hand" structure -- a configuration of atoms that can be described as resembling a palm, fingers and thumb. "We've known for some time that, in organisms that use DNA as their genetic material, within the 'palm' of the hand is specific helical structure where much...

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Researchers Produce First Complete Computer Model of an Organism

A team led by Markus Covert, assistant professor of bioengineering, used data from more than 900 scientific papers to account for every molecular interaction that takes place in the life cycle of Mycoplasma genitalium, the world's smallest free-living bacterium. By encompassing the entirety of an organism in silico, the paper fulfills a longstanding goal for the field. Not only does the model allow researchers to address questions that aren't practical to examine otherwise, it represents a stepping-stone toward the use of computer-aided design in bioengineering and medicine. "This achievement demonstrates a transforming approach to answering questions about fundamental biological processes," said James M. Anderson, director of the National Institutes of Health Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives. "Comprehensive computer models of entire cells have the potential to advance our understanding of cellular function and, ultimately, to inform new approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of disease." The research was partially funded by an NIH Director's Pioneer Award from the National Institutes of Health Common Fund. From information to understanding Biology over the past two decades has been marked by the rise of high-throughput studies producing enormous troves of cellular information. A lack of experimental data is no longer the primary limiting factor for researchers. Instead, it's how to make sense of what they already know. Most biological experiments, however, still take a reductionist approach to this vast array of data: knocking out a single gene and seeing what happens. "Many of the issues we're interested...

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