Dossier - 18/11/2013 Innovative textiles made possible by biotechnology Biotechnology plays a part in many high-tech fabrics that have become an integral part of our everyday life. Whether it is products for the treatment of wounds, fabrics for marquees or for clothing, many materials have been developed or are produced using biotechnological techniques and processes. Many products marketed as “micro” or “nano” are inspired by nature. The current topic of the month addresses different aspects of innovative textiles…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/innovative-textiles-made-possible-by-biotechnology
Article - 23/09/2013 Giorgos Pyrowolakis to investigate the playground of evolution Amazing but true: the basic state of a cell theoretically enables it to develop into any other possible cell. However, certain signalling molecules (morphogens) and the quantity in which they are present cause cells to develop into specific cells. In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, they may become part of the wing, part of a leg or an intestinal cell. Dr. Giorgos Pyrowolakis, a developmental biologist at BIOSS (Centre for Biological…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/giorgos-pyrowolakis-to-investigate-the-playground-of-evolution
Article - 29/07/2013 Genetic fingerprinting - a useful method in fruit production Genetic fingerprinting is a well-known technique used for paternity testing and in forensic science. However, the technique is also used in the field of agriculture. Molecular genetics makes it possible to develop and apply new research and breeding methods to the field of fruit production in order to improve production and quality standards. Dr. Haibo Xuan from the Competence Centre for Fruit Production (KOB) at Lake Constance has been working…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/genetic-fingerprinting-a-useful-method-in-fruit-production
Article - 17/06/2013 Evolution of light perception networks in plants Genetically identical plants develop rather differently depending on the light conditions in which they live. In the dark the plant grows in length in order to reach the sunlight needed for photosynthesis. Exposed to light the plant then switches to a different development programme becomes green and assembles its photosynthesis machinery. Prof. Dr. Andreas Hiltbrunner from the University of Freiburg is interested in finding out how the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/evolution-of-light-perception-networks-in-plants
Article - 03/06/2013 Red light to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of gene expression The interaction of proteins and RNA is a crucial factor in the regulation of gene expression. These protein-RNA interactions can be specifically controlled and investigated inside the cell using proteins with customised chemical functions. In his doctoral thesis, chemist Moritz Schmidt from the University of Konstanz addresses the possibility of conveying new functions to proteins by introducing non-natural amino acids. He has developed a…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/red-light-to-elucidate-the-regulatory-mechanisms-of-gene-expression
Dossier - 13/05/2013 The human proteome – the next major goal The “Human Proteome Project”, a ten-year global initiative that is making a systematic effort to map all human proteins, has moved from the planning to the experimental stage. How significant and how effective the project will be depends on how much the resources offered are used by proteome researchers and on the data that the researchers bring into the project. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/the-human-proteome-the-next-major-goal
Article - 04/03/2013 Protein folding to unravel the origin of life Computer analyses of protein folding have shed light on the evolution of early life on earth. Researchers from the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies and the University of Illinois, USA, have examined the folding speed of the domains of proteins and found that there has been a trend towards the optimisation of protein folding since their appearance 3.8 billion years ago. 1.5 billion years ago, more complex domain structures and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/protein-folding-to-unravel-the-origin-of-life
Article - 11/02/2013 Johannes Krause examines historical pathogens: old pathogens in a new light Palaeogeneticist Johannes Krause is drawn to ancient DNA. His work on the evolution of human pathogens shows that his findings are not purely of historical interest, but also enable conclusions to be made on future disease outbreaks and epidemics. In autumn 2012, Krause was awarded an ERC Starting Grant. Krause uses the grant to expand his research into plague and other historical pathogens that continue to be a threat to human health. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/johannes-krause-examines-historical-pathogens-old-pathogens-in-a-new-light
Article - 14/01/2013 A Heidelberg man of African origin The lower jaw of Homo heidelbergensis was an isolated find and has long been overshadowed by other spectacular early human finds. Homo heidelbergensis is regarded as the last common ancestor of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, and so is a central part of the debate on modern human origins.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-heidelberg-man-of-african-origin
Press release - 14/12/2012 Need for Speed: High-speed Measurements of Molecular Motion in the Cell Nucleus They were able to measure the binding of highly specialised protein complexes that specifically change the spatial structure of the genetic information thereby controlling the readout of the DNA information. The work of Dr. Karsten Rippe and his team was carried out at the BioQuant Center of Heidelberg University and the German Cancer Research Center. Their research has demonstrated that the positioning of nucleosomes complexes of DNA and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/need-for-speed-high-speed-measurements-of-molecular-motion-in-the-cell-nucleus
Article - 15/10/2012 ERC Starting Grants 2012: Baden-Württemberg achieves above-average success On September 10th 2012, the European Research Council (ERC) announced the results of the fifth funding round of its Starting Grants. Baden-Württemberg was awarded 13 grants, and is the state with the largest number of a total of 34 grants awarded to German life sciences researchers. Baden-Württemberg life sciences researchers will be receiving Starting Grants worth around 20 million euros.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/erc-starting-grants-2012-baden-wuerttemberg-achieves-above-average-success
Dossier - 01/10/2012 Systems biology: understanding complex biological systems Systems biology studies complex interactions within biological systems on the genome proteome and organelle level. Many techniques from the fields of systems theory and associated fields can be used to gain an understanding of the behaviour and biological mechanisms of cellular systems.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/systems-biology-understanding-complex-biological-systems
Article - 18/09/2012 Michael Kühl: in search of the gene architects of the heart Michael Kühl is investigating the development of the heart using a broad range of different model organisms. The developmental biologist, director of the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Ulm, also uses evolutionary and systems biology approaches for his work. Kühl’s basic research does not follow an art for art’s sake principle, but also addresses the development of new therapies for the treatment of heart…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/michael-kuehl-in-search-of-the-gene-architects-of-the-heart
Article - 27/08/2012 The discovery of homeotic genes Research into the genes that cause erroneous developments in fruit flies have led to one of the most exciting discoveries in the field of developmental biology: the same type of gene that controls early embryonic development in Drosophila, also controls early embryogenesis of other organisms, including humans. These homeotic genes are lined up on the DNA in exactly the same order as they are expressed along the body axis during embryogenesis. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-discovery-of-homeotic-genes
Article - 27/08/2012 Why don't dogs talk? Humans have developed a unique ability to communicate through speech and language. Research focusing on the development of human language and its genetic basis focuses specifically on the developmental gene FOXP2. Evo-devo research has shown that a human-specific FOXP2 variant is key for the human ability to talk. It is likely that the human variant of the rather common FOXP2 protein was already present in Neanderthals.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/why-don-t-dogs-talk
Dossier - 27/08/2012 Evo-devo - the synthesis of developmental biology and evolution Evo-devo research has led to completely new ideas concerning the evolution of animals, their tissues and organs. The huge variety of animals on the planet is the result of changes in the activity of a limited number of master genes that control early embryonic development. These master genes have been highly conserved throughout evolution, which is why their analysis allows conclusions to be drawn concerning the evolution of multicellular animals…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/evo-devo-the-synthesis-of-developmental-biology-and-evolution
Article - 27/08/2012 A worm that turned The body plan of vertebrates resembles an earthworm turned on its back. Unsurprisingly, this radical idea initially met with great criticism but modern evo-devo research supports this idea of inversion. An evolutionarily conserved gene cassette determines the dorsoventral axis in the developing embryo. It does so in both vertebrates and invertebrates. However, the body plans of vertebrates and invertebrates are dorsoventrally inverted with…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-worm-that-turned
Article - 27/08/2012 How the distance from the source affects tissue patterning and growth in embryos During the embryonic development of fruit flies, zebra fish and humans, just a handful of molecules control cell migration, induce cell division and determine which cells form which type of tissue. A group of researchers led by Dr. Giorgos Pyrowolakis at the University of Freiburg is specifically focused on one of these so-called master regulators. How do the differently patterned BMP gradients develop in Drosophila melanogaster eggs, embryos and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/how-the-distance-from-the-source-affects-tissue-patterning-and-growth-in-embryos
Press release - 17/08/2012 Max Planck scientist investigates the evolutionary model of Muller’s ratchet Especially in small asexual populations unfavourable mutations can accumulate. This process is known as Mullers ratchet in evolutionary biology. The ratchet predicts that the genome deteriorates irreversibly leaving populations on a one-way street to extinction. In collaboration with colleagues from the US Richard Neher from the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology has shown mathematically how Mullers ratchet operates and he has…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/max-planck-scientist-investigates-the-evolutionary-model-of-muller-s-ratchet
Article - 23/07/2012 Evolution of regenerative mechanisms and stem cell systems Researchers from around the world participated in the first annual symposium organised by the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg in early July to discuss the evolution of the regenerative mechanisms and stem cell systems of plants and animals. Although stem cells and the multicellularity of animals and plants evolved independently from each other, their stem cell systems are nevertheless governed by the same principles. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/evolution-of-regenerative-mechanisms-and-stem-cell-systems
Article - 29/05/2012 David Schleheck: exploring the effective degradation of surfactants David Schleheck biologist at the University of Konstanz focuses on the bacterial degradation of surfactants and LAS in particular. The results of his research are of huge importance for the recycling of grey water in areas including home sewage treatment systems for example.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/david-schleheck-exploring-the-effective-degradation-of-surfactants
Press release - 22/05/2012 Rare neurons discovered in monkey brains Henry Evrard neuroanatomist at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen Germany now discovered that von Economo neurons VEN occur in the insula of macaque monkeys. The morphology size and distribution of the monkey VEN suggest that it is at least a primal anatomical homolog of the human VEN. This finding offers new and much-needed opportunities to examine in detail the connections and functions of a cell and brain region…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/rare-neurons-discovered-in-monkey-brains
Article - 16/04/2012 Endosymbiosis and horizontal gene transfer Mitochondria and plastids, which evolved by way of symbiogenesis, have over time come under the control of nuclear genes. It is still not known how the expression of genes encoded in the nucleus and mitochondrion is coordinated to make them functional. Model systems such as highly specialized plastid-incorporating marine slugs can be used to help clarify such issues. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/endosymbiosis-and-horizontal-gene-transfer
Article - 16/04/2012 DNA recombination for targeted plant breeding Did evolution invent games of chance? During the development of sperm and egg cells, maternal and paternal genes are mixed at random, thus giving rise to new combinations of traits. What are the molecular mechanisms of this process known as DNA recombination? How can it be used to breed plants with higher yields? Prof. Dr. Holger Puchta and his team at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are investigating the processes associated with the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/dna-recombination-for-targeted-plant-breeding
Article - 05/03/2012 Regulatory networks of plant stem cell systems A team of researchers led by Prof. Jan Lohmann at the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg is investigating the regulatory programmes that control the stem cell centre in the shoot meristem of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana and enable the plant to react to environmental influences. Despite the fact that animal and plant cells have developed independently from each other, the researchers have discovered unexpected similarities between…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/regulatory-networks-of-plant-stem-cell-systems