Cell Type

Anti-entropic solar energy

“We have a group trying to model the mitochondrion” — Ulla Mattfolk Trash pickup problem Excerpt: “The PGAM5 protein would be regulated by an allosteric mechanism, in which its biological function would switch from activation of the PINK1/PARKIN pathway for removal of damaged mitochondria to the FUNDC1 pathway for removal of damaged mitochondria,” according to Anti-entropic solar energy

Epigenetics Skeptism

Thanks to Joost G. Wouters for the alert to this nonsense: 1) Michael White in Pacific Standard magazine flatly states that “Epigenetics Is Not Revolutionizing Biology.” 2) Adrian Bird points out in the journal Cell that many of the field’s assumptions and promises remain unproven and are perhaps excessive. 1) White’s article sketches the field’s Epigenetics Skeptism

Is DNA-directed transcription RNA-mediated?

Single-cell transcriptogenomics reveals transcriptional exclusion of ENU-mutated alleles. Concluding sentence excerpt: “…rather than a rigid deterministic mechanism, transcription is not hardwired and able to select against potentially adverse changes in the DNA template. Such transcription avoidance may be yet another layer of protection against the detrimental consequences of mutations and provide further clues to understanding Is DNA-directed transcription RNA-mediated?

Assembling yourself: Molecular self / other recognition

Chiral recognition and selection during the self-assembly process of protein-mimic macroanions Abstract excerpt: “We believe that delicate long-range electrostatic interactions could be responsible for such high-level chiral recognition and selection.” Article excerpt: “This self-assembly allows relatively simple building blocks to organize themselves into larger supramolecular structures, a phenomenon that has parallels with the formation of Assembling yourself: Molecular self / other recognition

Implicating microRNAs in cancer

Genome-wide CRISPR Screen in a Mouse Model of Tumor Growth and Metastasis Reported as: In vivo CRISPR-Cas9 screen sheds light on cancer metastasis and tumor evolution Excerpt: “Unexpectedly, the screen also implicated several microRNAs — small RNA segments that are functional in the cell. More experimental work remains to fully explore the genes and microRNAs Implicating microRNAs in cancer

Let there be anti-entropic light (1)

Summary: Light-induced amino acid substitutions link cell type differentiation in plants to nutrient-dependent pheromone-controlled reproduction in animals via the biophysically constrained chemistry of protein folding. Protein folding is perturbed by mutations that limit the ability of organisms to adapt to ecological variation. Viruses contribute to mutations. The sun’s biological energy appears to supply the anti-entropic Let there be anti-entropic light (1)

An epigenetic trap (the prequel)

See also: An epigenetic trap (the sequel) Excerpt: “Support for the link from one epigenetic trap to cell type differentiation was included in the molecular epigenetics section of our 1996 review, which detailed how RNA-mediated chromatin remodeling occurs.” My comment: One epigenetic trap leads to the de novo creation of olfactory receptor genes and cell An epigenetic trap (the prequel)