Chickpea, a staple crop for millions, is highly vulnerable to Fusarium wilt. A new study reveals how activating systemic acquired resistance through AtNPR1 and identifying the RNA helicase CaDEAD-box20 can significantly enhance disease resistance, opening pathways for durable, broad-spectrum protection in chickpea and other legumes.
Posted on in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience & Research
Bats of the central Himalayas rely on caves for survival, shifting habitats with seasons to hibernate or raise young. A recent study from National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru reveals how climate change and human activity threaten these vital refuges, underscoring the need for targeted, seasonal conservation to safeguard both bats and ecosystems.
Posted on in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience & Research
In the sprawling metropolis of the human body, order is maintained by a careful system of governance. Every cell knows its duty, follows its genetic code, and contributes to the greater whole. But sometimes, amid the quiet rhythm of breast tissue, a rebellion stirs. This is breast cancer, a faction that looks like it belongs, yet works from within to undermine balance. Luminal cancers arise from cells that still display oestrogen and progesterone receptors, masquerading as diplomatic badges. These allow the cancer to blend in, hijack hormonal signals, and quietly build strength.
Posted on in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience & Research
Two early-career neuroscientists from India, Poulomi Banerjee and Proloy Das, have been awarded the prestigious 2025 International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) Rising Star Award, in recognition of their research contributions and potential for the future of neuroscience. While they have taken different paths in their scientific journeys, they share a common goal: creating a research space that fills a significant gap in their field and enhances India's position in the neurosciences.
Posted on in Neuroscience, Advice & Research
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology demonstrate in a recent study that the life history of Drosophila busckii revolves around a toxic molecule, dimethyldisulfide (DMDS). The team has discovered that D. busckii is the first drosophilid species demonstrated to survive a known insect neurotoxin and could be developed further as a model to address questions of ecology and toxicology.
Posted on in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience & Research
New study from BRIC-National Institute of Immunology reveals how vitamin B12 boosts serotonin signalling and promotes longevity through brain-gut interaction.
Posted on in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience & Research
The brain, a biological engineering wonder, depends on a delicately balanced system of cells, signals, and defense barriers to work in harmony. For decades, researchers have studied neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) with a near-exclusive focus on neurons, the brain’s information processors. However, what if the earliest signs of damage occur not within neurons, but in the blood vessels that support and protect them?