Skip to navigation Skip to content

Research, Page 10

May 24, 2017

Small steps to treat neuromuscular disorder

Small steps to treat neuromuscular disorder

Researchers find evidence of a genetic modifier that can improve symptoms of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Chris Lorson examines axons through a microscope. Lorson’s lab recently published results that showed evidence that the protein plastin 3 affects the severity of SMA. | Photo by Eleanor Hasenbeck, Bond LSC Eleanor Hasenbeck | Bond Life Sciences Center Two…

May 15, 2017

BPA rewires the sex of turtle brains

BPA rewires the sex of turtle brains

By Jinghong Chen | Bond Life Sciences Center Painted turtle eggs were brought from a hatchery in Louisiana, candled to ensure embryo viability and then incubated at male-permissive temperatures in a bed of vermiculite. Those exposed to BPA developed deformities to testes that held female characteristics.Photo by Roger Meissen | © 2015 – MU Bond…

March 23, 2017

Why self-defense turns self-attack

Why self-defense turns self-attack

By Jinghong Chen | Bond Life Sciences Center Mahmoud Khalafalla, a Ph.D. student at Weisman’s lab, is isolating RNA from salivary glands of Sjögren’s syndrome mouse model to look for the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. | photo by Jinghong Chen, Bond LSC Our immune system is often the key to our health. Everyday, it works…

March 17, 2017

Planting a seed for sciences

Planting a seed for sciences

Jinghong Chen | Bond Life Sciences Center Plants on the left grow with rhizobia bacteria, one type of fixing nitrogen bacteria, in the greenhouse, while the plants on the right grow without the bacteria. | photo by Jinghong Chen, Bond LSC Since eight years old, Beverly Agtuca knew she wanted to be a scientist. A…

Feb. 17, 2017

Art of balance

Art of balance

Jinghong Chen | Bond Life Sciences Center Vinit Shanbhag mixes the CRISPR plasmid DNA with cells. The lab will test whether the gene of interest has been knocked out of the cells later. | photo by Jinghong Chen, Bond LSC It might be strange to say, but in a way the Australian soil led scientist…

Feb. 10, 2017

Chemical persuasion

Chemical persuasion

Scientists prove parasite mimics key plant peptide to feed off roots By Roger Meissen | Bond LSC A nematode (the oblong object on the left) activates the vascular stem cell pathway in the developing nematode feeding site (syncytium) on a plant root. | photo by Xiaoli Guo, MU post-doctoral research associate When it comes to…

Jan. 11, 2017

Cornelison receives highest honor from White House

Cornelison receives highest honor from White House

It feels good to get recognition, especially when it comes from the White House. This week D Cornelison, a Bond Life Sciences Center researcher and associate professor of biological sciences found out she will receive a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). The award is the highest honor bestowed by the United…

Nov. 17, 2016

Live long and prosper: healthy mitochondria, healthy motor neurons?

Live long and prosper: healthy mitochondria, healthy motor neurons?

Chris Lorson (front) and Mark Hannink (back) collaborate to study the role of mitochondria in motor neuron health, particularly in relation to spinal muscular atrophy, a neuromuscular disorder | photo by Jen Lu, Bond LSC Chris Lorson, a professor of veterinary pathobiology, and Mark Hannink, a professor of biochemistry, want to find a new way…

Nov. 4, 2016

The eyes have it

The eyes have it

Bond LSC scientist works with MU eye surgeon to help people suffering from autoimmune-disease Sjögren’s syndrome By Phillip Sitter | Bond LSC Dr. Carisa Petris stands in the McQuinn atrium of Bond Life Science Center. She and Bond LSC researcher Gary Weisman are using funding from a $100,000 Bond LSC grant to study the mechanisms…

Oct. 25, 2016

Close encounters of the plant protein kind

Close encounters of the plant protein kind

Bond LSC researchers David Mendoza (left) and Scott Peck (right) are collaborating to develop a new method for studying protein signaling pathways inside plant cells. | photo by Jennifer Lu, Bond LSC By Jennifer Lu | Bond LSC Sometimes, timing is everything. That was the case in what led to a new collaboration between the…