Navigation Links
Weizmann Institute scientists discover: A 'risk distribution law' for evolution
Date:11/1/2007

Prof. Naama Barkai will receive the Helen and Martin Kimmel Award for Innovative Investigation on Monday, Nov. 5 at the Weizmann Institute. The award is accompanied by a research grant of a million dollars over five years.

Taking a chance on an experiment this is one of the impulses that drive evolution. Living cells are, from this angle, great subjects for experimentation: Changes in one molecule can have all sorts of interesting consequences for many other molecules in the cell. Such experiments on genes and proteins have led the cell, and indeed all life, on a long and fascinating evolutionary journey.

Prof. Naama Barkai of the Weizmann Institutes Molecular Genetics Department recently took a look at gene expression the process in which the encoded instructions are translated into proteins and the evolution of mechanisms in the cell for controlling that expression. Changes in genes, and thus in protein structure, are a double-edged sword: They can give cells new abilities or advantages for survival, but they can also spell disease or death for the organism. Not all genes evolve at the same rate. Indeed, some have been conserved through long stretches of evolution: Similar versions of some genes are found in yeast, plants, worms, flies and humans. When do cells hold on to specific gene sequences, and when do they allow evolution to experiment with them"

Clearly, highly conserved genes fulfill some basic, universal function for all life, and changes in their sequences have drastic consequences, involving death or the inability to multiply. How does evolution 'decide' which genes need to be conserved, and which it can change freely" What keeps these genes safe from the ongoing experimentation thats constantly carried out on other genes"

Barkai and her team discovered a sort of 'risk distribution law' for evolution. They found that a genetic 'phrase' that regularly shows up in the promoter region of genes (the bit of
'/>"/>

Contact: Yivsam Azgad
news@weizmann.ac.il
972-893-43856
Weizmann Institute of Science
Source:Eurekalert

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Weizmann Institute scientists develop a new approach for directing treatment to metastasized prostate cancer in the bones.
2. Weizmann Institute suggests that immune cells help to maintain cognition and brain cell renewal
3. Weizmann Institute scientists discover a molecular security mechanism for keeping mutations in check
4. Weizmann Institute scientists develop a general control switch for protein activity
5. Affymetrix and the Karolinska Institutet Announce Translational Medicine Strategic Alliance
6. UCLA launches $20 million stem cell institute to investigate HIV, cancer and neurological disorders
7. BioMed Central welcomes the new National Institutes of Health public access policy
8. Institute for Systems Biology Symposium Addresses Need for Better Computational Tools
9. Virginia Tech, Nanjing Institute researchers discover half-billion year-old fossils
10. UC San Diego partners with Venter Institute to build marine microbial genomics cyberinfrastructure
11. Virginia Bioinformatics Institutes launches microbial database
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:12/2/2009)... New study results strengthen the evidence that people who ... an increased risk for developing colorectal cancer, even after ... one more reason not to smoke, or to quit ... Thun, M.D., M.S., vice president emeritus, epidemiology and surveillance ...
(Date:12/2/2009)... exposed to cigarette smoking scenes in movies are ... and this may be part of the acculturation ... study findings. , "Our study supports an R-rating ... the global implementation of the World Health Organization ...
(Date:12/2/2009)... WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ╤ A Smoky Mountain forest,s woodland ... role in how forest understories recover from logging, according ... portions of the forest nearly 80 years ago, the ... was similar to that of undisturbed areas. Michael Jenkins, ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Cigarette smoking increases colorectal cancer risk 2Watching movies featuring characters who smoke negatively influences Mexican-American teens 2Study finds logging effects vary based on a forest's history, climate 2Bayer Schering Exercises Option to Develop Solid Tumor BiTE Antibody with Micromet 6615 1Bayer Schering Exercises Option to Develop Solid Tumor BiTE Antibody with Micromet 6615 2Bayer Schering Exercises Option to Develop Solid Tumor BiTE Antibody with Micromet 6615 3Bayer Schering Exercises Option to Develop Solid Tumor BiTE Antibody with Micromet 6615 4Silicon Valley Veteran Launches New Venture on the 26amp 3B 238220 3BnanoEdge 26amp 3B 238221 3B of the Emerging Nanotechnology Revolution 15007 1Silicon Valley Veteran Launches New Venture on the 26amp 3B 238220 3BnanoEdge 26amp 3B 238221 3B of the Emerging Nanotechnology Revolution 15007 2Silicon Valley Veteran Launches New Venture on the 26amp 3B 238220 3BnanoEdge 26amp 3B 238221 3B of the Emerging Nanotechnology Revolution 15007 3Silicon Valley Veteran Launches New Venture on the 26amp 3B 238220 3BnanoEdge 26amp 3B 238221 3B of the Emerging Nanotechnology Revolution 15007 4Estes Audiology Offers the Gift of Hearing to Celebrate the Holiday Season 62326 1Estes Audiology Offers the Gift of Hearing to Celebrate the Holiday Season 62326 2
... Science provide further support for a protocol to reverse type ... cells from the spleen can contribute to the regeneration of ... General Hospital (MGH) demonstrated the efficacy of a protocol to ... studies from other institutions published in the March 24, 2006 ...
... drive hunts begin in the Japanese villages of Taiji and ... professionals has launched a campaign to end the practices through ... to put an end to the hunts. The "Act for ... University, and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) ...
... group of marine mammals that includes whales and dolphins, ... as complex social behaviors. A new study published online ... journal of the American Association of Anatomists,compared a humpback ... and found the presence of a certain type of ...
Other Biology News:New data from NIH lab confirms protocol to reverse type 1 diabetes in mice 2Renewed dolphin slaughter prompts new campaign 2Renewed dolphin slaughter prompts new campaign 3Humpback whales have brain cells also found in humans 2Humpback whales have brain cells also found in humans 3
(Date:12/3/2009)... INC. (OTC Bulletin Board: ACCP), ... of MuGard, an FDA approved treatment for oral mucositis, ... MuGard is commercially launched by Access, partner, SpePharm, in ... Greece and Sweden. Access is conducting pre-marketing activities, including ...
(Date:12/3/2009)... Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM ) today announced ... quarter of fiscal year 2010 on December 10, 2009 at ... webcast to discuss the results at 11:30 a.m. EST on ... results for the second quarter ended October 31, 2009 and ...
(Date:12/3/2009)... -- Dr. Susan Jiang, M.D., Ph.D.,Chief Science Officer ... ), spoke at a conference on High-Risk Diabetic,Foot ... Beike is China,s leading,stem cell research and regenerative ... conference, organized by the Indian Podiatry Association (IPA), ...
(Date:12/2/2009)... NEW YORK, Dec. 2 Reportlinker.com announces ... available in its catalogue: ,, Neurostimulation ... http://www.reportlinker.com/p0164232/Neurostimulation---A-Global-Market-Perspective.html ,, The world ... base of aging population, and the resultant ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Access Pharmaceuticals Provides Update on MuGard Commercial Launch in Europe 2Access Pharmaceuticals Provides Update on MuGard Commercial Launch in Europe 3Access Pharmaceuticals Provides Update on MuGard Commercial Launch in Europe 4Peregrine Pharmaceuticals to Report Second Quarter FY 2010 Financial Results 2Beike Biotechnology CSO Speaks on Role of Stem Cells in Treating Diabetic Foot Disease at IPA Diabetic Foot Care Conference, India 2Beike Biotechnology CSO Speaks on Role of Stem Cells in Treating Diabetic Foot Disease at IPA Diabetic Foot Care Conference, India 3Reportlinker Adds Neurostimulation - A Global Market Perspective 2Reportlinker Adds Neurostimulation - A Global Market Perspective 3Reportlinker Adds Neurostimulation - A Global Market Perspective 4Reportlinker Adds Neurostimulation - A Global Market Perspective 5Reportlinker Adds Neurostimulation - A Global Market Perspective 6
... - CEO Resigns; Executive Team Reorganized; 27% Reduction in Force ... - Timelines Revised for ANX-530 and ANX-514, ... in October, SAN DIEGO, Oct. 20 ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals,Inc. ... a restructuring,designed to reduce operating costs while continuing advancement towards ...
... from Tumor Institute in ... ... Inc.,(CTI) (Nasdaq and MTA: CTIC) announced today that the Journal of ... (bone marrow ablative) dose Zevalin(R) ([90Y]-ibritumomab tiuxetan),followed by autologous stem cell ...
... with prescription drug,information, encourages patients to fill ... Corporation, a leading,developer of healthcare software solutions ... partnered with LDM GROUP, a prescription,compliance provider, ... iMedica Patient Relationship Manager(TM) (PRM), a single-application,electronic ...
Other Biology Technology:ADVENTRX Announces Restructuring and Cost Reduction Initiatives 2ADVENTRX Announces Restructuring and Cost Reduction Initiatives 3ADVENTRX Announces Restructuring and Cost Reduction Initiatives 4ADVENTRX Announces Restructuring and Cost Reduction Initiatives 5ADVENTRX Announces Restructuring and Cost Reduction Initiatives 6High-Dose Zevalin(R) With Tandem Stem Cell Infusion Produces 87 Percent Overall Survival in Relapsed/Refractory or High Risk Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 2High-Dose Zevalin(R) With Tandem Stem Cell Infusion Produces 87 Percent Overall Survival in Relapsed/Refractory or High Risk Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 3High-Dose Zevalin(R) With Tandem Stem Cell Infusion Produces 87 Percent Overall Survival in Relapsed/Refractory or High Risk Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 4High-Dose Zevalin(R) With Tandem Stem Cell Infusion Produces 87 Percent Overall Survival in Relapsed/Refractory or High Risk Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 5iMedica Partners With LDM GROUP to Offer ScriptGuide to Physician Practice Customers 2iMedica Partners With LDM GROUP to Offer ScriptGuide to Physician Practice Customers 3
Complement C1q subcomponent subunit C precursor. [Source:Uniprot/SWISSPROT;Acc:P02747] Antigen: Recombinant Protein Epitope Signature Tag (PrEST)....
3M Imidazole Solution 125 ml...
PFM8 Antibody...
Goat polyclonal to DDDDK tag (FITC) ( Abpromise for all tested applications)....
Biology Products: