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Defining the brain mosaic in fruit flies and humans
Similar to a mosaic floor where different patterned tiles come together to make a composite and holistic image, our brains too consist of billions of unique neurons that finally connect together and generate coordinated brain activity. Unlike the mosaic floor, however, which is static, our brains are dynamic and activity in the brain changes based on environmental cues. So, what makes up the mosaic of our brain? Or, in other words, how are individual neurons different from each other?
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Small part of cellular protein that helps form long-term memories also drives neurodegeneration
Scientists have just discovered that a small region of a cellular protein that helps long-term memories form also drives the neurodegeneration seen in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). This small part of the Ataxin-2 protein thus works for good and for bad.
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Congratulations to Prof. L S Shashidhara on being elected an EMBO Associate Member
On 14 May 2018, Professor L S Shashidhara of IISER Pune was elected an EMBO Associate Member, joining the league of 61 other outstanding life scientists that were elected to its membership this year. Prof. Shashidhara is also a member of the Management Board at NCBS, Bangalore.
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Protein Catch-22: Unravelling the Roles of Ataxin-2 in Health and Disease
Over thousands of people took the Ice Bucket Challenge, a sensation in the summer of 2014. Nominated participants were filmed dumping buckets of ice-cold water on their heads and they in turn, challenged their friends to do the same. Challenged participants had 24 hours to comply or refuse and thus forfeit a charitable financial donation.
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Scientists at NCBS to study how mental illness runs in families in India
The NCBS study, to be conducted in collaboration with the InStem and the NIMHANS, will also focus on mental illnesses, especially bipolar disorders, among youth
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Congratulations to Prof. Ashok Venkitaraman on winning the 2017 Basser Global Prize
The year 2017 came to a close with the Basser Center for BRCA naming Prof.
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Congratulations to Prof. Utpal Banerjee & Dr. Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado - elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2018
The National Academy of Sciences announced the election of 84 new members and 21 foreign associates, recognizing their notable and enduring achievements in original research on May 1, 2018.
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Less than 3 milliseconds: How pesticides can be made to stick to plants
The scientists say the results can have far-reaching consequences, not just for pesticide use in the country, but also for different kinds of industrial coating applications.