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cells

A nearly homogeneous field of yellow cytoplasm spontaneously compartmentalizes itself into clumps around the dots of nuclei.
Abstractions blog

Unscrambled Eggs: Self-Organization Restores Cells’ Order

By Wynne Parry
January 2, 2020
Read Later

To scientists’ surprise, blended mixtures of cytoplasm can reorganize themselves into cell-like compartments with working structural components.

Illustration of DNA that combines elements of mealybug and bacterial imagery.
evolution

Cell-Bacteria Mergers Offer Clues to How Organelles Evolved

By Viviane Callier
October 3, 2019
Read Later

Cells in symbiotic partnership, sometimes nested one within the other and functioning like organelles, can borrow from their host’s genes to complete their own metabolic pathways.

cell biology

Bacterial Clones Show Surprising Individuality

By Carrie Arnold
September 4, 2019
Read Later

Genetically identical bacteria should all be the same, but in fact, the cells are stubbornly varied individuals.

Root glowing green against black background. Small spheres and threadlike filaments surround it.
ecology

Soil’s Microbial Market Shows the Ruthless Side of Forests

By Gabriel Popkin
August 27, 2019
Read Later

In the “underground economy” for soil nutrients, fungi strike hard bargains and punish plants that won’t meet their price.

Abstractions blog

Can New Species Evolve From Cancers? Maybe. Here’s How.

By Christie Wilcox
August 19, 2019
Read Later

Researchers agree it’s a long shot, but transmissible cancers could theoretically evolve into independent species. Certain weird parasites might be living proof.

An illustration of a machine with two mechanical arms sorts cells by size into processing lines marked “Asymmetric Division” and “Symmetric Division.”
developmental biology

For Embryo’s Cells, Size Can Determine Fate

By Jordana Cepelewicz
August 12, 2019
Read Later

Modeling suggests that many embryonic cells commit to a developmental fate when they become too small to divide unevenly anymore.

Q&A

His Artificial Intelligence Sees Inside Living Cells

By John Pavlus
July 24, 2019
Read Later

The computer vision scientist Greg Johnson is building systems that can recognize organelles on sight and show the dynamics of living cells more clearly than microscopy can.

cell biology

Cellular Life, Death and Everything in Between

By Elizabeth Svoboda
July 8, 2019
Read Later

The discovery that apparently dead cells can sometimes resurrect themselves has researchers exploring how far they can push the point of no return.

Art for "Dormant Microbes Bide Their Time Over Decades - Old Fires"
ecology

Heat-Loving Microbes, Once Dormant, Thrive Over Decades-Old Fire

By Carrie Arnold
April 16, 2019
Read Later

In harsh ecosystems around the world, microbiologists are finding evidence that “microbial seed banks” protect biodiversity from changing conditions.


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