In this episode, we hear about the emerging field of palaeoshellomics, wasp eggs that keep their food fresh, a monkey with a missing visual cortex, new biological methods inspired by astronomy and how to mix a family with a research career.
The structure of the Legionella pneumophilaType IV secretion system provides the detailed molecular model of this complex molecular machine required for pathogenesis.
Escherichia coli is surprisingly tolerant to chromatinization by archaeal histones, suggesting that histones can become established as ubiquitous chromatin proteins without interfering critically with some key DNA-templated processes.
While antimicrobial cocktails are highly effective for defence against pathogenic microbes, the innate immune response may instead employ highly specific peptidic antibiotics to combat certain natural enemies.
Identification of two classes of mouse vomeronasal receptors for female pheromone cues suggests distinct gating mechanisms in pheromone-triggered reproductive behaviors.