Biology

  • |

    Alzhiemer’s psychosis

    Byscientist

    Alzheimer’s psychosis is distinct from the slow progression of Alzheimer’s and indicates a more severe phenotype in which cognitive decline starts even before psychosis onset. It is thought to originate/localized in neocortex rather than medial temporal lobe. There is currently only one drug that targets Alzheimer’s psychosis. It is called Rexulti (Brexipipazole). It is specifically…

  • |

    Muscarinic drugs and receptors

    Byscientist

    There are many G-protein coupled receptors and one of the major categories for neurological drug development are called muscarinic receptors because they were first known to be activated by a mushroom alkaloid called muscarine. The isolation and characterization of muscarine was first reported by chemists in 1869! Muscarine works by mimicking the neurotransmitter acteylcholine on…

  • |

    Green caviar

    Byscientist

    Green caviar Near Okinawa in japan, which in known for people who live longer than many other people a unique food is eaten. These are small orbs that look like grapes and are eaten raw. They are actually a species of seaweed. This is know as green caviar and is eaten on top of almost…

  • |

    3D Anatomy

    Byscientist

    There are so many ways to visualize complex data AND understand it at the same time. However, this has been done for many years for complex data using diagrams.A typical place this has done many times has been anatomy. These diagrams present the views from different viewpoints and these then create the understanding of the…

  • Synthetic biology dyes

    Byscientist

    A synthetic biology company called Huue is going forward to create dye’s from bacteria. The cool part is that they are taking machinery that is in plants and introducing them into bacteria.An advantage is that you could manipulate and then come up with new dyes. The dye Huue has started with is called Indigo and…

  • Synthetic biology – fungus

    Byscientist

    The word fungus does not conjure up pleasant memories to most. This has negative implications though mushrooms are a group of mycelial aggregates too. They form an important degradation pathway in nature and are important for recycling much of the heavy plant material. Fungus has not been a major part of producing anything relevant but…

  • Provivi

    Byscientist

    Now that is an interesting company. An ability to control pests without killing them. https://provivi.com/en/the-science The company generates a pheromone that confuses the pests so that it cannot find its mate and that way is not able to reproduce. So it eventually dies and does not multiply. The unique thing about the company is the…

  • L-theanine

    Byscientist

    It is surprising how much chemistry goes into understanding basic biology. Considering a simple cup of tea. There have been many studies showing the important bioactive compounds in tea. Catechins are polyphenols that got significant attention for their anti-oxidant activities. Then there is caffeine. But another component L-theanine has not been discussed much. L-theanine is…