Ciencia en México (y el mundo)

Aunque el mapa de como estamos en producción científica es poco halagador, lo interesante es que hemos crecido, sobre todo comparando a otros países (incluído EU). Compare la primera foto con la segunda. Este tipo de gráficas se parecen al homúnculo de Penfield (http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homúnculo) :)

 

PRODUCCION CIENTIFICA

CRECIMIENTO PRODUCCION CIENTIFICA

 

 

fuente http://www.worldmapper.org

Molecular definitions of cell death subroutines

In 2009, the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD) proposed a set of recommendations for the definition of distinct cell death morphologies and for the appropriate use of cell death-related terminology, including ‘apoptosis’, ‘necrosis’ and ‘mitotic catastrophe’. In view of the substantial progress in the biochemical and genetic exploration of cell death, time has come to switch from morphological to molecular definitions of cell death modalities. Here we propose a functional classification of cell death subroutines that applies to both in vitro and in vivo settings and includes extrinsic apoptosis, caspase-dependent or -independent intrinsic apoptosis, regulated necrosis, autophagic cell death and mitotic catastrophe. Moreover, we discuss the utility of expressions indicating additional cell death modalities. On the basis of the new, revised NCCD classification, cell death subroutines are defined by a series of precise, measurable biochemical features.

http://www.nature.com/cdd/journal/v19/n1/pdf/cdd201196a.pdf

Video animation: RNA interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is an important pathway that is used in many different organisms to regulate gene expression. This animation introduces the principles of RNAi involving small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs).

Notable advance for 2011 (from Nature Medicine)

Cancer biology: BET-ting on chromatin

Tumor development often involves genomic changes that affect protein expression, so chromatin alterations have received a lot of attention as possible therapeutic targets. A handful of recent studies support this idea by identifying a role for the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of transcriptional regulators, which bind and recognize histone acetylation, in several human hematological malignancies.

Four independent groups—from Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, New York state's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the UK's Cambridge University and Massachusetts's Constellation Pharmaceuticals—started from different points and used different models, but they all converged on the finding that interfering with the function of BET proteins reduces the transcription of key oncogenes such as Myc, arrests cell-cycle progression and leads to apoptosis (Cell 146, 904–917, 2011; Nature 478, 524–528 & 529–533, 2011; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 108, 16669–16674, 2011).

Crucially, the four studies highlighted the clinical implications of this finding by showing that small-molecule inhibitors of BET family members had therapeutic effects in mouse models of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, as well as in primary cells isolated from people with cancer. —JCL

Man-made flu virus with potential to wipe out many millions if it ever escaped is created in research lab

A group of scientists is pushing to publish research about how they created a man-made flu virus that could potentially wipe out civilisation.

The deadly virus is a genetically tweaked version of the H5N1 bird flu strain, but is far more infectious and could pass easily between millions of people at a time.

The research has caused a storm of controversy and divided scientists, with some saying it should never have been carried out.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2066624/Anthrax-isnt-scary-compared-Man-flu-virus-potential-wipe-millions-created-warns-frightened-scientist.html#ixzz1fDqvBfjT

Apoptosis promotes early tumorigenesis

One hallmark of cancer is intrinsic or acquired resistance
to apoptosis. Surprisingly, recent studies demonstrate that
CD95/Fas/Apo1 and p53 upregulated mediator of apoptosis/
PUMA (potent inducers of the death receptor and the
mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, respectively) promote
tumorigenesis. These findings provide important insights
into the multifaceted roles of apoptosis in tumorigenesis.

http://www.nature.com/onc/journal/v30/n16/pdf/onc2010573a.pdf

EMT theory for metastases challenged during AACR

It can't be easy to stand in front of hundreds of colleagues and tell them that ten years of research has led them in the wrong direction. But at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) earlier this month, pathologist David Tarin did just that, by challenging a leading hypothesis on how cancers metastasize...

PARA VER EL TEXTO COMPLETO GRATUITO

Genetic Interactions in Cancer Progression and Treatmen

Leading Edge Perspective
Cell 145, April 1, 2011 2011.
Open Access PDF

Academic bias & biotech failures

The unspoken rule is that at least 50% of the studies published even in top tier academic journals – Science, Nature, Cell, PNAS, etc… – can’t be repeated with the same conclusions by an industrial lab.
Artículo completo (libre acceso):

Woow: Gap Junction–Mediated Import of MicroRNA from Marrow Stromal Cells Can Elicit Cell Cycle Quiescence in Breast Cancer Cells

Cancer Research March 2011

Gap Junction–Mediated Import of MicroRNA from Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Can Elicit Cell Cycle Quiescence in Breast Cancer Cells.

Whole genome sequencing of single tumor cells: A method to infer Tumor evolution? Nature 2011

Tumour evolution inferred by single-cell sequencing
Nature (2011) doi:10.1038/nature09807
Received 25 May 2010 Accepted 07 January 2011 Published online 13 March 2011

Annexin-1 interacts with NEMO and RIP1 to constitutively activate IKK complex and NF-κB: implication in breast cancer metastasis.

Oncogene. 2011 Mar 7. [Epub ahead of print]
Annexin-1 interacts with NEMO and RIP1 to constitutively activate IKK complex and NF-κB: implication in breast cancer metastasis.
publication, 7 March 2011; doi:10.1038/onc.2011.28.