Press Releases

Metabolic master switch sets the biological clock in body tissues

October 15, 2009

LA JOLLA, CA—Our body's activity levels fall and rise to the beat of our internal drums-the 24-hour cycles that govern fundamental physiological functions, from sleeping and feeding patterns to the energy available to our cells. Whereas the master clock in the brain is set by light, the pacemakers in peripheral organs are set by food availability. The underlying…

Press Releases

October 14, 2009

LA JOLLA, CA—Although the human genome sequence faithfully lists (almost) every single DNA base of the roughly 3 billion bases that make up a human genome, it doesn't tell biologists much about how its function is regulated. Now, researchers at the Salk Institute provide the first detailed map of the human epigenome, the layer of genetic control beyond the regulation inherent in the sequence of the genes themselves.

"In the past we've…

Biomimetic products are becoming abundant in today's world. Some mimic form, such as Chrystler's new DCX bionic car designed after the streamlined shape of the boxfish. Others mimic function, like self cleaning fabric and paints modeled after the lotus leaf. While products such as these are the most salient and tangible examples, biomimicry can also mimic entire ecosystems, and interaction principles used by nature for sustainability. Prairie ecosystems can…