In this talk, Professor Nick Lane uses life as a guide to its own origins. Modern cells use electrical charges on membranes to drive their metabolism, which in turn makes the building blocks of genes and proteins. Lane shows that equivalent processes were possible in ancient hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean. Electrical charges on mineral barriers can drive the reaction of gases such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide to power a spontaneous proto-metabolism, and ultimately the emergence of genetic information. The genetic code conceals enigmatic patterns that suggest there were once direct interactions between amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and the first genes. The talk ends with some thoughts on how these processes might culminate in cells developing agency and a rudimentary stream of consciousness.
NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering
A talk delivered by Nick Lane, Professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London.
In this talk, Professor Nick Lane uses life as a guide to its own origins. Modern cells use electrical charges on membranes to drive their metabolism, which in turn makes the building blocks of genes and proteins. Lane shows that equivalent processes were possible in ancient hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean. Electrical charges on mineral barriers can drive the reaction of gases such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide to power a spontaneous proto-metabolism, and ultimately the emergence of genetic information. The genetic code conceals enigmatic patterns that suggest there were once direct interactions between amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and the first genes. The talk ends with some thoughts on how these processes might culminate in cells developing agency and a rudimentary stream of consciousness.
In this talk, Professor Nick Lane uses life as a guide to its own origins. Modern cells use electrical charges on membranes to drive their metabolism, which in turn makes the building blocks of genes and proteins. Lane shows that equivalent processes were possible in ancient hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean. Electrical charges on mineral barriers can drive the reaction of gases such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide to power a spontaneous proto-metabolism, and ultimately the emergence of genetic information. The genetic code conceals enigmatic patterns that suggest there were once direct interactions between amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and the first genes. The talk ends with some thoughts on how these processes might culminate in cells developing agency and a rudimentary stream of consciousness.
updated 10 months ago
In this talk, Professor Nick Lane uses life as a guide to its own origins. Modern cells use electrical charges on membranes to drive their metabolism, which in turn makes the building blocks of genes and proteins. Lane shows that equivalent processes were possible in ancient hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean. Electrical charges on mineral barriers can drive the reaction of gases such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide to power a spontaneous proto-metabolism, and ultimately the emergence of genetic information. The genetic code conceals enigmatic patterns that suggest there were once direct interactions between amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and the first genes. The talk ends with some thoughts on how these processes might culminate in cells developing agency and a rudimentary stream of consciousness.
We are looking forward to meeting and discussing with you in November!
For online participation please register here: iceel.info/registration
https://www.nccr-mse.ch
So, from 7 – 18 August 2024 we again sent a group of young "science ambassadors" (PhD/Postdoc level) to participate in this year’s renowned Film Filmfestival in Locarno - the world capital of auteur cinema. In this clip they share their experience of spending 10 days at the shore of the Lago Maggiore.
For more information: https://www.nccr-mse.ch/en/no_cache/h...
This episode has also been published as a podcast on Amazon, Apple, Deezer, Spotify etc.
Focus Panel
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
Regulation & Communication session
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
Ethics and Organoid-based Engineering session
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
Global Perspectives session
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
Young Researchers Session 2
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
Engineering Living Systems & Bioethical Principles session
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned session
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
Religious Views on Engineering Life Panel
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
Young Researchers Session 1
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
Ethics and Cell-based Engineering session
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
Ethics and Gene-based Engineering session
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
Opening session
Organized by the NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City; and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
The engineering of molecular and cellular systems for clinical applications capitalizes on the unique competences achieved worldwide within the past 10 years. Big leaps towards applying engineering principles to clinics and to restore body functions are provided by the development of gene-based and cell-based therapies. Successful attempts include the restoration of vision, the control of metabolic disorders, or the growth of tissues and organs for replacement. While in the long run such systems engineering approaches will help to cure pertinent diseases, methods to modify, edit, correct and/or complement the genome of patients can be also used to improve a person’s lifestyle, or be even misused in various ways. To address the ethical aspects of such attempts towards engineering life, the 1st International Conference Ethics of Engineering Life brings together stakeholders in developing and applying approaches to edit and control living systems, clinicians applying such procedures, ethicists, philosophers, communicators and artists, and other relevant representatives of our global society.
The samples are barcoded and put onto a train that connects different machines and stations. #Robots take samples and put them into the machines. Wow, such a #Futurama.😋
Have a nice Thursday!😊
#nccrmse #scicomm #Lab #science
We are using Lucio Sciences #QuickBlue dye to stain the gel. The chamber is disassembled and the gel removed from the tray. The gel is then put into a box, QuickBlue is poured onto it and staining is carried out for only 10-15 min. Brief microwaving can help the staining. So convenient.
Have a nice Thursday 😊
#NCCRMSE #Lab #science #scicomm
We use several methods for this: one is autoclaving to sterilize by heat (up tp 120 °C), the second one is bleaching and the third one (we are oresenting here) is #Virkon S. Virkon S is based on an oxidizer that decontaminates bacteria and viruses but it also destroys heat stable #antibiotics such as #kanamycin.
Autoclaving alone does not decontaminate antibiotics which is an issue because we don't want to release antibiotics into fresh water sources. Virkon S destroys kanamycin it is very useful to decontaminate #antibiotic containing cultures. 😊
Have a nice Thursday 🙃
#nccrmse #scicomm #NCCR #Science #Lab
Organized by NCCR MSE in collaboration with the Pontifical Academy for Life.
The Neubauer chamber has rectangles of a specific area drawn onto it. A glass cover slide is put on top of the chamber and the sample is pipetted to the edge of the slide and then automatically sucked into the chamber area by suckion pressure. Under the microscope we look for the squares that represent a defined amount of liquid (0.1 microliter). We then count the cells in the squares and then calculate the cells per milliliter by taking potential dilution factors into account and multiplying by 10000 to get the amount of cells per mL. 📱
Have a nice Thursday 🙃
#nccrmse #nccr #lab #science #scicomm
There are several ways to create anoxic environments for cell assays. One way is using BD GasPaksTM. Those are tightly closable plastic bags that use a separate catalyst added to the bag that will remove oxygen from the sealed bag.
On top of the catalyst, a color indicator will turn blue in case the bag has a leak and doesn’t stay anoxic.
Have a nice Thursday 🙂
#scicomm #nccrmse #NCCR #Science #Lab
To ensure that the cells don't die over time ☠️, you have to change the medium every few days and reduce the number of cells. This is called splitting.
The old medium is sucked off. Then you add a little medium with #Trypsin and #EDTA. This ensures that the cells detach from the surface 🤩. The cells are then picked up, centrifuged at low speed and dissolved in fresh medium. Then you take a new flask, add fresh medium and e.g. add a quarter of the #cells and put it in the 37 °C incubator 🥵.
Have a nice thursday 😊
#nccrmse #science #NCCR #scicomm
Have a nice Thursday 🤗
Today we are showing you how cool the resulting #protein powder looks. The powderized protein can be stored like this in the fridge or freezer for a long time making it a perfect way of storage for proteins such as #streptavidin.
The powder is really fluffy and looks like clouds. ☁️
Have a nice Thursday 😊
#NCCR #NCCRmse #scicomm #lab #science
Today, we are showing you the medium scale protein purification by column #chromatography. If you need to purfiy several protein samples, such medium scale procedures can speed up your experimental procedures drastically. These purifications are fast but only really effective for easily purified proteins such as #streptavidin.
Streptavidin binds tightly to biotin. We use this feature to pack a column with a porous material that is linked to biotin. Streptavidin expression is induced in bacteria, cells are harvested and lysed 🦠. The streptavidin in the lysates binds to the biotin on the column matrix and is thus retained in the column. After loading all lysates, the columns are washed 🧼🧽🧴. Protein is eluted by changing the pH with an elution buffer. You can purify as many samples as you can handle simultaneously.
Have a nice Thursday ☺️
#NCCR #NCCRmse #Lab #Science
The technique uses an inductively coupled plasma to ionize the sample creating ions that are detected by mass #spectrometry. The #plasma is created by heating a gas (e.g. argon) with an electromagnetic coil 🧲 and igniting the freeing of electrons intro the gas which are accelerated and collide with argon atoms which can split off more electrons producing a fireball 🔥☀️ with temperatures of around 6000 °C 🥵🤯. Careful, don't get too close! (just kidding 😁) A sample enters the machine and evaporates which causes molecules to break apart and their atoms to ionise 🌬.
The generated ions are channeled into a mass spectrometer where they are separated by their mass-to-charge ratio. A detected obtains a signal proportional to the elements concentration.
Christoph Saxer and Peter Neyer, two colleagues at KSA regularly share their expertise with Alina from the NCCR team. 🤗
Have a nice Thursday ☺
#NCCR #Science #Lab #scicomm #NCCRmse
A programme is used to set up the amount of samples and select the plate type or conduct other wash steps. 🧖♂️
The tubing system then moves into the sample solutions sucking up the protein solutions into different tubes and moves over the plate releasing small droplets of protein solution and #buffer. The solution in the reservoir that allows for vapour #diffusion of the #precipitant needs to be pipetted into the plate manually for the #oryx system. 🛠
Have a nice Thursday ☺️
#NCCR #NCCRmse #scicomm #nccrmse #structuralbiology #Science #Lab
The BCA #assay relies on the reduction of Cu2+ to Cu+ by the protein in solution in an #alkaline medium. This is followed by colorimetric detection of the Cu+ by BCA.
The protein forms a colored chelate complex with #copper in an alkaline solution coloring the solution blue 💙. Then, BCA reacts with reduced Cu+ by forming an intensely purple chelation complex of two BCA #molecules with one Cu+ 🤩. This complex has a strong linear absorbance at 562 nm with increasing protein concentrations. Cysteines, tyrosines and tryptophans incluence the reaction but unlike assays with Coomassie like the #Bradford assay from last week, the #peptide backbone itself also contributes to color formation. This minimizes amino acid sequence dependent variability 🕵️.
Have a nice Thursday 🤗
This assay is a #colorimetric assay based on an #absorbance shift of a #dye called #Coomassie Brilliant Blue 💙. This dye exists in an anionic (blue), neutral (green) and cationic (red) state. The solution is brown if no #protein is present. The proteins interact with the dye which upon interaction goes into its blue state. The asssay is dependent on the amino acid composition of the protein since it's dependent on the #chemistry of the amino acid side chains.
The absorbance at 595 nm (blue state) can be measured with a #Tecan plate reader 💙. The absorbance increase is proportional to the amount of blue state (bound dye) and this to the amount of protein in the sample 🕵️♀️.
Have a nice Thursday 🤗
#NCCR #NCCRmse #Lab #Science #scicomm #wissenschaftskommunikation
Today we are showing a video of the #filtration of a #suspension through a cannula with a filter into a clean round bottom flask under vacuum. The cannula is surrounded by a filter. The vacuum and resulting underpressure create a suction force. The suspension is forced through the filter and a clarified solution is collected in the receiving flask. 😎
Have a nice Thursday 🤗
#NCCR #NCCRmse #Lab #Science #scicomm
The #colours of #chemistry are beautiful, we already showed that a few times. 🔸🔵🟥🟣🟩
For purification of many #chemicals, you can use an automated chromatography system which we already featured here facebook.com/NCCRmse/posts/1897846050300202 in TechThursday XXIII.
The product colours the entire #column and the elution fractions. But not all of them might be your desired product which is why we use the chromatography to separate the desired from undesired reaction products.
Have a nice Thursday 🤗
It is used to detect specific proteins of interest from a complex mixture.🧪 You start by running a usual SDS-PAGE to separate the proteins in your sample, then transfer the gel onto a nitrocellulose membrane and finally make the proteins of interest visible by the addition of specific antibodies.📊
In this video you will see the first part of the technique: the transfer onto the nitrocellulose membrane which is also called electroblotting. It is basically a horizontal electrophoresis. You build a sandwich made out of filter papers, the gel and the membrane, put everything in a gasket and apply a voltage. Usually after an overnight transfer the proteins on the gel will have transferred onto the membrane and you’re ready for the antibody staining. But that’s for another time🤓
Have a great Thursday!
#NCCR #WeternBlot #Electroblotting #antibody #protein #biology
You can however also easily make your own pH indicator from red cabbage. You just need to pound red cabbage, add hot water and pound a bit more 🕑🕙 until you end up with a violet liquid 💜.
Use this liquid as a pH indicator for whatever solution you want to test.
Red cabbage contains anthocyanin, a molecule that changes color at different pH. In acidic pH it is pinkish/reddish ❤️ turning blueish green 💙💚 in #alkaline solutions.
Have a nice Thursday 🤗
#NCCRMSE #science #scicomm
pH is a measure of how #acidic or #basic a solution is. The scale goes from 0-14 where lower values indicate #acidity and higher values indicate basic solutions🧪. #Neutral pH is reached at value 7. Our #blood 🩸 is usually maintained at a pH of around 7.4 and the #stomach acid is 1.5 to 3.5.
To determine the concentration of a solution of a #chemical of unknown concentration, one can make use of #neutralization 🎯. pH indicators might have turning points where they drastically change color upon pH changes. You add one solution of a known concentration (titrant) to your unknown solution and measure exactly how much of the #titrant was needed to observe neutralization indicated by a color change of a pH indicator that you add to the solution 🍃🍂. This volume can then be used to calculate the concentration of the unknown solution. In this video we used #phenolphthalein to determine the concentration of a solution of acetic acid.⚗️
Have a nice Thursday! ☺️
#science #scicomm #lab
A tagged protein of interest is expressed in bacterial cells 🦠 and the cells are lysed to create a cell free extract. By centrifugation all non soluble parts can be removed. The magnetic beads are then added to the protein containing solution and incubated to allow for binding. Then a magnet 🧲 is held against the tube to immobilize the beads. The beads can then easily be washed to remve unbound protein without losing the beads. The pure protein can then be eluted from the beads.
Have a nice Thursday 🤗
#NCCR #NCCRmse #Science
Today, let’s listen to what Dr. Paola Andrea Forero Cortés is focusing her #research on. She is postdoctoral researcher in the group of the professors Housecroft and Constable at the University of Basel focusing on the rational ligand design of ligands for #energy utilisation processes. In her recent work, she shows the effective reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide in ionic liquids (doi.org/10.1039/D0GC01627F). She hopes that this type of research can be the first step towards fully #recyclable♻️ photocatalytic processes to utilise the abundant energy from the sun in an effective way.☀️
Have a good Thursday
#elevatorpitch #scienceexplained #scicomm #solarcells #photocatalysis #lecs
Today, let’s listen to what Mariia Becker has to tell us. She is a #PhD student in the group of the professors Housecroft and Constable at the University of Basel. In the aspect of the #climate crisis, green and #alternative energy sources are an essential asset. Mariia works on the development of environmentally friendly and cheaper #solar cells☀️ using abundant #iron as the metal source.
Enjoy a sunny Thursday👋
#NCCRmse #elevatorpitch #scienceexplained #scicomm #solarcells
Do you have plexiglass separators at work too?
Have a nice Thursday 🤗
#NCCRmse #safety #covid19 #openoffice
Today, let’s listen to what Kasuba Krishna Chaitanya, #PhD student in the group of Prof. Dr. Daniel Müller, has to tell us about the mechanobiology of our brain🧠. He studies the effect of physical forces on brain tissue and the response of neurons to external stimuli. So, if you want to know more about what happens to the neurons in the brain when e.g. Mike Tyson punches🥊 somebody in the face🥴, have a go at this video.
Have a nice Thursday!
#elevatorpitch #scienceexplained #scicomm #NCCRmse
What about your lab? Do you have suggestions for a more sustainable research environment?
Have a nice Thursday!
#elevatorpitch #scienceexplained #scicomm #nccrmse
Today, listen to one of our #NCCR social media contributors: Jaicy Vallapurackal, #PhD student in the group of Prof. Dr. Thomas R. Ward working on a high throughput platform to look at millions of mutations within proteins in a short time with #microfluidic devices. She encapsulates single bacteria into tiny droplets and can thereby screen millions of proteins variants in a short time. Such #experiments would otherwise take years to complete. This facilitates the process of directed evolution whereby researchers mutate genes rapidly in a lab to optimize properties of a protein (thus mimicking natural #evolution).
Have a nice thursday 🤗
#elevatorpitch #scienceexplained #scicomm
1. What are antibodies?⠀
2. Why are antibodies important for COVID-19?⠀
3. How can knowledge about antibodies be used to deal with COVID-19 pandemic?⠀
4. What is the difference between a vaccine and antibody therapy against COVID-19?⠀
We hope this video brings you clarity in understanding the importance of antibodies and how antibody therapy can help in COVID-19 #pandemic as we await a successful #coronavaccine development. ⠀
Stay healthy, stay safe! See you next Thursday! 😊
Today, listen to one of our #NCCR social media contributors: Alina Stein, #PhD student in the group of Prof. Dr. Thomas R. Ward working on the bioengineering of artificial metalloenzymes.
Have a nice thursday 🤗
#elevatorpitch #scienceexplained #scicomm
1) Take two glasses
2) Fill one with water and the other one with wine 💦🍷
3) Take a flat piece of plastic to cover one glass
4) Cover the wine glass 🍷 carefully, turn it around and place it onto the glass with water 💦
5) Move the plastic cover to create a tiny opening for the liquid to exchange
6) Watch
The wine I used here is heavier than water. You can test the density of any liquid like this as long as you can distinguish them optically. The heavier wine sinks down. You could also try pure alcohol. 🍸 That has a lower density than water: If you out the alcohol glass below and the water glass on top, the alcohol will move upwards replacing water. 💦
Have a nice Thursday 🤗
#NCCRmse #NCCR #homescience #wine #water #watertowine #scienceathome
If you don’t have a lot of patience, microgreens are an ideal start. All sorts of beans, lentils, chia seeds or mustard seeds are found in every household, sprout within a few days and produce small little plants which can be used in salads, soups etc.
But I was not just amazed by their taste but also something else: their ability to grow and redirect them towards sunlight! To grow and thrive, plants do #photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water to sugar and #oxygen with the help of sunlight. Of course leaves facing the sun will be able to do more photosynthesis than leaves in the shadow. Therefore plants found a way to rearrange their #chloroplasts in the leaves to face the light and thus promote growth: this process is called phototropism.
Basically it describes the ability of a plant to move in response to light.🌿 Plant hormones, so called auxins make this possible. It is a chemical, that is released from tip and goes through the stem. Auxins make the cells of the plant get longer. If all cells get the same amount of auxins, they would grow at the same speed. But if light only reaches one side of the plant, auxins will accumulate on the darker side and promote growth of the cells there, bending the whole plant towards the sun. Pretty clever isn’t it?🤓
And did you already watch your plant grow today?
Have a great day!
#NCCR #HomeScience #phototropism #sunlight #photosynthesis #microgreens
1) Try to avoid using public transport to get to the lab to decrease risk of infection 🚴♀2) Disinfect your hands when you enter the building 👏
3) Take the stairs instead of the lift (maybe I should always to that for fitness?) 🏃♀4) The lab is rather empty to avoid close contact to people
5) Everybody has designated workspace: Stick to it
6) Disinfect your workspace before use
7) Wear gloves all the time
8) Disinfect everything you touch9) Wash your hands before leaving 👏💦
What's your work day like currently?
Have a nice Thursday!🤗
#NCCRmse #workday #sciencelab #lockdown #hygiene #work