DNA Erector Sets NEW BLUEPRINTS for the DOUBLE HELIX
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JULY/AUGUST 2017 | WWW.THE-SCIENTIST.COM DNA Erector Sets NEW BLUEPRINTS FOR THE DOUBLE HELIX ENDOGENOUS CANNABINOIDS WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF CIRCULAR RNAs? IDENTIFYING REPUTABLE JOURNALS PLUS A MECHANOBIOLOGY TOOLBOX “Now that we can identify and analyze defective DNA break repair pathways in minutes, the possibilities are endless.” DNA Repair and Cancer Research The Comet Assay Technique In as little as 30 minutes, Cytation™ can image every well in a 96-well comet assay plate. Then, automatically analyze every comet to determine the % DNA in the comet tail and comet tail moment. Fast. Precise. Reproducible. To learn more about Dr Katyal’s research and Cytation visit www.biotek.com/sachin. DR. SACHIN KATYAL BRAIN TUMOR AND LEUKEMIA RESEARCHER UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA AND CANCERCARE MANITOBA We Make Quantitative Microscopy Affordable www.biotek.com LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES SHARE YOUR BREAK-THROUGH Announcing The Scientist’s annual Top 10 Innovations Competition Submit a cutting-edge, life-science technology innovation for consideration by a panel of expert judges. The winners will be featured in the December 2017 issue of The Scientist. • An “innovation” is defined as any product that researchers use in the lab: machines, instruments, tools, cell lines, custom-made molecular probes and labels, software, apps, etc. • Products available to the public on or after October 1, 2016 are eligible. • Entries accepted from April 11 to August 16, 2017. For further information, contact us at: [email protected] www.the-scientist.com/top10enter online at: www.the-scientist.com/top10 MAKE NOTE: THERE’S A BETTER WAY TO MANAGE CELL LINES. LookLook familiar?familiar? 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For Beckman Coulter’s worldwide office locations and phone numbers, please visit “Contact Us” at beckman.com AAG-2521ADV03.17 JULY/AUGUST 2017 Contents THE SCIENTIST THE-SCIENTIST.COM VOLUME 31 NUMBER 7/8 Features ON THE COVER: © NICOLÁS CASTRO 26 33 40 Building with DNA Grass Routes Round and Riveting The versatility of geometric shapes made Researchers are discovering a suite Recent research has revealed many from the nucleic acid are proving useful of new locations and functions surprises about circular RNAs, in a wide variety of fields, from molecular of endocannabinoid receptors that from findings that they are translated computation to biology to medicine. play roles in sickness and in health. in vivo to links between their expression BY ARUN RICHARD CHANDRASEKARAN BY MEGAN SCUDELLARI and disease. BY CATHERINE OFFORD ERIK BENSON & BJÖRN HÖGBERG. ATTRIBUTION 4.0 INTERNATIONAL (CC BY 4.0); © PENS AND BEETLES STUDIOS; © CLIVEWA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM © PENS AND BEETLES STUDIOS; 4.0); BY (CC INTERNATIONAL 4.0 ERIK BENSON & BJÖRN HÖGBERG. ATTRIBUTION 07/08.2017 | THE SCIENTIST 3 BioResearch What if... … I could utilize cells from the same donor over a long time period? … immune cells could be modified non-virally in large scale? … I beat my boss at tennis tonight, will he get mad at me? Solving Today’s Challenges in Immunotherapy Lonza can’t help you with your temperamental boss, but we can provide high quality primary cells, transfection technology and services to support your transition from research into therapy. – Large inventory of primary blood cells from individual donors 9 – NEW! Large-scale transfection of 10 primary immune and stem cells 4D-Nucleofector™ LV Unit – Clinical development and commercial manufacturing services for cell therapies for large-scale transfection Visit our website for immunotherapy-related technical resources. ©2017 Lonza. All trademarks belong to Lonza or its affiliates. The information contained herein is believed to be correct. No warranty is made, either expressed or implied. www.lonza.com/immuno JULY/AUGUST 2017 Department Contents 25 11 FROM THE EDITOR 54 LAB TOOLS Twists and Turns The Mechanobiology Garage New starring roles for nucleic acids New tools for investigating BY MARY BETH ABERLIN how physical forces affect cells BY ANDY TAY 15 NOTEBOOK Following Instincts; Riding the 59 CAREERS Waves; Reanimating Research; Identifying Predators Fishing for DNA How to tell reputable journals from shady ones 22 CRITICS AT LARGE BY TRACY VENCE Widening the Web Taxonomic skew introduced by 63 READING FRAMES the domination of model organisms Send In the Phages and charismatic megafauna Employing biological armies, such as in the literature is a disservice bacteriophages, to fight disease and to the life sciences. crop pests could propel medicine BY MALCOLM F. ROSENTHAL and agriculture into the 21st century AND MAYDIANNE C.B. ANDRADE and reduce humanity’s reliance on toxic chemicals. 25 MODUS OPERANDI BY EMILY MONOSSON Microbiota Manipulations Two research teams develop tools 68 FOUNDATIONS for tinkering with a major bacterial Demonstrating Discontent, genus residing in human guts. May 21, 1990 BY RUTH WILLIAMS BY ANDREA ANDERSON 48 THE LITERATURE IN EVERY ISSUE Transgenerational transfer of environmental information in 10 CONTRIBUTORS 48 nematodes; taxonomically different marine organisms have the same 13 SPEAKING OF SCIENCE luciferase; new monocyte and 50 dendritic cell subtypes 64 THE GUIDE 50 PROFILE 65 RECRUITMENT Oceans’ Ambassador Jane Lubchenco has embraced many roles: marine ecologist, science communicator, federal agency administrator, and sustainable fishing advocate. BY ANNA AZVOLINSKY 53 SCIENTIST TO WATCH Emily Balskus: Microbe Miner CORRECTIONS: In “The Sports Bug” (The Scientist, June 2017), the accompanying BY VIJAY SHANKAR photograph was incorrectly credited. The correct credit is Andrew Santoro. © GEORGE RETSECK; 3-D RECONSTRUCTION BY JAMES FLETCHER, IMAGE COURTESY OF KATHRYN WHITE, NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY; JOY LEIGHTON JOY UNIVERSITY; WHITE, NEWCASTLE OF KATHRYN COURTESY IMAGE FLETCHER, JAMES BY 3-D RECONSTRUCTION © GEORGE RETSECK; The Scientist regrets the error. 07/08.2017 | THE SCIENTIST 5 JULY/AUGUST 2017 Online Contents THIS MONTH AT THE-SCIENTIST.COM: VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO Microbe Maven Lubchenco on Conservation DNA Origami Meet Scientist to Watch Emily Balskus, Marine ecologist Jane Lubchenco, a Will complex, folded synthetic DNA who studies the microbes that inhabit former NOAA administrator, discusses molecules one day serve as capsules humans at Harvard University. the importance of science in dealing with to deliver drugs to cancer cells? climate change. AS ALWAYS, FIND BREAKING NEWS EVERY DAY, AND LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE. Coming in September HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE: • The neurological effects of psychedelics • Is there a connection between Alzheimer’s and infection? • Techniques for culturing stem cells • The PARP inhibitor market • Profile: Ronald Vale, UC San Francisco AND MUCH MORE © AXRO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM © ISTOCK.COM/AKIYOKO; © ISTOCK.COM/SEZER66; © ELIZABETH CLARK PHOTOGRAPHY; 6 THE SCIENTIST | the-scientist.com The Scientist wins more kudos for editorial excellence CREATIVE CONTENT FOR CURIOUS MINDS AMERICAN SOCIETY OF BUSINESS PUBLICATION EDITORS (AZBEE) 2017 • March 2016 issue—Print, Single Topic Coverage by a Team—National Gold and Northeast Regional Gold • Modus Operandi—Print, Regular Department— Northeast Regional Bronze • Magazine of the Year, More Than $3 Million Revenue—Honorable Mention FOLIO AWARD S 2016 • March 2016 issue—Winner B-to-B Full Issue • B-to-B News Coverage—Honorable Mention EXOSOMAL RNA BIOMARKERS 415 Madison Avenue, Suite 1508, New York, NY 10017 AS EASY AS S-B-I E-mail: [email protected] EDITORIAL ADVERTISING, EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MARKETING, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ADMINISTRATION Roger Beachy Mary Beth Aberlin Donald Danforth Plant Science [email protected] SENIOR ACCOUNT Center EXECUTIVES SENIOR EDITORS Northeast, Ohio, Steven A. Bent Jef Akst Indiana, Michigan, Foley and Lardner LLP [email protected] Illinois, Missouri Bob Grant Ashley Haire (Munro) Deborah Blum [email protected] [email protected] University of Wisconsin Kerry Grens West U.S. and Annette Doherty [email protected] Western Canada Pfizer Global Research Karen Evans and Development CONTRIBUTING EDITOR [email protected] Alla Katsnelson Kevin Horgan Midwest, Europe ROW, GE Healthcare COPY EDITOR Careers/Recruitment Annie Gottlieb Melanie Dunlop Steve Jackson CORRESPONDENTS [email protected] University of Cambridge REPLICATE 1 REPLICATE REPLICATE 2 REPLICATE Anna Azvolinsky