Compounds that plants, fungi, bacteria, and animals produce can sometimes help people as well. In fact, many medicines, molecules used in research, and other useful compounds originated in nature. Learn more about recent discoveries in the fascinating field of natural products research.
Fatherhood looks very different across species. Tiny stickleback fish are especially involved in raising their young, and along with other animals, they’re showing us the impact paternal care can have on both offspring and fathers.
Scientists first discovered helium burning on the surface of the sun, but today liquid helium plays an essential role in supercooling scientific equipment. Unfortunately, our complex history with the element has led to a recent shortage that threatens some types of scientific research.
What does “modeling the spread” or “flattening the curve” mean, and how does it apply to infectious diseases such as COVID-19? Learn more about the science of infectious disease modeling and how NIGMS supports scientists in this field.
Chirality is a type of asymmetry where something can’t overlap with its mirror image, like our hands. Michael Ostap, Ph.D., is researching what causes chirality on a molecular level to better understand embryonic development and how it can go wrong.
During the fundamental process of mitosis, a type of cell division, dividing cells sometimes make errors while divvying up chromosomes. Understanding how this happens may help researchers develop targeted therapies for a variety of diseases, including cancer.
Did you know that we have free education resources you can use from home to engage students in science? Explore our Science Education Partnership Award Program projects and Pathways resources to find STEM learning opportunities for pre-K through grade 12.
Lipid droplets, membrane-bound packages of lipids, have been one of our cells’ least studied components. But recently, more scientists have begun probing the mysteries that surround them and finding fascinating results. James Olzmann, Ph.D., discusses how a protein on the surface of lipid droplets could be targeted to help treat cancer.
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences and Scholastic, Inc., have collaborated to bring Pathways, STEM and ELA resources, to educators and students. The third magazine issue and accompanying teaching materials explore circadian rhythms, including how they affect our lives every day and some inspiring scientists who are researching them.
NIGMS grantee and presidential award recipient Sohini Ramachandran, Ph.D., is challenging our understanding of genetic variation among human populations. She discusses her research on how the genetic composition of traits and diseases varies among populations, the value of statistical and computational work in human genetics, and what this all means for patient treatment.
Sugars are the body’s primary energy source, but they also play signaling roles in the cell by acting as tags on proteins and lipids. NIGMS grantee and Presidential award recipient Michael Boyce discusses the importance of these sugar tags and their role in disease, as well as his efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion in the scientific workforce.
Nanoparticles have been used to treat disease for decades, but scientists are now learning more about how they move through human tissue. PECASE honoree and NIGMS grantee Elizabeth Nance is enlisting minds across different scientific fields to solve the challenge of using nanoparticles to target the right site within the body to increase the effectiveness of treatments for newborn brain injury.
Sepsis causes nearly 270,000 deaths in the United States each year. Find out how big data approaches are helping clinicians catch it sooner, treat it better, and help survivors cope with long-term effects.
Chocolate is a hallmark of Valentine’s Day and a favorite treat for many. People even say it has health benefits and serves as an aphrodisiac. A look into chocolate's chemistry explains the science behind the claims and why we crave this sweet indulgence.
Thanks largely to advances in computing, researchers in computational biology and data science are harnessing the power of the masses and making discoveries that provide valuable insights into human health.
A college degree was far from the minds of Joshua and Caleb Marceau growing up on a small farm on the Flathead Indian Reservation in rural northwestern Montana.
In an archived webcast, University of Kentucky genomicist Jeramiah Smith describes the sea lamprey’s innovative strategy for avoiding cancer: shedding 20 percent of its genome following development. He also talks with NIGMS director Jon Lorsch about the challenges faced by early career scientists.
While the vast majority of organelles in a cell are insulated by membranes, scientists are finding more and more membrane-less organelles that form as liquid droplets nested inside of each other.
Researchers recently identified a new “selfish” gene, wtf4, that encodes a toxin and an antitoxin in an effort to ensure the gene’s own transmission by killing off reproductive cells lacking the gene.
Scientists have learned how bacteria use their sense of touch to initiate infection and trigger the formation of harmful biofilms.
Physician scientist Christopher Seymour talks about his experience treating sepsis patients and his new study indicating that quicker treatment improves survival odds.
Molecular Biologist Laura Landweber describes the bizarre sex lives of the single-celled critter she studies and how it can inform cancer research.
Scientists have developed novel ways to study how and why cells move in their search for treatments of bacterial infection and diseases such as cancer.
Tune in today for a webcast of the 3rd annual NIGMS Director’s Early-Career Investigator Lecture where Dr. Jeramiah Smith, an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky, will describe how his research on the sea lamprey is shedding light on cancer biology, tissue regeneration, and vertebrate evolution.
Genetic archaeologist David Reich discusses how DNA retrieved from inch-long bone in the skull has accelerated our understanding of ancient humans.
Scientists have developed novel ways to study how and why cells move in their search for treatments of bacterial infection and diseases such as cancer.
I can still remember that giddy feeling I had seven years ago, when I first read about the “zombie ant.” The story was gruesome and fascinating
Although not as well-known as other medical conditions, sepsis kills more people in the United States than AIDS, breast cancer, or prostate cancer combined. Sepsis is body-wide inflammation, usually triggered by an overwhelming immune response to infection. Though doctors and medical staff are well-aware of the condition—it is involved in 1 in 10 hospital deaths—the condition is notoriously hard to diagnose. In this video, sepsis expert Sarah Dunsmore, a program director with the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), describes what sepsis is and how to recognize it, what kinds of patients are most at risk, and what NIGMS is doing to reduce the impact of this deadly condition.
Authorities in Florida and Brazil recently released thousands of mosquitoes infected with a bacterium called Wolbachia in an effort to curb Zika outbreaks. Find out how Wolbachia neutralizes insects.
In honor of Pi Day, we asked several biomedical researchers in the field of computational biology to tell us why they love math and how they use it in their research.
The cellular skeleton protein actin can bind cells together, and also play a number of roles in cancer’s invasion into new tissues in the body.
In a video interview, Thomas O’Halloran discusses the roles of metals in the body with a focus on how zinc regulates egg cell maturation and fertilization.
While it may look like a pine wreath dotted with crimson berries, this holiday-themed image is in fact one of the world’s first color electron micrographs.
The genome was just the beginning. Rapid advances in technology and computational tools are allowing researchers to categorize many aspects of the biological world.
Biochemist Gautam Dantas inspects what’s deposited on infant diapers for clues about antibiotic resistance.
More than 46,000 species of spiders creepy crawl across the globe. Each one produces a venom composed of an average of 500 distinct toxins, putting the conservative estimate of unique venom compounds at more than 22 million. Researchers are studying these toxins to increase our understanding of the evolution of spider venom and contribute to the development of new medicines, anti-venoms and research tools.
Nearly 10 percent of the human genome is made of bits of virus DNA. For the most part, this viral DNA is not harmful. In some cases, NIH-funded scientists are finding, it actually has a beneficial impact.
Hard labor might be the very thing we try to avoid on Labor Day. But our cells and their components don’t have the luxury of taking a day off. We at NIH's National Institute of General Medical Sciences give a shout out to some of these tireless cellular workers.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Gregor Mendel’s publication that—after sitting ignored for a few decades—helped launch the field of modern genetics. Today, we know that inheritance is far more complex than what Mendel saw in his pea plants. Our scientists who track progress in genetics research funded by NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences share some of the things researchers have learned about how traits are passed from one generation to the next.
Today, February 12, is Darwin Day—an occasion to recognize the scientific contributions of 19th-century naturalist Charles Darwin. In this video, our own evolutionary geneticist, Dan Janes, answers questions about Darwin and the role of evolution in health and biomedicine.
From cookies and candies to balloons and cards, heart-shaped items abound this time of year. They're even in our blood. It turns out that the most abundant protein molecule in blood plasma—serum albumin (SA)—is shaped very much like a heart.
Here are some images that remind us of the winter holidays—and showcase important findings and innovations in biomedical research.
As Halloween approaches, we turned up some spectral images that highlight some spooky-sounding—but really important—biological topics that researchers are actively investigating to spur advances in medicine.
Trillions of microorganisms inhabit us—inside and out. Scientists are surveying these microbial metropolises to learn more about their role in health. Here are a few details of what researchers have learned so far.
Chemists funded by NIH are working to develop “greener” processes for discovering, developing and manufacturing medicines and other molecules with therapeutic potential, as well as compounds used in biomedical research. Organic chemist Bob Lees describes some of these efforts.
On Saturday (at 9:26:53 to be exact), math lovers and others around the world will celebrate Pi. Experts at the National Institutes of Health share a few reasons why math is important to biomedical research.
To help the public better understand how measles can spread, an NIH-funded team of infectious disease computer modelers at the University of Pittsburgh has launched a free, mobile-friendly tool that lets users simulate measles outbreaks in cities across the country.
After you roll your clocks back by an hour this Sunday, you may feel tired. That's because our bodies—more specifically, our circadian rhythms—need a little time to adjust. These daily cycles are run by a network of tiny, coordinated biological clocks. NIH's Mike Sesma tracks circadian rhythm research being conducted in labs across the country, and he shares a few timely details about our internal clocks.
Stunning scientific images of blood, brain, bacteria, viruses and more, enlarged by as much as 50,000 times, are on display in an exhibit called “Life: Magnified,” on view through November 2014 at Washington Dulles International Airport’s Gateway Gallery.
As people around the world mark Earth Day (April 22) with activities that protect the planet, our cells are busy safeguarding their own environment.
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