Wildlife protection frameworks in both the EU and the UK need stronger and more consistent implementation – and must recognise animals as “individuals capable of experiencing suffering”, rather than mere ecological assets.

University of Oregon research demonstrates a way to precisely control the rate at which regenerative cues are released. That could someday help doctors better treat complex injuries that require multiple treatments delivered in a specific order to mimic the body’s natural healing process.

 

Loss of one copy of the DNA Ligase I (LIG1) gene in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) with TP53 mutations confers resistance to chemotherapy, but researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions have identified a vulnerability in these cells and used it to their advantage. The team identified underlying molecular mechanisms of platinum resistance that they neutralized with combinations of available drugs to reduce tumor growth in animal models. This work also highlights LIG1 status as a patient stratification factor for ongoing and future clinical trials.

Researchers have uncovered a novel biological pathway that can lead to seizures when disrupted. The findings also provide a new approach to improve the diagnosis of epilepsy, for which a genetic cause cannot be found in about 50 % of individuals with the condition.