Ana Rodríguez, Author at Baylor College of Medicine Blog Network

Turning unexpected results into research tools

October 9, 2018 chloride ion channel, GtACR2, light-gated channel, neuron, optogenetic tools, Research

One way to study neuronal function is by altering the activity of the neurons and then observing the outcomes, just like in genetics where scientists

From The Labs

Predicting gain-of-function mutations linked to disease

October 4, 2018 analytical tool, gain of function mutation, genetic disease, loss of function mutation, Mendelian genomics, Research, Robinow syndrome

Genes can cause disease because of mutations that result in loss-of-function; for instance, when the mutated gene is not producing the protein it encodes. But

From The Labs

Image of the Month: Mitochondria in human adipocytes

October 2, 2018 adipocytes, Image of the month, insulin resistance, mitochondria, Obesity, Research, type 2 diabetes

In his lab at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Sean M. Hartig and his colleagues investigate novel ways to control obesity and type 2

From The Labs

He said/she said about body weight control

September 27, 2018 appetite control, Brain, gender differences, hypothalamus, POMC neurons, Research, TAp63

When male and female mice eat the same high-fat diet, the males gain significantly more weight than the females. The reasons for this difference between

From The Labs

What altered gene regulatory regions can do for cancer

September 20, 2018 Cancer, Cancer Genome Atlas, gene regulation, genomic structural rearrangements, Research

The genome includes genes – sequences of DNA that encode the proteins that keep our body working – and regulatory regions adjacent to genes, which

From The Labs

Gene therapy offers potential treatment for osteoarthritis

September 18, 2018 Flexion Therapeutics, gene therapy, GeneQuine, Il-1, Osteoarthritis, Research

Osteoarthritis is a multifactorial degenerative joint disorder that poses a major challenge for treatment. This condition currently affects 28 million people in the United States

From The Labs

Team work and balance can keep a gut healthy

September 13, 2018 epithelium, good bacteria, gut health, immune system, irritable bowel disease, microbiome, microbiota, Research, Salmonella

A significant body of work currently is indicating that the microbiota helps shape the immune system and allows it to do its job. Disease-causing microbes,

From The Labs

Gut metabolite profile may provide insight into how NEC happens

September 11, 2018 baby formula, breast milk, metabolome, microbiome, NEC, pglet model, premature baby, Research

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious disease mediated by an inflammatory process that leads to intestinal damage and sometimes death. It is rare in full

From The Labs

How to ‘jumpstart’ rhythmic breathing at birth

September 6, 2018 Atoh1, breathing, breathing abnormalities, parabrachial complex neurons, Research, retrotrapezoid nucleus, sudden infant death syndrome

The common expression, ‘As easy as breathing,’ is truly misleading. Breathing, as it is performed by higher vertebrates, is a complex biological function involving many