News
At the University of Zurich and at ETH Zurich, Life Science research covers a huge range of different topics. There is plenty of new information about all these research activities is every day and you easily lose track of what is really important. Under “News”, we have selected some of the reports and articles on new and relevant findings in the Life Science research for you. If you are looking for more detailed knowledge of a specific subject you might find an answer here. If you miss your favorite research topic, please let us know.
-
Advanced breeding paves the way for disease-resistant beans
-
Measuring in Ultra-High Precision
Tuberculosis is the world's most common fatal infectious disease, in particular among people with HIV. Tuberculosis therapy plays an important role in the fight against AIDS. Optimizing this treatment is one of the aims of the research partnership between the University of Zurich and the Infectious Diseases Institute in Uganda – with a highly developed analytical machine playing a key role.
-
Revolutionising the CRISPR method
Researchers at ETH Zurich have refined the famous CRISPR-Cas method. Now, for the very first time, it is possible to modify dozens, if not hundreds, of genes in a cell simultaneously.
-
Telltale Bacteria
Criminology: DNA tracing has become an indispensable tool when it comes to solving crimes. And now microbes are expanding the possibilities.
-
How trees could save the climate
Around 0.9 billion hectares of land worldwide would be suitable for reforestation, which could ultimately capture two thirds of human-made carbon emissions.
-
New Therapy Promotes Vascular Repair Following Stroke
Following a stroke, antibodies that inhibit the signaling molecule Nogo-A can help repair blood vessels in the affected brain regions. This also promotes the regaining of motor functions, as researchers at the UZH have shown in a mouse model.
-
Touch me!
In the Botanical Garden of the UZH there is now a new space with lots of agricultural and medicinal plants. Come and look - and taste, touch and smell! Kids are welcome.
-
Deep inside the brain
ETH researchers are using brain stimulation to investigate the consequences of stress and to find new therapies for treating stress-related psychiatric diseases. One day it may even be possible to cure brain disorders quite literally in our sleep – without taking pills.
-
Redundancies in T cells
Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered redundancies in the biochemical signalling pathways of immune cells. This finding has important implications for advances in cancer immunotherapy, among other areas.
-
Domino Effect of Species Extinctions Also Damages Biodiversity
The mutual dependencies of many plant species and their pollinators mean that the negative effects of climate change are exacerbated. As UZH researchers show, the total number of species threatened with extinction is therefore considerably higher than predicted in previous models.
-
Chimpanzees Catch and Eat Crabs
Chimpanzees have a mainly vegetarian diet, but do occasionally eat meat. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now shown for the first time that chimpanzees also eat crabs. In the rainforest of Guinea, the researchers observed how chimpanzees regularly fish for crabs.
-
Early in vitro testing for adverse effects on embryos
ETH researchers have combined embryonic cells and liver cells in a new cell culture test. This combination lets them detect adverse effects that new medications may have on embryos early on in the drug development process.
-
Animal Welfare - the 3R principles at UZH
Paulin Jirkof has been working for around a year as 3R Coordinator for UZH. Her job is to help reduce the number of animal experiments conducted at UZH and to improve the welfare of the animals involved.
-
Interplay of Pollinators and Pests Influences Plant Evolution
Brassica rapa plants pollinated by bumblebees evolve more attractive flowers. But this evolution is compromised if caterpillars attack the plant at the same time. With the bees pollinating them less effectively, the plants increasingly self-pollinate. In a greenhouse evolution experiment, scientists at the University of Zurich have shown just how much the effects of pollinators and pests influence each other.
-
Showy Primates Have Smaller Testicles
Well-adorned or well-endowed – but not both. Evolutionary biologists at the University of Zurich have for the first time demonstrated that male primates either have large testicles or showy ornaments. Developing both at the same time may simply take too much energy.
-
Major step towards individual cancer immunotherapy
Medicine has great hopes for personalised cancer immunotherapy. The idea is to have a vaccine prompt the immune system to fight a tumour. Scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a method that allows them to determine which molecules are suited to patient-specific immunisation.
-
Why Kidneys Form Stones
Our kidneys filter all the blood in our body 36 times a day. How on earth do the kidneys manage this herculean task? That is the question being researched by the National Center of Competence in Research Kidney.CH, for which UZH is the home institution. On World Kidney Day, we take a brief glimpse behind the scenes of Swiss kidney research.
-
Accelerating Diagnostics of Multi-Resistant Tuberculosis
UZH molecular biologist Prajwal and a team of researchers have developed a comprehensive rapid diagnostic test for multi-resistant tuberculosis pathogens. He now wants to turn the test into a commercial product with the help of a UZH Entrepreneur Fellowship.
-
ETH Podcast on #CRISPRbabies
In the new episode of the ETH Podcast, Effy Vayena, Professor of Bioethics, and Hantan Zhao, a Chinese PhD student at ETH Zurich, discuss the ethical implications of the case.