Scientists have created a form of the H5N1 avian flu virus that is transmissible between mammals, raising fears that it could trigger a human pandemic if it escapes from the lab.
This collection of recent papers from Nature and other NPG journals highlights developments in microRNA biology and effects on gene regulation. As the first microRNA-based drug achieves human proof-of-concept, the potential for creating powerful medicines targeting microRNAs
becomes a reality. These papers further link microRNA dysregulation to disease pathogenesis and may provide new targets for the treatment of diabetes and obesity, vascular diseases and cancer therapies.
High-speed video footage of leaping lizards supports a 40-year-old hypothesis about how theropod dinosaurs, like the velociraptors of Jurassic Park fame, adjusted the angle of their tails to stay stable when jumping.
Image credit: Thomas Libby, Evan Chang-Siu and Pauline Jennings