Small Things Considered

Plasmalogens Have Evolved Twice

by Howard Goldfine | Some biologists go blissfully through life without paying much attention to lipids. They do this at their own risk, because there are innumerable things to be learned from their study, Read more →

Biofilms Over Troubled Waters

by Mark O. Martin | The old saying “pouring oil on troubled waters” is a metaphor for bringing peace to a turbulent situation. Recent events in the Gulf of Mexico have proved the contrary, that oil poured (or spilled) upon seawater can produce the very antithesis of calm. After many weeks of concern... Read more →

When the End Is the Story

by Welkin Johnson | Sometimes, discovery in biology is about discerning rules and sometimes it is about pursuing exceptions. In this spirit, Human Herpesvirus six (HHV-6), the etiologic agent of the common childhood illness roseola infantum, is shaping up to be an intriguing exception. As every virologist knows, members of the Herpesviridae maintain... Read more →

Fine Reading: The Sex Habits of Fungi

by Elio | As luck would have it, two pieces of writing on the sex habits of fungi appeared within days of each other. One is light reading, a post in the admirable Cornell Mushroom Blog entitled A Fungus Walks Into a Singles Bar. This is a précis into the complex story of fungal sexuality. It takes you Read more →

An Inactive Mine Provides Active Opportunities

by Elio | Metagenomics is a fine tool indeed for surveying a microbial community in concert, treating both the cultured and uncultured equally. When the sample studied is rich in microbial variety, as often is the case, the pieces of genomes can be reluctant to reveal the genetic heritage of whole microbes. But there are a few particular environments that are... Read more →