In a recent study, researchers from the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (InStem), the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, and the University of Edinburgh, UK, have deciphered an exciting role of a human protein commonly found in the brain. The protein, called Fragile-X mental retardation protein (FMRP), plays a vital role in the development of cognitive functions.

“When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do”, said Walt Disney. And, one such thing Dr Anindita Bhadra, now an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata (IISER Kolkata), did during her later PhD days was to curiously analyse huge amounts of observational data on small colonies of paper wasps (Ropalidia marginata).

Cancer, a condition where healthy cells in the body grow out of control and instead of undergoing programmed death, keep multiplying without a check, has now become quite widespread. Most of us are familiar with the disease either through personal experience or a loved one battling it.

Researchers from IISC, Bengaluru, investigated the role of the protein Sirtuin 6 in the process of energy generation from glucose in a failing heart.