Biology

During the past few decades, the field of biology has dramatically expanded, incorporating many diverse sub-disciplines and specialty areas, such as microbiology and evolutionary biology. However, teaching biology to undergraduate students has not kept pace with the changes, and core biology curriculum varies widely from university to university and classroom to classroom.

Dr. Zhaozheng Yin, an assistant professor of computer science at Missouri University of Science and Technology, recently received the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious award for young faculty members for his research into developing algorithms and systems for processing microscopy images of biological specimens.

When it comes to the brain, wiring isn’t everything. Although neurobiologists often talk in electrical metaphors, the reality is that the brain is not nearly as simple as a series of wires and circuits. Unlike their copper counterparts, neurons can behave differently depending on the situation.

High resolution X-ray crystallography is an imaging technique in which X-ray beams are shot through purified, crystallized proteins. The beam scatters in different directions, allowing scientists to construct a detailed, 3-D model of the crystallized protein's molecular structure. Measuring the intensities and angles of the diffracted beams reveals the position of each atom in the protein.















