Ring Around the Collar for Chromosomes

Cells have amazing quality control records when it comes to passing on genetic material during cell division. Only once every 100,000 times or so do the chromosomes containing the DNA misalign during division. Even then, the cell usually catches the problem and halts the process. UC Berkeley professor David Drubin and his colleagues hope to understand the secret to this precision by taking a very close look at the microscopic machines in the cellular factory.

Rearing Rodents for Behavioral Insights

Rats carry a lot of baggage. Grumpy, anti-social rats often have bad childhoods to blame. In this way, humans and rats have a lot in common. Our early life obviously has a huge affect on who we become as adults. But what is the biology behind our behavior? To find out, UC Berkeley biopsychologist Darlene Francis studies how rodents are reared.

Nanoscience Imitating Nature

It's tough to build things that are 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Biology has had a few billion years to perfect the craft of building from the bottom up. That's why UC Berkeley nanoscientist Matthew Francis collaborates closely with Mother Nature. Francis and his research group use organic chemistry to assemble nanoscale devices with unprecedented capabilities that could revolutionize cancer treatment or lead to the development of highly-efficient solar cells.

The research team: (from left) Eva Nogales, Stefan Westermann, David Drubin and Georjana Barnes (courtesy Berkeley Lab)