Genetics + Genomics

Type 1 diabetes from a beta cell’s perspective

September 25, 2020

A new experimental system shows how insulin-producing beta cells react under autoimmune attack during type 1 diabetes; the results could lead to better treatments.

Small parasites close to the nucleus of a host cell.

These genes help explain how malaria parasites survive treatment with common drug

Infectious disease

September 23, 2020

Whitehead Institute Member Sebastian Lourido’s CRISPR screen technique reveals factors in parasites’ susceptibility to antibiotics.

Unusual Labmates: Lighting up the lab

Genetics + Genomics

September 14, 2020

This entry of Unusual Labmates features fireflies, including the American species Photinus pyralis and the Japanese species Aquatica lateralis, which graduate student Tim Fallon in Whitehead Insitute Member Jing-Ke Weng's lab is using to better understand the ability to emit light.

Parasite research heats up

Cell Renewal

July 05, 2020

Whitehead Institute researchers have used thermal profiling to match a potential antiparasitic drug to its target in Toxoplasma gondii, providing insight into the parasite’s calcium signaling pathways that could help in the development of therapeutics to treat infection.

Blue eyestalk-like projections on a black background, surrounded by pink dots.

These muscle cells are guideposts to help regenerative flatworms grow back their eyes

Development and regeneration

Genetics + Genomics

June 25, 2020

A new study from Peter Reddien's Lab at Whitehead Institute is a step forward in understanding how neural circuits could be regenerated in adults

Video: Spring 2020 Research Highlights from Whitehead Institute

Stem Cells

June 08, 2020

How viral RNA flexes to express different genes, a new model for studying human cancers in mice, and more: learn about the latest findings from Whitehead Institute researchers in this Research Highlights video.

Tiny green HIV viruses surround a pink blood cell.

HIV genome bends over backwards to help virus take over cells

RNA

May 06, 2020

Differently shaped RNA molecules allow HIV to express different genes from the same RNA sequence.

A split image shows healthy and diseased airway cilia side by side. The healthy cilia are well-defined, the diseased look a little shapeless and stuck together.

From bedside to bench, and back again

Genetics + Genomics

Protein form and function

April 22, 2020

A mysterious case in the clinic led Whitehead Institute researchers to discover a new genetic lung condition

BioGenesis Podcast: Sophia Xu of the Weng lab on modern science and ancient Eastern herbal medicine

Plant Biology

April 01, 2020

From MIT Biology and Whitehead Institute: BioGenesis podcast explores the experiences that led affiliated graduate students to pursue research careers

To be long-lived or short-lived?

RNA

Genetics + Genomics

February 19, 2020

Whitehead team offers sweeping view of messenger RNA stability and degradation across thousands of genes