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by Chris Packham
, Phys.org
Tyson, a 3-month-old French bulldog, regrew his jaw after losing a majority of his lower left mandible due to cancer. Just look at this guy. Credit: Cornell University
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Tyson, a 3-month-old French bulldog, regrew his jaw after losing a majority of his lower left mandible due to cancer. Just look at this guy. Credit: Cornell University
Making a debut on February 3, here’s a picture of a cute French bulldog pulling off an amazing feat with his jawbone. Good job! (Click!) Welcome to Saturday. Here’s a summary that includes information about printing neurons, microorganisms, and the changing temperature difference between day and night.
Remarkable Puppy
A study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science titled “Good Boy Grows New Jawbone,” then impressively retitled “Spontaneous mandibular body regeneration following unilateral subtotal mandibulectomy in a 3-month-old French bulldog,” records a cute puppy’s spontaneous regrowth of his lower left mandible after surgical removal due to cancer.
The dog’s owners initially took Tyson to Cornell’s Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service to fix his cleft palate when the vets discovered cancer. Despite the severe nature of mandibular removal, they concluded that since Tyson showed no signs of metastasis, he had the potential for a full life.
To their surprise, Tyson spontaneously regenerated his lower left jawbone in the weeks that followed, although the new bone lacks teeth and other features. The vets attribute the regeneration partly to the preservation of periosteum during surgery; this tissue contains blood vessels and nerves that aid the growth of the original mandible. Imagining containing boundless puppy energy in an E-collar over an extended period of months while he regenerates his face is a challenge for me, as I have a huge puppy at home.
Brain Extruded
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have created the first 3D-printed brain tissue, likely resembling a scene from the “Westworld” opening credits. The 3D-printed tissue functions identically to natural brain tissue, and this achievement could have implications in neuroscience and stem cell biology.
In the past, 3D printing typically involved stacking layers of substrate vertically, which hindered previous attempts by other research groups. In this project, the layers were printed horizontally using a softer bio-ink gel than previous efforts. In a nutrient growth medium, individual neurons were able to grow into each other and communicate through signals, interact with neurotransmitters, and form networks.
In contrast to existing techniques used to produce brain organoids for brain research, this method offers precision and control and does not require specialized equipment or methods, enabling immediate adoption by other research labs.
Discerning Microbes
If you’ve ever felt a strong attraction to large, complex polysaccharides, it’s possible that you might be a marine bacterium. Using technology developed to advance environmental remediation, researchers at ETH Zurich report that bacteria can recognize small food molecules and swim towards large, complex polymers.
Previously, researchers believed that bacteria were unable to detect polymers and were drawn to diffusible substances like sugar. By using a microfluidic chip containing small chambers, the researchers discovered that marine bacteria follow the concentration gradient of a phytoplankton-derived polymer called laminarin. With the new understanding that bacteria have a more sophisticated sensory system than previously thought, the researchers are now investigating whether they recognize other complex substances.
Complex Atmosphere
While temperature increases between night and day were asymmetrical through the 1990s, with greater nighttime warming, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology now reveal that the trend has reversed, with more significant daytime warming, a shift first noted in the 1950s. The researchers suggest that this noticeable temperature difference could impact all life on Earth.
They propose that this change is due to global brightening, caused by reduced cloud cover allowing more sunlight to reach the Earth’s surface. The reasons behind the reduction in cloud cover remain unclear due to the complexity of atmospheric dynamics and how they might be affected by factors such as sunlight, aerosols, and rising atmospheric carbon. Additionally, the cooling effects of evaporation under sunlight may have been weakened by heat waves and regional droughts. Understanding the science of the Earth is complex.
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