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Dis-assembly�, Daniel Kohns interpretation of a chromothripsis event from his series Thinking about Science � DataSets�. Chromothripsis, a dramatic chromosomal event involving massive chromosome breakage and rearrangement, typically restricted to one or a few of a cells chromosomes, has been observed in various cancers and congenital diseases. A new study uses a combination of live-cell imaging and single-cell genome sequencing to recreate chromothripsis-like rearrangements. The results show that after single chromosomes are missegregated into so-called micronuclei, they can shatter. After cell division, these fragments can be incorporated back into the genome, generating rearrangements that in some cases bear all the hallmark features of chromothripsis. Chromosome shattering in micronuclei can also lead to the formation of small circular chromosome fragments, the initial step in forming double minute chromosomes�, which carry amplified oncogenes in cancer. This study thus provides the first experimental demonstration of a molecular mechanism underlying chromothripsis. Cover art by Daniel Kohn, http://www.kohnworkshop.com/
A report from South Africa on the science of human sexuality and its implications for policy-making brings African countries a step closer to confronting laws that criminalize homosexuality.
ITER director-general Bernard Bigot explains how he will strengthen leadership and management to refocus the project's aim of harnessing nuclear fusion.
An RNA-interference screen has identified the protein CD55, expressed on the surface of red blood cells, as an essential receptor for infection of the cells by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
After cell division, membranes become fused around the nucleus to encapsulate the cell's chromosomes. It emerges that this process is regulated by the ESCRT-III protein complex. See Letters p.231 & p.236
The unusual properties of hyperbolic metamaterials, such as their ability to propagate light on the nanoscale without diffraction, have been realized in two-dimensional devices, heralding improved photonic circuits. See Letter p.192
Extensive chromosomal rearrangement – chromothripsis – is seen in several cancers. Imaging and sequencing of single cells shows that this phenomenon can occur inside cellular anomalies known as micronuclei. See Article p.179
Links between various climate records for the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea have helped to identify a potential mechanism that enhanced sea-level rise during the last interglacial time interval. See Letter p.197
Two studies of ancient human DNA reveal expansions of Bronze Age populations that shed light on the long-running debate about the origins and spread of Indo-European languages. See Article p.167 & Letter p.207
An analysis of 101 ancient human genomes from the Bronze Age (3000–1000 bc) reveals large-scale population migrations in Eurasia consistent with the spread of Indo-European languages; individuals frequently had light skin pigmentation but were not lactose tolerant.
Novel technology to rapidly clone patient-specific, ‘ground state’ stem cells of columnar epithelia reveals their proliferative potential, remarkably precise and origin-dependent lineage commitment as well as genomic stability, despite extensive culturing, thereby skirting limitations associated with pluripotent stem cells.
The mechanism for chromothripsis, “shattered” chromosomes that can be observed in cancer cells, is unknown; here, using live-cell imaging and single-cell sequencing, chromothripsis is shown to occur after a chromosome is isolated into a micronucleus, an abnormal nuclear structure.
Infrared imaging reveals all of Saturn’s faint, outermost ring, showing that it is composed principally of small dust particles and suggesting that particle temperatures are increased because of the radiative inefficiency of the smallest grains.
A model of the heating of the quiet Sun, in which magnetic fields are generated by a subphotospheric fluid dynamo intrinsically connected to granulation, shows fields expanding into the chromosphere, where plasma is heated at the rate required to match observations by small-scale eruptions that release magnetic energy and drive sonic motions, while the corona is heated by the dissipation of Alfvén waves.
Visible-frequency hyperbolic metasurfaces defined on single-crystal silver exhibit negative refraction and diffraction-free propagation, as well as strong, dispersion-dependent spin–orbit coupling for propagating surface plasmon polaritons, with device performance greatly exceeding those of previous bulk metamaterial demonstrations.
A synthesis of new and existing data allows Heinrich Stadial 11 (HS11), a prominent Northern Hemisphere cold event, to be linked to the timing of peak sea-level rise during glacial termination T-II, whereas rapid sea-level rise in T-I is shown to clearly post-date Heinrich Stadial 1, so fundamentally different mechanisms seem to be at work during glacial terminations.
Electrical anisotropy measurements at high temperatures and quasi-hydrostatic pressures on previously deformed olivine plus melt samples show that electrical conductivity is much higher in the direction of deformation; this is confirmed with a layered electrical model of the asthenosphere and lithosphere that reproduces existing field data.
A genome-wide analysis of 69 ancient Europeans reveals the history of population migrations around the time that Indo-European languages arose in Europe, when there was a large migration into Europe from the Eurasian steppe in the east (providing a genetic ancestry still present in Europeans today); these findings support a ‘steppe origin’ hypothesis for how some Indo-European languages arose.
The attachment of a simple, unpowered, mechanical exoskeleton to the foot and ankle results in a net saving of 7% of the metabolic energy expended in human walking.
Two drugs, miconazole and clobetasol, have functions that modulate differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells directly, enhance remyelination, and significantly reduce disease severity in mouse models of multiple sclerosis.
The human endogenous retrovirus HERVK is normally silenced, but here the surprising discovery is made that in early human embryo development it is expressed, producing retroviral-like particles.
Using a genetic approach in zebrafish, the mesothelial covering of the heart—the epicardium—is shown to have a high regenerative ability after injury, a process that is driven by Hedgehog signalling originating from the outflow tract.
ESCRT-III, a protein complex best known for membrane constriction and sealing during various cellular processes, mediates reassembly of the nuclear envelope during late anaphase.
The ESCRT-III complex is implicated in the reformation of the nuclear envelope; the CHMP2A component of ESCRT-III is directed to the forming nuclear envelope through classical ESCRT-assembly mechanisms, with the help of the p97 complex component UFD1, and provides an activity essential for nuclear envelope reformation.
Transposable elements in mammalian genomes need to be silenced to avoid detrimental genome instability; here, the histone variant H3.3 is shown to have an important role in silencing endogenous retroviral elements.