recent posts
- The connection between Malaria and Multiple Sclerosis in Sardia, Italy
- Multiple Sclerosis and the Anti-Plasmodium falciparum Innate Immune Response
- Not all vaping is the same: differential pulmonary effects of vaping cannabidiol (CBD) versus nicotine
- Junk DNA: From Genomic Graveyard to Regulatory Gold
- Epigenetic Variation & Human Disease
about
Category: Blogs
-
By Robyn-Lee Manchest Ever wondered if your jawline could help solve a crime? For forensic scientists, it might just be the key to unlocking your biological identity. On today’s episode of “Jaws”, we dive into a fascinating study by Toneva et al. (2023), which explores sex-related differences in the size and shape of the human…
-
By Jaime Altshuler Imagine being a parent in rural Africa, watching your child’s feet swell and their face grow puffy, unaware this could be a sign of a serious kidney disease: nephrotic syndrome (NS). If left untreated, this disease can lead to life-threatening complications. NS is one of the most common chronic kidney diseases in…
-
By Kestrel Williamson You’ve probably been told many times to get a full night’s sleep before an exam, and it’s generally explained to be important because sleep is important for memory consolidation. Neuroscientists agree that there is in fact a well-supported connection between sleep and memory, however, the mechanism explaining how sleep contributes to memory…
-
By Abigail Clemo We all know that a healthy lifestyle is essential to live long and prosper. Boring, but necessary nonetheless. Unhealthy habits can exacerbate the natural reduction in brain volume that occurs with ageing. Smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity and short sleep are risk factors for health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, increased…
-
By Stephanie Petersen A child in a modest Cape Town neighbourhood reaches for what appears to be tiny granules of dark sand that are hidden in a kitchen corner. It is not food. It is poison. This is not fiction. Dangerous agricultural pesticides are being illegally repackaged and sold as “street pesticides” in South Africa,…
-
By Athianda Bukula Who would have thought that the microscopic world of bacteria could offer new hope in the fight against cancer? As cancer research continues to explore many approaches, one unexpected candidate has emerged from bacterial systems: the MazF-MazE toxin -antitoxin system. At the heart of this mechanism is MazF. A bacterial toxin that…
-
By Boniwe Ncethelo Have you ever watched a heist movie and funny how most times we side with the criminals because we admire how smart they are, for instance in the series that was popular in 2017: Money heist. I was on the criminal side. I know it sounds bad, but they were just so…
-
By Lesego Mahlasi Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common hereditary blood disorders worldwide. It is marked by the presence of sickle haemoglobin, which disrupts red blood cell (RBC) activity. A point mutation in the B-globin gene on chromosome 11 causes sickle haemoglobin (HbS) to replace normal haemoglobin (HbA). When oxygen levels are low,…
-
By Zengeziwe Shabangu South Africa is considered as one of the countries with the highest murder rates for men globally. When people hear the word “homicide”, they usually htink it is caused only by robbery, gang violence or some street crimes. Other research studies have shown another perspective that most men are killed by someone…
-
By Thompho Mathoni Depression during pregnancy is more prevalent than often thought, impacting approximately 6-20% of pregnant women. Even mild depressive symptoms can affect a child’s brain development, especially in regions related to emotions and behaviour. Studies have found links between prenatal depression and changes in brain regions like the limbic system and prefrontal cortex,…
Health Science Reviews 