Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis: The Simplicity of a Blood Test Longer life expectancy and ageing populations will lead to an increase in the prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease across the globe. However, symptoms can be vague and non-specific, hindering diagnosis. The most effective treatments should be administered early in the progression of the disease. How can clinicians ascertain UCL Science Magazine • Biology
Unveiling the Genetic Blueprint of Human Brain Evolution How has the human brain evolved over time? There are several key players in the origin of human intelligence, both biological and anthropological. In this introduction, we explore some of the genetic drivers of human brain evolution and their pivotal role in shaping our higher cognitive abilities. By Madeleine Hjelt UCL Science Magazine • Biology
Bioluminescence: How Fireflies Are Trailblazing Modern Cancer Treatment Bioluminescence - the emission of light by an organism - is amongst nature’s most charming phenomena. A new phototherapy, which uses light emission from fireflies, aims at stimulating the self-destruction of remote tumours. Could this illuminate the path to a cancer-free future? By Calista Chan Presenting itself in larvae, UCL Science Magazine • Biology
Could Our Favourite Pineapple-Inhabiting Friend Help Treat Alzheimer’s? Though less lively than their cartoon counterpart, deep-ocean sponges are helping researchers alleviate symptoms of Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Research spearheaded by the Perha Pharmaceuticals lab in Roscoff, France, has produced a promising drug candidate, Leucettinib-21. I had the opportunity to meet the lead researcher, UCL Science Magazine • Biology
Eco-Innovation: Can We Tackle the Climate Crisis Using IVF Corals and Cyborg Plants? By Ariella Morris Climate change is already reshaping our world, but what if nature and technology could fight back together? IVF corals and cyborg peace lilies are emerging as unlikely heroes in the battle against environmental destruction. These innovative solutions - designed to restore fragile marine ecosystems and monitor hidden pollutants- UCL Science Magazine • Biology
AlphaFold2: Reshaping Our Understanding of Protein Folding AlphaFold2, one of the AI programs behind the 2024 Nobel Prize win in Chemistry, provides an innovative breakthrough for tackling "The Protein Folding Problem." The protein structure prediction capability provided by AlphaFold2 not only provides a new perspective for solving this long-standing problem but also indicates the UCL Science Magazine • Biology
