Brainbow

This is a year old bit of news, but the images are just so stunning, so I feel obliged to post them here. Scientists have found a way to colour neurons with 90 distinguishable colours using fluorescent proteins. The method uses three fluorescent proteins, cyan, red and yellow, to produce these colours, kinda like a tv monitor. The genes for the fluorescent proteins were bundled up in “DNA-packages” and inserted into the genome of developing mice. When the cells subsequently developed, different cells would express the different genes to a varying degree, thus creating a lot of different colours. These colour genes are ultimately activated by another gene, called Cre, which the researchers derived from bacteria. So, when observed with a fluorescent microscope, these fantastic images could be taken.

Cortical neurons. (Can anyone spot the pyramidal cells?)

More pictures inside.

Virgin Shark Birth

A shark in an aquarium in Virginia (no pun intended) Beach recently died, and during a necropsy they realized she was pregnant. This was kinda strange, because she had lived alone in a tank for 8 years and had not had any contact with male sharks. A DNA analysis later showed that the baby shark was in fact a result of parthenogenesis (which is to say he had no father). So, there you have it, a virgin shark birth. Cool stuff….