Issue | January 2016 | Viruses as Drugs | The Scientist Magazine®

Cover Story

Jyoti Madhusoodanan | Jan 1, 2016 | 10+ min read

Phage therapy to combat bacterial infections is garnering attention for the second time in 100 years, but solid clinical support for its widespread use is still lacking.

Features

RNA Epigenetics

Gidi Rechavi, Chuan He, and Dan Dominissini | Jan 1, 2016 | 10 min read

DNA isn’t the only decorated nucleic acid in the cell. Modifications to RNA molecules are much more common and are critical for regulating diverse biological processes.

The Evolution of Cooperation

R. Ford Denison and Katherine Muller | Jan 1, 2016 | 10+ min read

When and why individual organisms work together at the game of life, and what keeps cheaters in check

Contributors

Meet some of the people featured in the January 2016 issue of The Scientist.

Editorial

All Together Now

Understanding the biological roots of cooperation might help resolve some of the biggest scientific challenges we face.

Speaking of Science

January 2016's selection of notable quotes

Notebook

Heart-Healthy Hibernators

Overwintering ground squirrels survive fluctuations in body temperature that would cause cardiac arrest in nonhibernators.

Flavor Savors

Odors experienced via the mouth are essential to our sense of taste.

If It Ain't Broke . . .

Is there room to improve upon the tried-and-true, decades-old technology of artificial hearts?

To Retain a Brain

Exceptional neural fossil preservation helps answer questions about ancient arthropod evolution.

Critic at Large

The Age of Pharmabrewing

We should not resist developing opiate-producing GM yeast for fear of the technology falling into the wrong hands.

Modus Operandi

Practical Proteomes

Cell type–specific proteomic analyses are now possible from paraffin-embedded tissues.

The Literature

Managing Methylation

A long noncoding RNA associated with DNA methylation has the power to regulate colon cancer growth in vitro.

Telomerase Overdrive

Two mutations in a gene involved in telomere extension reverse the gene’s epigenetic silencing.

Smooth Move

In the mouse lung, hardening of a blood vessel can result from just a single progenitor cell forming new smooth muscle.

Profile

Fearless about Folding

Susan Lindquist has never shied away from letting her curiosity guide her research career.

Scientist to Watch

Christie Fowler: Addicted to Research

Assistant Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior University of California, Irvine. Age: 39

Lab Tools

Pluripotency Bots

A tour of efforts to automate the production and differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells

Reveling in the Revealed

A growing toolbox for surveying the activity of entire genomes

Bio Business

Picking Up the Pace

FDA designations promise to expedite the approval of drugs for conditions ranging from infectious disease to cancer.

Reading Frames

Logically Illogical

The most bizarre behaviors often make perfect sense in the minds of the mentally ill.

Foundations

A Century of Science on Stamps

Countries have used postage stamps to commemorate scientific achievements—sometimes with erroneous zeal—since the early 1900s.