Daniel Hershkowitz, Minister of Science and Technology, Shares Insight with Students The Yeshiva University community enjoyed the opportunity to converse with and learn from Israeli Minister of Science and Technology Daniel Hershkowitz in a jam-packed evening on April 30. [caption id="attachment_10417" align="alignleft" width="344" caption="Minister Hershkowitz and President Joel"][/caption] Throughout the afternoon and evening, Hershkowitz met with students, faculty and administrators in a variety of settings to learn about the unique educational model of YU and share some of his insights. “It is my first time at Yeshiva University and I am very glad to be here,” said Hershkowitz. “It would be wonderful if we had a similar kind of institution in Israel.” Upon his arrival to the Wilf Campus, Hershkowitz was greeted by President Richard M. Joel and proceeded to meet with Yeshiva College Dean Barry Eichler and a number of senior faculty members to discuss common issues of interest regarding university life and current research underway at YU. “As the day progressed, it was clear that YU had made a new friend with whom we could cooperate in our close relationship with the State of Israel as academics devoted to our teaching and research, and in the continued quest for strengthening Jewish life here and abroad,” said Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, vice provost for undergraduate education, who took part in a number of meetings with the minister throughout the evening. At 8 pm, Hershkowitz delivered a short address in Furst Hall introducing an event sponsored by the Neuroscience Society, Medical Ethics Society, Yeshiva College Biology Majors Board, the Yeshiva College Philosophy Club, the Honors Program and the Stern College for Women Neuroscience Club. The minister described the fast paced rate of technological change wrought by advancements in computer technology. To illustrate this, he offered as an anecdote a common occurrence that he encountered as a graduate student: when he discovered a citation for a journal article not held by his library, he would have to send away for it, often to another country. “If I was lucky,” he said, “I would receive the article in a month. Now with computer databases, I can retrieve an article in seconds.” [caption id="attachment_10420" align="alignright" width="378" caption="Minister Hershkowitz met with Provost Lowengrub (left) and members of the YU faculty."][/caption] According to Hershkowitz, this improvement has led to an explosion of new research and journal publications, allowing people to delve deeper into sub-specialties of specific disciplines than ever before. With people so hyper-specialized, Israel now encourages more interdisciplinary collaboration in the sciences in order to maximize its scholars output and creativity. This is why Israel is currently focusing the attention of its research centers on the four interdisciplinary fields of neuroscience, marine biology, nanotechnology and computer technology. “When different fields come together, we can do amazing things,” said the minister. In closing, the minister offered a parable from the Book of Exodus to describe the compatibility of scientific inquiry and Jewish culture that he was pleased to encounter at YU. "We were delighted to have Minister Hershkowitz address the Neuroscience Society,” said Neuroscience Society President Daniel First. “Neuroscience is one of the hottest fields of scientific research today, and it was fascinating to hear how Israel is playing a prominent role in its advancement." Minister Hershkowitz earned a doctorate in mathematics from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in 1982. He has served as the rabbi for the Ahuza community near the northern Israeli city of Haifa. In early 2009, he won a seat in the Knesset as the Chairman of the Habayit Hayehudi party, a national religious party, and was shortly thereafter named Minister of Science and Technology. none

With Faculty Support, Helen Unger Discovers Her Passion for Cancer Research at Stern; Wins Prestigious Award Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Helen Unger watched her mother battle cancer and initially decided to join the fight by becoming a doctor. [caption id="attachment_10000" align="alignleft" width="387" caption="Helen Unger chose Yeshiva University for its many research opportunities and supportive Torah environment."][/caption] Eager to roll up her sleeves and get to work, she graduated high school early and enrolled in pre-med studies at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program—a plan Unger formed in ninth grade. “I recognized that my situation in public school wasn’t ideal for me,” said Unger. She had recently become religious on her own and struggled to lead an Orthodox lifestyle in a secular world. Unger was anxious to launch her career in cutting-edge science and medicine, but she also longed to expand her understanding of religious Judaism and be part of an environment where its intricacies would be built into daily life. “I knew I wanted to go to a college where being Jewish wasn’t something I just did on the side,” Unger said. When a little bit of research told her that YU had a high graduate and medical school acceptance rate, she knew she’d found the right place. “I knew that Stern would allow me to focus on excelling in Jewish studies and learning as well as the sciences.’ ” As a freshman, Unger found her envisioned career path had evolved. Excited by the amount of research opportunities available to undergraduates on campus, she had started work in the breast cancer research laboratory of Dr. Marina Holz, assistant professor of biology. “In Dr. Holz’s laboratory, we work to identify therapeutic targets against which new cancer treatments can be developed,” said Unger. Holz’s problem-solving approach to cancer research fascinated her. [caption id="attachment_10005" align="alignright" width="387" caption="Unger and Holz, right, are working to identify therapeutic targets against which new cancer treatments can be developed. "][/caption] “I fell in love with research,” Unger said. “I love how it allows scientists to innovate and design new and more effective therapies for disease without the pressure of following clinical protocols. I also like the fact that my work could develop therapies that will help a multitude of patients, not just one at a time.” As a junior majoring in cellular and molecular biology, Unger was encouraged by Holz to apply for the Thomas J. Bardos Science Education Award for Undergraduate Students. She was recently selected as a winner and is the first YU student to be chosen. The two-year award, given to a handful of students across North America, is intended to inspire young science students to enter the field of cancer research. It provides them with unique educational opportunities in the development of their careers in science and a $1,500 stipend to attend the next two American Association of Cancer Research Annual Meetings, where Unger will have the chance to meet and hear from leading researchers and potentially present her research with Holz. “I’m looking forward to the award putting me in touch with people who are higher up in the cancer research realm,” Unger said. “It provides me with good contacts and a lot of exposure to what’s going on in research around the world. I’m also excited to represent YU and Orthodox Jewry at the conferences and to show them what we’re all about.” [caption id="attachment_10007" align="alignleft" width="387" caption="Unger with Anna Sedletcaia, a postdoctoral fellow in Holz's lab, who assists undergraduates with their research projects."][/caption] In addition, Unger recently co-authored an article with Holz and other students which has been published in the January 30, 2012 online edition of Oncogene, a high-impact research journal. “Helen is a very successful student researcher who has contributed a lot to our work,” Holz said. She added that Unger’s award was an indicator not only of her personal achievement, but the caliber of the science students and faculty at Stern in general. “Many of our faculty have active research programs which allow us to involve undergrads in our work,” said Holz. “We have real, relevant, nationally-acclaimed, nationally-funded programs and the latest biological and molecular techniques to employ in our labs. The fact Helen won this prestigious national award is a sign that we’re on the same level as any other major research university.” She added: “Helen is the first to win, but more will follow her.” For Unger, relationships with faculty like Holz were enriching both academically and personally. “Dr. Holz has been a wonderful mentor,” she said. “The professors at Stern are there for you from everything, from your big questions about molecular biology to what kind of shoes you should wear to a conference. It’s like a little family.” Unger also felt the warm, supportive atmosphere at Stern encouraged students to compete with themselves to do their best, rather than forcing rivalries with other students. “Stern is a small school and that means each student in my biology class is a person, not a number,” she said. “We all want to see each other succeed and get into top graduate schools and I think that’s the best environment for learning.” [caption id="attachment_10004" align="alignright" width="387" caption="Unger credits the warm, supportive atmosphere at Stern for bringing out the best in students."][/caption] Holz emphasized Stern’s collaborative approach to science. “When students do research here, they really have a home base,” she said. “They have a lab to come to between classes where they can hang out and get to know professors as they do research together, which allows them to form a personal mentorship with the faculty that leads to more career advancement opportunities and a better-rounded science education.” This summer Unger will participate in the Sloan-Kettering Summer Undergraduate Research Program, an extremely selective program that gives students opportunities for hands-on research experience in cutting-edge biomedical research laboratories. Next, she hopes to pursue a doctorate at a New York City school—and possibly teach as well. “I’d love to educate the next generation of scientists,” said Unger. “Biology is the study of life and there are so many things people don’t understand. I’d love to be a role model that could help students with that process.” none

Alumnus' Gift Helps Students Give Back to Community When Norman Bickoff ’71YC, of Clifton, NJ, attended his 40th college reunion last year in May, hosted by Yeshiva University’s Office of Alumni Affairs, alumni were asked to consider giving back to their alma mater and make a donation. Bickoff, who regards the Jewish responsibility of tikkun olam, or repairing the world, among his greatest values, reached out to YU to discuss a gift that incorporated that value. Alan Secter, director of institutional Advancement for Yeshiva College, told him about Project Start (Students, Teachers, and Researchers Teach) Science!, which sends students at Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women to public schools in Washington Heights to conduct fun and interactive science experiments with students. Bickoff knew right away that this was a program that he wanted to support, and just recently made a formal gift. Read full article at News and Views at YU... none

Torah Umadda Week Examines the Interplay between Modern Science and Torah Scholarship If you could turn on a light just by thinking about it, would doing so be permissible on Shabbat according to halacha [Jewish law]? [caption id="attachment_8803" align="alignleft" width="387" caption="Dr. Norman Adler"][/caption] That question was one of many students were asked to consider during a lecture titled “Nerve Cells, Robots and Human Choice: Halacha at the Frontiers of Neuroscience,” presented by Dr. Norman Adler, University Professor of Psychology, and Rabbi Herschel Schachter, Nathan and Vivian Fink Distinguished Professorial Chair in Talmud at YU-affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). The discussion, held at Stern College for Women’s Koch Auditorium on November 2, fused an evolution of scientific thought about the brain and genetic predisposition with Torah perspectives on free will and technology, prompting students to reflect on a plethora of issues that were equal parts science, philosophy and Jewish law. To what extent do we control our actions? In a world where action can be achieved with the push of a button, where do we end and machines begin? Why can you use a hearing aid on Shabbat? Are machine-made matzot still able to fulfill the mitzvah of matza, which must be created with specific intent? “It is critical for young Orthodox Jews to understand the field of neuroscience and its counterpart in Jewish thought,” said Adler. The lecture was part of a series of science-and-Jewish-thought-based discussions that together comprised “Torah Umadda Week” (the phrase, which also reflects YU’s mission, means “the synthesis of Torah learning with secular knowledge”) at Yeshiva University from November 1-3, coordinated by Yeshiva University’s Office of Admissions, the Torah Activities Club, the Pre-Med Club, the Neurobiology Club, the Genetics Club and Stern College’s biology department. Two other presentations, “From Maimonides the Doctor to the Doctor at Maimonides Medical Center: The Training of the Jewish Medical Student Throughout History,” by Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman, and “Reproducing Jews,” by Dr. Richard Grazi, rounded out the week. [caption id="attachment_8806" align="alignright" width="387" caption="Rabbi Hershel Schachter"][/caption] “So beautifully reflecting the philosophy and mantra of Yeshiva University, this program presents experts in the fields of science, medicine and halacha that share with the students the results of their cutting-edge research,” said Reichman. “The week's activities in their totality reveal the breadth of the Torah Umadda philosophy and stimulate the students to explore and research further.” For Tsipora Huisman, president of the Pre-Med Club, the week was an important reminder of the unique interplay between Jewish and scientific studies: “All day I’m immersed in classes in Torah and secular topics, but events like Torah Umadda Week really bridge the gaps between them.” Jina Davidovich, founder of the Torah Umadda Committee, hoped that the week’s lectures would continue the discussion of what it means to be a Torah Umadda Jew on campus, adding that more events like Torah Umadda Week and others were in the works. “I contend that Torah Umadda is not the philosophy by which we allow secular knowledge into the room of our conscious, placing a barrier between our religious identity and the secular knowledge that we cautiously peruse,” said Davidovich. “It is the imperative to invite secular ideas into the warm embrace of our Torah knowledge, examining how both forms of knowledge inform one another and enable each individual to better understand their religion, themselves and truth.” none

Noted Innovator and Scholar Discusses Halachic Implications of Synthetic Biology at Yeshiva University Dr. Joseph Jacobson, an associate professor of media arts and sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), came to Yeshiva University on October 31 to discuss “Synthetic Biology: Towards the Creation of Novel Living Organisms from Chemical Parts and Halachic Implications.” [caption id="attachment_8790" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="MIT's Dr. Joseph Jacobson met with YU students before his Oct. 31 lecture."][/caption] “Synthetic biology—the creation of new organisms—is a vast new field in which YU has the ability to take a huge leadership role regarding the ethics of it,” said Jacobson, addressing some 50 YU students, administrators and faculty members. Jacobson is the author of more than 40 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers and holds several patents and patent pendings in display technology and printed electronics. A technical founder of E Ink Corporation, he received a 2001 Discover magazine award for technological innovation, and in 1999 he was named as one of Technology Review magazine's 100 most influential innovators under the age of 35 for his research that has led to the development of "e-ink" and technologies for electronic books. During the lecture, Jacobson provided a background to the field of synthetic biology, detailing its power and potential. He then addressed various ethical and halachic dilemmas that may come up and how halacha [Jewish law] might approach them. One such halachic question was whether or not the issur [prohibition] of kilayim [crossbreeding] applies to creating new cells. “Professor Jacobson in so many ways could be the poster child for Torah U’madda,” said Yeshiva University President Richard M. Joel. “It is wonderful that we enjoy a growing relationship with him, and through him, as well with MIT. We look forward to the relationship only growing.” Jacobson concluded his lecture by stating that the ability to create a human being—“to upgrade our own genomes”—is fast approaching and reiterated the need for an institution, like YU, to play a critical role in exploring the ethics behind this up and coming phenomenon. none

Eleven Undergraduate Students Participate in Research Program at Einstein Designing a mini-gene, testing how cells communicate and developing a new line of therapies to fight fungal infections—it’s all part of the summer fun for 11 Yeshiva University undergraduates participating in an advanced biomedical research program at YU’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine. [caption id="attachment_7998" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Yeshiva College's Daniel Rosen hopes his research will help develop a novel line of therapies for people afflicted by infectious diseases."][/caption] Called the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) and directed by Dr. Victoria Freedman, assistant dean of biomedical studies, the program has drawn 53 students in total from a variety of colleges and universities to engage in cutting-edge scientific studies, mentored by Einstein’s faculty. Each student is placed in a research laboratory in his or her field of interest and works closely with graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Group seminars and workshops throughout the summer give participants a broad overview of the many types of research conducted at Einstein and provides them with techniques and strategies to become better scientists. In August, the students share their work as part of a poster session. “The aim of the SURP program is to provide each student with the opportunity to experience the many rewards and challenges of biomedical research,” said Dr. Barry Potvin, a professor at Yeshiva College and visiting professor in the cell biology department at Einstein who oversees the selection process. “It is hoped that some will decide to include research in their future career plans and that they will apply for admission to Einstein's MD, PhD, or MD/PhD degree programs.” [caption id="attachment_8000" align="aligncenter" width="368" caption="Eleven YU students are taking part in Einstein's Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)."][/caption] The 11 YU students are clustered into three programs. Eight students—Amishav Bresler, Ariel Caplan, Irving Levine, Ariel Peleg, Daniel Rosen and Menachem Spira of Yeshiva College and Elisa Karp and Miriam Steinberger of Stern College for Women—were awarded scholarships through the Roth Scholars Program, funded by the Ernst and Hedwig Roth Institute of Biomedical Science Education at YU. In addition, Faygel Beren and Jordana Schneider were chosen as part of the University Summer Research Scholars Program, which is supported through the Provost’s Office. Nancy Shilian is participating through the Stern Einstein Research Connection (SERC), a program created by Stern alumni to provide funding for a Stern freshman or sophomore to perform scientific research during the summer. Each program provides students with a stipend and on-campus housing. “I enjoy the responsibility of running my own experiments,” said Jordana Schneider, a biology and psychology major from West Hempstead, NY, who is working in Dr. Jeffrey Seagall’s lab in the department of anatomy and structural biology. “So far I’ve learned countless new techniques and procedures that have opened my eyes to the wonders of scientific discovery. Over the course of the summer I hope to broaden my horizons and fine-tune my skills so that I can add value to my lab’s research efforts.” Schneider hopes to attend medical school in the future. [caption id="attachment_8003" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Stern College's Elisa Karp works in Dr. Matthew Gamble's lab in the department of molecular pharmacology."][/caption] For Elisa Karp, a biochemistry and mathematics major from Fair Lawn, NJ, the program’s emphasis on individual responsibility and self-growth was equally important. “My favorite thing about this program is the opportunity to work in a graduate lab where I am trusted to conduct independent research as a colleague, not just a student,” she said. Karp is working in Dr. Matthew J. Gamble’s lab in the department of molecular pharmacology and plans to pursue an MD while continuing in research. “I really like this lab because it involves many techniques of basic science research,” explained Karp. “I have also been given a really interesting project to work on—creating a mini-gene.” Daniel Rosen, a biology major from Teaneck, NJ, was impressed by the potential implications of his research in Dr. Joshua Nosanchuk’s infectious diseases laboratory for people afflicted by dangerous fungal infections. “My work has given me the opportunity to learn about and develop a novel line of therapies,” said Rosen, who also plans to pursue an MD “I am interested by the practicality and applicability of my research—my work will eventually help patients suffering from potentially lethal fungal infections.” one

Partnership with Rockefeller University Offers Stern Students Graduate-Level Study in Neurobiology As a child, Geulah Ben-David joked that her brain was the most-used muscle in her body. As a psychology major with a concentration in neuroscience at Stern College for Women, she’s learning why. [caption id="attachment_4196" align="alignleft" width="261" caption="The partnership with Rockefeller University expands Stern’s neuroscience curriculum."][/caption] Ben-David is taking a new neurobiology laboratory course at Stern, which developed through a partnership with Rockefeller University. The course is led by Richard Hunter, a research associate at Rockefeller, and makes use of lab space at both Stern College and Rockefeller to grant students hands-on experience in graduate-level research. “It’s 80 percent experiment-oriented,” said Dr. Hunter. “I guide the class through everything from dissecting sheep brains in our neuroanatomy module to studying the effects of caffeine in rats as we look at psychostimulants.” The new lab was developed as part of an expanding neuroscience curriculum at Stern, which now includes a neuroscience concentration in both the biology and psychology departments and another new course, Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, whose focus is hormonal influence on the brain and behavior. “Understanding the brain and what makes us function as people gets to the core of who we are,” said Lauren Harburger, an assistant professor of psychology at Stern, who teaches that course and helped design the neuroscience-psych concentration. “To learn about even a single cell behind that process is fascinating. It’s something that really challenges and excites students.” The partnership with Rockefeller offers undergraduate Stern students the unique opportunity to study behavior in animals, which in many cases is only available in graduate school. As research interns in his laboratory last fall, many of the neurobiology students have had the chance to observe Dr. Hunter’s animals before. He hopes the students will continue to work with him through the summer and pursue other research at Rockefeller in addition to their work at Stern. At the same time, he seeks to prepare them for the sophisticated challenges they will encounter in graduate school. [caption id="attachment_4200" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Dr. Richard Hunter leads the course, making use of lab space at both Stern College and Rockefeller."][/caption] “In most undergraduate courses, someone knows the answer to the questions you’re asking, but in grad school, no one does,” said Hunter. “You have to be very critical about how you’re setting up your procedures and to understand that because you’re the first person doing this, you’ll make mistakes. I want my students to know how to learn from those mistakes.” Ben-David agreed with this observation. “When you walk into these labs, the textbook falls apart.” However, she finds that exhilarating. “That’s what I love about the work we’re doing. When you’re creative and innovative, you can make new discoveries. You feel like you’re searching the unknown and nothing is impossible.” Along with another student in the course, Arielle Blum, Ben-David is also a member of the first cohort of Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women (JFEW) Science Fellows at Stern. The JFEW fellowship funds the women’s undergraduate education and provides them with unique training and research opportunities to prepare them for advanced scientific careers. For Ben-David, that may include further exploration of the neuroscience frontier. “Right now, I’m most interested in what keeps people happy or engaged in life,” she said. “What about our thought processes can be used to keep us healthy and motivated in a balanced and constant way? I think the answer probably boils down to how some people’s brains work. If we can figure out how to share that with everyone, that would be really cool.” none

Six Yeshiva University High School for Girls Students Named Finalists in City-Wide Science Competition Six students at the Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls (YUHSG) have been named finalists in the New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF), the largest high school research competition in the city. Under the guidance of Ruth Fried, chairperson of YUHSG’s science department, the students conducted research projects over the summer and wrote up their findings in original scientific papers; five of the aspiring scientists did their research at the Garcia Institute at Stony Brook University, while one worked in a lab at the Cooper Union. [caption id="attachment_2504" align="alignleft" width="344" caption="From left: Sonenberg, Shenas, Bachiry, Abelow, Shapiro, Rose and Fried."][/caption] The six finalists—Ayelet Abelow, Zohar Bachiry, Bracha Rose, Sara Shenas, Rachel Shapiro and Helene Sonenberg—comprised the largest contingent from any yeshiva, and their projects were part of the 150 chosen to advance, out of the 550 that were presented. The next round of the competition is scheduled for March 29, at the Museum of Natural History. There, the projects will be whittled down even further, and the top 20 students will go on to represent New York City at the 2011 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Los Angeles. “I was motivated to do this project to gain first-hand insight into what scientific and engineering professions are about,” Shenas said. “I wanted to understand the logistics of engineering such as writing a technical paper, analyzing results using a computer and presenting the research to experts in the field of chemical engineering.” Shenas’ personal connection to science through Judaism also played a role in her involvement. “I see G-d in science and in all the tiny intricacies in the world [He] has made,” she said. “Everything from the smallest particle to a galaxy in this universe has an imprint of G-d in them, and this is what Torah Umadda teaches.” As part of YUHSG’s Science Institute, headed by Fried, several of the NYCSEF finalists have been taking advanced science courses since their freshman year, in addition to being placed in summer internships at the YU’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine and at Stony Brook. “The reason we have such a large group of finalists this year is because of the effort and diligence that they put in, and they’ve been working towards this goal for so long,” Fried explained. “They’ve been working since the summer on their research projects and this is already the third competition that some of the girls are entering.” Three of the NYCSEF finalists—Abelow, Sonenberg and Shapiro—were also named semi-finalists in the Siemens Science and Technology competition this past October. To learn more about Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls visit www.yuhsg.org. none

Yeshiva Students Pitch In at Local NYC Public School Science Labs The students of the Yeshiva University Chapter of the American Chemical Society, along with other chemistry, biology, physics and engineering majors, have partnered with YU professors and researchers of various disciplines to form Project START (Students, Teachers and Researchers Teach) Science! As part of the program, YU students and faculty visit the local Washington Heights Academy / P.S. 366 on a weekly basis to teach fifth-graders about various scientific topics. NY1 reports... One day last week, fifth-grade students at P.S. 366 in Washington Heights spent the morning engrossed in a chemistry experiment in a brand new, state-of-the-art science lab – one of two at the school. It was the kind of hands-on science that might turn around the city's dismal middle school science scores. [flv]http://www.yu.edu/flv/Teacherless_SciencePKG_3523384.flv[/flv] “You could have fun but at the same time you are still gaining a lot of knowledge by just doing, more than just reading out of a textbook,” said student Zeny Gatdule. But that was the only time they have used this lab. That's because there's no budget for a full-time science teacher. It's a void students from Yeshiva University noticed when they came to perform a magic show. “They weren't getting a more fun, hands-on creative experience in science,” said Yeshiva University student Yair Saperstein. So the college students volunteered to conduct several science labs this spring. Read full article at NY1... one

Einstein Study of How Genes Activate Shows Certain Genes are "Clueless" Scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have made an unexpected finding about the method by which certain genes are activated. Contrary to what researchers have traditionally assumed, genes that work with other genes to build protein structures do not act in a coordinated way but instead are turned on randomly. The surprising discovery, described in the December 5 online edition of Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, may fundamentally change the way scientists think about the way cellular processes are synchronized. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfn83FjlDuk All cells contain protein complexes that perform essential functions, such as producing energy and helping cells divide. Assembling these multi-protein structures requires many different genes, each of which codes for one of the proteins that, collectively, form what’s known as the protein complex. Ribosomes, for example, are the vitally important structures on which proteins are synthesized. (The ribosomes of humans and most other organisms are composed of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and 80 different proteins.) Scientists have long assumed that genes involved in making such complex structures are activated in a highly-coordinated way. “What we found was rather astonishing,” said Robert Singer, Ph.D., professor and co-chair of anatomy and structural biology, professor of cell biology and of neuroscience at Einstein and senior author of the study. “The expression of the genes that make the protein subunits of ribosomes and other multi-protein complexes is not at all coordinated or co-regulated. In fact, such genes are so out of touch with each other that we dubbed them “clueless” genes.” Read full article at Einstein News... none