The mechanism by which an injured embryo can regenerate has been uncovered by Israeli scientists.
Embryonic cells develop into particular types of tissue or organ, depending on the concentration of substances called morphogens with which they come into contact.
A team of Weizmann Institute of Science and Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine scientists have developed a mathematical model to study activity within an embryo’s genetic networks.
The scientists believe that an inhibitor molecule can bind the morphogen and carry it to the other side, a theory held up by its own experiments on frog embryos.
Profs Naama Barkai, Benny Shilo and research student Danny Ben-Zvi of the Weizmann Institute of Science and Prof Abraham Fainsod of the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine all worked on the project.
Israel is known for pomegranates — and research suggests they may help fight heart problems.
Scientific American reports a study by biochemist Michael Aviram of the Rambam Medical Centre in Haifa. He found that mice bred to have blockages in their arteries developed fewer blockages after they were fed parts of pomegranates.
While earlier studies have found that the antioxidant vitamin E does not ease blockages, Dr Aviram has found that antioxidants in pomegranates do. He believes that there are different causes of oxidative stress, such as viruses or toxins, and different antioxidants may help fight different types.
Deep-sea divers will soon be able to send real-time, full-colour video transmissions to ships without being tethered to them, the maker of new underwater technology claims.
Israeli startup Sea-Eye Underwater, based in Ashkelon, says its ultrasound-based technology, which uses the latest advances in signal processing and video compression, can offer wireless underwater video transmissions of a much higher quality than currently available.
Sea-Eye has also developed algorithms to aid underwater signal transmissions, and plans to market its first modems later this year with transmission ranges of up to 500 metres.
Ilia Vainstein told ISRAEL21c: “Divers won’t have to contend with the limitations of other wireless systems or the danger of cabled connections.”
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