John Travis

All Stories by John Travis

  1. Health & Medicine

    Protective enzyme has a downside: Asthma

    The abnormal production of a parasite-fighting enzyme contributes to asthma.

  2. Watching the biological clock

    Biologists now have a way to predict when a woman will start menopause.

  3. Dying before Their Time

    Genetically engineered mice that get prematurely old give hints to the causes of aging.

  4. Two-handed protein may protect DNA

    An unusually shaped protein may help a bacterium thrive in tough times.

  5. Comfortably Numb

    Scientists are finding the molecular targets of anesthetics.

  6. Mr. Universe Jr.: Child’s gene mutation confirms protein’s role in human-muscle growth

    A boy born with extra-large muscles has mutations in a gene regulating muscle growth.

  7. Bubble Trouble: Mad cow proteins may hitch a ride between cells

    Prions, the proteins behind mad cow disease, may travel between cells in bubbles called exosomes.

  8. Sperm defender has second role

    An antimicrobial protein may also trigger maturation of sperm.

  9. Genetic Pickup: Did animals get brain genes from bacteria?

    Genes that make brain chemicals may have been acquired from bacteria.

  10. Got Milk? Dairy protein provides bone-forming boost

    A protein in milk stimulates bone-forming cells.

  11. Health & Medicine

    Cutting blood supply to kill off fat

    Killing the blood vessels that sustain fat tissue causes obese mice to lose weight.

  12. Worm life span set by chromosome tips

    For worms, longer chromosome tips mean longer lives.