KAUST ·
A panel discussion on women in biology was held as part of the 2016 Fall Enrichment Program at KAUST. Jasmeen Merzaban, Ashwag Abdullah Albukhari, Bettina Berger and Peiying Hong were the speakers. The event featured successful female scientists sharing their experiences. Why it matters: Showcases KAUST's commitment to promoting women in STEM fields and providing a platform for their voices.
MBZUAI ·
MBZUAI Professor Kun Zhang is working on applying AI to understand cause-and-effect relationships in biology, with the goal of accelerating scientific discovery and improving human health. He aims to develop foundation models for biology that can process diverse data types and provide insights into the causes and treatments of health problems. These models could help scientists develop new medicines and preventative measures for diseases. Why it matters: This research has the potential to significantly advance the field of medicine by enabling a deeper understanding of the complex biological processes that underlie disease.
MBZUAI ·
Researchers at the Rosalind Franklin Institute are using generative AI, including GANs, to augment limited biological datasets, specifically mirtron data from mirtronDB. The synthetic data created mimics real-world samples, facilitating more comprehensive training of machine learning models, leading to improved mirtron identification tools. They also plan to apply Large Language Models (LLMs) to predict unknown patterns in sequence and structure biology problems. Why it matters: This research explores AI techniques to tackle data scarcity in biological research, potentially accelerating discoveries in noncoding RNA and transposable elements.
KAUST ·
KAUST researchers have discovered how sea anemones recycle nitrogen waste, allowing them to thrive in nutrient-poor ocean environments. The study used laser microdissection and single-cell RNA-sequencing to analyze tissue-specific gene expression in Aiptasia. They found that anemones distribute glucose received from symbionts across tissues to recycle nitrogen waste. Why it matters: This research enhances understanding of coral reef ecosystems and their resilience, which is particularly relevant for Red Sea biodiversity and Saudi Arabia's environmental efforts.
KAUST ·
A KAUST-led research team has observed intergenerational epigenetic inheritance in corals, demonstrating that corals pass patterns of DNA to their offspring. The research, published in Nature Climate Change, shows that corals can adapt to environmental changes and pass those traits on through DNA methylation patterns. This is the first time this process has been observed in animals, previously only seen in plants. Why it matters: This finding could enable biologists to train corals in nurseries to produce offspring better equipped to survive changing marine environments, aiding coral reef restoration efforts.
KAUST ·
KAUST's Laboratory of Stem Cells and Diseases, led by Assistant Professor Antonio Adamo, uses induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to model diseases like diabetes. The lab employs a reprogramming technique to revert patient fibroblasts into iPSCs, enabling the study of disease progression in vitro. Adamo's research focuses on enzymes and disregulated transcriptional/epigenetic mechanisms to understand disease onset. Why it matters: This research contributes to regenerative medicine and offers insights into metabolic diseases relevant to the GCC region.
KAUST ·
Shark biologist Dr. Greg Skomal gave a keynote lecture at KAUST's Enrichment in the Fall 2018, discussing how little is known about sharks. Skomal highlighted that 49% of shark species are data deficient in basic information. He also discussed using acoustic tags and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) like the REMUS SharkCam to study shark behavior. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in hosting discussions on marine biology and the application of advanced technology in ecological research.
KAUST ·
KAUST's Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC) held a Research Conference on Big Data Analyses in Evolutionary Biology. The conference focused on the impact of large "omics" datasets on evolutionary biology, requiring big data approaches for analysis. Researchers discussed how computer science can contribute to biology and vice versa. Why it matters: Such interdisciplinary events at KAUST can foster innovation at the intersection of computational science and biology, advancing research in both fields.