News

For nearly a decade, scientists have been trying to fully understand a particular communication pathway inside of cells that contributes to many malignant brain and prostate cancers.

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences has recognized the work of Whitehead Member and MIT Professor of Biology David Bartel by presenting him the NAS Award in Molecular Biology. Each year a medal and a prize of $25,000 goes to a young scientist for a recent notable discovery in molecular biology.

Researchers from Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have discovered that a kind of RNA molecule called microRNA regulates more than 5,300 human genes, or nearly one-third of the genome’s protein coding regions.

A growing list of mammals is joining humans, mice, and chimpanzees in the exclusive club of those whose whole genome has been sequenced—giving complete and matching sets of each animal's DNA, and offering researchers the opportunity to rebuild biology and medicine from the ground up.

In the 19th century, mathematical formulas didn’t figure much into biology. But when Austrian monk Gregor Mendel crossed and counted his round and wrinkled peas, he found something unexpected: a pattern.

It began as an experiment. Take a young scientist, unproven as an independent researcher, and give her the space, resources and support needed to launch a lab. Challenge her to take a risky project from idea to reality under her own steam. Then, as with any good experiment, examine the results.

The Whitehead Institute Board of Directors has announced that David Page will be the interim director of the Institute, effective this month, December 2004.

One of the best ways to discover a gene’s function is to disable it and then see how that affects the cell. But doing this for an entire genome is a complicated process requiring a great deal of time and machinery. Researchers at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, however, have developed a prototype for testing every gene in a whole genome using only four glass slides.

Alex d’Arbeloff has been named Chair of the Board of Directors for Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. d’Arbeloff, former Chair of the MIT Corporation, founder of Teradyne, Inc. and current Professor of the Practice at MIT Sloan School of Management, succeeds Maxine Singer, President Emerita of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.

As the U.S. pumps billions into research on everything from anthrax and plague to military biohazard suits, what's the effect on our science—and our security?