BioEssays最新文献

The incidence of multiple cancer types is increasing in younger generations, with the underlying causes being debated. Here, we propose that environmentally-driven organ enlargement is a novel mechanism contributing to the observed increase in intergenerational cancer risk. All other things being equal, cancer risk will be higher in larger organs composed of more constituent cells, due to the lifetime accumulation of stochastic genomic replication errors. Importantly, the size of certain organs is affected by factors such as diet and lifestyle. Could distinct environmental conditions between generations, therefore, drive organ enlargement, and as a secondary effect, increase cancer risk? Average height and weight—which correlate to the size of internal organs—have clearly been increasing in more recent generations. Recent studies have also found that socio-economic factors are associated with increased brain volume. Research to examine the validity and applicability of the proposed hypothesis could be highly important for public health policy.

In article 202400106, Aizawa et al. discuss the advancements in in vitro gametogenesis, focusing on the production of competent oocytes from pluripotent stem cells. This review highlights the potential of generating high-quality oocytes in culture, which could significantly impact reproductive medicine and infertility treatments. The authors examine the current limitations and propose future improvements to enhance the quality of in vitro-derived oocytes.

Advancements in women's reproductive health have been hindered by insufficient knowledge and the underrepresentation of women in research, leading to symptom-focused care with poor outcomes. Modeling female reproductive biology and disease pathophysiology has been challenging due to the complexity and dynamic nature of the female organs. Here, we briefly review recent advancements made with a new in vitro microfluidic organ-on-a-chip model of the human cervix (Cervix Chip) that faithfully mimics key features of the cervix, including mucus production and physiological responses to hormonal, environmental, and microbial stimuli. We also discuss how this preclinical platform can provide a way to obtain unique insights into the role of mucosal immunity, genetic and risk factors, as well as microbiome and pathogen interactions in human cervix health and disease, while bridging knowledge gaps in fertility and pregnancy-related conditions. By enabling preclinical drug screening and accelerating translational research, the Cervix Chip holds the potential to improve the development of therapeutics, diagnostics, and ultimately, the sexual and reproductive health of millions of women globally.

Origin licensing is the first step in the fundamental process of DNA replication, which ensures the accurate transmission of an organism's genetic information. Studies in budding yeast have provided crucial insights into replication origins, revealing sequence-specific features and structural DNA elements guiding helicase loading. Here, we review the recent advances in our understanding of DNA replication origin licensing, focusing on insights into origin architecture and advancements in high-resolution sequencing. Progress in the field demonstrates that origins are compact units that load an individual MCM2-7 double hexamer, which in turn causes steric occlusion of the origin recognition complex (ORC) binding site. We discuss why, in addition to the DNA sequence, DNA shape, DNA flexibility, and correct spacing of A- and B2-elements are crucial for efficient helicase loading. These recent findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the regulation of genome-wide origin licensing and reveal fundamental principles of MCM2-7 helicase loading.

In article 2400196, Michael Levin discusses the concept of collective intelligence as a tractable interface for next-generation biomedicine. This review explores how bioelectric networks and the collective behavior of cells can be harnessed to achieve large-scale anatomical goals, offering new avenues for regenerative repair and cancer suppression. By focusing on the competencies of living material from molecular to organismal scales, Levin provides insights into the potential of top-down approaches in biomedicine and bioengineering. This study highlights the importance of understanding the software of life to develop innovative therapeutic strategies.