As every year, the science magazine Science has made known what have been the great discoveries of the year. On this occasion, the publication considers that the RNA sequencing of individual cells (Single cell RNA-seq), a set of techniques that allows researchers to enter the body of living beings and explore all their organs cell by cell , is the great discovery of 2018.
The sequencing of individual cells allows researchers to discover what types of genes are active in a cell , to know its function, to tag it to follow it throughout its life and even to see how it interacts with other cells in a three-dimensional plane.
An advance that allows the scientific community to discover the molecular processes that cause cancer and other diseases.
Back in 2013, when these types of techniques became universal, RNA sequencing allowed the analysis of hundreds of cells at the same time. However, with the passage of time, this practice has evolved to the point of being able to analyze several hundred thousand individually.
In this way, researchers have been able to discover a new class of cells, present in the area of contact between the uterus and the placenta, which perform a mediation task with the immune system to recognize the fetus and not attack it during the first months of gestation.
But not only that. Scientists have also been able to see how cells act when it comes to regenerating the body and limbs in animals such as planarians and axolotls.
All with the aim of understanding more about this field. A series of techniques that could transform the landscape of medical and biological research in the next ten years, as the researcher at the University of California in San Francisco, Jonathan Weissman, maintains: ‘It’s like having a black box where you can see what It was wrong and not just look at the still picture of the end. ‘
But the sequencing of individual cells has not been the only great discovery of the year . In its publication, the magazine Science also makes special mention of the discovery of an old crater that impacted on Greenland of 31 kilometers in diameter, the discovery of Denny , a woman who lived more than 50,000 years ago and is considered the first daughter of two different human species (Neandertal and Denisovano) or research around Dickinsonia , the first animal on Earth.
Beyond these findings, the publication also highlights other scientific advances as the gene silencing to prevent new diseases , a new analysis technique that enables making small crystals in three dimensions to determine the structure of small molecules or a neutrino detector, a almost massless particles that move at the speed of light and that cross our body constantly.
Finally, the publication makes special mention of the discovery of small droplets that build cells , a finding that could help cure diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the resolution of a case through the forensic genealogy and the report of The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine of the United States on sexual harassment of women working in this field. In short, 2018 has been a year in which cell biology has had a lot of weight.
Remember! This is just a sample.
You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers.
Get your custom essay
Helping students since 2015
Essay Writing Service Features
Our Experience
No matter how complex your assignment is, we can find the right professional for your specific task. Contact Essay is an essay writing company that hires only the smartest minds to help you with your projects. Our expertise allows us to provide students with high-quality academic writing, editing & proofreading services.
Free Features
Free revision policy
$10Free bibliography & reference
$8Free title page
$8Free formatting
$8How Our Essay Writing Service Works
First, you will need to complete an order form. It's not difficult but, in case there is anything you find not to be clear, you may always call us so that we can guide you through it. On the order form, you will need to include some basic information concerning your order: subject, topic, number of pages, etc. We also encourage our clients to upload any relevant information or sources that will help.
Complete the order form
Once we have all the information and instructions that we need, we select the most suitable writer for your assignment. While everything seems to be clear, the writer, who has complete knowledge of the subject, may need clarification from you. It is at that point that you would receive a call or email from us.
Writer’s assignment
As soon as the writer has finished, it will be delivered both to the website and to your email address so that you will not miss it. If your deadline is close at hand, we will place a call to you to make sure that you receive the paper on time.
Completing the order and download