As the days grow shorter, many animals prepare for the approaching winter by suspending reproduction. Insects, for example, accumulate energy stores while halting ovarian development through a process known as reproductive diapause. In a recent study published in The Journal of Experimental Biology, researchers at The University of Osaka uncovered a key neuroendocrine pathway underlying this seasonal shift in the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, identifying the neuropeptide corazonin as a molecular signal that suppresses reproduction in response to changes in day length.

In biology textbooks and beyond, the human genome and DNA therein typically are taught in only one dimension. While it can be helpful for learners to begin with the linear presentation of how stretches of DNA form genes, this oversimplification undersells the significance of the genome’s 3D structure. Problems with this 3D structure are associated with many diseases including developmental disorders and cancer.

SUTD researchers leveraged their expertise in microfluids to develop a novel method for deforming cells mechanically to facilitate intracellular delivery, revolutionising personalised treatments at the cellular level. SUTD researchers leveraged their expertise in microfluids to develop a novel method for deforming cells mechanically to facilitate intracellular delivery, revolutionising personalised treatments at the cellular level.