In Print

Liza Green, HMS Media Services

Inhibitor Found for Family of MicroRNAs
Investigating the role of microRNA in development, (clockwise from lower left) George Daley, Srinivas Viswanathan, and Richard Gregory discovered that the let-7 family of miRNAs was absent from embryonic stem cells and rare in certain tumor cells. The let-7 levels increase as cells differentiate. The researchers identified a factor abundant in embryonic stem cells, Lin-28, that binds to let-7 and prevents it from being processed—it’s the first miRNA inhibitor to be discovered, said the scientists. The study raises the intriguing possibility of keying on Lin-28 to manipulate the miRNA pathway, which might be instrumental in reprogramming stem cells or in slowing cancer growth.

Upcoming

Engineering and Physical Biology Symposium

Saturday, April 5
9 a.m.

Speakers:
•Doug Smith
•Mehran Kardar
•Dennis Discher
•Kiyoshi Mizuuchi
•Graham Fleming

Science Progress

How discovery happens.

Spotlight

Liza Green, HMS Media Services

Endowed Chair Established in Eating Disorders
Jeffrey Flier (right), dean of the Faculty of Medicine, opened the Feb. 14 celebration of the Professorship in Psychiatry in the Field of Eating Disorders with praise for the first incumbent, David Herzog (left). Flier explained that the chair doubly honors Herzog since upon his retirement the professorship will take his name.

Student Scene

Jeff Cleary

My Mistake, Announced Overhead
After a patient of hers unexpectedly required life-saving intervention, Tarayn Fairlie says the shock of his struggle will always stay with her.

StudenTalk

Personal takes on issues inside and outside the classroom.

Lab Works

A multimedia site featuring Harvard Medical research.