Tarkovski, A. (2023) ‘Multiple-sclerosis and vitamin D: can sunshine reduce the severity of the disease?’, Biological Sciences Review, 35 (3), pp.12-15.
Biochemist Alexandra Tarkovski explores the possible link between vitamin D deficiency and the development and progression of multiple sclerosis. This article links to your study of the immune system. Look out for the practice exam questions in this article.
Cunningham, M. (2023) ‘Guillain-Barre syndrome: from food poisoning to paralysis’, Biological Sciences Review, 35 (3), pp.2-6.
Guillain-Barre syndrome affects the peripheral neurones. It often starts with a tingling in the hands and feet, but can spread, causing paralysis of arm and leg muscles and the muscles that control breathing. In rare cases it can be fatal. Neurobiologist Maddy Cunningham explains how the syndrom can be triggered by food poisoning. This article supports your study of the immune system.
MacLeod, M. (2021) ‘How do vaccines protect against infectious diseases?’, Biological Sciences Review, 33 (3), pp.2-6.
Vaccines protect millions of animals against infectious diseases. Immunologist Megan MacLeod describes how they stimulate our immune systems and protect us from infectious disease. Look out for details in the article of the associated online activity.
Sandy, J. (2021) ‘Vaccine hesitancy and the global resurgence of measles’, Biological Sciences Review, 33 (3), pp.30-34.
Measles was once on the brink of eradication. Josh Sandy explores the recent global increase in cases of the disease and the fear and uncertainty that leads to vaccine hesitancy.
Ward, L. (2021) ‘Stem cells in research: growing body parts in the laboratory‘, Biological Sciences Review, 33 (4), pp.30-34.
The world waits for stem cell transplants to revolutionise medicine. Yet behind the scenes, they have already transformed research without leaving the laboratory. Developmental biologist Lizzy Ward explains how stem cells are used to study and heal the body. This article has exam links to your unit on The Control of Gene Expression and supports your study of gene expression is controlled by a number of features and most of a cell‘s DNA is not translated. Look out for the exam-style questions in this article.
Ardis, M. (2020) ‘A universal flu treatment? Llama antibodies’, Biological Sciences Review, 33 (1), pp.26-29.
Influenza viruses, responsible for the flu, infect millions of people around the world each year. Current vaccines do not protect against all strains of the virus, so scientists are working to develop a ‘universal vaccine’. Microbiologist Megan Ardis explores how antibodies derived from llamas might help combat flu and perhaps other viruses including SARS-CoV-2.
Johnston, M. (2020) ‘Plant cell connections’, Biological Sciences Review, 32 (4), pp.22-25.
Plasmodesmata are nanoscopic channels that connect plant cells to each other. Plasmodesmata open and close in response to environmental factors, controlling what moves through them. Plant research Matthew Johnston explains how this plays an important part in plant defence against pathogens.
Jones, M. (2020) ‘Advances in microscopy: improving our knowledge of cell biology’, Biological Sciences Review, 32 (3), pp.38-41.
Microscopy is one of the defining techniques in biology. The development of the first microscopes kickstarted our understanding of cells. Martin Jones, a researcher at the Frances Crick Institute, explains how recent technological developments allow us to understand living systems in ever-increasing detail.
Swanton, T. (2020) ‘Inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease: friend or foe?’, Biological Sciences Review, 32 (3), pp.22-26.
Inflammation is an important immune response that protects us from the consequences of infection and tissue injury. How do our bodies initiate inflammatory responses, and what happens when inflammation gets out of control in brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s? Neuroscience and immunology researcher Tessa Swanton explains.
Williams, L. and Cruickshank, S. (2020) ‘The virus that stopped the world’, Biological Sciences Review, 33 (1), pp.2-5.
The virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic decimated nations worldwide. How does it function, and what is being done to combat it? Biomedical scientist Lili Williams and professor of immunology Sheena Cruickshank tackle the topic.
Gartshore, C. (2019) ‘Allergy explosion: why our immune systems react to harmless substances’, Biological Sciences Review, 32 (2), pp.2-6.
Ciara Gartshore discusses some of the theories behind what might be contributing to the increasing prevalence of allergies, and investigates whether changes in hygiene standards, lifestyle and the microorganisms that live within our bodies may be to blame.
Butler, R. (2013) ‘Prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells’, Biological Sciences Review, 26 (2), pp.20-21.
The different structures of prokaryotes and eukaryotes marks a major distinction between all known organisms.
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