Manjeera Gowravaram

3 weeks ago | researchmatters.in | Manjeera Gowravaram

Cells follow very specific patterns, whether in the human body or in engineered tissues. For instance, muscle fibres are aligned parallel to each other to enable coordinated movements, blood vessels extend toward wounds to facilitate healing, and cells in the eye are arranged radially to help focus light precisely onto the retina, ensuring clear and accurate vision. Such precise spatial organization is essential for proper tissue function.

4 weeks ago | thehindu.com | Manjeera Gowravaram

Bats are important animals that help maintain ecosystem balance and human well-being. They play key roles like pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, and controlling insect populations. But of late they have become popular for a different reason: their unique ability to harbour viruses without succumbing to disease. SARS, MERS, Ebola, COVID-19 — some of the most devastating human diseases of the past century are believed to have originated in bats.

1 month ago | thehindu.com | Manjeera Gowravaram

Our brain depends on a finely tuned network of neurons, signals, and protective barriers to function seamlessly. This intricate setup underpins every thought, memory, and movement we make. But as we age, or under certain conditions, this system can break down. Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) slowly damage neurons and over time these conditions lead to severe memory loss, confusion, and loss of independence.

2 months ago | thehindu.com | Manjeera Gowravaram

Every year, farmers battle an invisible, relentless, formidable enemy: plant viruses. Unlike bacteria or fungi, which can be controlled with pesticides or fungicides, there is no straightforward way to cure crops of viral infections. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), plant pests and diseases destroy nearly 40% of the world’s annual crop, costing the world more than $220 billion. Of that, plant viruses alone contribute to over in losses each year.

Dec 3, 2024 | thehindu.com | Manjeera Gowravaram

Once brushed aside as a curiosity, extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is now taking centrestage in the complex field of cancer biology. Scientists first discovered it as a small fragment of genetic material in cancer cells 50 years ago. Because it was present in only 1.4% of tumours, they didn’t consider it to be important.