How old are your organs?To scientists' surprise, organs are a mix of young and old cells
Vice President, Chief Science Officer and Professor Martin Hetzer, first author Rafael Arrojo e Drigo and colleagues discovered that the mouse brain, liver and pancreas contain populations of cells and proteins with extremely long life spans—some as old as the organism itself. The team’s methods could be applied to nearly any tissue in the body to provide valuable information about the lifelong function of nondividing cells and how cells lose control over the quality of proteins and cell structures during aging.
Featured Stories
Kay Tye – Breaking down the brainKay Tye, the newest addition to Salk’s faculty, is a burst of energy who can chat about everything from the mysteries of the brain to the intricacies of a breakdance move. In this Q&A, she discusses her roundabout journey to science, her passion for mentorship and her love of life outside the lab.
How to stop a killerPancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to detect and treat, in part because of an impenetrable "shield" that forms around the tumor. Salk scientists, many of whom have a personal connection to cancer, are leading the charge in new approaches to tackle this deadly disease.
Travis Berggren – Working at the intersection of biology and technologySenior Staff Scientist Travis Berggren shares his path to Salk and his perspective on how advances in technology facilitate world-changing discoveries in genetics, neuroscience, cancer, immunology, plant biology and other areas.
Graziana GattoPostdoctoral Fellow Graziana Gatto comes to Salk from Italy, bringing her passion for scientific outreach and keen insights into how various sensations-like pain, itching or touch-are processed by the brain.
