News
Peculiarities of the germline-restricted chromosome of songbirdIn multicellular organisms, all cells of an individual normally contain the same genetic information and cell differentiation is achieved through regulation of gene expression. There are exceptions, however, where, instead of silencing, certain sequences are permanently deleted from the genome. An interesting example of this programmed DNA elimination has been described in songbirds, where a whole chromosome is lost from somatic cells early on in embryo development and is maintained only in the germ cells. In a paper, which has just been published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, the team of Radka Reifová from the Department of Zoology, with Stephen Schlebusch as the first author, together with other researchers sequenced this chromosome in two closely related songbird species, providing one of the first insights into the importance and evolutionary dynamics of this peculiar chromosome. Published Aug 02, 2023 |
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Whole genome multiplication triggers production of evolutionary novel traitsPlants have taken an interesting path in their evolutionary journey. Increasingly, it appears that they can very effectively use the multiplication of chromosome sets and their eventual subsequent reduction to their advantage. How exactly do they do this, and what reproductive, ecological or evolutionary advantages do they derive from it? Patrik Mráz from the Faculty of Science at Charles University is one of the co-authors of a new study that reveals new insights into reproductive strategies in whole genome-multiplying plants. Published Jul 31, 2023 |
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Fresh graduate Daniel Palouš co-authored an article in the journal ScienceDaniel Palouš who recently completed his Master's studies, accomplished a research stay in the Global Ecosystem Ecology Laboratory led by prof. Dr. Tom Crowther at ETH Zurich with the support of several foundations and the Laboratory of Plant Ecophysiology under the guidance of prof. Jana Albrechtová, Faculty of Science, Charles University. As a result of his stay, he co-authored a study recently published in the journal Science. We sincerely congratulate Daniel and the entire Plant Ecophysiology Laboratory on this achievement! Published Jul 26, 2023 |
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34th International Biology Olympiad - the Silver and Bronze Ages continueIn Al Ain, on the border with Oman, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this year's edition of the Biology Olympiad was extraordinary in many ways. It was originally scheduled to take place in Russia, but given the circumstances, it was already clear last year, in Yerevan, Armenia, that this would not be the case. At the last minute, with the great efforts of Lenka Libusova (Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University), the chair of the International Biology Olympiad, a new host country was obtained. Published Jul 14, 2023 |
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How high is the ambient ozone?Ambient ozone is one of the major pollutants in the air. Its presence is highly undesirable as it is toxic to living organisms and causes damage to forest stands. Monitoring ambient ozone is therefore very important. But how does it behave at different levels close to the surface in an area with relatively clean air? This question has not yet been answered. A team of experts led by Iva Hůnová from the Institute for Environmental Studies at the Faculty of Science of Charles University, together with Marek Brabec and Marek Malý from the Czech Academy of Sciences, set out to find out the results. Published Jul 10, 2023 |
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Shattering the myth of men as hunters and women as gatherersThe Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics of the Faculty of Science, Charles University hosts a visiting Fulbright scholar, dr. Cara Wall-Scheffler (Seattle Pacific University). Her new article in PLOS One shows that women in hunter-gatherer societies around the world are not just gatherers, but often skillfully hunt big game. Published Jul 03, 2023 |
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New type of immune cells has a strong Czech footprint108,555. Such a staggeringly high number is the impact factor of the Nature Review Immunology journal, whose latest issue has just published a paper with Jan Dobeš from the Department of Cell Biology at the Faculty of Science, Charles University as the co-author. The main topic of the review article is a new type of immune cells, to whose discovery Jan Dobeš made a major contribution. Published Jun 29, 2023 |
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Collegio futuro: Course offer for PhD studentsCollegio futuro, a programme of EU4+ universities, announces the next edition of the course for Ph.D. students. It aims to teach students interdisciplinary, international collaboration in the field of sustainability and to foster the ability to communicate results outside academia. The course includes a week-long camp in Germany followed by online collaboration. The course will be run at SiS as a PhD course from October, with a capacity of 5 candidates. The deadline for applications is 5 July 2023. Published Jun 07, 2023 |
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The L´Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science goes to our facultyThe 17th edition of the talented L´Oreal - UNESCO Women in Science programme has already announced three new winning projects. One of the three women scientists who impressed the jury with their projects is Mgr. Pavla Eliášová, Ph.D. from the Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry. Congratulations! Published May 18, 2023 |
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Faculty participates in the international project DURABLEDURABLE (Delivering a Unified Research Alliance of Biomedical and public health Laboratories against Epidemics) is a research project running from February 1, 2023, to January 31, 2027, aimed at addressing the increasing outbreaks of infectious diseases through a unified and coordinated approach. It establishes a strong network of world-class research institutes and public health centers across Europe to provide high-quality scientific information in record time, supporting decision-making in response to cross-border health threats. RNDr. Ruth Tachezy, Ph.D. coordinates the project for our faculty, the Departments of Genetics and Microbiology and the Department of Parasitology are involved. Published May 15, 2023 |
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The book "O parazitech a lidech" has just been released in GermanThe book "O parazitech a lidech" has just been released in German. This popular science publication, which won the Magnesia Litera Award for Non-fiction in 2019, is celebrating another success, this time beyond national borders. It is currently being published under the title "Von Parasiten und Menschen" by the German publishing house Springer Berlin. Published May 05, 2023 |
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Results of the photo contest Šutroskop (MicROCKscopia)The evening of 4 May was devoted to the announcement of the results of the first year of the geoscience-themed photography competition for students of all disciplines and years of the Faculty of Science of Charles University "Šutroskop". The competition was organized by the Geological Art Society (GAS). Published May 04, 2023 |
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Johnson Matthey Academic Conference 2023 – The Best Poster Award goes to our faculty3rd year PhD student Anastasia Kurbanova (from Dept. of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry) won the best poster award at the Johnson Matthey Academic Conference 2023. Anastasia is doing her PhD studies under supervision of Dr. Jan Přech in the research group of Prof. Jiří Čejka with the main research focus on synthesis and catalytic application of zeolites. Published Apr 28, 2023 |
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Manuscript written on the barricadesAn article that is unique both in its scientific content and powerful human story behind. That's how to describe the manuscript that has just been published in the journal Marine Micropaleontology. The main author of the entire project and the published text is Yuliia V. Vernyhorova, a Ukrainian paleontologist from Kyiv. Among the key co-authors, we also find several scientists from the Institute of Geology and Paleontology and the Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources of the Faculty of Science of Charles University. Published Apr 26, 2023 |
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Degradation as a synthetic pathway?Zeolites are extensively studied materials with a high potential for real-life use and industrial applications. However, these applications are often limited by zeolite synthesis, which usually demands harsh conditions and is thus unsuitable for preparing chemically labile materials. Such materials have now been successfully prepared by the research group of Professor Jiří Čejka and Associate Prof. Maksym Opanasenko, in the Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, and the Charles University Centre of Advanced Materials (CUCAM). Their article has been published in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). Published Apr 24, 2023 |
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Charles University awarded its best graduatesOf the eighteen winners, four were from our faculty! Mojmír Polák and Petra Krsková received the award from the hands of the Rector Prof. Milena Králíčková (Prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Heyrovský Award), the Prof. PhDr. Václav Příhoda Award went to Hana Janoušková and Ondřej Kopecký. Congratulations! Published Apr 21, 2023 |
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New insights into caldera formation - what precedes volcanic eruptions?A new publication by a joint team from the Department of Geology and Paleontology of our faculty (Jiří Žák, Filip Tomek) and the Czech Technical University in Prague (Michael Somr, Petr Kabele) in one of the most prestigious geoscience journals Earth- Science Reviews (IF=12,038; ranking 4/203 in the category "Geosciences, multidisciplinary") analyses the conditions under which gravitational collapse of volcanoes into underlying magma vents and catastrophic volcanic eruptions can occur in the upper crust. Published Apr 19, 2023 |
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A team of researchers from Faculty of Science has been awarded a prestigious renewal of their HFSP GrantHuman Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Research Grants are awarded for frontier collaborative projects that promise to cross the established science frontiers and to tackle bold scientific challenges. They especially encourage bringing different scientific expertise together and maximizing trans-laboratory collaboration. Published Apr 11, 2023 |
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Opinion and Recommendations of the Dean's Advisory Board for the Use of Artificial IntelligenceThe faculty Dean´s Advisory Board have issued a statement and recommendations on artificial intelligence. Read by clicking on this news item. Published Apr 11, 2023 |
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Apply for the FameLabDo you want to become a star in the scientific world and shine in one of the oldest international science competitions? Then the FameLab competition is just for you! The World Stand-up Competition with the finale in Cheltenham, England, is closing applications on May 31, 2023 Published Apr 05, 2023 |