Understanding the structure of a biological molecule, whether it's a protein, DNA or RNA, is often critical for understanding its function.

On Wednesday, the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry once again went for discoveries that would not have been surprising to see honored with Monday's Prize in Physiology or Medicine. It was awarded to Duke University's Robert Lefkowitz and Stanford University's Brian Kobilka "for studies of G-protein-coupled receptors."

From a public health perspective, the response to an influenza pandemic is a race against an emerging virus. And in that race, the virus has several advantages.

Freshly minted Nobelist Shinya Yamanaka has a pretty humble explanation for his success: He wasn't any good as a surgeon.

Austin-based XBiotech Inc. is launching its first Phase III trial, for its antibody Xilonix (MABp1), after announcing Wednesday that the monoclonal antibody received fast-track designation by the FDA.

According to the March of Dimes charity, 10 percent to 15 percent of all newborns are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Many of those babies suffer from genetic disorders. In fact, Stephen Kingsmore told reporters at a press conference, at his hospital – Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City – "the leading cause to admission to a neonatal intensive care unit is an illness that is likely to be genetic."

The transcription factor c-Myc is an oncoprotein; that much has long been clear. The c-myc gene is a known or suspected driver mutation in many cancer types.

As the cost of whole genome sequencing drops, its routine use in the clinic is moving from someday to someday soon.

The romantic view of pregnancy is that it is the most precious nine months of a woman's life. A more prosaic view is that it is an autoimmune disease waiting to happen.