Cambridge, Massachusetts - Gene transcription is the process by which DNA is copied and synthesized as messenger RNA (mRNA) - which delivers its genetic blueprints to the cell’s protein-making machinery.

Durham, North Carolina - A long line of research links poverty and depression. Now, a study by Duke University scientists shows how biology might underlie the depression experienced by high-risk adolescents whose families are socio-economically disadvantaged.

Ann Arbor, Michigan - What if you could dial 911 by squeezing your smartphone in a certain pattern in your palm? A different pattern might turn the music on or flip a page on the screen.

Washington, DC - Google the term “spiked drink,” and you’ll get more than 11 million hits, directing you to pages that describe being slipped a mickey, tips on how to avoid becoming a victim and even kits to test drinks for illicit drugs. So is drink spiking a growing problem or are these tales of people who just drank too much? Or is this phenomenon merely an urban legend?

Rochester, Minnesota - In a move to keep consumers safe from foodborne illness, the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) now requires new labels for beef products that have been mechanically tenderized. The labels alert consumers about the tenderization method, and they provide information on safe cooking practices.

Mexico City, Mexico - The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and Mexico’s Office of the Attorney General (PGR) sponsored a Trinational Forum in Mexico City, bringing together Amber Alert Coordinators from Mexico, the United States and Canada.  The forum aimed to create mechanisms for the international coordination of Amber Alerts in order to better respond to potential cross-border cases of missing children.