Centre of the Cell
@centreofthecell.bsky.social
The first informal education centre to be located in working biomedical research labs.
#OTD in 1939, Harold E. Varmus was born 🎂
With Michael Bishop, he discovered that integration of viral genes into host genome can activate existing cellular oncogenes, thereby leading to cancer 🦠🧬
This led to greater understanding, diagnosis and treatments of cancers!
With Michael Bishop, he discovered that integration of viral genes into host genome can activate existing cellular oncogenes, thereby leading to cancer 🦠🧬
This led to greater understanding, diagnosis and treatments of cancers!
December 18, 2025 at 10:39 AM
#OTD in 1939, Harold E. Varmus was born 🎂
With Michael Bishop, he discovered that integration of viral genes into host genome can activate existing cellular oncogenes, thereby leading to cancer 🦠🧬
This led to greater understanding, diagnosis and treatments of cancers!
With Michael Bishop, he discovered that integration of viral genes into host genome can activate existing cellular oncogenes, thereby leading to cancer 🦠🧬
This led to greater understanding, diagnosis and treatments of cancers!
Our Big Question Lecture "Plants, Pathogens, and Pirouettes?" is now available to watch here: buff.ly/iVdmLZd 🌱 🦠 🩰
December 18, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Our Big Question Lecture "Plants, Pathogens, and Pirouettes?" is now available to watch here: buff.ly/iVdmLZd 🌱 🦠 🩰
#OTD in 1836, German surgeon Ernst von Bergmann, was born👨⚕️
Building on Lister's work, he pioneered aseptic surgery and introduced heat sterilisation for surgical instruments 🩺💉
This was a breakthrough that made modern surgery safe and patients’ survival possible ✨
Building on Lister's work, he pioneered aseptic surgery and introduced heat sterilisation for surgical instruments 🩺💉
This was a breakthrough that made modern surgery safe and patients’ survival possible ✨
December 16, 2025 at 11:03 AM
#OTD in 1836, German surgeon Ernst von Bergmann, was born👨⚕️
Building on Lister's work, he pioneered aseptic surgery and introduced heat sterilisation for surgical instruments 🩺💉
This was a breakthrough that made modern surgery safe and patients’ survival possible ✨
Building on Lister's work, he pioneered aseptic surgery and introduced heat sterilisation for surgical instruments 🩺💉
This was a breakthrough that made modern surgery safe and patients’ survival possible ✨
#OTD in 1928, Bruce Nathan Ames, the biochemist who invented the Ames test to assess whether a chemical is mutagenic, was born🐣
This serves as the initial screening step to identify chemicals (e.g. from food, cosmetics, drugs etc.) that may be carcinogenic (cancer-causing)👿
This serves as the initial screening step to identify chemicals (e.g. from food, cosmetics, drugs etc.) that may be carcinogenic (cancer-causing)👿
December 16, 2025 at 10:28 AM
#OTD in 1928, Bruce Nathan Ames, the biochemist who invented the Ames test to assess whether a chemical is mutagenic, was born🐣
This serves as the initial screening step to identify chemicals (e.g. from food, cosmetics, drugs etc.) that may be carcinogenic (cancer-causing)👿
This serves as the initial screening step to identify chemicals (e.g. from food, cosmetics, drugs etc.) that may be carcinogenic (cancer-causing)👿
#OTD in 1860, Niels Ryberg Finsen, the physician who pioneered modern phototherapy was born🔆
He treated lupus vulgaris (skin tuberculosis) with concentrated UV light with some success.
Phototherapy has since been further developed and is now widely used in dermatology ✨💆
He treated lupus vulgaris (skin tuberculosis) with concentrated UV light with some success.
Phototherapy has since been further developed and is now widely used in dermatology ✨💆
December 15, 2025 at 5:13 PM
#OTD in 1860, Niels Ryberg Finsen, the physician who pioneered modern phototherapy was born🔆
He treated lupus vulgaris (skin tuberculosis) with concentrated UV light with some success.
Phototherapy has since been further developed and is now widely used in dermatology ✨💆
He treated lupus vulgaris (skin tuberculosis) with concentrated UV light with some success.
Phototherapy has since been further developed and is now widely used in dermatology ✨💆
✨It's beginning to look a lot like...🎶
Our next BIG Question👹🥁
❓"Can we bring the hospital to an injured patient?" - all about London's Air Ambulance charity, one of the busiest air ambulance services in the world🚑☁️
Get your tickets now 🫵🫵🫵
👉 buff.ly/fuZirML
Our next BIG Question👹🥁
❓"Can we bring the hospital to an injured patient?" - all about London's Air Ambulance charity, one of the busiest air ambulance services in the world🚑☁️
Get your tickets now 🫵🫵🫵
👉 buff.ly/fuZirML
December 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
✨It's beginning to look a lot like...🎶
Our next BIG Question👹🥁
❓"Can we bring the hospital to an injured patient?" - all about London's Air Ambulance charity, one of the busiest air ambulance services in the world🚑☁️
Get your tickets now 🫵🫵🫵
👉 buff.ly/fuZirML
Our next BIG Question👹🥁
❓"Can we bring the hospital to an injured patient?" - all about London's Air Ambulance charity, one of the busiest air ambulance services in the world🚑☁️
Get your tickets now 🫵🫵🫵
👉 buff.ly/fuZirML
#OTD in 1874, James Lewis Kraft, the inventor of processed cheese was born! His method kills the germs in cheese and allows it to be shipped long distances. 🧀 🧀 🧀
Hands up if you love cheese! 🙋🧀🫶
Hands up if you love cheese! 🙋🧀🫶
December 11, 2025 at 3:15 PM
#OTD in 1874, James Lewis Kraft, the inventor of processed cheese was born! His method kills the germs in cheese and allows it to be shipped long distances. 🧀 🧀 🧀
Hands up if you love cheese! 🙋🧀🫶
Hands up if you love cheese! 🙋🧀🫶
#OTD in 1925, Paul Greengard, a neuroscientist who discovered how different neurotransmitters carry out their functions inside neurons was born 👨🔬
His research has paved the way for new treatments for neurological and mental diseases like Parkinson's and Schizophrenia 🧠 💊
His research has paved the way for new treatments for neurological and mental diseases like Parkinson's and Schizophrenia 🧠 💊
December 11, 2025 at 3:07 PM
#OTD in 1925, Paul Greengard, a neuroscientist who discovered how different neurotransmitters carry out their functions inside neurons was born 👨🔬
His research has paved the way for new treatments for neurological and mental diseases like Parkinson's and Schizophrenia 🧠 💊
His research has paved the way for new treatments for neurological and mental diseases like Parkinson's and Schizophrenia 🧠 💊
#OTD in 1843, Robert Koch, the physician who discovered Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (bacterium that causes TB) was born👨⚕️🦠
TB spreads through the air and is one the world's top 10 causes of death. But thankfully, it is treatable with the right combination of antibiotics💊
TB spreads through the air and is one the world's top 10 causes of death. But thankfully, it is treatable with the right combination of antibiotics💊
December 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM
#OTD in 1843, Robert Koch, the physician who discovered Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (bacterium that causes TB) was born👨⚕️🦠
TB spreads through the air and is one the world's top 10 causes of death. But thankfully, it is treatable with the right combination of antibiotics💊
TB spreads through the air and is one the world's top 10 causes of death. But thankfully, it is treatable with the right combination of antibiotics💊
#OTD in 1934, Howard Martin Temin, one of the co-discoverers of reverse transcriptase was born. Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme used by some viruses to copy their viral genes into DNA of the infected cell 🧬😵💫
Today, reverse transcriptase is widely used in gene technologies across labs! 🧪
Today, reverse transcriptase is widely used in gene technologies across labs! 🧪
December 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
#OTD in 1934, Howard Martin Temin, one of the co-discoverers of reverse transcriptase was born. Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme used by some viruses to copy their viral genes into DNA of the infected cell 🧬😵💫
Today, reverse transcriptase is widely used in gene technologies across labs! 🧪
Today, reverse transcriptase is widely used in gene technologies across labs! 🧪
#OTD in 1908, Alfred Day Hershey, an American biologist was born. Together with Max Delbrück and Salvador Luria, he helped confirm that DNA, instead of protein, is the genetic material. This discovery opened the door to modern medicine and biotechnology! 🔬🧬
#biology #funfact
#biology #funfact
December 4, 2025 at 10:56 AM
🔬 It's almost time for the next Big Question!
🍄 Come and find out about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 Get you tickets here: buff.ly/GW8omDU
🍄 Come and find out about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 Get you tickets here: buff.ly/GW8omDU
November 24, 2025 at 11:09 AM
🔬 It's almost time for the next Big Question!
🍄 Come and find out about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 Get you tickets here: buff.ly/GW8omDU
🍄 Come and find out about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 Get you tickets here: buff.ly/GW8omDU
🗓️ Our next Big Question is next week!
📍 26th November 6pm
🍄 Find out all about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
Get tickets here: buff.ly/GW8omDU
📍 26th November 6pm
🍄 Find out all about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
Get tickets here: buff.ly/GW8omDU
November 21, 2025 at 4:28 PM
🗓️ Our next Big Question is next week!
📍 26th November 6pm
🍄 Find out all about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
Get tickets here: buff.ly/GW8omDU
📍 26th November 6pm
🍄 Find out all about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
Get tickets here: buff.ly/GW8omDU
❔🧪 Our latest science question is ready to read!
⚕️ Student Explainer Anoushka has been teling us what she's learnt about Basic life support (BLS)
You can find it here:
⚕️ Student Explainer Anoushka has been teling us what she's learnt about Basic life support (BLS)
You can find it here:
What is BLS - Centre of the Cell
What is BLS
buff.ly
November 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
❔🧪 Our latest science question is ready to read!
⚕️ Student Explainer Anoushka has been teling us what she's learnt about Basic life support (BLS)
You can find it here:
⚕️ Student Explainer Anoushka has been teling us what she's learnt about Basic life support (BLS)
You can find it here:
🔬 Have you got tickets to our next Big Question yet?
🍄 We'll be learning all about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 More info here:
🍄 We'll be learning all about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 More info here:
November - Plants, Pathogens, and Pirouettes? - Centre of the Cell
Many people enjoy eating mushrooms, the fruits of filamentous fungi, as they are packed with nutrients. But if we look underground, it gets more interesting. Filamentous fungi can act as 'highways'.…
buff.ly
November 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
🔬 Have you got tickets to our next Big Question yet?
🍄 We'll be learning all about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 More info here:
🍄 We'll be learning all about fungi from Dr Eleonora Moratto
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 More info here:
🔬 Join us for our next Big Question.
🍄 This time it's all about the incredible world of fungi!
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 Tickets here:
🍄 This time it's all about the incredible world of fungi!
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 Tickets here:
November - Plants, Pathogens, and Pirouettes? - Centre of the Cell
Many people enjoy eating mushrooms, the fruits of filamentous fungi, as they are packed with nutrients. But if we look underground, it gets more interesting. Filamentous fungi can act as 'highways'.…
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
🔬 Join us for our next Big Question.
🍄 This time it's all about the incredible world of fungi!
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 Tickets here:
🍄 This time it's all about the incredible world of fungi!
📍 26th November 6pm
🎫 Tickets here:
Find out about immunosupressent medicines in our newest Science Question Story from student Explainer Roberta
What do immunosuppressive drugs do? - Centre of the Cell
What do immunosuppressive drugs do?
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Find out about immunosupressent medicines in our newest Science Question Story from student Explainer Roberta
Read our latest blog - what is an endoscopy? buff.ly/IjtULjX
October 31, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Read our latest blog - what is an endoscopy? buff.ly/IjtULjX
Our director and founder has been named one of the top 100 female scientists for the fourth year in a row - way to go Fran!
October 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Our director and founder has been named one of the top 100 female scientists for the fourth year in a row - way to go Fran!
Reposted by Centre of the Cell
One month to go until the @timeshighered.bsky.social Awards 2025, and we're nominated for University of the Year.
Find out why: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2P0...
Find out why: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2P0...
Queen Mary University of London shortlisted for THE University of the Year
YouTube video by QMULOfficial
www.youtube.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:37 AM
One month to go until the @timeshighered.bsky.social Awards 2025, and we're nominated for University of the Year.
Find out why: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2P0...
Find out why: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2P0...
Our next Big Question is 'Plants, Pathogens, and Pirouettes?' - all about fungus and how we can use dance to communicate various scientific concepts. Get your ticket today! buff.ly/0TWSKcH
October 9, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Our next Big Question is 'Plants, Pathogens, and Pirouettes?' - all about fungus and how we can use dance to communicate various scientific concepts. Get your ticket today! buff.ly/0TWSKcH
#OTD César Milstein was born in 1927. Milstein discovered how monoclonal antibodies, one of our bodies defences, are produced. Antibodies are specifically shaped to bind to antigens - if it isn't the right shape, it won't attach!
October 8, 2025 at 1:26 PM
#OTD César Milstein was born in 1927. Milstein discovered how monoclonal antibodies, one of our bodies defences, are produced. Antibodies are specifically shaped to bind to antigens - if it isn't the right shape, it won't attach!
Have you bought tickets to our #OctoberHalfTerm events yet? We have A Mummy for Melissa for the littlies and some Spooky Science 👻 for the older ones - get your tickets today!
Events - Centre of the Cell
Our programme of events is open to all. Throughout the year we host and deliver a range of family friendly shows and workshops that will delight all ages. We have intriguing and fun events for all…
buff.ly
October 7, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Have you bought tickets to our #OctoberHalfTerm events yet? We have A Mummy for Melissa for the littlies and some Spooky Science 👻 for the older ones - get your tickets today!
#OTD Florence Seibert was born in 1897. Seibert developed the tuberculosis skin test, a test still used today to check for tuberculosis! Tuberculosis is an infection of the chest and lungs, most often causing coughing fits.
October 6, 2025 at 12:27 PM
#OTD Florence Seibert was born in 1897. Seibert developed the tuberculosis skin test, a test still used today to check for tuberculosis! Tuberculosis is an infection of the chest and lungs, most often causing coughing fits.