Biology

Biology, Illustration

Death by Antibiotics for Harvard University


An illustration we made for Harvard University showing the death of bacteria by antibiotics. The cells’ membranes are punctured, allowing the insides to leak out forming bubbles, which eventually burst. This image was selected for the cover of Biophysical Journal. Read more about the research here: https://amir.seas.harvard.edu/publications/bacterial-cell-lysis-geometry-elasticity-and-implications

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Biology, Illustration

Microtubule assembly for Harvard University


An illustration we made for Harvard University showing the construction of a microtubule (within the flagella of a bacterium). The construction parts are carried to the building site by kinesin. Read more about the research here: https://amir.seas.harvard.edu/publications/length-regulation-multiple-flagella-self-assemble-shared-pool-components

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Biology, Illustration

Bacterial Family Trees for Harvard University


An illustration we made for Harvard University showing that having a non-equal distribution of key proteins at cell division can be beneficial by driving adaptation – prioritising speed of growth or hoarding resources, depending on the environment. Read more about the research here: https://amir.seas.harvard.edu/publications/optimal-segregation-proteins-phase-transitions-and-symmetry-breaking

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Biology, Illustration

Transcription illustration for Harvard University


An illustration we made for Harvard University to accompany their research which showed that ribosomes and RNA polymerases are the rate limiting step in gene expression, contrary to normal assumptions. Read more about the research here: https://amir.seas.harvard.edu/publications/homeostasis-protein-and-mrna-concentrations-growing-cells

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Biology, Illustration

DNA mutagenesis for Stanford University


An illustration for Stanford University, showing their novel CRISPR technique, called CRISPR-X. The goal is to introduce a scattering of random point mutations in a particular region of the DNA, not to directly edit the DNA directly as most CRISPR techniques do. They do this with a hyperavtive deaminase AID (which mutates DNA), and use

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Biology, Illustration, In the press

Bacteria illustrations for Harvard University


We created a series of illustrations for Harvard University to accompany journal articles on their bacterial research. These images show: (left) A pile up of bacteria in different stages of growth and division. (right) The growth of bacteria over time, as well as the straightening-out of an induced curvature in the young cells.    

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Biology, Illustration

CRISPR Cas-9 Illustration


We created a piece of art for Science Photo Library, showing the molecular structure of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing complex. The CRISPR-Cas9 protein is used in genome engineering to cut DNA. It uses a guide RNA sequence to cut DNA at a very specific matching site. The Cas9 protein is shown in blue-white. The guide

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