singleCellBase: a high-quality manually curated database of cell markers for single cell annotation across multiple species.

Annotating cells in the analysis of single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data is one of the most challenging tasks that researchers are actively addressing. Manual cell annotation is generally considered the gold standard method, although it is labor intensive and independent of prior knowledge. At present, the relationship between high-quality, known marker genes and cell types is very limited, especially for a variety of species other than humans and mice.

[The development of fire-needle and the improvement of its application].

Based on the literature research on the development and application of fire-needle, the materials, the manufacturing process and application in clinic practices were studied. The major type, application and the representative experts of fire-needle in the contemporary era were summarized in this paper. The application fire-needle is more and more expanding in clinic practices, and the modern type of fire-needle should be promoted at present.

Cdk1 is required for the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) is indispensible for the early development of the embryo. However, its role in maintaining the undifferentiated state of the embryonic stem (ES) cells remains unknown. In this study, we dissected the function of Cdk1 in mouse ES cells by RNA-interference and gene expression analyses.

Natural selection and adaptive evolution of leptin in the ochotona family driven by the cold environmental stress.

Background: Environmental stress can accelerate the evolutionary rate of specific stress-response proteins and create new functions specialized for different environments, enhancing an organism's fitness to stressful environments. Pikas (order Lagomorpha), endemic, non-hibernating mammals in the modern Holarctic Region, live in cold regions at either high altitudes or high latitudes and have a maximum distribution of species diversification confined to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Variations in energy metabolism are remarkable for them living in cold environments.