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Author: Melissa Plooster

Melissa is a PhD student in Cell Biology and Physiology. She is currently studying the mechanisms underlying membrane trafficking and axon guidance in neurons. In her free time she enjoys reading, making jewelry, photography, and cooking.

Blog / Can We Make Tastier Tomatoes?

February 1, 2018 / Melissa Plooster /

They can be eaten raw, made into countless stews and sauces, and add a tasty addition to nearly any dish. Tomatoes are practically indispensable in any modern kitchen and are…

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Biology Everyday Questions metabolome Not so Frivolous science communication tomato

Blog / The Legacy of Minamata Disease

March 2, 2017 / Melissa Plooster /

During the 1950s, strange events began happening around Minamata Bay, located in the Kumamoto Prefecture of Japan. Fish floated belly-up and birds collapsed while flying. Cats convulsed, salivated excessively, jumped…

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disease japan mercury methylmercury minamata

Blog / The Amazing Microbiota of Brown Bears

November 8, 2016November 8, 2016 / Melissa Plooster /

Image a researcher has been tasked with studying how hibernation affects a bear’s microbiota, or the collection of microorganisms residing on and in an organism. The researcher begins his day…

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bear Biology brown Microbiology microbiome microbiota Science News

Blog / Horny Frogs and the Fungal Love Potion

March 21, 2016 / Melissa Plooster / 1

Imagine a pathogen that makes its host more sexually active. It may not kill its host right away. It may not kill its host at all. It is easy to…

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Biology Scientific Communication Weird Science

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