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The vision of the Life Sciences Division is to advance basic knowledge, and the health of humans and the biosphere, by elucidating the 4-Dimensional dynamics of complex biological systems -- ranging from molecules to microbes to humans.

Research Highlights

Secrets of Biological Soil Crusts Uncovered
A team of Berkeley Lab researchers has performed molecular level analysis of desert biological soil crusts - living ground cover formed by microbial communities - to reveal how long-dormant cyanobacteria become activated by rainfall then resume dormancy when the precipitation stops. More » 

 

New Imaging Technique Captures World of Metabolites
The kinetic world of metabolites comes to life thanks to a new imaging technique that maps the whereabouts of metabolites in a biological sample--and how new they are. More » 

 

microvasculature

 

Solving the Mystery Behind Dormant Disseminated Breast Tumor Cells
Berkeley Lab researchers have identified the microenvironment surrounding microvasculature as a niche where dormant cancer cells may reside, and the sprouting of microvasculature blood vessels as the event that transforms dormant cancer cells into metastatic tumors. More »