Even More A&P News [361]

Roundup of items for anatomy & physiology faculty

Jan 23, 2026

The Microbiome: One of the Best Ideas of the Century

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine. — Image: New Scientist/Stephan Walter

For thousands of years, humans unknowingly shaped health by working with microbes—through food, fermentation, and even medicine. Only in the past few decades has science revealed just how deeply the microbiome influences human structure and function, from immunity and metabolism to brain signaling and drug response. This sweeping New Scientist feature frames the microbiome not as a side character, but as a core biological system that reshapes how we understand the human body.

A&P teaching tip: Use this article to help students rethink “the human organism” as a human-microbial partnership—especially when teaching digestion, immunity, neuroendocrine signaling, and homeostasis.

What a “Healthy” Gut Microbiome Actually Looks Like

File:Schematic diagram showing the localisation of matured Paneth cells at the base of the intestinal crypt and higher concentration of antimicrobial peptides at the stem cell zone.png — Image: Luvhengo, et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116605 CC BY 4.0

A massive analysis of more than 34,000 people has begun to clarify what defines a healthy gut microbiome. Instead of focusing on diversity alone, researchers identified specific bacterial species linked to lower inflammation, better glucose control, healthier fat distribution, and improved cholesterol handling. Importantly, many “good” and “bad” microbes belong to the same bacterial families, underscoring how context-dependent microbiome effects really are.

The study also highlights why one-size-fits-all gut advice falls short.

A&P teaching tip: This is a chance to move beyond “microbiome = good bacteria.” Emphasize community interactions, metabolites, and host physiology. It fits naturally into digestion, immunity, and endocrine cross-talk.

A Retina Patch That May Restore Lost Vision

USC Gloved Hand Holding a Precision Surgical Instrument — Credit: Regenerative Patch Technologies LLC

Researchers at Keck Medicine of USC are testing a stem-cell–derived retinal implant designed to replace damaged retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in people with advanced dry macular degeneration. The ultra-thin patch—thinner than a human hair—is surgically placed under the retina, where it may not only slow disease progression but actually restore some lost vision. Early trial results showed the implant was stable and well tolerated, with about a quarter of patients experiencing measurable visual improvement.

A&P teaching tip: This is a powerful example of structure–function repair at the tissue level—RPE cells are not “supporting characters.” They are essential to photoreceptor survival, metabolism, and signal fidelity. It’s a great case study for revisiting the retina as an integrated system, not just layers to memorize.

Teen Brains Don’t Just Prune—They Build

This image shows densely accumulated dendritic spines.Credit: Takeshi Imai / Kyushu University

A study from Kyushu University challenges the long-held idea that adolescence is dominated by synaptic pruning. Using high-resolution imaging, researchers discovered dense new “hotspots” of synapse formation appearing specifically during adolescence in layer-5 cortical neurons. These clusters don’t exist earlier in development and may be critical for higher-order thinking.

Even more striking, mouse models carrying schizophrenia-associated gene variants failed to form these synaptic hotspots during adolescence, suggesting that some neuropsychiatric conditions may reflect failed construction, not excessive loss.

A&P teaching tip: This reframes adolescent brain development in a way students instantly grasp—growth isn’t just subtractive. It’s architectural. This pairs beautifully with discussions of dendritic compartments, cortical layers, and why timing matters in neural development.

Living Bodies Emit Light—And It Stops at Death

Researchers detected ultra-weak light emissions—called biophotons—coming from the entire bodies of living mice and from plant leaves. These emissions faded rapidly after death, suggesting they are tightly linked to active cellular metabolism, likely involving mitochondria and oxidative reactions. While biophotons have long been controversial, this whole-organism detection makes them harder to dismiss.

The finding sparked public fascination because it resembles ideas of a biological “aura,” but the real story is far more interesting—and grounded in cell biology.

A&P teaching tip: This is a wonderful hook for metabolism, redox reactions, and mitochondrial function. It reinforces a key theme students often miss—life is not just chemistry, but ongoing chemistry. When metabolism stops, so does the glow.

Inflammation Beats Cholesterol as a Heart-Disease Predictor

Computer-generated image of the structure for C-reactive protein. Protein pancake source (Public Domain) Credit: S. Kolstoe, Center for Amyloidosis, University College, London, UK. For more information, see www.nist.gov/mml/analytical/heart_110309.cfm.

C-reactive protein, produced by the liver in response to inflammation, is now considered a stronger predictor of heart-disease risk than cholesterol alone. In 2025, the American College of Cardiology recommended routine CRP screening alongside lipid panels. The shift reflects growing recognition that atherosclerosis is fundamentally an immune-driven process, not just a lipid-storage problem.

More than half of Americans already have elevated CRP levels.

A&P teaching tip: This reframes cardiovascular disease as an immune–vascular interaction. It’s a great moment to connect endothelial damage, macrophage activity, plaque instability, and systemic inflammation into a single mechanistic story.

Nose-Picking, Bacteria, and Alzheimer’s—Proceed Carefully

A mouse study suggests that damaging the nasal epithelium may allow certain bacteria to travel along the olfactory nerve into the brain, triggering immune responses associated with Alzheimer’s pathology. When nasal tissue was injured, amyloid-beta deposition increased. The findings are preliminary and based on animal models—but they raise serious questions about environmental routes into the CNS.

This is not a public-health alarm. It is a reminder of anatomical vulnerability.

A&P teaching tip: Use this to reinforce the concept of anatomical barriers and privileged pathways. The olfactory nerve is a rare, direct connection between the external environment and the brain—and structure really matters here.

A Fifth Type of Diabetes Is Finally Recognized

The International Diabetes Federation has formally recognized type 5 diabetes, a malnutrition-related form distinct from types 1, 2, 3c, and gestational diabetes. It primarily affects people who experienced chronic undernutrition early in life, leading to impaired pancreatic development and insulin deficiency without classic insulin resistance.

Misdiagnosis can be fatal, as standard insulin protocols may do more harm than good.

A&P teaching tip: This challenges the simplified diabetes taxonomy many students carry. It’s an opportunity to revisit pancreatic development, endocrine regulation, and how social determinants of health shape physiology.

MMR Vaccination Gaps Reveal Structural Vulnerability

A new county-level analysis of MMR vaccination rates across the U.S. reveals large pockets of dangerously low coverage—especially in parts of the South and Southwest. Some states show dramatic discrepancies between modeled uptake and CDC reports, helping explain why recent measles outbreaks clustered where they did.

This isn’t just hesitancy. It’s a surveillance problem with anatomical consequences.

A&P teaching tip: Pair this with immune memory and herd immunity concepts. Structure–function applies at the population level too—when immune “coverage” breaks down, pathogens find paths through.

From the TAPP Podcast: Teaching Voice Matters

Several recent TAPP episodes return to a core theme—students don’t just learn content; they learn through us. Teaching voice, warmth, and clarity are not soft skills. They are delivery systems for complex anatomical ideas, especially in online or audio-heavy formats.

A&P teaching tip: If students can’t stay cognitively present, structure–function never lands. Teaching voice is part of the system.

To listen to this episode, click on the play button above ⏵ (if present) or this link→ theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-155.html

Student Variability: Why “Every Brain Is Unique” Matters in A&P

Teachers often talk about diversity in the classroom, but the research says something deeper: no two brains are wired the same way for learning. What some refer to as “learner variability” is the scientific recognition that students differ in motivation, prior knowledge, cognitive strengths, and the way they integrate new information — differences that matter for how they learn anatomy and physiology. Teaching students to understand their own variability isn’t just feel-good; it gives them a mental model for why they struggle with some concepts and excel with others.

Why this article matters: This piece ties the concept of learner variability to practical teaching and offers a specific explanation educators can link to deeper research and classroom resources.

The A&P Professor Science & Education Updates

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