Yearbook 2008

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The research group of Wolfgang Zachariae shows that in yeast, the Dbf4-dependent Cdc7 kinase (DDK) provides a link between premeiotic S phase and the segregation of homologous chromosomes in meiosis I. Independently from its established role in initiating DNA replication, DDK promotes double-strand break formation, the first step of recombination, and the recruitment of the monopolin complex to kinetochores, which is essential for monopolar attachment of sister kinetochores. Thus, activation of DDK both initiates DNA replication and commits meiotic cells to reductional chromosome segregation in meiosis I. more
Cosmic dust is the carrier of a variety of astrophysical information. With mass spectrometric methods it is possible to study cosmic dust in the laboratory. Stardust, which is found in small quantities in meteorites and comets, provides detailed insights into the physics of the parent stars and in physical and chemical processes in the interstellar medium. Studies of cometary dust, which was recently collected and returned to Earth with the “Stardust” space probe, make it possible to reconstruct important aspects of the history of Solar System formation. more
Over most of the Earth´s surface the atmosphere is in direct contact with the ocean. Therefore, gas exchange at this interface has an enormous potential to influence global atmospheric chemistry. As part of the European project “OOMPH” researchers from the MPI for Chemistry crossed the “roaring forties” of the South Atlantic on board a research vessel and encountered a giant phytoplankton bloom which forms there every summer. An investigation of such pristine regions gives important clues about how the atmosphere functions in the absence of man-made pollution. more
Language is a basic property of human beings that distinguishes them from any other being we know. Children seem to effortlessly acquire this complex system of symbols and meanings. It is still an open question how children’s brains learn to administer the multifaceted tasks involved in language comprehension. Answers to this question are given by imaging methods that allow us to observe the children’s brains during the processing of language. more
The capabilities of the brain are based on an interplay between functional segregation and functional integration of neuronal populations within complex networks. The anatomical basis of these networks can be reconstructed using diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging. The dynamic interaction between the neuronal populations is described by models of neural masses and fields. The integration of these techniques with functional measurements and neuropsychological experiments opens up new perspectives for the investigation of the mechanisms of the human mind. more
Competition authorities suspect that certain rebates may lead to monopolization. Economic models show that rebates do not necessarily have negative effects on competition. They may even increase welfare. In the Lab consumers reacted to rebates they were offered in a different way than the economic models would expect them to. How can competition law account for these findings? Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods seek after an adequate solution. more
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