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Any biology student will know that the plasma membrane separates the inside of a cell from the outside world. Indeed, the plasma membrane is the guardian of a cell's physiology. Fewer students will be aware that cells can export bits of plasma membrane to distant sites in a tissue. Recent work demonstrates the transfer of membrane fragments in a live epithelium and, importantly, suggests that these fragments might be used as a vehicle to transport morphogens in a developing tissue.

For years, researchers trying to capture the bustling activity of genes in living cells have mostly had to make do with snapshots, which clearly fell short of the mark. But now their frustration may be over. On page 1585, a team describes a new fluorescent protein that turns bright green when it is first made, then changes to red over several hours--providing the ability to witness how genes alter their activities over time.

In neurons, cytoskeletal proteins are transported from where they are made - the cell body - along the axons, but it has long been disputed whether they are transported as subunits or polymers. A new analysis of neurofilament movement may help to resolve the controversy.