Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Enzyme that 'cleans off' cancer cells discovered
Scientists have discovered that an enzyme can rid cells of a gene believed to be responsible for a wide range of cancers.
Last ancestor humans shared with worms had sophisticated brain, microRNAs show
The last ancestor we shared with worms, which roamed the seas around 600 million years ago, may already have had a sophisticated brain. Fossils cannot give us this information, but...
Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil Sees Shadow--And Long Winter for 2010
On Groundhog Day 2010, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow—and six more weeks of winter, according to tradition. Get surprising facts behind the wacky weather prediction.
Seeing the brain hear reveals surprises about how sound is processed
New research shows our brains are a lot more chaotic than previously thought, and that this might be a good thing. Neurobiologists at the University of Maryland have discovered information...
Dog studies reveal strong risk factors for SLE
Researchers at Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) have found several genes that lead to increased risk for an SLE-like autoimmune disorder in dogs. This is...
DNA suggests Moa once flew
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research indicates the moa may not always have been flightless.
Dogs may provide an excellent model for understanding human complex diseases
Researchers in Sweden and Finland have found several genes that lead to increased risk for a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like autoimmune disorder in dogs. This is the first time scientists...
Marlin data confused by 'look-alike'
MIAMI, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Fish thought to be white marlin, prized but never plentiful, may be misidentified as a look-alike species called roundscale spearfish, a study says.
Cells send dirty laundry home to mom
Understanding how aged and damaged mother cells manage to form new and undamaged daughter cells is one of the toughest riddles of ageing, but scientists now know how yeast cells...
Enzyme structure cracks HIV puzzle
AIDS researchers have solved a 20-year-old puzzle regarding a key component of HIV, a discovery that could lead to better treatments.
New software provides 3-D views of arteries in catheterization lab
New software allows for 3-D images of the heart's arteries during cardiac catheterization. Still in the testing phase, this technology may provide more information on the width and length of...
New insight into reprogramming of cell fate
A discovery brings new insight into how cells are reprogrammed and a greater understanding of how the environment, or factors like nutritional signals, can interact with our genes to affect...
Solving the mystery of the dying bats
Deep in a cave in Mifflin County, Pa., surrounded by icicles and tilted slabs of rock, DeeAnn Reeder shone her headlamp on a tiny bat.
Gene function discovery: Guilt by association
Scientists have created a new computational model that can be used to predict gene function of uncharacterised plant genes with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The network, dubbed AraNet, has over...
French Guiana set to tackle bycatch
A new law requiring French Guianese shrimp fishers to use special devices that reduce unwanted fish catch will help better protect marine turtles and other vulnerable marine species in the...
Taiwan to use DNA to protect whales, dolphins
Taiwan plans to use DNA from whales and dolphins as evidence to convict poachers and protect the endangered marine animals, an official said Monday.
Bonobo 'cannibalises' own infant
A wild bonobo is seen cannibalising her own recently deceased infant, a behaviour never before recorded among these 'peaceful' apes.
Theoretical model clarifies the low-temperature phase behavior of liquid water
A theoretical study of the phase behavior of liquid water at temperatures close to -100ºC has shown that the four possible scenarios identified to date are in fact specific cases...
Gene family found to play key role in early stages of development
Scientists have identified a gene family that plays a key role in one of the earliest stages of development in which an embryo distinguishes its left side from the right...
Lopsided fish show that symmetry is only skin deep
Putting function before form, members of the Perissodinus genus of fish have developed a hugely lopsided jaw that provides a distinct feeding advantage. Researchers describe how these scale-eating fish, called...
Fat tissue may be a source of valuable blood stem cells, study says
Bone marrow is a leading source of adult stem cells, which are increasingly used for research and therapeutic interventions, but extracting the cells is an arduous and often painful process....
Researchers track evolution and spread of drug-resistant bacteria across hospitals and continents
Researchers have used high resolution genome sequencing to track a particularly virulent strain of MRSA as it traveled between South America, Europe and Southeast Asia. The findings shed light on...
First evidence that the brain’s native dendritic cells can muster an immune response
The human brain is a delicate organ, robustly defended. A thick skull shields it from any direct exposure to the outside world, and the blood-brain barrier keeps out any foreign...
Feature: $42 million bionic eye
Scientists from various Australian institutions are developing a device which will be superior to any other retinal implant.
Targeting cancer stem cells in the lab
Understanding of the particular cancer cells within a tumour that drive its growth could now advance more rapidly, thanks to new research. Scientisist now show how a crucial class of...
Exotic Hadrons: There Is The Rub!
Last Friday I was in Pisa, at the Scuola Normale Superiore (see picture), where italian members of the CMS Collaboration gathered for two days to discuss the status of their...
Space scan finds cancer
Scientists are adapting T-rays, previously used in astronomy, for detecting various cancers without the risk of ionising radiation.
New class of brain-protecting drugs emerging
The compound 7,8-dihydroxyflavone mimics BDNF, one of the brain's own growth factors, and can protect brain cells against damage in animal models of seizure, stroke and Parkinson's disease. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone is...