Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Plants Choose Ammunition Carefully
Plants are not as defenseless as they may seem. Various plant hormones work together to specifically fend off attacks. Botanists have now shown how these hormones cooperate. By 'consulting' with...
New Insights Into Cardiac Aging
Researchers have found that the conserved protein d4eBP modulates cardiac aging in Drosophila (fruit flies). The team also found that d4eBP, which binds to the protein dEif4e, protects heart function...
When You've Doubled Your Genes, What's One Chromosome More Or Less? How Polyploidy And Genomic Change Can Lead To Evolutionary Change
For animals, an extra chromosome can result in major problems, but plants are another matter. Many plants can survive an extra copy of their entire genome (polyploidy), and this process...
DNA barcodes track endangered sea turtles
NEW YORK, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. and Australian conservation geneticists say they have discovered a new tool to aid in the tracking of migratory and endangered sea turtles...
Hemp And Marijuana: Genes Producing THC, Active Ingredient In Cannabis Plant, Identified
In a first step toward engineering a drug-free Cannabis plant for hemp fiber and oil, researchers have identified genes producing tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive substance in marijuana. Studying the genes could...
Evidence points to conscious 'metacognition' in some nonhuman animals
J. David Smith, a comparative psychologist at the University at Buffalo who has conducted extensive studies in animal cognition, says there is growing evidence that animals share functional parallels with...
Neurones found to be similar to Electoral College
A tiny neurone is a very complicated structure. Its complex network of dendrites, axons and synapses is constantly dealing with information, deciding whether or not to send a nerve impulse,...
New function for the protein Bcl-xL: It prevents bone breakdown
In blood cells, the protein Bcl-xL has a well-characterised role in preventing cell death by a process known as apoptosis. However, its function(s) in osteoclasts, cells that slowly breakdown bone...
Figuring out the heads or tails decision in regeneration
Amputations trigger a molecular response that determines if a head or tail will be regrown in planaria, a flatworm commonly studied for its regenerative capabilities. Until now, no molecular connection...
Can parasites cause anaemia and undernutrition in Northern Rwanda?
Northern Rwandan inhabitants infected with more than two species of parasitic worm are more likely to be underweight than those with just one or with no infection, according to new...
Solving the Mystery of IgE
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the main actor in the drama of allergy. The biological role of IgE in the immune response of an organism and the lack of control leading...
RNA Interference Found In Budding Yeasts
Some budding yeast species have the ability to silence genes using RNA interference (RNAi), new research shows. Until now, most researchers thought that no budding yeasts possess the RNAi pathway...
Engineered Pea Seeds Protect Against Parasites
A breed of pea seeds has been created that contains antibodies against coccidiosis, a disease caused by a parasite that attacks chickens. Researchers describe the development of the GM seeds,...
AMPA Receptors On Cell Membrane Make Us Smarter
AMPA receptors are an important regulating factor in the connection between our nerve cells. However, researchers have demonstrated that it is not the amount of AMPA receptors inside the cell...
New Clues to Sex Anomalies in How Y Chromosomes Are Copied
The Y chromosome has an Achilles’ heel that leads to a wide variety of sexual disorders.
Tiny Bacteria Secret to Cicada's Success
(PhysOrg.com) -- John McCutcheon remembers the song of the cicada - the loudest song in the insect world - as the sound track to countless summer hours spent playing outside...
Study: Male bass in many U.S. rivers feminized
Government scientists figure that one out of five male black bass in American river basins have egg cells growing inside their sexual organs, a sign of how widespread fish feminizing...
Bathing, but Not Alone
A deluge of bacteria hit your face and flow deep into your lungs in the morning shower.
Giant pandas’ sex talk revealed
Discovery: Giant panda bleat calls, often emitted during the panda's mating season, have just been deciphered, according to new research.
Showerheads may harbor bacteria dangerous to some
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In what may be the scariest shower news since Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho," a study says showerheads can harbor tiny bacteria that come spraying...
Researcher looks for answers about unique disease-resistant gene
Virginia Tech faculty member Bingyu Zhao is investigating a disease-resistant gene in corn that prevents bacteria from invading distantly related plant species.
Enzyme Crucial to Insulin Resistance Found in Brain
An enzyme known to cause insulin resistance in muscle is also located in the brain and has a similar function there, a research team that includes a University of Cincinnati scientist...
Disordered proteins sensitive to environment, sequence changes
(PhysOrg.com) -- Research published by a team of Indiana University bioinformaticists has shown quantitatively the influence of small sequence changes and environmental conditions on the disordered regions of a protein.
Green tea component may help preserve stored platelets, tissues
In two separate studies, a major component in green tea, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), has been found to help prolong the preservation of both stored blood platelets and cryopreserved skin tissues.
Monkey malaria kills humans
Researchers have confirmed that an emerging strain of monkey malaria that has infected humans in Malaysia is deadly.
Isopod Replaces Fish's Tongue
(PhysOrg.com) -- An isopod that replaces a fish's tongue has been discovered for the first time in the Channel Islands in Europe. The marine isopod, described by its finder as...
Python "Nightmare": New Giant Species Invading Florida
Africa's largest snake—the "vicious," 20-foot rock python—is now colonizing the Everglades, scientists say. The giant snake's threat is "worse" than that of the Burmese python, another alien likely introduced to the swamp by...
Nanofibres to rival spider silk
Researchers have discovered a way to radically strengthen nanofibres much thinner than human hair, which could revolutionise the way we live.