Latest science news in Biology & Nature
New method to predict Alzheimer's created
STATE COLLEGE, Pa., April 5 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've developed a method of reliably predicting development of Alzheimer's disease.
What is the association between ATG16L1 and inflammatory bowel disease?
The ATG16L1 gene is located on chromosome 2 and encodes a protein involved in the formation of autophagosomes during autophagy. Autophagy is a cytoplasmic process that keeps a cell stable....
HUMAN GENOME AT TEN: 5 Breakthroughs, 5 Predictions
Ten years after the Human Genome Project's grand achievement, experts hail the advances and share hopes for the next decade.
Brain tumours: Tissue stem cell turning into tumour stem cell
The 'cradle' of new neurones in the adult brain is well known. It is what is called the subventricular zone, a tissue structure lining the lateral ventricles. This is where...
New tool for RNA silencing
Anti-sense reagents have been developed for C. elegans micro RNA. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Silence have created the first class of reagents to potently and selectively...
Mapping heart disease: Researchers uncover genes that may dramatically affect heart health
Studying Drosophila (fruit flies), an international team investigated 7,061 genes and built a detailed map that shows how a portion of these genes contribute to heart function and disease. Importantly,...
Biologists discover an on/off button on plants' alarm system
Scientists have discovered how plants turn their defense mechanisms on and off. The system is apparently controlled by a key protein that the researchers have named "NINJA." The discovery offers...
B.C. grizzly hunt numbers called excessive
Trophy hunting of grizzly bears is exceeding the number of kills allowed by B.C. government limits, say two prominent environmental groups.
Pairing up against cancer
Researchers from the UK and their collaborators demonstrate a novel approach to anticancer drug design combining the active fragments of two known anticancer agents
Work begins in deepest offshore oil site
SAN RAMON, Calif., April 1 (UPI) -- Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron announced production began at the Perdido development in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, the deepest offshore site...
Bringing dehydrated plants 'back to life'
Drought can take a serious toll on plants and animals alike. When cells are deprived of water, they shrink, collapsing in upon themselves and, without water as a medium, chemicals...
Face-Lifts Should Include Bone Implants, Researchers Say
Cosmetic surgeons are now saying that bone implants may be the new face-lift.
Simplifying complexity -- new insights into how genomes work
(PhysOrg.com) -- A genome is a complex system of genes and factors that regulate them. A European research team has clarified how such dynamic systems work, leading to a new...
From silicon to carbon - hackers tackle DNA
Some makers are turning their attention to biology to see if they can hack DNA and the stuff that life is made from.
New study questions earlier conclusions about the kinetics of T cell receptors
T cell receptors are among the most important molecules in the immune system because of their role in recognising the antigens that signal such threats as viruses and cancer. The...
Glancing blow from a comet could create amino acids
(PhysOrg.com) -- Amino acids are markers for potential life since they are the building blocks of proteins. Now scientists in California have for the first time found the shock wave...
Common copy number variations unlikely to contribute significantly toward common diseases
A study of the genetics of common diseases including diabetes, heart disease and bipolar disorder has found that commonly occurring copy number variations - duplicated or missing chunks of DNA...
Movies for the human genome
Name a human gene, and you'll find a movie online showing you what happens to cells when it is switched off. This is the resource that researchers at the European...
Evidence-based medicine theory can be applied to frequent flying says US professor
When New York-based Professor Leslie Citrome sets off for his latest conference or speaking engagement, he isn't just armed with a stack of medical journals and his passport. He makes...
Small molecules have big impact for TB bacteria
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) possesses extraordinary survival ability by masking itself from the host immune system and persisting for decades inside the host. Speaking at the Society for General Microbiology's spring...
Gorillas in the list: New extinction fears for central African gorillas
Illegal logging, the bushmeat trade, mining, the charcoal trade and a new strain of the Ebola virus could drive gorillas into extinction in central Africa in as little as 15...
Bread Mold Genes Shed Light on Human Internal Clock
Bread mold genes could help scientists better understand the human biological clock.
Bat’s song hits nature’s highest note
This bat has the highest pitched call of any animal ever documented, putting even the best human sopranos to shame. Hit - Bats - Human -...
Bulging Mutant Trout Created: More Muscle, More Meat
The muscle-bound, genetically engineered fish boast at least 15 percent more flesh for eating. But is that good?
Gene-Altered "Enviropig" to Reduce Dead Zones?
"Enviropig," now approved for limited production, is modified to excrete less phosphorous, a key trigger of algal blooms, scientists say.
Alec Bangham obituary
Leading haematologist who was known as the father of liposomesAlec Bangham's decision to abandon clinical pathology and become a research scientist unleashed a career rich in discovery and innovation. It spanned six wonderfully fruitful decades during...
Human genome at ten: Life is complicated
The more biologists look, the more complexity there seems to be. Erika Check Hayden asks if there's a way to make life simpler.
Human genome at ten: The human race
What was it like to participate in the fastest, fiercest research race in biology? Alison Abbott talks to some of the genome competitors about the rivalries and obstacles they faced...