Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Wide variety of genetic splicing in embryonic stem cells identified
Like tuning in to an elusive radio frequency in a busy city, human embryonic stem cells must sort through a seemingly endless number of options to settle on the specific...
Microbe detective seeks out germs
We are surrounded by microorganisms. They inhabit our skin, the air we breathe, the surfaces we touch. In most cases this is not a problem, but there are situations in...
Ability to tolerate enemies influences coevolution
Stay and fight, or flee? These are usually the alternatives facing a victim when it is attacked by an enemy. Two researchers have now collected and discussed various examples from...
Molecular brake for the bacterial flagellar nano-motor
Researchers have now discovered that Escherichia coli bacteria harness a sophisticated chemosensory and signal transduction machinery that allows them to accurately control motor rotation, thereby adjusting their swimming velocity in...
GEN reports on therapeutic potential of microRNA
Researchers around the globe are working on turning microRNAs, over 5,000 of which already have been identified, into novel drugs for a wide range of applications, reports Genetic Engineering &...
From the desk lamp to the desktop?
In the future, getting a broadband connection might be as simple as flipping on a light switch. In fact, according to a group of researchers from Germany, the light coming...
Movement disorder symptoms are lessened by an antibiotic
Discovery of an antibiotic's capacity to improve cell function in laboratory tests is providing movement disorder researchers with leads to more desirable molecules with potentially similar traits, according to University...
Light activated 'warhead' turns modest molecules into super protein killers
Using a novel light activation technique, Scripps Research Institute scientists have been able to turn molecules with only a modest ability to fight specific proteins into virtual protein destroyers...
Cat fur puts criminals behind bars
A DNA database has been established that uses cat fur as forensic evidence. Dog and other animal fur may also be useful in forensic applications. Forensic...
Mosquito would 'vaccinate' against malaria
SHIMOTSUKI, Japan, March 19 (UPI) -- Scientists in Japan say they've genetically modified a mosquito that vaccinates against malaria as it bites.
MSU scientists unlock key enzyme using newly created 'cool' method
A team of Michigan State University scientists - using a new cooling method they created - have uncovered the inner workings of a key iron-containing enzyme, a discovery that could...
Mouse work: New insights on a fundamental DNA repair mechanism
Adding a new link to our understanding of the complex chain of chemistry that keeps living cells alive, a team of researchers from the University of Vermont (UVM), the University...
Brain probe hope for epileptics
A US study says electrical deep brain stimulation is a promising therapy for epileptics who do not respond to drug treatment.
Lizard moms choose the right genes for the right gender offspring
Two Dartmouth biologists have found that brown anole lizards make an interesting choice when deciding which males should father their offspring. The females of this species mate with several males,...
The alpine marmot spreads into the Catalan Pyrenees
Researchers from the Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) have demonstrated, using a map of the potential distribution, the alpine marmot's...
Unselfish molecules may have helped give birth to the genetic material of life
One of the biggest questions facing scientists today is how life began. How did non-living molecules come together in that primordial ooze to form the polymers of life? Scientists at...
Report: Actions to protect fish in California Bay-Delta 'scientifically justified'
WASHINGTON -- Most of the actions proposed by two federal agencies to reduce water diversions in the California Bay-Delta in order to protect endangered and threatened fish species are...
Snake venom charms science world
The King Cobra continues to weave its charm with researchers identifying a protein in its venom with the potential for new drug discovery and to advance understanding of disease mechanisms...
Novel antitoxin strategy developed using 'tagged binding agents'
A study involving the world's deadliest substance has yielded a new strategy to clear toxins from the body - which may lead to more efficient strategies against toxins that may...
Researchers create atlas of transcription factor combinations
In a significant leap forward in the understanding of how specific types of tissue are determined to develop in mammals, an international team of scientists has succeeded in mapping the...
EBOLA
EBOLA - CLINICAL SYMPTOMS: Ebola was discovered in 1976 in Zaire and Sudan. The virus called Ebola takes its name from the Ebola River, which flows into Zaire, where the virus was...
The life and death of online communities
The more heterogeneous the community of an online chat channel, the more chances the channel has to survive over time. This has been concluded in a new joint study carried...
Does promiscuity prevent extinction?
Promiscuous females may be the key to a species' survival, according to new research by the Universities of Exeter and Liverpool. Published 25 February in Current Biology, the study could...
What vampire bats can teach us | Michael Reiss
The roots of human morality are to be found in a Darwinian understanding of helping behaviours: 'reciprocal altruism'The question: What Can Darwin teach us about morality?It's tough being a vampire bat. Contrary to...
Fears winter harmed UK wildlife
The harsh winter may have had a devastating impact on UK wildlife, British Waterways warns as it launches its annual survey.
Synthetic Biology: Engineered Bacteria
Researchers have devised a way to attach sugars to proteins using unique biological and chemical methods. This means that large quantities of different glycoproteins can be generated for various medical...
Catching Evolution in the Act: Mating Choices Matter
Harvard University researchers are watching a new species of Ecuadorian Heliconius butterflies split off from the main population, as males choose mates based on wing colors.
Pork belly cuts better for environment than beef steak
Milk, eggs, pork and chicken are friendlier for the environment than beef. This is the conclusion after examining sixteen life cycle assessment (LCA) studies of animal products. However, the margins...