Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Wildlife talks to headline CITES meeting
DOHA, Qatar, March 13 (UPI) -- Conservation groups say they are hopeful participants in a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species meeting in Qatar will help protect wildlife.
Fruit Flies -- A Model for Bodybuilders
(PhysOrg.com) -- The human body operates by a precisely regulated interplay of different cell types such as blood, nerve and muscle cells. Together with colleagues from the Research Institute of...
Scientists solve puzzle of chickens that are half male and half female
A puzzle that has baffled scientists for centuries – why some birds appear to be male on one side of the body and female on the other – has been...
Scientists track variant of gene-regulating protein in embryonic stem cells
(PhysOrg.com) -- The path to fully developed cells from embryonic stem cells requires that the right genes are turned on and off at the right times. New research from Rockefeller...
Temporary hearing impairment leads to 'lazy ear'
Brain rewiring after ear infections may cause long-term hearing problems, rat study shows
Molecule tells key brain cells to grow up, get to work
About four out of every 10 cells in the brain are so-called oligodendrocytes. These cells produce the all-important myelin that coats nerve tracts, ensuring fast, energy-efficient transmission of nerve impulses....
Transgenic Musclebound Trout with Six-Pack Abs Could Arrive Soon on Your Dinner Plate
A 10-year effort has finally created pumped-up fish for commercial aquaculture Rainbow trout with six-pack abs and burly shoulders have emerged from a University of Rhode Island laboratory, and could someday find their...
India's shrinking animal ark needs more parks, corridors
A study on the past extinction of large mammals in India by the Wildlife Conservation Society, Duke University, and other groups has found that country's protected area system and human...
Conservationists back bird-safe buildings
WASHINGTON, March 10 (UPI) -- The American Bird Conservancy says it applauds a U.S. House bill designed to prevent the deaths of millions of birds that collide with building...
Plant hormone increases cotton yields in drought conditions
A naturally occurring class of plant hormones called cytokinins has been found to help increase cotton yields during drought conditions, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists.
Bioengineering: What to make with DNA origami
Chemists looking to create complex self-assembling nanostructures are turning to DNA. Katharine Sanderson looks at the science beneath the fold.
Scientific breakthrough in genetic studies of animal domestication
The domestication of animals and plants is the most important technological innovation during human history. This genetic transformation of wild species has occurred as humans have used individuals carrying favorable...
Tasmanian Devil Colony May Save Species
Genetically Distinct Colony Shows Immunity to Cancer that Has Ravaged the Iconic Animal
Wild turmeric effective in filariasis vector control
Wild turmeric extract could help control the mosquito that spreads lymphatic filariasis, say scientists.
Study: Bird wings morph quickly to adapt to human-created environmental changes
(PhysOrg.com) -- Can species quickly evolve when humans rapidly change their habitats? The answer, in some cases, is yes, according to a new study of North American songbirds.
Sequencing, annotation and comparative analysis of nine BACs of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
BGI has carried out deep sequence exploration on nine BACs of giant panda with traditional sanger sequencing methods. Sequences and structure information of new genes and repeats were predicted,...
Seal pups beached in ice-free Gulf
An exceptional lack of sea ice on the Gulf of St. Lawrence this winter has left seal mothers with few places to bear their young or to feed their pups.
Effort to Map Human Brain Faces Complex Challenges
Neuroscientists hope to harness computing power to help map millions of miles of "wiring" that connects brain cells.
Fossil shells keep intact DNA
Researchers have recovered DNA from the fossilised eggshells of extinct moa - now they can match shell to species, and track families.
Tiny test finds disease early
Researchers have come up with a way to detect very small amounts of disease markers, using very small devices.
Huge meat-eater plant prefers poo
The largest meat-eating plant in the world is designed not to eat small animals, but small animal poo, scientists discover.
Ultrasensitive DNA detection
A lipase-based sensor detects tiny quantities of DNA and could be used to test for bacteria that spoils beer.
John Thorbjarnarson, 52, a Leading Expert on Crocodiles
Mr. Thorbjarnarson was a scientist with wide interests in saving and learning about many species.
Lizard moms choose the right genes for the right gender offspring
Brown anole lizards make an interesting choice when deciding which males should father their offspring. The females of this species mate with several males, then produce more sons with sperm...
Orangutans have 'caller ID'
The calls of male orangutans contain information about the apes' identity and the context of the call, researchers say.
Fighting aliens with aliens: U.K. imports insect species to tackle invasive plant
For the first time in U.K. history, an alien species (meaning one that is not native to the area) will be let loose in the kingdom to combat the growth...
Designer nano luggage to carry drugs to diseased cells
For the first time, scientists have succeeded in growing empty particles derived from a plant virus and have made them carry useful chemicals.
Overfishing prompts Brazil sardine conservation curbs
RIO DE JANEIRO, March 9 (UPI) -- Overfishing is threatening to decimate Brazil's seafood resource and the latest danger concerns the country's sardine catch, which has led officials to...