Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Study: Fruit flies have stabilizer reflex
ITHACA, N.Y., March 3 (UPI) -- Cornell University scientists say they've discovered how fruit flies, when disturbed by wind gusts, rapidly recover from midflight stumbles to stay on course.
Common weedkiller turns male frogs into females
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Atrazine, one of the most commonly used and controversial weedkillers, can turn male frogs into females, researchers reported on Monday.
Antifreeze proteins can stop ice melting, Queen's professors find
The same antifreeze proteins that keep organisms from freezing in cold environments can also prevent ice from melting at warmer temperatures, according to a new Queen's University study.
Vital new clue into how the brain is wired
Scientists have uncovered a vital clue into how the brain is wired, which could eventually steer research into nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's disease and cognitive disorders including autism.
Canine morphology: Hunting for genes and tracking mutations
Why do domestic dogs vary so much in size, shape, coat texture, color and patterning? Study of the dog genome has reached a point where the molecular mechanisms governing such...
Sea squirt may be good Alzheimer's model
SAN DIEGO, March 3 (UPI) -- U.S. medical researchers say they've determined the sea squirt might become a good animal model with which to test new Alzheimer's disease medications.
Bison population needs land to grow: study
Restoring the wild bison population in North America depends on the land made available for roaming and a change in public attitude towards the animal, says a new study co-edited...
Queen ant will sacrifice colony to retain throne
A mighty struggle for ultimate power, with calls of "death to the queen" answered by armies of workers, is routine in some ant colonies. Colony -...
Microwells for detecting smells
A microfluidic-based platform that screens odorant responses in thousands of cells at once has been developed by US Scientists
The genetic footprint of natural selection
A further step has been taken towards our understanding of natural selection. CNRS scientists working at the Institut de Biologie of the Ecole Normale Supérieure (CNRS, February) have shown that...
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In pictures: Severn Estuary biodiversity threatened by tidal plans
A new report by the Wildlife Trusts highlights the importance of the Severn estuary both for biodiversity and people
GM potato cleared for EU farming
The European Commission clears a genetically modified potato for cultivation in the EU - only the second GM product allowed.
Bt protein found effective against parasitic roundworm infections
Biologists at UC San Diego have discovered that a protein from a soil bacterium used to kill insects naturally on organic crops is a highly effective treatment for intestinal parasitic...
Examining alcohol use disorders through gene networks instead of individual genes
Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are influenced by multiple genetic, environmental and behavioral factors, which makes it difficult to find individual genetic markers to help identify those at risk of developing...
Second protective role for tumor-suppressor: DNA damage sensor also responds to oxidative harm outside nucleus
ATM, a protein that reacts to DNA damage by ordering repairs or the suicide of the defective cell, plays a similar, previously unknown role in response to oxidative damage outside...
Biologists use mathematics to advance our understanding of health and disease
Math-based computer models are a powerful tool for discovering the details of complex living systems. A Virginia biologist is creating such models to discover how cells process information and make...
Mosquitoes -- not birds -- may have carried West Nile virus across U.S.
Mosquitoes -- not birds as suspected-- -- may have a played a primary role in spreading West Nile virus westward across the United States, according to new research. The study...
Dog DNA Diversity Helps Show How Genes Work
Dog genome studies connect traits to genes, could shed light on human diseases.
Scientists identify age-associated defects in schizophrenia
The underlying causes of the debilitating psychiatric disorder schizophrenia remain poorly understood. In a new study published online in Genome Research March 2, 2010, however, scientists report that a powerful...
Human Culture, an Evolutionary Force
Biologists are finding evidence that culture has been interacting with genes to shape human evolution.
Roundup 3/1: Hearing Aid Edition
Phil Jones and the University of East Anglia mostly emerged unscathed in fairly aggressive... [Read more]
Simple math explains dramatic beak shape variation in Darwin's finches
In a new study, researchers demonstrate that simple changes in beak length and depth can explain the important morphological diversity of all beak shapes within Darwin's famous finches. Broadly, the...
Diffusion of a soluble protein through a sensory cilium
Scientists have, for the first time, measured the diffusion coefficient of a protein in a primary cilium and in other major compartments of a highly polarized cell.
Gene may be among most influential factors in Down syndrome
Research undertaken in recent years on Down syndrome has focused on the DYRK1A gene. The super-expression of this gene affects transmission in the neurons, according to a new study.
Protein-bait interactions, display libraries featured in Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Mon., Mar. 1, 2010) -- The use of recombinant proteins, antibodies, small molecules, or nucleic acids as affinity reagents is a simple yet powerful strategy to...
Shot: Autopilot for Fruit Flies
Aircraft aren't the only flying machines with autopilot [Read more]
Scientists identify wide variety of genetic splicing in embryonic stem cells
Like homing 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...