Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Genetic analysis disputes increase in Antarctic minke whales
A new genetic analysis of Antarctic minke whales concludes that population of these smaller baleen whales have not increased as a result of the intensive hunting of other larger whales...
Impact of eucalyptus plantations on the ecology of rivers
For more than twenty years this team has been trying to identify links between the ecology and functioning of rivers and the surrounding terrestrial environment because, when all is said...
Pink tomato gene
What makes a particular variety of tomato pink? The gene responsible may help researchers develop new exotic tomatoes.
Why we can't always find what we're looking for (and sometimes find what isn't there)
When people look for things that are rare, they aren't all that good at finding them. And it turns out that the reverse is also true: When people look for...
Trial of new osteoporosis drug beginning
Endocrinologists are launching a human trial of a new drug that their research indicates holds great promise for building bones weakened by osteoporosis. An experimental drug called parathyroid hormone-related protein...
Polar bear droppings advance superbug debate
Scientists investigating the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs have gone the extra mile for their research -- all the way to the Arctic. Researchers found little sign of the microbes in...
New technique uses zebrafish behavior to screen for useful compounds: Pathways affecting sleep and wakefulness discovered
A robust new technique for screening drugs' effects on zebrafish behavior is pointing scientists toward unexpected compounds and pathways that may govern sleep and wakefulness in humans. Among their more...
'World's least known bird' discovered breeding in Afghanistan
Researchers have discovered for the first time the breeding area of the large-billed reed warbler -- dubbed in 2007 as "the world's least known bird species" -- in the remote...
Y Chromosome Evolving Rapidly
Humans and chimpanzees have remodeled their male sex chromosomes more than expected [Read more]
Scientists Reveal How Tendons Shape Developing Bones
Bones, muscles, and tendons work together to provide the perfect balance between stability and movement in the skeleton. Scientists have now shown that this partnership begins in the embryo. The...
Punishment important in plant-pollinator relationship
Figs and the wasps that pollinate them present one of biologists' favorite examples of a beneficial relationship between two different species. In exchange for the pollination service provided by the...
Researchers find new ways to understand bacteria's 'thinking'
It's not thinking in the way humans, dogs or even birds think, but new findings from researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, show that bacteria are more capable of...
ARS Gene Collections Vital to Animal Research Efforts
(PhysOrg.com) -- When the National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) opened its doors a decade ago, it started out with genetic material from 40 lines of chicken. Today, the center operated...
New Borneo bird species spotted
A new species of bird, the spectacled flowerpecker, has been spotted in the rainforests of Borneo.
Key mechanism for the proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus discovered
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a virus of the herpes family, has two distinct life phases: After infecting a cell it first goes into a resting phase. Under certain circumstances the...
Saving gorillas, elephants starts with understanding their human neighbors
Understanding local human cultures is key to preserving gorillas, elephants and other wildlife in African parks and reserves, according to new research.
Biologists wake dormant viruses and uncover mechanism for survival
It is known that viral "squatters" comprise nearly half of our genetic code. These genomic invaders inserted their DNA into our own millions of years ago when they infected our...
Unlocking the mystery of the duck-billed platypus' venom
Abandon any notion that the duck-billed platypus is a soft and cuddly creature -- maybe like Perry the Platypus in the Phineas and Ferb cartoon. The males can deliver a...
Variety slows fish learning
Researchers have found that silver perch are good at learning to catch one type of prey, but find it harder to learn two.
Students sequence old species
Uni students have sequenced the chloroplast genome of the Wollemi Pine, one of the rarest and oldest species of tree still living.
Sample of Nestlé Cookie Dough Has E. Coli Bacteria
The company said the tainted dough had not left the factory and no recall was necessary.
Missing 500-Years of Loggias, Porticos Described
Using texts and images, a researcher has for the first time reconstructed the time when the use of porticos -- roof-covered structures supported by columns -- gave way to loggias,...
The Plant Cell's Corset
We still have a lot to discover about the mechanism in plants that ensures cell growth in a specific direction. However it is clear that a structure of parallel protein...
Understanding why leopards can't change their spots
New research reveals something about how cats end up with spots and stripes. It demonstrates for the first time that at least three different genes are involved in the emergence...
Mutations in different cells cooperate to set the stage for cancer
Cancer biologists have long known that it takes the cooperation of multiple cancer-causing genes to cause cancer. Now researchers have shown that the cooperating mutations can occur in neighboring cells....
Dog genome researchers track paw prints of selective breeding
From the Dachshund's stubby legs to the Shar-Pei's wrinkly skin, breeding for certain characteristics has left its mark on the dog genome. Researchers have identified 155 regions on the canine...
Y Chromosome On Evolutionary Fast-Track
But Study's Authors Note it Doesn't Necessarily Mean That Men Themselves are More Evolved
Paradigm Changing Mechanism Is Revealed for the Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria
A new study led by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center is shedding new light on the action of Rho, a key regulatory protein in E. coli and many other...