Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Mammals Beat Reptiles in Battle of Evolution
Study finds mammals, birds, fish are evolution's winners; crocodiles, alligators are losers.
Mapping The Crocodile Genome
The first ever genetic linkage map for a non-avian member of the Class Reptilia has been developed. Researchers have constructed a first-generation genetic linkage map for the saltwater crocodile Crocodylus...
Invigorated Muscle Structure Allows Geese To Brave The Himalayas
A higher density of blood vessels and other unique physiological features in the flight muscles of bar-headed geese allow them to do what even the most elite of human athletes...
Walking bats gain advantage
Researchers have found fossil evidence that some bat species evolved walking to help forage – not due to lack of ground predators.
Nanotech Particles Affect Brain Development In Mice
Maternal exposure to nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO2) affects the expression of genes related to the central nervous system in developing mice. Researchers found that mice whose mothers were injected...
'Good fat' may help people lose weight
BOSTON, July 29 (UPI) -- U.S. biologists made a kind of energy-burning fat cell called "brown fat" out of mouse and human cells that may help people lose weight,...
Mosquitoes deliver malaria 'vaccine' through bites
In a daring experiment in Europe, scientists used mosquitoes as flying needles to deliver a "vaccine" of live malaria parasites through their bites. The results were astounding: Everyone in the...
Researchers link jellyfish, other small sea creatures to large-scale ocean mixing
The ocean's smallest swimming animals, such as jellyfish, can have a huge impact on large-scale ocean mixing, researchers have discovered.
Protein 'Tweek' rare but critical in synaptic process
Recycling is a critical component in the process of transmitting information from one neuron to the next, and a large protein called Tweek plays a critical role, said an international...
Reprogramming human cells without inserting genes
A research team comprised of faculty at Worcester Polytechnic Institute's (WPI) Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center (LSBC) and investigators at CellThera, a private company also located at the LSBC, has...
Little-known protein found to be key player
Italian and U.S. biologists this week report that a little-understood protein previously implicated in a rare genetic disorder plays an unexpected and critical role in building and maintaining healthy cells....
New computer simulation helps explain folding in important cellular protein
Most parts of living organisms come packaged with ribbons. The ribbons are proteins - chains of amino acids that must fold into three-dimensional structures to work properly. But when for...
Scientists obtain real time snapshot of the learning process
To learn from experience, it is essential to know whether a past action was associated with a desired outcome. Now, scientists have demonstrated how this information can be coded by...
'Microfluidic Palette' May Paint Clearer Picture Of Biological Processes
Rsearchers have created an innovative device called a "microfluidic palette" that can be used to study the complex biological mechanisms in cells responsible for cancer metastasis, wound healing, biofilm formation...
'Artificial Golgi' may provide new insight into key cell structure
Scientists in New York and North Carolina are reporting assembly of the first functioning prototype of an artificial Golgi organelle. That key structure inside cells helps process and package hormones,...
Toxic pollen, nectar could sting bees
Selenium, a potent toxin, is showing up in alarming concentrations in the pollen and nectar of two plants common in California's Central Valley, according to a new study.
Stem cell research: From molecular physiology to therapeutic applications
Stem cell research promises remedies to many devastating diseases that are currently incurable, ranging from diabetes and Parkinson's disease to paralysis. Totipotent embryonic stem cells have great potential for generating...
Love Songs of Bowhead Whales: Whales Sings With 'More Than One Voice'
It is now generally accepted that the bowhead whale is the longest lived mammal on the planet, with a lifespan of over 200 years. But that it can sing with...
Confirmed: Tanning Beds Cause Cancer
Group raises warning of tanning beds from "probably carcinogenic to humans" to "carcinogenic to humans."
Jelly component sparks innovation for tissue repair
A food additive is finding an alternative use in hydrogels for tissue engineering
DNA to direct and switch off chemo
Researchers in the US have used DNA strands to target chemotherapy and switch it off if unwanted side effects appear
Bird Population Declines In Northern Europe Explained By Thiamine (Vitamin B1) Deficiency
Wild birds of several species are dying in large numbers from a paralytic disease with hitherto unknown cause in the Baltic Sea area. A research team has demonstrated strong relationships...
Coral Algae Have "Eyes," Study Says
The single-celled organisms that set up house inside hard corals and give reefs their vibrant colors may be able to see, a new study says.
Maps reveal secret life of marine turtles in urgent need of protection
A series of conservation maps produced by WWF reveal for the first time the secret life of endangered turtles in the world's most diverse marine region - the Coral Triangle...
Unripe Banana Flour Could Give a Healthy Boost to Pasta
Supplementing spaghetti with unripe banana flour may be a healthy addition since banana flour contains antioxidants and fiber, according to a study in the Journal of Food Science, published by...
Creighton Gets Grant to Continue Study on Prion Diseases
Creighton gets $1.4 million NIH grant to continue study of prion diseases. In 2007, Creighton researchers were the first to report that prion disease in laboratory animals could be spread...
How pathogens have shaped genes involved in our immune system
(PhysOrg.com) -- A recent study on human genetics on various populations across the world conducted by researchers from the Institut Pasteur and the CNRS (France) has shown how pathogens can...
Black Tea May Fight Diabetes
Long known for its antioxidants, immune boosting and, most recently, antihypertensive properties, black tea could have another health benefit. Black tea may be used to control diabetes, according to...