Bacterial genome is regulated by an ancient molecule
We are all collections of cells, each cell containing the instructions—our DNA—to become any other cell. What differentiates a heart cell from a skin cell from a brain cell is the expression—or silencing—of genes......»»
Frozen mammoth skin retained its chromosome structure
Features as small as 50 nanometers preserved in a 50,000-year-old sample. Enlarge (credit: LEONELLO CALVETTI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY) One of the challenges of working with ancient DNA samples is that damage accumulates ove.....»»
Photos show the mysterious ancient objects that mountaineers are finding on the Alps" melting glaciers
Photos show the mysterious ancient objects that mountaineers are finding on the Alps" melting glaciers.....»»
Genomic insights into adaptation to bipedal saltation and desert-like habitats of jerboas
Jerboas are a lineage of small rodents displaying atypical mouse-like morphology with elongated strong hindlimbs and short forelimbs. A research team has recently sequenced and reported the chromosome-scale genome of the Mongolian five-toed jerboa (O.....»»
Team investigates chemical modifications to gain deeper insights into genetic regulation mechanisms
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have determined whether a specific chemical modification of a protein that packages the genome called a histone affects gene activity and cell proliferation, according to the paper, "Drosophila.....»»
Study finds pumpkin pathogen not evolving, which could make a difference for management
The pathogen that causes bacterial spot is very good at what it does. Forming small lesions on the rinds of pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, and other cucurbits, it mars the fruits' appearance and ushers in secondary pathogens that lead to rot and severe.....»»
Popcorn, the Ultimate Snack, May Have Truly Ancient Origins
Popcorn might be more than 6,000 years old, an anthropologist explains.....»»
DNA analyses show the plague may have caused the downfall of Stone Age farmers
Ancient DNA from bones and teeth hints at a role of the plague in Stone Age population collapse. Contrary to previous beliefs, the plague may have diminished Europe's populations long before the major plague outbreaks of the Middle Ages, new research.....»»
Australian amber has revealed "living fossils" traced back to Gondwana 42 million years ago
Amber is fossilized tree resin. Unlike traditional fossils found on land or in the sea, amber can preserve ancient life forms in incredible detail. It's often considered the "holy grail" of paleontology worldwide......»»
Archaeologists find ancient temple and theater in Peru
A team of archaeologists, led by Field Museum scientist Luis Muro Ynoñán, has unearthed the remains of what appears to be a four-thousand-year-old temple and theater in coastal Peru......»»
Tiny TnpB: The next-generation genome editing tool for plants unveiled
Genome editing stands as one of the most transformative scientific breakthroughs of our time. It allows us to dive into the very code of life and make precise modifications. Imagine being able to rewrite the genetic instructions that determine almost.....»»
Archaeologists report earliest evidence for plant farming in east Africa
A trove of ancient plant remains excavated in Kenya helps explain the history of plant farming in equatorial eastern Africa, a region long thought to be important for early farming but where scant evidence from actual physical crops has been previous.....»»
Team develops new one-step method to make multiple edits to a cell"s genome
Genome editing has become a widely adopted technology to modify DNA in cells, allowing scientists to study diseases in the lab and develop therapies that repair disease-causing mutations. However, with current approaches, it's only possible to edit c.....»»
How a global collaboration is helping protect biodiversity
Ask a 10-year-old to name some extinct animals and they can usually rattle off ancient species such as the Tasmanian Tiger, Woolly Mammoth and Dodo. Some may even be able to tell you what the animals used to look like without searching online......»»
Complete genome and toxin genes of the microalgae from the Oder River disaster decoded
In the summer of 2022, around 1,000 tons of fish, mussels and snails died in the River Oder. Although the disaster was manmade, the immediate cause of death was the toxin of a microalgae with the scientific collective name Prymnesium parvum, often re.....»»
This Ancient Technology Is Helping Millions Stay Cool
Cheap, low-energy evaporative cooling devices are keeping water, food, people, and even whole buildings cool across India......»»
Geochronological study analyzes the most ancient sedimentary levels at the Galería site
Isabel Hernando-Alonso, a researcher at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), is the lead author of a geochronological study published in the journal Quaternary Geochronology, in which the electron spin resonance.....»»
A genome-wide screen in live hosts reveals new secrets of parasite infection
Apicomplexan parasites are a common cause of disease, infecting hundreds of millions of people each year. They are responsible for spreading malaria; cryptosporidiosis—a severe childhood diarrheal disease; and toxoplasmosis—a disease that endange.....»»
Diversity in typhoid bacteria linked to higher mortality rates
Worldwide, 20% of the bacterial strains that cause typhoid fever have genetic variations in their external layer, called Vi capsule, that provide higher virulence, higher infectivity and high antibiotic resistance, Cornell researchers have discovered.....»»
Intracellular mechanisms shown to promote spread of deadly bacterial infection
Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered novel protein mechanisms that promote the rapid spread of Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but lethal bacteria that can cause vibriosis and sepsis, according to findings published in the Proceedings of the.....»»
From fields to policy: Conserving China"s agricultural heritage systems
Agricultural heritage systems, the custodians of ancient farming practices, face unprecedented challenges from climate change and urbanization. A recent study presents a detailed geographical analysis coupled with strategic management approaches to c.....»»