Brain seasonality: Bean bug neurons need biological clock gene for seasonal egg-laying
Biological clocks don't just tick for humans, they're needed by most animals. Researchers from Japan have discovered that insect neurons that promote egg-laying need a biological clock gene for a day length-dependent adaptive cellular response......»»
6 Deaf Children Can Now Hear After a Single Injection
Several gene therapies aim to restore a protein necessary for transmitting sound signals from the ear to the brain......»»
eBay lays off 1,000 employees, about 9 percent of full-time workforce
Cutting 1,000 jobs, eBay says "headcount and expenses have outpaced" growth. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Justin Sullivan ) eBay is laying off approximately 1,000 employees in a move that reduces its full-time workfor.....»»
Research unveils how plants control the production of reactive oxygen species
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules containing oxygen. These compounds, which are normal byproducts of biological processes in all living organisms such as aerobic respiration as well as photosynthesis, are highly toxic. In mo.....»»
New tool reveals gene behavior in bacteria
Bacterial infections cause millions of deaths each year, with the global threat made worse by the increasing resistance of the microbes to antibiotic treatments. This is due in part to the ability of bacteria to switch genes on and off as they sense.....»»
New buzz about coffee genes: A more complete genome sequence of world"s most popular variety
Like its flavor profile, the genome of Arabica coffee is large and complex. This makes breeding and genetic survey work more difficult, but this diverse genetic background may have contributed to bean's popularity, practicality, and commercial succes.....»»
Bioengineers on the brink of breaching blood-brain barrier
Imagine the brain as an air traffic control tower, overseeing the crucial and complex operations of the body's "airport." This tower, essential for coordinating the ceaseless flow of neurological signals, is guarded by a formidable layer that functio.....»»
Ecosystem from 3.4 billion years ago: New pieces discovered in the cradle of life puzzle
A new study has unraveled key findings about the earliest life forms on Earth. In rock samples from Barberton, Republic of South Africa, researchers were able to find evidence of an unprecedented diverse biological carbon cycle established at 3.42 bi.....»»
LipidOz: New software enables identification of lipid double bond locations
Lipids are a class of biomolecules that play an important role in many cellular processes. Analyses that seek to characterize all lipids in a sample—called lipidomics—are crucial to studying complex biological systems......»»
New research guides mathematical model-building for gene regulatory networks
Over the last 20 years, researchers in biology and medicine have created Boolean network models to simulate complex systems and find solutions, including new treatments for colorectal cancer......»»
"Doomsday Clock" remains at 90 seconds to midnight
The symbolic "Doomsday Clock" was held at 90 seconds to midnight Tuesday, reflecting existential threats to humanity posed by potential nuclear escalation from the war in Ukraine and the multiplying impacts of the climate crisis following Earth's hot.....»»
Immune cells drive sex reversal in zebrafish, a discovery that could improve treatments for female infertility
Mutations that disrupt development of germ cells cause infertility or birth defects. Mutations that cause female infertility in humans, such as mutations in the gene BMP15, also cause infertility in zebrafish. However, female zebrafish can undergo a.....»»
Mouse study finds genetic variation determines the actions of gene regulatory factors
A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that genetic variation determines chromatin accessibility and the binding of transcription factors. Chromatin consists of DNA and proteins attached to it. The density of this packaging is re.....»»
Saturday Citations: The cutest conservationists; a weird stellar object; vitamins good for your brain
There are fields of scientific research that involve neither vast cosmic phenomena nor extremely cute animals, but those are topics of high salience in Saturday Citations, and this week is no exception. And we'll probably play the odds and say next w.....»»
Salt, microbes, acid and heat in food preservation
In an era of grocery stores and home refrigerators, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that, for most of history, people have been bound by the seasonality of food. This reality has long presented humanity with a conundrum: how to keep eating after.....»»
Embracing idiosyncrasies over optimization: The path to innovation in biotechnological design
Scientists working on biological design should focus on the idiosyncrasies of biological systems over optimization, according to new research......»»
A Gene-Edited Pig Liver Was Attached to a Person—and Worked for 3 Days
Researchers want to use genetically engineered pig organs to help support people with liver failure......»»
Nanopores and deep learning aid in disease diagnostics
EPFL scientists have unveiled a method using biological nanopores and deep learning to detect protein modifications, offering new avenues in disease diagnostics......»»
Study suggests that physical processes can have hidden neural network-like abilities
We tend to separate the brain and the muscle—the brain does the thinking; the muscle does the doing. The brain takes in complex information about the world and makes decisions, and the muscle merely executes. This has also shaped how we think about.....»»
Missing gene in mouse sperm could explain infertility
Mice lacking a certain gene are unable to produce offspring because their sperm lack the connection between the tail and the head. A new thesis from the University of Gothenburg indicates a probable cause of male infertility......»»
Researchers optimize 3D printing of optically active nanostructures
For about 20 years, it has been possible to modify surfaces via nanoparticles so that they concentrate or manipulate light in a desired way or trigger other reactions. Such optically active nanostructures can be found in solar cells and biological or.....»»