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......»»
Climate change causing 60% of plants and insects to fall out of sync
Seasonal timings of plants are advancing an average of four times faster than insects, throwing key interactions like pollination out of sync. This is according to new findings from researchers at the University of Oxford and Chinese Academy of Scien.....»»
macOS Sonoma 14.2 with enhanced Autofill PDF features now available
Apple has officially released macOS Sonoma 14.2, introducing promised new enhancements to Autofill for PDFs. The update also adds new features to Messages, Clock, and more. more….....»»
Worm’s rear end develops its own head, wanders off to mate
The butt even grows its own eyes, antennae, and brain. Enlarge / From left to right, the head of an actual worm, and the stolon of a male and female. (credit: Nakamura et. al.) Some do it horizontally, some do it vertica.....»»
Parrots and songbirds have evolved distinct brain mechanisms, study shows
When humans learn to speak a language, we learn to produce new vocalizations and use them flexibly for communication, but how the brain is able to achieve this is an important but largely unanswered question, according to Zhilei Zhao, Klarman Fellow.....»»
Gene variants that promote having more sex and kids diminish your life span
A literal life-or-death balance, playing out at the level of individual genes. Enlarge / A large family can come with some unfortunate downsides (in addition to that weird cousin). (credit: Oliver Rossi) Analysis of geno.....»»
Nanoparticle flu vaccine design shows promise in early tests
Existing flu vaccines provide only limited, seasonal protection because they target highly changeable proteins on the virus. Scripps Research scientists have now designed a vaccine that should work broadly against influenza A strains—one of the two.....»»
Adapting to hypoxia: Zooplankton influence efficiency of biological carbon pump in the Humboldt Current
Marine organisms play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and sequester it in organic matter that sinks to the deep ocean where it can be stored for long periods of time. Until now, this.....»»
Ex-Apple lawyer guilty of insider trading gets a slap on the wrist, avoids prison
Gene Levoff was in charge of policing insider trading at Apple while he performed the illegal act in the background, but got off easy with four years of probation.Gene Levoff. Source: BloombergIn 2018, Apple's director of corporate law, who is partia.....»»
Review: PROTACs targeting epigenetic proteins
The field of epigenetics focuses on alterations in gene function that are inherited without changes in the DNA sequence, including histone modifications, post-translational modifications of amino acids, and covalent modifications of DNA bases. These.....»»
A mathematical model connects the evolution of chickens, fish and frogs
One of the most enduring, basic questions of life is: How does it happen? For instance, in human development, how do cells self-organize into skin, muscles or bones? How do they form a brain, a finger, a spine?.....»»
New math approach provides insight into memory formation
The simple activity of walking through a room jumpstarts the neurons in the human brain. An explosion of electrochemical events or "neuronal spikes" appears at various times during the action. These spikes in activity, otherwise known as action poten.....»»
New study finds that male pathology in songbirds drives avian epidemic dynamics
New findings by biological sciences researchers at the University of Arkansas indicate that males play an outsized role in both the infection rate and spread of the avian bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a common cause of conjunctivitis i.....»»
New enzyme allows CRISPR technologies to accurately target almost all human genes
A team of engineers at Duke University have developed a method to broaden the reach of CRISPR technologies. While the original CRISPR system could only target 12.5% of the human genome, the new method expands access to nearly every gene to potentiall.....»»
Spotify to lay off 17 percent of its workforce, at least 1,500 people
Spotify is set to cut around 17 percent of its workforce, at least 1,500 people, according to a blog post by CEO Daniel Ek. Spotify is set to cut around 17 percent of its workforce, which amounts to laying off at least 1,500 people, in the late.....»»
Brains of newborns aren"t underdeveloped compared to other primates, finds new study
Contrary to current understanding, the brains of human newborns aren't significantly less developed compared to other primate species, but appear so because so much brain development happens after birth, finds a new study led by University College Lo.....»»
Unexpected discovery at the air-water interface for CO₂ reaction impacting geophysical and biological cycles
Ocean acidification, mammal respiration, and aerosol formation all depend on chemistry that occurs at air-water interfaces. In new research, scientists from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have discover.....»»
New technique efficiently offers insight into gene regulation
DNA is the most important carrier of genetic information. Each cell contains approximately two meters of DNA. To ensure that all this genetic material fits into the small cell nucleus, it must be tightly packed. The DNA is, therefore, wrapped around.....»»
"DNA curtain" technology provides real-time visualization of replication for new scientific insights
A research team, led by Professor Ja Yil Lee in the Department of Biological Sciences at UNIST has made a breakthrough in the field of molecular biology. Their research, published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, has successfully imaged the rea.....»»
Researchers suggest use of natural fermentation may have led to early human brain size increase
A trio of researchers with varied backgrounds is suggesting in an article published in the journal Communications Biology that eating naturally fermented foods may have led to an increase in brain size for early humans. In their paper, Katherine Brya.....»»
Nature inspires a new wave of biotechnology
Biological molecules called peptides play a key role in many biological activities, including the transport of oxygen and electrons. Peptides consist of short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. They are also the inspiration for n.....»»