Could the "central dogma" of biology be misleading bioengineers?
Today, medicines based on antibodies—proteins that fight infection and disease—are prescribed for everything from cancer to COVID-19 to high cholesterol. The antibody drugs are supplied by genetically-engineered cells that function as tiny protei.....»»
Programming cells: New RNA tool enhances precision in synthetic genetic circuits
Researchers have successfully developed a modular synthetic translational coupling element (SynTCE), significantly enhancing the precision and integration density of genetic circuits in synthetic biology. Their study was recently published in the jou.....»»
Webb offers best glimpse ever into icy planetesimals of early solar system
New studies led by researchers at the University of Central Florida offer for the first time a clearer picture of how the outer solar system formed and evolved based on analyses of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and centaurs......»»
Reflected moonlight found to make barn owls less visible to prey
A team of biology and optics researchers affiliated with a host of institutions in Spain has found that the unique undercoating of the barn owl helps to make it less visible to prey when flying under the moon and starlit skies......»»
After wildfires, ranchers face two-year delay to graze cattle on federal land—is it doing more harm than good?
Lightning struck deep in the central Idaho mountains on July 24, 2024, igniting the Wapiti Fire that burned across 129,063 acres around Stanley, Idaho—a place known for its scenic vistas and idyllic rural landscape......»»
Historian says Midwest played a crucial role in Black freedom movements worldwide
The Midwest played a central role in the growth of Black freedom movements in the 20th century. It was a key site for incubating and expanding the ideas of political activist Marcus Garvey, not only in the U.S., but globally, said University of Illin.....»»
Scientists call for all-out, global effort to create an AI virtual cell
Noting that recent advances in artificial intelligence and the existence of large-scale experimental data about human biology have reached a critical mass, a team of researchers from Stanford University, Genentech, and the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative.....»»
Counting Uganda"s lions: We found that wildlife rangers do a better job than machines
Lions are a symbol of Africa's last wild places. It's a species central to many of the continent's cultures and religions. But lion populations have reportedly declined over the past 50 years, especially in parts of west and east Africa......»»
Nanopatterned graphene enables infrared "color" detection and imaging
University of Central Florida (UCF) researcher Debashis Chanda, a professor at UCF's NanoScience Technology Center, has developed a new technique to detect long wave infrared (LWIR) photons of different wavelengths or "colors.".....»»
How influenza A moves: New simulation offers potential to stop spread
A team of bioengineers from the Biohub at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has created a simulation to mimic the way the influenza A virus moves through host tissue, presenting a possible new way to stop the.....»»
Ghost crabs devour nearly 30% of flatback turtle hatchlings on Thevenard Island
Ghost crabs were responsible for the loss of nearly 30% of flatback turtle hatchlings at Thevenard Island, near Onslow on the northwest coast of Australia, according to new research published in Marine Biology from Edith Cowan University (ECU) and th.....»»
A nature conservation paradox: Invasive species are often threatened in their native habitat
Non-native species introduced by humans are among the main causes of global species decline—they were partly responsible for 60% of the species that have become extinct worldwide in recent decades. Non-native mammals in Central Europe include speci.....»»
Spatial transcriptomic analysis toolkit can extract biological relationships to better investigate cellular processes
In a recent study published in Nature Communications, a team of researchers at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology reports a new, robust computational toolset to extract biological relationships from large transcriptomics datasets. These.....»»
Optimal decision-making in a school of fish uses a flexible system based on role sharing, researchers find
Theoretical biology states that in a flock of birds or school of fish exhibiting collaborative behavior, being in a state of criticality (i.e., a "flexible system" that can changeably respond to the environment) is crucial for flexible and quick deci.....»»
Peer-brokered sales central to illegal drug trade
The thought of illegal drug sales evokes images of deals done on shady street corners. But a new study from Case Western Reserve University exposes a critical but underreported element of the illegal drug market: so-called "peer-brokered" sales......»»
Biologist explores why humans have sex—and sexes—in a world where life requires neither
University of Maryland biology Professor Eric Haag has spent his career studying animal reproduction, but people's sex lives never factored into his research. That changed in 2014 when a cancer diagnosis prompted Haag to take stock of his career......»»
Teaching evolution with conflict reduction practices increases acceptance, study finds
Students in biology classes accepted the theory of evolution more often when it was taught with conflict-reducing practices, including an emphasis on religious compatibility and autonomy, according to a study published December 4, 2024 in the open-ac.....»»
A key transcription factor unlocks new potential in stem cell-based embryo models
Researchers from the A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have identified Nr1h2, a critical transcription factor essential for early embryo development. Published in Nature Communications, their findings enhance our understanding of.....»»
AI model enables reliable and accurate protein-ligand complex prediction
Understanding protein–ligand interactions is fundamental to molecular biology and biochemistry. These interactions are at the heart of many cellular processes, from enzyme catalysis to signal transduction. The foundational knowledge of protein–li.....»»
If you own a PS5 Pro, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the game to get during Cyber Week
If you own a PS5 Pro but haven't played Dragon's Dogma 2, you should pick up Capcom's ambitious RPG this Cyber Week......»»
Simulated outbreaks demonstrate how evolutionary approaches can estimate the speed of viral spread
Evaluating the speed at which viruses spread and transmit across host populations is critical to mitigating disease outbreaks. A study published December 3 in PLOS Biology by Simon Dellicour at the University of Brussels (ULB), Belgium, and colleague.....»»