Molecular breeding can make better bitter olives
Olives, well-known for their characteristic bitter taste, are in high demand owing to the popularity of the oil they produce. The health benefits of olive oil are well known, ranging from antiviral, anti-cancer, to even anti-hypertensive effects. The.....»»
How male mosquitoes compensate for having only one X chromosome
The research group of Dr. Claudia Keller Valsecchi (Institute of Molecular Biology, Mainz, Germany) and their collaborators have discovered the master regulator responsible for balancing the expression of X chromosome genes between males and females.....»»
Chiro-optical force observed at the nanoscale
A research group at the Institute for Molecular Science has successfully observed the left and right handedness of material structures at the nanoscale, by illuminating chiral gold nanostructures with circularly polarized light and detecting the opti.....»»
Paleontologists find first molecular evidence of ginger pigment molecules in fossil frogs
Paleontologists at University College Cork (UCC) have found the first molecular evidence of pheomelanin, the pigment that produces ginger coloration, in the fossil record......»»
Scientists unlock the secrets of a sixth basic flavor
Japanese scientist Kikunae Ikeda first proposed umami as a basic taste—in addition to sweet, sour, salty and bitter—in the early 1900s. About eight decades later, the scientific community officially agreed with him......»»
New research to improve production of high oleic sunflower oil
Researchers from Skoltech, Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops, OilGene—a startup launched in Skoltech—and other organizations have found new markers that will accelerate the breeding of high oleic sunflowers and improve the pro.....»»
New research into pangolin genomics may aid in conservation efforts
A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution provides, for the first time, a comprehensive set of genomic resources for pangolins (sometimes known as scaly anteaters) that researchers believe will be integral for protecting these threatened mammals.....»»
How proteins roll the dice to determine bee sex
To date it has been unclear exactly how the sex of a bee is determined. A research team from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) including biologists and chemists has now identified a key gene and the molecular mechanism linked with it. In th.....»»
Molecular knots, left and right: How molecules form knots
Helical molecules, similarly to a corkscrew, have a spiral shape that can be either left- or right-turning. Such "chiral molecules" can collectively organize (assemble) into large left- or right-handed twisted structures. These exhibit special optica.....»»
Electronic sensor the size of a single molecule a potential game-changer
Australian researchers have developed a molecular-sized, more efficient version of a widely used electronic sensor, in a breakthrough that could bring widespread benefits......»»
Simulations reveal the atomic-scale story of qubits
Researchers led by Giulia Galli at University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering report a computational study that predicts the conditions to create specific spin defects in silicon carbide. Their findings, published online in Natu.....»»
Scientists observe interaction of components in tire rubber at the atomic scale
Scientists have observed the molecular motion of rubber components typically used in automobile tires—polybutadiene and carbon black—with the world's fastest time resolution......»»
Concave, umbrella-like metal complexes provide space for giant molecular rotors to operate in solid state
Solid materials are generally known to be rigid and unmoving, but scientists are turning this idea on its head by exploring ways to incorporate moving parts into solids. This can enable the development of exotic new materials such as amphidynamic cry.....»»
Elk hoof disease likely causes systemic changes
Elk treponeme-associated hoof disease, previously thought to be limited to deformations in elks' hooves, appears to create molecular changes throughout the animal's system, according to epigenetic research from Washington State University......»»
Mechanism of methyltransferase METTL8-mediated mitochondrial RNA m3C modification and its relaxed substrate specificity
A study published in the journal Science Bulletin was led by Profs. Xiao-Long Zhou and En-Duo Wang (CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)......»»
Examining the genesis of CRISPR"s molecular scissors
Genome engineering may be the future of medicine, but it relies on evolutionary advances made billions of years ago in primordial bacteria, the original masters of gene editing......»»
Study reveals how marine bacteria combat algae
Algae and bacteria are inseparable in ocean ecosystems, with bacteria playing a crucial role in regulating the growth and metabolism of algae. In addition to mutualism, bacteria have developed various molecular-based strategies to combat algae......»»
Chemists used machine learning and molecular modeling to identify potential anticancer drugs
RUDN University chemists and colleagues from China built several machine learning models and discovered a group of potential drugs that inhibit the enzyme responsible for uncontrolled cell division. The results were published in Biomedicines......»»
Successful optical biosensing using dual optical combs: High sensitivity and rapid detection of biomolecules
Bio-sensors are biomolecular sensors that leverage or mimic the sophisticated molecular recognition capabilities of living organisms. They find widespread applications in fields such as health care, food, and the environment......»»
Iron-based molecular switch improves reaction yield by modulating zeolite catalyst acidity
A molecular switch, or molecule that changes in response to varying environmental stimuli, has successfully modified the acidity of a zeolite catalyst to improve the yield of paraxylene from methanol in heterogeneous catalysis, or a reaction where th.....»»
Migratory birds can be taught to adjust to climate change, study shows
One result of climate change is that spring is arriving earlier. However, migratory birds are not keeping up with these developments and arrive too late for the peak in food availability when it is time for breeding. By getting the birds to fly a lit.....»»