Pear-derived discovery: A genetic mechanism to fortify crops against drought
A recent study has shed light on a critical genetic mechanism that boosts plants' ability to withstand drought. The research uncovers the role of the transcription factor PbERF3, native to wild pears, which works in concert with the protein PbHsfC1a.....»»
Discovery of enzyme pathway may lead to lifesaving leishmaniasis treatments
A breakthrough in understanding how a single-cell parasite makes ergosterol (its version of cholesterol) could lead to more effective drugs for human leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease that afflicts about 1 million people and kills about 30,000 peopl.....»»
The secret life of ALAS1: Basic science discovery could the pave way for better small interfering RNA therapies
In everyday life, when things turn out the opposite of what you expect, it's usually a cause for frustration. In science, it's often the starting point for discovery......»»
The technosphere: A hidden long-term carbon sink in everyday items
We know a lot about how much fossil-derived carbon is emitted to the atmosphere but less about how much is stored in human-made products......»»
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.....»»
Sea snakes regain advanced color vision, recovering a complex trait once lost to evolutionary time
Nine species of sea snakes have now been identified as having regained the genetic requirements for advanced color vision, demonstrating that once a complex trait has been lost to evolutionary time, it may be regained in some way......»»
Discovery of egg"s immune-like attack on sperm mitochondria may aid fertility
Within minutes of fertilization, the egg of a fruit fly becomes a scene from the battle of the sexes. The egg attacks and destroys the cellular "power plants" (mitochondria) from the sperm that had fertilized it, so that only its own mitochondria rem.....»»
Tech used by WWI flying aces inspires new cellular behavior discovery
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have designed a new technology that takes inspiration from WWI fighter aircraft machine gun and propeller synchronization to manipulate cell behavior by precisely modulating the pH of the cell's.....»»
Nanoliposomes pave way for treatment of rare genetic disorder
An international research team has developed a new therapy based on nanotechnology called nanoGLA for the treatment of Fabry disease. The new therapeutic solution has shown remarkable efficacy in preclinical studies. The study was published this Dece.....»»
A user manual for yeast"s genetic switches: Researchers provide three design principles
When introducing genes into yeast to make it produce drugs and other useful substances, it is also necessary to reliably switch the production on or off. A Kobe University team found three gene regulation design principles that provide a flexible gui.....»»
Distant blazar discovery supports rapid black hole formation in the early universe
Astronomers have discovered an important piece of the puzzle of how supermassive black holes were able to grow so quickly in the early universe: a special kind of active galactic nucleus so distant that its light has taken more than 12.9 billion year.....»»
Nature"s instructions: How fungi make a key medicinal molecule
For roughly a century, ever since Alexander Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin in 1928, fungi have proven to be a goldmine for medicines. They've provided treatments for a wide range of diseases, from infections and high cholesterol to orga.....»»
New York man finds mastodon jaw while gardening in his backyard
Scholars are hailing the discovery of a fossilized mastodon jaw discovered by a man who spotted two giant teeth while gardening at his upstate New York home this year......»»
Ocean microbe"s unusual pair of enzymes may boost carbon storage
Stanford researchers have found a surprising genetic twist in a lineage of microbes that may play an important role in ocean carbon storage. The microbes, known as blue-green algae or cyanobacteria, have two different forms of a ubiquitous enzyme tha.....»»
A history of bacteria domestication: Researchers investigate genetic and phenotypic characteristics of Swiss cheeses
The domestication of livestock and plants marked an important stage in the settlement of human populations in the Neolithic period, as they moved from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a subsistence model based on animal husbandry and agriculture. Becau.....»»
Scientists decipher genome map of Lycium barbarum
Lycium barbarum, commonly known as goji berry, is renowned for its pectin polysaccharides (LBPPs), which offer a range of benefits including antioxidant, immune-regulating, and anti-aging effects. However, the absence of a genetic map for Lycium barb.....»»
Genetic test will help safeguard quinoa from downy mildew
Quinoa's grain-like seed offers a flavorful, nutrition-packed addition to soups, salads and side dishes, as well as ingredient for cereals, snacks and pasta. But in order for this versatile seed to get from farm field to table, quinoa growers must be.....»»
Yeast cell wall proteins offer possible alternative to emulsifiers derived from milk
Mention emulsifiers and many people might be unaware of what they are used for, but they are present in many daily products, from food to cosmetics. They keep substances that don't usually mix, like water and oil, from separating and are either synth.....»»
What a century-old grapevine reveals about a disease that plagues wine country
A century-old grapevine cutting is providing new clues into the history of a deadly plant pathogen that is decimating crops across the globe......»»
Rising drought frequency poses new threats to US wildlife, study finds
People around the world are dealing with drought, so it's not shocking that it affects wildlife, too: lack of moisture contributes to habitat loss, affects how animals compete for resources, and leads to dehydration and heat stress. The surprising pa.....»»
Rapid evolution: African clawed frog sex determination challenges prevailing theory
Researchers at McMaster University have uncovered unexpected diversity in the genetic processes that determine the sex of the African clawed frog, a significant discovery in what was already one of the most widely studied amphibians in the world......»»