Protecting the genome from transposon activation
Transposons are foreign DNA elements capable of random insertion into the genome, an event that can be very dangerous for a cell. Their activity must be silenced to maintain genomic integrity, which is primarily achieved by H3K9me3-mediated repressio.....»»
Protecting little brown bats from white-nose syndrome
In a new study, researchers have found that little brown bats suffering from white-nose syndrome (WNS) greatly increased their foraging activity at artificial bug buffets. The buffets, located near hibernation sites, will help bats to increase their.....»»
How salt can taste sweet: The myriad mechanisms of taste perception
Humans perceive five basic taste sensations: sweet, umami, bitter, salty, and sour. Specific foods trigger taste recognition of these sensations through the activation of different receptors in our taste buds. In the case of table salt, the concentra.....»»
Study: Mapping people"s knowledge of bees may aid in pollinator conservation
U.S. college students' knowledge of bees focuses primarily on honey bees and pollination services, according to Penn State researchers, who said findings from their recent study could help in designing campaigns to generate support for protecting thr.....»»
Study: SARS-CoV-2 can alter genome structure of our cells
People infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may experience genome structure changes that not only may explain our immunological symptoms after infection, but also potentially link to long COVID, according to a new study by resear.....»»
Researchers discover a new way to fight the aging process and cancer development
A protein complex prevents the repair of genome damage in human cells, in mice and in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a team of researchers at the University of Cologne has discovered. They also successfully inhibited this complex for the first.....»»
"Deep proteome" project provides atlas for human complexity
A major puzzle of biology is that while the human genome contains roughly 20,000 genes, many comparatively primitive organisms—including the universally-studied worm C. elegans—have almost the same number of genes......»»
Hunter-gatherer genes helped early European farmers survive disease, reveals study
When early Stone Age farmers first moved into Europe from the Near East about 8,000 years ago, they met and began mixing with the existing hunter-gatherer populations. Now genome-wide studies of hundreds of ancient genomes from this period show more.....»»
Beethoven’s genome, sequenced for first time, yields clues on cause of death
Composer had genetic predisposition to liver disease and hepatitis B infection. Enlarge / Portrait of Beethoven by Joseph Karl Stieler, 1820 (credit: Beethoven-Haus Bonn) Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the greatest compo.....»»
It’s Official: No More Crispr Babies—for Now
In the face of safety risks, experts have tightened the reins on heritable genome editing—but haven’t ruled out using it someday......»»
Scientists discover giant insect genome
The largest genome of any insect, seven times the size of the human genome, was recently discovered in a grasshopper. In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers from the German Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) and th.....»»
Inside the shark nursery: The evolution of live birth in cartilaginous fish
A new study in Genome Biology and Evolution reveals that egg yolk proteins may have been co-opted to provide maternal nutrition in live-bearing sharks and their relatives......»»
Tasmanian devil whiskers may hold the key to protecting these super-scavengers
Despite the damage humans cause to the planet, in some cases wildlife can benefit from the presence of people. The Tasmanian devil, for example, frequently feeds on roadkill left by humans......»»
New technology maps where and how cells read their genome
A new study published in Nature reports that a technology known as spatial omics can be used to map simultaneously how genes are switched on and off and how they are expressed in different areas of tissues and organs. This improved technology, develo.....»»
Sequencing the genome of a newly discovered soybean pest
University of Minnesota students conducted crucial genome sequencing for the newly discovered soybean gall midge—a pest that is threatening the soybean crop, one of the most widely cultivated and consumed throughout the world. This small fly has be.....»»
Firefox for Android just got a lot better at protecting your privacy
Mozilla has announced that they will be bringing its Total Cookie Protection feature to Firefox on Android. The post Firefox for Android just got a lot better at protecting your privacy first appeared on Phandroid. Ever wonder how come the.....»»
You"re stuck with your same old genome, but corals aren"t
Some corals live to be hundreds, and even thousands, of years old. They were born with genes that were successful back in their parent's generation, so how can these old corals still be successful now? Especially in a changing climate? It's possible.....»»
March 2023 Patch Tuesday forecast: It’s not about luck
Every month I touch on a few hot topics related to security around patching and some important updates to look out for on the upcoming Patch Tuesday. Diligence to this ongoing patch process, and not luck, is critical to protecting systems and avoidin.....»»
Eyes in the sky: Using drones to assess the severity of crop diseases
Rice is one of the most important crops in the world and constitutes the primary food source for over half of Earth's population. Protecting rice plantations from disease is therefore an essential endeavor in modern agriculture. Of the many pathogens.....»»
Human genome editing offers tantalizing possibilities—but without clear guidelines, many ethical questions remain
The Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing, a three-day conference organized by the Royal Society, the U.K. Academy of Medical Sciences, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences and Medicine and The World Academy of Sciences, was held this.....»»
How a mitochondrial metabolite causes inflammation and disease
A new study shows for the first time a connection between a mitochondrial metabolite and the activation of an inflammatory response. Mitochondria are functional units of our cells that fulfill important tasks, i.e. chemical reactions, for the functio.....»»