Sociability genes found in some spiders
A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Texas Tech University, Cornell University and Australian National University has found similar genes between species of spiders that have some degree of sociability. They have published their p.....»»
Wildlife smoke may curb movement, sociability of woodpeckers
Human-driven climate change has helped transform many forests into kindling: A 2016 study found that greenhouse-aided warming and drought had more than doubled the area of fire-susceptible forest in the western U.S. since the mid-1980s. And of the Ca.....»»
New tool reveals gene behavior in bacteria
Bacterial infections cause millions of deaths each year, with the global threat made worse by the increasing resistance of the microbes to antibiotic treatments. This is due in part to the ability of bacteria to switch genes on and off as they sense.....»»
New buzz about coffee genes: A more complete genome sequence of world"s most popular variety
Like its flavor profile, the genome of Arabica coffee is large and complex. This makes breeding and genetic survey work more difficult, but this diverse genetic background may have contributed to bean's popularity, practicality, and commercial succes.....»»
Scientists spin naturalistic silk from artificial spider gland
Researchers have succeeded in creating a device that spins artificial spider silk that closely matches what spiders naturally produce. The artificial silk gland was able to re-create the complex molecular structure of silk by mimicking the various ch.....»»
Study of gigantism in whales provides clues to genomic mechanism involved in tumor suppression
The functioning of certain regions of a few genes in cetaceans (whales, porpoises and dolphins) may explain why the Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) can reach lengths of up to 30 meters—almost 10 m more than a bus—while the Bottlenose dolphin (.....»»
Study reveals genes that "don"t play well together" in swordtail fish hybrids drive speciation
Stanford researchers have gained new insights into how the rise of reproductive barriers between organisms creates new species and drives the incredible diversification of life on Earth......»»
Dampened desire: Wolf spiders change their mating strategy after it rains
If you hate the rain, you have something in common with wolf spiders......»»
Are bugs bugging humans or the other way around? Study reveals a few surprises
Insects and spiders often receive little attention from people, except when we're swatting them away. However, as arthropods—creatures distinguished by a hard exoskeleton and jointed legs— they play an essential role in sustaining the ecosystems.....»»
Large-scale mapping of pig genes could lead to greener agriculture, pave the way for new human medicines
Researchers from Aarhus University have carried out complex genetic analyses of hundreds of pigs and humans to identify differences and similarities. This new knowledge can be used to ensure healthier pigs for farmers and can help the pharmaceutical.....»»
Accessing the bronze tomato"s enhanced antioxidant and health properties through metabolic engineering
The Bronze tomato, a product of metabolic engineering, produces high levels of polyphenol due to the over-expression of genes such as VvStSy, AmDel/Rosea1, and AtMYB12. This modification, part of broader efforts to enhance plant nutritional value thr.....»»
Exploring how antibiotic-resistant bacteria become aggressive
Some strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that have recently acquired disease-enhancing genes may not behave as aggressively as expected, according to a Northwestern Medicine study recently published in Nature Communications......»»
Big evolutionary change tied to lots of small differences
Lots of genes changed as a species of snail went from laying eggs to live births. Enlarge / An example of a Littorina species, the common periwinkle. (credit: Bjoern Wylezich) The version of evolution proposed by Charles.....»»
New roles for autophagy genes in cellular waste management and aging
Autophagy, which declines with age, may hold more mysteries than researchers previously suspected. In the January 4th issue of Nature Aging, it was noted that scientists from the Buck Institute, Sanford Burnham Prebys and Rutgers University have unco.....»»
Genetic variants underlying male bisexual behavior, risk-taking linked to more children, study suggests
Because same-sex sexual behavior does not result in offspring, evolutionary biologists have long wondered how the genes associated with this behavior have persisted in the human genome, and whether they will remain in the future......»»
Evolution is not as random as previously thought, finds new study
A new study has found that evolution is not as unpredictable as previously thought, which could allow scientists to explore which genes could be useful to tackle real-world issues such as antibiotic resistance, disease, and climate change......»»
Cracking the secrets of virus "uncoating" may help fight infections
Influenza and other viruses pack their genetic material into a protein shell, which must be disassembled for the viruses to efficiently replicate. But how viruses "uncoat" their genes remains largely unknown. Now, Friedrich Miescher Institute researc.....»»
Novel switch turns genes on/off on cue, a promising step toward safer gene therapy
Just like a doctor adjusts the dose of a medication to the patient's needs, the expression of therapeutic genes, those modified in a person to treat or cure a disease via gene therapy, also needs to be maintained within a therapeutic window. Staying.....»»
Antarctic octopus DNA reveals ice sheet collapse closer than thought
Scientists investigating how Antarctica's ice sheets retreated in the deep past have turned to an innovative approach: studying the genes of octopuses that live in its chilly waters......»»
Examining the relationship between the rate of wound healing, the circadian rhythm and cilium length
Nearly every organism on Earth follows a natural circadian rhythm that is coded by your cell's clock genes, which do exactly as you suspect from the name: regulate your body's rhythm on a 24-hour basis......»»
Team discovers relationship between DNA replication timing and how genes fold into 3D structures inside cell nucleus
The intricate process of duplicating genetic information, referred to as DNA replication, lies at the heart of the transmission of life from one cell to another and from one organism to the next. This happens by not just copying the genetic informati.....»»