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.....»»
Study reveals how a tall spruce develops defense against hungry weevils
A study led by a North Carolina State University researcher identified genes involved in development of stone cells—rigid cells that can block a nibbling insect from eating budding branches of the Sitka spruce evergreen tree. The insect's attack ha.....»»
Supersize the cell: Unlocking genome secrets through expansion microscopy
The ability to turn genes on or off is fundamental to the diversity we see in cells, in individuals, and even in terms of health and disease. This process, known as gene transcription, involves converting the information stored in our DNA into a "car.....»»
Zeroing in on the workings of tumor suppressor protein p53, the "guardian of the genome"
The tumor suppressor protein p53 has been dubbed the "guardian of the genome" because it protects the DNA from stress or long-term damage by regulating the expression of numerous genes involved DNA repair, cell division and cell death. Now, FMI resea.....»»
Virus-like transposons cross the species barrier, study shows
Scientists have known for decades that genes can be transferred from one species to another, both in animals and plants. However, the mechanism of how such an unlikely event occurs remained unknown. Now, researchers from Alejandro Burga's lab at the.....»»
English dialects make themselves heard in genes, say researchers
If you need to hit a nail, what tool do you ask for? If you say "hammer," do you pronounce the "r"? Do you drop the "h"?.....»»
Hot testicles may hold the secret to elephants" anti-cancer genes, suggests new study
A study published today in Trends in Ecology & Evolution unveils an intriguing connection between hot testicles and the evolution of potent anti-cancer genes in elephants......»»
New details about the strongest spider silk in the world
Many researchers dream of deciphering the amazing ability of spiders to create super strong, super light, and super flexible silk threads—but so far, no one has been able to replicate the spiders' work......»»
Studying the parenting behavior of poison frogs using tadpole-like robots
Over the past few decades, roboticists have developed robots inspired by a wide range of animals, including dogs, snakes, birds, spiders, bats, octopus, and different types of insects. These robots were primarily designed to tackle real-world practic.....»»
Complexity is a barrier to horizontal gene transfer, shows new study
The recognition of the phenomenon known as horizontal (or lateral) gene transfer (HGT/LGT) revolutionized our understanding of evolutionary mechanisms. Unlike the conventional vertical transmission of genes from parent to offspring, HGT involves the.....»»
"Jumping genes" help plants adapt to extreme temperature and pathogens
Jumping genes, or transposons, are sections of DNA that can copy themselves and jump between different parts of the genome, and might help plants adapt to stressful, changing conditions, according to a study published in Nature Communications on June.....»»
Scientists develop new AI tool for gene discovery in clinical and research settings
Scientists from A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) have developed a new tool, named Bambu, which uses artificial intelligence to identify and characterize new genes, enabling an adaptable analysis across various species and samples. With a.....»»
"Viking disease" hand disorder may come from Neanderthal genes
A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution shows that a condition known as Dupuytren's disease is partly of Neanderthal origin. Researchers have long known that the disease was much more common in Northern Europeans than in those of African ances.....»»
Study provides genomic resources to help boost climate resilience of fisheries
Candidate genes that could help fish to tolerate warmer and saltier water have been identified in new research from the Earlham Institute, potentially providing a vital resource to guide breeding programs in freshwater aquaculture......»»
New approach "stacks" genes for faster plant transformation
In a discovery aimed at accelerating the development of process-advantaged crops for jet biofuels, scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a capability to insert multiple genes into plants in a single step......»»
Genetic change increased bird flu severity during US spread, shows study
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists discovered how the current epizootic H5N1 avian influenza virus (bird flu) gained new genes and greater virulence as it spread west. Researchers showed that the avian virus could severely infect the br.....»»
C. difficile, emerging pathogens, genomics, and antimicrobial resistance
A new study published in OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology has identified genes for virulence and antimicrobial resistance in two bacteria that co-occur with C. difficile, suggesting these pathogens as emerging potential threats in planetary h.....»»
Large-scale long terminal repeat insertions found to produce a significant set of novel transcripts in cotton
TEs (transposable elements), especially LTRs, are known to play an important role in determining the basic genome structure and influencing the expression of functional genes. Insertion of TE or LTR fragments may also create novel transcription start.....»»
Heat-stressed fish embryos can induce stress in nearby embryos
Heat-stressed fish embryos release chemical signals that change the appearance, behavior, and development of fish embryos that were not heat stressed, according to a study. Stress during development can change how an embryo grows and which genes are.....»»
How funnel-web spiders practice safe sex
The complex mating rituals of the Sydney funnel-web spider have now been described in detail for the first time, with sexual routines including leg and body vibrations and female lifting, filling a missing link in the study of spiders......»»
These tiny jumping spiders walk like ants to evade predators
"Its gait and trajectory show high similarity with multiple ant species.” Enlarge / The colorful jumping spider Siler collingwoodi mimics the walk of an ant to evade predators. (credit: Hua Zeng) We typically think of.....»»