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.....»»
Hidden RNA repair mechanism discovered in humans
Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are single-stranded molecules that play an essential role in the cells of all living organisms. As "transcripts" of our genes, mRNAs, for example, are involved in the translation of genetic information by carrying in their ow.....»»
Sex and the single gene: New research shows a genetic "master switch" determines sex in most animals
In humans and other animals, sex is usually determined by a single gene. However, there are claims that in some species, such as platyfish, it takes a whole "parliament" of genes acting together to determine whether offspring develop as a male or fem.....»»
Hungry eyes: Spiders lose vision when they"re starving
Biologists at the University of Cincinnati discovered that underfed jumping spiders lose light-sensitive cells that are key to their vision......»»
The prevalence and distribution of aminoglycoside resistance genes
Choosing the appropriate antibiotics to treat bacterial infections has grown more challenging because of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Aminoglycosides, as broad-spectrum antibiotics, are increasingly being used clinically; however,.....»»
Study shows genes are read faster and more sloppily in old age
Fast but sloppy, that's how the transcription of genes changes with age. Six research groups from the University of Cologne Cluster of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Age-Associated Diseases (CECAD), the Max Planck Institute for Biology of.....»»
New effort IDs the genes that made the mammoth
Shaggy fur, cold tolerance, and cancer resistance may all be in the genes. Enlarge (credit: Beth Zaiken) An international team of scientists has published the results of their research into 23 woolly mammoth genomes in C.....»»
Three new species of mesothelean spiders discovered in China
A team of life scientists at Hunan Normal University, in China, working with a colleague from National University of Singapore, has discovered three new species of mesothelean spiders in China. In their study, reported in the journal ZooKeys, the gro.....»»
Study shows soil pollution in urban green spaces and natural areas is similar
An international study shows that soil in urban green spaces and natural areas share similar levels of multiple contaminants such as metals, pesticides, microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes around the world. Soil contamination is one of the.....»»
Jumping genes in cancer cells open door to new immunotherapies
Jumping genes are short sections of DNA that have been incorporated randomly into the human genome over the long course of evolution. Also called transposable elements, these pieces of DNA have been implicated in the development of cancer......»»
Wastewater as a breeding ground for antibiotic resistance
Wastewater is a more potent environment for antibiotic resistance to evolve than has been previously realized. A study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows that wastewaters have unique characteristics, allowing resistance genes to start t.....»»
What should we call evolution driven by genetic engineering? Genetic welding, says researcher
With CRISPR-Cas9 technology, humans can now rapidly change the evolutionary course of animals or plants by inserting genes that can easily spread through entire populations. Evolutionary geneticist Asher Cutter proposes that we call this evolutionary.....»»
Human body is a breeding ground for antimicrobial resistance genes, shows new study
The community of microbes living in and on our bodies may be acting as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance, according to new research from the Earlham Institute and Quadram Institute in Norwich. The work is published in the journal Nature Communica.....»»
Jackrabbits with higher variability in color genes may be better prepared for snow loss due to climate change
A team of climate scientists and biologists from Universidade do Porto, in Portugal, working with colleagues from the University of Montana and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, both in the U.S., has found that jackrabbits living in mountainous.....»»
Many genes, rather than a "miracle gene," are involved in plant resurrection
Some plants can survive months without water, only to turn green again after a brief downpour. A recent study by the Universities of Bonn and Michigan shows that this is not due to a "miracle gene." Rather, this ability is a consequence of a whole ne.....»»
How cellular growth rate reshapes cell-fate-decision landscape
Genes and the regulation relationships among them create complex networks that determine cell differentiation trajectories. However, we still cannot understand and predict the cell-fate-decision process using network topology in a bottom-up manner......»»
"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.....»»
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.....»»
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.....»»
Jewel beetles evolve to see new colors by duplicating their genes
Jewel beetles are striking insects, easily recognized by their vivid colors and metallic sheen. Possessing large, well-developed eyes, jewel beetles use vision and color for a range of different behaviors, including finding mates and host plants......»»