These baboons borrowed a third of their genes from their cousins
New genetic analyses of wild baboons in southern Kenya reveals that most of them carry traces of hybridization in their DNA. As a result of interbreeding, about a third of their genetic makeup consists of genes from another, closely-related species......»»
Discovery of 2,586 orphan genes in Rosa chinensis reveals stress adaptation and flower development
Orphan genes, found only in specific lineages, are key drivers of new functions and phenotypic traits. This discovery lays a foundation for understanding how roses thrive under environmental challenges......»»
Bioluminescent proteins made from scratch enable non-invasive, multi-functional biological imaging
Bioluminescence is the natural chemical process of light creation in some living creatures that makes fireflies flicker and some jellyfish glow. Scientists have long been interested in borrowing the secrets of these animals' light-producing genes to.....»»
New CRISPR system for gene silencing doesn"t rely on cutting DNA
Scientists from Vilnius University's (VU) Life Sciences Center (LSC) have discovered a unique way for cells to silence specific genes without cutting DNA. This research, led by Prof. Patrick Pausch and published in the journal Nature Communications,.....»»
New insights into the Denisovans—the hominin group that interbred with modern day humans
Scientists believe individuals of the most recently discovered hominin group (the Denisovans) that interbred with modern day humans passed on some of their genes via multiple, distinct interbreeding events that helped shape early human history......»»
A causal theory for studying the cause-and-effect relationships of genes paves the way for targeted treatments
By studying changes in gene expression, researchers learn how cells function at a molecular level, which could help them understand the development of certain diseases......»»
A physicist and his cat "reveal" the equation of cat motion
In the social media age, there is little doubt about who is the star of the animal kingdom. Cats rule the screens just as their cousins, the lions, rule the savanna. Thanks to Erwin Schrödinger, this feline also has a place of honor in the history o.....»»
Antarctic krill genes could reveal how they"re responding to climate change
As Antarctic krill face unprecedented challenges in the Southern Ocean, a new project has been launched to better understand these important invertebrates......»»
Using machine learning to identify bacterial resistance genes and the drugs to block them
Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health problem around the world. When bacteria like E. coli no longer respond to antibiotics, infections become harder to treat......»»
Who should get paid for nature"s sequenced genes?
Much of the vanilla that flavors our ice cream today is artificial, derived from the genetic signature of a plant that hundreds of years ago was known only to an Indigenous Mexican tribe......»»
Study of wild type mosquitoes in Burkina Faso discovers new signs of insecticide resistance
One of the main discoveries of a new study is the identification of new variants in genes associated with insecticide resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes, the primary vectors of malaria in West Africa, and potential novel resistance mechanisms, emphas.....»»
Identifying the genes that viruses "steal" from ocean microbes
The microbes that cycle nutrients in the ocean don't do the work on their own—the viruses that infect them also influence the process. It's a vital job for the rest of the planet, enabling oceans to absorb half of the human-generated carbon in the.....»»
Targeting bacteria: Auxiliary metabolic genes expand understanding of phages and their reprogramming strategy
Viruses that infect bacteria—known as bacteriophages—could be used in a targeted manner to combat bacterial diseases. They also play an important ecological role in global biogeochemical cycles. Recent research by researchers at the University of.....»»
Bowers & Wilkins’ iconic Zeppelin speaker gets a Pro edition
The iconic Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin speaker has been upgraded with driver technology borrowed from B&W's floor-standing speakers......»»
Scientists discover "selfish DNA" crucial for early human development
A critical transition in early human development is regulated not by our own genes, but by DNA elements called transposons that can move around the genome, Sinai Health researchers have found......»»
Mountain chickadees songs provide real-time evidence for Darwin"s character displacement theory
Mountain chickadees in Boulder have evolved a different tune to avoid getting mixed up with their cousins, according to a new CU Boulder-led study published Oct. 9 in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology......»»
Animal social interactions could speed up evolution
Scientists typically predict how species evolve by looking at their genes and the environment they live in, but new research from the University of Aberdeen has highlighted a key factor that's often overlooked: social interactions, where the genes of.....»»
Researchers discover how plants produce a novel anti-stress molecule
New research identifies for the first time the genes that help plants grow under stressful conditions—with implications for producing more sustainable food crops in the face of global climate change......»»
Nobel Prize in medicine awarded for discovery of microRNAs, the molecules that control our genes
Two scientists, Victor Ambros (UMASS Chan Medical School in the US) and Gary Ruvkun (Harvard Medical School in the US), have won the 2024 Nobel prize in medicine or physiology......»»
Medicine Nobel goes to previously unknown way of controlling genes
MicroRNAs control the activity of many key genes but were unknown before 1993. On Monday, the Nobel Committee announced that two US researchers, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, wil.....»»
Study identifies compounds that extend longevity of Japanese morning glory flowers
The longevity of plant flowers is controlled by genetically programmed mechanisms. After a certain amount of time after flowering, the expression of genes associated with programmed cell death is induced and cellular components such as proteins and n.....»»