When predicting the function of microbial communities, simpler may be better
As biologists learn more about how microbial communities work together, a major goal is understanding how their composition determines function. What combination of strains and species makes the best team for breaking down pollutants, for example, or.....»»
Study highlights role of computational biology in microbial community design
How can computer models help design microbial communities? A research team comprising members from Aachen, Düsseldorf and East Lansing/U.S. examined the development perspectives of so-called synthetic biology. In an article published in the journal.....»»
Q&A: Experts discuss ongoing atmospheric effects of San Bernardino fires on Southern California communities
Several Southern California communities, including Riverside, are being hit with smoke from the huge Line Fire in the San Bernardino Mountains, creating what the Environmental Protection Agency classifies as "very unhealthy" air quality......»»
Four plants eaten by gorillas, also used in traditional medicine, provide clues for new drug discovery
Four plants consumed by wild gorillas in Gabon and used by local communities in traditional medicine show antibacterial and antioxidant properties, find Leresche Even Doneilly Oyaba Yinda from the Interdisciplinary Medical Research Center of Francevi.....»»
U.S. lakes in communities of color are monitored less for water quality
Lakes provide drinking water, food, recreation and mental health benefits to people who use them or live nearby. Regular monitoring of water quality is essential to collect information to track lake health. Without this information, people who use th.....»»
Uncovering the unique roles of Exportin-5 in RNA export within Drosophila cells
Eukaryotic cells are complex biological units, each with multiple membrane-bound compartments. These cells use specialized mechanisms to export biomolecules from their synthesis site to where they function......»»
Researchers propose mechanistic framework to explain complex microbe-host symbioses
Virtually all multicellular organisms on Earth live in symbiotic associations with very large and complex microbial communities known as microbiomes. New research has just been published aimed at offering a complete understanding how those relationsh.....»»
Challenging internal displacement policy within the broader security environment
The time frame defining "protracted displacement" by the United Nations may need to be significantly shortened, according to a new study on internally displaced persons (IDPs) which suggests earlier support is needed for affected communities......»»
Human firewalls are essential to keeping SaaS environments safe
Businesses run on SaaS solutions: nearly every business function relies on multiple cloud-based tech platforms and collaborative work tools like Slack, Google Workspace apps, Jira, Zendesk and others. We recently surveyed security leaders and CISOs o.....»»
Scientists create guidance to help emergency managers prepare for weather hazards of the future
Climate change is fueling more severe storms and floods, droughts and fires, and communities around the world are grappling with how to prepare. Emergency managers regularly meet to examine possible disasters and discuss preparations and responses fo.....»»
Phage editing technology could lead to alternative treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacteria
As antibiotic resistance becomes an increasingly serious threat to our health, the scientific and medical communities are searching for new medicines to fight infections. Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have just moved closer to that goal with a.....»»
The promise and pitfalls of "climatopias" for building resilience in coastal communities
Idowu (Jola) Ajibade grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, a low-lying city built around a lagoon bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. Flooding is a routine occurrence during the rainy season......»»
Oil and gas communities are a blind spot in America"s climate and economic policies
On a recent visit to Rangely, a small town in northwest Colorado, my colleagues and I met with the administrators of a highly regarded community college to discuss the town's economy. Leaving the scenic campus, we saw families driving into the mounta.....»»
Regulatory gene influences shape recognition in medaka fish, scientists discover
Medaka fish that lack functional Hmgn2 genes are unable to distinguish between simple shapes, revealing a new function for the regulatory gene......»»
The ecological impact of herbivore dung on plant communities
Xingzhao Sun of the research group Wildness, biodiversity and ecosystems under change of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) explored the complex ecological interactions between herbivore dung and plant communities, providing new insights into the r.....»»
DNA may be a powerful predictor of educational success, new research suggests
Researchers at the University of York are calling for further exploration of the role DNA could play in predicting educational outcomes. The work is published in the journal Educational Psychology Review......»»
RNA editing plays critical role in fruit flies" sense of smell and social interactions
Imagine your DNA as a set of instructions or a recipe book that tells your body how to make everything it needs to function, from proteins to cells. Every time the body needs to build something, it reads these instructions. But sometimes, the body ca.....»»
New machine learning model offers simple solution to predicting crop yield
A new machine-learning model for predicting crop yield using environmental data and genetic information can be used to develop new, higher-performing crop varieties......»»
Human mouth bacteria reproduce through rare form of cell division, research reveals
One of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet is closer than you think—right inside your mouth. Your mouth is a thriving ecosystem of more than 500 different species of bacteria living in distinct, structured communities called biofilms. Nearly.....»»
How fruit flies use internal representations of head direction to support goal-directed navigation
Animal behavior is known to rely on transforming sensory information into motor commands, often influenced by an animal's internal needs. While in mammals and other large animals this process is supported by complex brain processes, simpler versions.....»»
Machine-learning models can predict colonization outcomes of complex microbial communities
Microbial communities are constantly exposed to the invasion of exogenous species, which can significantly alter their composition and function. The capacity of a microbial community to resist invasion is regarded as an emergent property resulting fr.....»»