ScienceDaily: Plants & Animals News

New mode of transmission for bacteria

Posted: 21 May 2021 10:13 AM PDT

Campylobacter infection, one of the most common foodborne illnesses in the Western world, can also be spread through sexual contact, according to a new research.

Who's in this ocean? Tracking down species on the go using environmental DNA

Posted: 21 May 2021 08:53 AM PDT

A group of researchers carried out eDNA sequencing on jelly fish in the Florida Keys using a newly developed Fieldable eDNA sequencing kit to identify species that may be endangered, invasive or dangerous.

Gene that causes canine hereditary deafness in puppies

Posted: 21 May 2021 08:53 AM PDT

Researchers have been the first to determine the cause for the nonsyndromic early-onset hereditary canine hearing loss in Rottweilers. The gene defect was identified in a gene relevant to the sense of hearing. The study can also promote the understanding of mechanisms of hearing loss in human.

A tripartite-chromosome E. coli strain allows the chromosome isolation and implantation

Posted: 21 May 2021 06:44 AM PDT

A group of researchers has succeeded in splitting the E. coli chromosome into three of 1 million base pairs. The 1 million base pairs chromosome can be used for E. coli transformation. This E. coli-based technology has the potential to greatly advance synthetic genomics.

Scientists discover gene signature for plaque-eating microglia in Alzheimer's Disease

Posted: 21 May 2021 05:19 AM PDT

Single-cell gene studies are clarifying the roles of the brain's specialised immune cell in Alzheimer's disease and offer new avenues for treatment of this incurable condition.

Multi-story buildings made of wood sell for 9% more than other construction in Helsinki

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:39 AM PDT

Building more homes and buildings with wood has been on the radar for years as a way to offset carbon emissions, though construction companies have been hesitant to take the material in broader use. A study is now the first to show that building with wood can be a sound investment. The findings show that multi-storied buildings made out of wood sold for an average of 8.85% more than those made from other materials.

Radar tracking uncovers mystery of where honeybee drones have sex

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:39 AM PDT

Scientists have used radar technology to track male honeybees, called drones, and reveal the secrets of their mating behaviors.

Technique uses fluctuations in video pixels to measure energy use of developing embryos

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:39 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a cutting edge technique which enables them to instantly examine the biological traits and behaviors of developing embryos as an energy signature, rather than focusing on individual characteristics.

Molecule enlists patient's immune system to combat HIV

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:38 AM PDT

Antiretroviral therapy, the common approach in the treatment of HIV, halts replication of the virus and has saved the lives of millions of people. However, for patients the drug cocktail becomes a lifetime necessity because they continue to harbor latent HIV in a small number of immune system cells. In the absence of treatment, HIV can again replicate and rebound into full blown AIDs.

Challenging the standard model of cancer

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:38 AM PDT

In spite of decades of research, cancer remains an enigma. Conventional wisdom holds that cancer is driven by random mutations that create aberrant cells that run amok in the body. Researchers challenge this model by proposing that cancer is a type of genetic throwback, that progresses via a series of reversions to ancestral forms of life.

Parrot poachers striking while the market's hot

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:38 AM PDT

'Pretty' parrots are more likely to be snatched up for Indonesia's illegal wildlife trade, a new study reveals. The findings not only expose the key drivers behind the country's illegal trade in these birds, but offer lessons for the potential emergence and spread of infectious diseases that jump from animals to humans.

Solar geoengineering may be effective in alleviating impacts of global warming on crops

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Solar geoengineering is not a fix-all for climate change but it could be one of several tools to manage climate risks. A growing body of research has explored the ability of solar geoengineering to reduce physical climate changes. But much less is known about how solar geoengineering could affect the ecosystem and, particularly, agriculture. Now, research finds that solar geoengineering may be surprisingly effective in alleviating some of the worst impacts of global warming on crops.

A stressful life in the city affects birds' genes

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Great tits living in cities are genetically different from great tits in the countryside. This is what researchers have found in a unique study, where they examined populations of great tits in nine large European cities.

High risk of conflict between humans and elephants and lions

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Scientists have identified the areas that are most at risk for conflicts between humans and elephants and lions in Africa.

Economics and value of pollination

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Scientists examine pollinators from both an economic and ecological perspective, providing much needed insight into the complexities of valuing pollination. This recent collaboration highlights the importance of characterizing the economic value of pollination services, including that of managed and wild pollinators, both for the sustainability of honey bee markets and the protection of overall ecosystem health.