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ScienceDaily: Plants & Animals News |
| Diabetes, metabolic syndrome in mice treated with novel class of compounds Posted: 11 Feb 2022 01:12 PM PST Researchers have shown, in mice, that a new class of compounds they developed can improve several aspects of metabolic syndrome. Such conditions often lead to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. |
| Researchers make non-alcoholic beer taste like regular beer Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:27 AM PST Finally, researchers have found a way to brew non-alcoholic beer that tastes just like regular beer. Even more, the method is far more sustainable than the existing brewing techniques. |
| First evidence indicating dinosaur respiratory infection Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:27 AM PST Scientists have discovered the first evidence of a unique respiratory infection in the fossilized remains of a dinosaur that lived nearly 150 million years ago. Researchers examined the remains of an immature diplodocid -- a long-necked herbivorous sauropod dinosaur, like 'Brontosaurus' - dating back to the Late Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era. The dinosaur nicknamed 'Dolly,' discovered in southwest Montana, had evidence of an infection in the area of its neck vertebrae. |
| Endangered delicacy: Tropical sea cucumbers in trouble Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:27 AM PST Overharvest has put the Great Barrier Reef's tropical sea cucumber populations in peril, researchers have revealed, with strong demand for this delicacy from East and Southeast Asia. |
| New species of marine plankton discovered, an overlooked source of nutrients in the oceans Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:27 AM PST A team of researchers has discovered two new and unusual species of diatoms in the waters off Hawai'i. The organisms were also found to fix nitrogen, a critical process that supports productivity in the nutrient-poor open ocean they inhabit. |
| Cellular tornadoes sculpt our organs Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:26 AM PST How are the different shapes of our organs and tissues generated? To answer this question, a team forced muscle cells to spontaneously reproduce simple shapes in vitro. By confining them on adhesion discs, the biochemists and physicists observed that the cells rapidly self-organize by aligning themselves in the same direction. A circular motion is created around a vortex -- called a topological defect -- which, by orienting the cells, allows them to join forces, deforming the cell monolayer into a protrusion, a structure commonly observed in embryo development. This cylindrical protrusion is maintained by the collective rotational forces of the cells, creating a tornado-like effect. The formation of these cellular tornadoes would therefore constitute a simple mechanism of spontaneous morphogenesis, dictated by the unique properties of multicellular assemblies. |
| 7 to 9 percent of all European vascular plants are globally threatened, study finds Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:26 AM PST Seven to nine percent of all vascular plant species occurring in Europe are globally threatened, according to a new study. Researchers combined Red Lists of endangered plant species in Europe with data on their global distribution. |
| New computer vision system designed to analyse cells in microscopy videos Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:26 AM PST Researchers have developed a system based on computer vision techniques that allows automatic analysis of biomedical videos captured by microscopy in order to characterize and describe the behavior of the cells that appear in the images. |
| New plant-derived composite is tough as bone and hard as aluminum Posted: 11 Feb 2022 05:06 AM PST A new woody composite is tough as bone and hard as aluminum, and might pave way for naturally derived plastics. |
| Researchers reveal largest catalog of gene activators Posted: 11 Feb 2022 05:06 AM PST Researchers have created a functional catalog of proteins that activate gene expression, with implications for tailored therapy for cancer and other diseases that occur when wrong genes are switched on. |
| Genetic legacy of last glaciation influences reindeer's seasonal migrations Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:42 PM PST Caribou (known as reindeer in Europe) make one of the longest seasonal migrations of land animals, but an individual's propensity to migrate depends on its genetic ancestry, researchers report. |
| A star in the world of ceramic engineering Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:42 PM PST Facing the challenging task of developing lightweight, high-strength ceramic materials, an engineer has turned to an unexpected collaborator for design inspiration: the knobby sea star from the tropical Indo-Pacific. By investigating the complex and highly ordered mineralized skeletal system of this unusual marine species, the research team discovered an unexpected combination of characteristics that may lead to developing an entirely new class of high-performance lightweight ceramic composites. |
| Biohybrid fish made from human cardiac cells swims like the heart beats Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:42 PM PST Scientists have developed the first fully autonomous biohybrid fish from human stem-cell derived cardiac muscle cells. The artificial fish swims by recreating the muscle contractions of a pumping heart, bringing researchers one step closer to developing a more complex artificial muscular pump and providing a platform to study heart disease like arrhythmia. |
| Calorie restriction trial reveals key factors in extending human health Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:42 PM PST Decades of research has shown that limits on calorie intake by flies, worms, and mice can enhance life span in laboratory conditions. But whether such calorie restriction can do the same for humans remains unclear. Now a new study confirms the health benefits of moderate calorie restrictions in humans -- and identifies a key protein that could be harnessed to extend health in humans. |
| Illuminating research sheds new light on the evolution of light-response systems Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST Researchers found that sea urchin larvae exhibited ciliary responses to strong photoirradiation by swimming backward. As ciliary responses are difficult to detect in deuterostomes because they may be masked by more obvious muscular activities, identifying cilia-based responses to light in sea urchins provides key information on the evolution and diversification of light-response systems in macroscopic animals. |
| Mitochondria efficiently adapt to changing metabolic conditions Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST A recent study explains an essential component for proper mitochondrial function: The protein complexes MICOS and ATP synthase can communicate with each other. Researchers have uncovered an important mechanism that ensures efficient metabolic adaptation of mitochondria. |
| Mystery origin of iconic Aussie snakes unlocked Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST New research has found the first tangible evidence that the ancestors of some of Australia's most venomous snakes arrived by sea rather than by land -- the dispersal route of most other Australian reptiles. |
| Harvesting baker's yeast for aging-related therapeutics Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST Researchers have successfully engineered common baker's yeast to produce D-lysergic acid (DLA), an ingredient used in medicine for dementia and Parkinson's Disease. |
| Cellular proteins enable tissues to sense, react to mechanical force Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST Cellular proteins that hold cells and tissues together also perform critical functions when they experience increased tension. A new study observed that when tugged upon in a controlled manner, these proteins -- called cadherins -- communicate with growth factors to influence in vitro tumor growth in human carcinoma cells. |
| Computational modelling experts pioneer pest-busting model Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST Mathematicians have developed a new mathematical model which could greatly increase the efficiency of pest control and hence significantly reduce the impact of pests on crops whilst minimizing the damage to environment. |
| Infusion of 3D cellular structures might repair damaged intestine Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:58 AM PST Researchers have developed a protocol to transplant 3D cellular structures called organoids into the damaged colon and intestine of mice. Once delivered via rectal infusion, the organoids are able to attach to the injured region and rebuild the tissue damaged by conditions such as colitis. The significant advantage of this technique is that the organoids can be derived from the same individual that will receive them, avoiding any rejection issue when they are transplanted. |
| Notches on lions’ teeth reveal poaching in Zambia’s conservation areas Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:58 AM PST New research links notches on lion teeth with snare traps, revealing significantly more poaching in conservation areas than previously estimated. Researchers used photos of trophy-hunted lions and leopards -- especially of their teeth -- to do forensic work evaluating the effectiveness of conservation efforts in Zambia. |
| How climate change can worsen impact of invasive plants Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:58 AM PST A study tested the effects of prescribed fire on long-leaf pines grown under different conditions: drought, invasive plants, and a combination of the two. |
| Futuristic coating for hospital fabrics and activewear kills COVID virus and E. coli Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:41 AM PST Researchers have developed an inexpensive, non-toxic coating for almost any fabric that decreases the infectivity of the virus that causes COVID-19 by up to 90 per cent. And in the future, you might be able to spray it on fabric yourself. |
| New system speeds screening of drug-delivering nanoparticles Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:40 AM PST A new study demonstrates 'species agnostic' screening of lipid nanoparticles, which could significantly accelerate the development of cutting edge mRNA targeted therapies. |
| Protection from the molecular shredder Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:40 AM PST Plants need to adjust to their environment. Adaptive responses include synthesizing new proteins and breaking down those that are no longer needed. For this task, plants use a considerable amount of energy. Thus, regulation of protein turnover in the plant cell has to be appropriately thorough. Researchers have now identified a cellular mechanism that stabilizes proteins by preventing their breakdown. |
| Simplifying RNA editing for treating genetic diseases Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:40 AM PST New research could make it much simpler to repair disease-causing mutations in RNA without compromising precision or efficiency. The new RNA editing technology holds promise as a gene therapy for treating genetic diseases. In a proof of concept, researchers showed that the technology can treat a mouse model of Hurler syndrome, a rare genetic disease, by correcting its disease-causing mutation in RNA. |
| Closing in on the carbon costs of wildfires Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:40 AM PST Wildfire and post-fire recovery could lead to more carbon being stored than released in the long term in savannahs and grasslands, according to a new study. The findings suggest that there is far stronger potential for cycles of fire and recovery to increase soil carbon stocks in these areas than in forests. |
| Fix, not fight: Scientists help plants regenerate after injury Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:32 AM PST After injury, plants make a trade-off between repairing damaged tissue and ramping up their defenses, according to a new study. Understanding how plants regulate these responses enabled the researchers to nudge wounded plants toward repair instead of defense, a strategy that could be useful in improving regeneration in important staple crops like corn. |
| Posted: 10 Feb 2022 05:50 AM PST New research reveals that sex differences in learning and memory mechanisms are triggered by biological events occurring during puberty. Findings show prepubescent female rodents have much better hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and spatial learning than same-age males, but puberty has opposite consequences for synaptic plasticity in the two sexes. |
| How guard cell chloroplasts obtain energy Posted: 10 Feb 2022 05:49 AM PST Whether Guard Cells (GCs) carry out photosynthesis has been debated for decades. Earlier studies suggested that guard cell chloroplasts (GCCs) cannot fix CO2 but later studies argued otherwise. Until recently, it has remained controversial whether GCCs and/or GC photosynthesis play a direct role in stomatal movements. Researchers have now discovered GCs' genuine source of fuel and untangled the mystery. |
| Brainy birds may fare better under climate change Posted: 10 Feb 2022 05:49 AM PST Many North American migratory birds are shrinking in size as temperatures have warmed over the past 40 years. But those with very big brains, relative to their body size, did not shrink as much as smaller-brained birds, according to new research. The study is the first to identify a direct link between cognition and animal response to human-made climate change. |
| Epigenetic effects of pollution persist for multiple generations in water fleas Posted: 10 Feb 2022 05:49 AM PST A new study has shown that the effects of pollutants can be transmitted over many generations in water fleas and may persist long enough to influence the evolutionary process. The research adds new evidence to the debate on whether environmental influences can cause heritable changes to an animal's biology. |
| Your microbiome shapes your life. But where did it come from? Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:50 PM PST The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of hundreds to thousands of microbial species living within the human body. These populations affect our health, fertility, and even our longevity. But how do they get there in the first place? New research reveals crucial details about how the bacterial communities that comprise each of our individual gut microbiomes are acquired. These findings have major implications for treatments such as fecal transplants and probiotic administration. |
| Applying the butterfly principle Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:50 PM PST Researchers have created artificial colors by 3D printing certain nanostructures inspired by those of a butterfly. This principle can be used in the future to produce color screens. |
| Genetically engineered microbes with a kill switch Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:49 PM PST Scientists have taken a big step forward in their quest to design a modular, genetically engineered kill switch that integrates into any genetically engineered microbe, causing it to self-destruct under certain defined conditions. |
| 85% of coral reef fish studied are overfished Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:49 PM PST A new study found concrete evidence that more than 85 percent of the grouper and snapper studied are overfished as a direct result of increasing human demand for seafood. |
| Common virus may cause serious disease in transplant patients Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:49 PM PST A common virus that causes no harm in most people may be a danger to organ transplant recipients and other immunocompromised people, researchers have found. |
| Climate drove 7,000 years of dietary changes in the Central Andes Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:49 PM PST What a person eats influences a person's health, longevity and experience in the world. Identifying the factors that determine people's diets is important to answer the bigger questions, such as how changing climates will influence unequal access to preferred foods. A new study provides a blueprint to systematically untangle and evaluate the power of both climate and population size on the varied diets across a region in the past. |
| Unlocking the mechanical secrets of giant Amazonian waterlilies Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:49 PM PST Researchers studying giant Amazonian waterlilies have unraveled the engineering enigma behind the largest floating leaves in nature. |
| Study reveals Ebola virus can hide in brain, persist even years after treatment Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:48 PM PST Scientists describe how Ebola virus, which can persist in certain areas of the body, can re-emerge to cause fatal disease -- even long after treatment with monoclonal antibodies. |
| Cautiously optimistic: Study looks for riskiest tree disease spreaders, finds none Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:48 PM PST Fungal disease represents one of the greatest threats to tree industries and forests in the United States. They're carried by invasive wood borers from overseas. A pre-invasion risk assessment tested 111 fungi samples extracted from 55 Eurasian beetles. None of the greenhouse-grown oak or pine saplings inoculated with the fungi died during the study period, and only a few fungi were shown to be weak pathogens. |
| Hungry for love: Gut molecule discovered that flips the feeding-to-mating switch Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:22 AM PST Scientists have identified a molecule released from the gut after a protein-rich meal that switches the focus of fruit flies from eating to courtship. The discovery of Dh31, a type of chemical messenger, opens the door to unexplored areas of gut-to-brain communication. |
| Harnessing sea pineapples and blood waste for metal-air-battery catalysts Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:21 AM PST Sea pineapples are a delicacy in Japan and the Tohoku region is renowned for its extensive sea pineapple industry. Soon they might not only be fueling our appetites, but helping power our future too. A research group demonstrated that the carbonization of cellulose nanofibers within sea pineapple shells produces high-quality carbon that, when mixed with blood waste from the livestock industry, boasts electrical performances similar to that of rare metals. |
| Metabolism found to regulate production of killer cells Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:21 AM PST Researchers have discovered that metabolic changes affect how blood cells are formed during embryonic development. They found a previously unknown metabolic switch with a key role in how different types of blood cells develop. This means blood cell formation can be directed towards producing natural killer cells in the laboratory to ultimately be used in a new anti-cancer treatment. |
| Bacteria’s hidden weapon: Toxins locked inside a capsule secured by a cork Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:21 AM PST The microbiome is home to an estimated 100 trillion bacteria, existing as a dense colony of many different strains and species. Similar to all organisms, bacteria must also compete with one another for space and resources, engaging in "warfare" by releasing toxins to kill competitors. One of the many weapons bacteria use in this inevitable fight is the type VI secretion system (T6SS), which delivers toxic effectors into their enemies. |
| Eating prunes may help protect against bone loss in older women Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:21 AM PST Researchers found that prunes can help prevent or delay bone loss in postmenopausal women, possibly due to their ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which contribute to bone loss. |
| Mapping mutation ‘hotspots’ in cancer reveals new drivers and biomarkers Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:21 AM PST Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized key player in cancer evolution: clusters of mutations occurring at certain regions of the genome. These mutation clusters contribute to the progression of about 10 percent of human cancers and can be used to predict patient survival. |
| Why some stony coral species are better at surviving ocean acidification Posted: 09 Feb 2022 06:34 AM PST Hard corals grow by generating calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from seawater and adding it to their skeletons, where it crystallizes. This process -- and coral survival -- are threatened by ocean acidification. However, scientists report that corals produce the CaCO3 in compartments protected from seawater and not, as previously believed, in exposed locations. The findings, and differing crystallization rates, could explain why some species are more resilient to this threat. |
| Scientists create a global repository for cell engineering Posted: 09 Feb 2022 06:34 AM PST An international team has launched CellRepo, a species and strain database that uses cell barcodes to monitor and track engineered organisms. The database keeps track and organizes the digital data produced during cell engineering. It also molecularly links that data to the associated living samples. |
| Advancing genome editing through studying DNA repair mechanisms Posted: 09 Feb 2022 06:33 AM PST Prime editing is an improved variant of the CRISPR/Cas system that can introduce alterations in DNA with exquisite precision. But the method is complex and inefficient. A research group has now been able to show that the DNA mismatch repair process plays an essential role in prime editing. |
| In animal battles, cheaters can win Posted: 08 Feb 2022 04:17 PM PST Animal weapons can be a lot like plastic swords: impressive, but ultimately cheap. Some animals pretend to be bigger than they are by building weapons out of metabolically cheap inert materials, such as chitin and keratin. The prop weapons are also cheaper to maintain. |
| A century later, researchers describe second opabiniid ever discovered Posted: 08 Feb 2022 04:17 PM PST An international team of researchers confirm that a specimen previously considered a radiodont is in fact an opabiniid. The new study used novel and robust phylogenetic methods to confirm Utaurora comosa as only the second opabiniid ever discovered and the first in over a century. |
| Giant kelp dynamics in the Santa Barbara Channel Posted: 08 Feb 2022 11:33 AM PST What factors drive the health, growth and productivity of giant kelp? There are several, but according to researchers, what you see depends on the scale at which you're observing. |
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