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Categories: Biology: General, Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR)
Published Computer-engineered DNA to study cell identities
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new computer program allows scientists to design synthetic DNA segments that indicate, in real time, the state of cells. It will be used to screen for anti-cancer or viral infections drugs, or to improve gene and cell-based immunotherapies.
Published Smells like evolution: Fruit flies reveal surprises in chemical sensing
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New study reveals how gene expression shapes the diverse smelling and tasting abilities of different fly species. Most genes are surprisingly stable, but thousands have evolved to create unique olfactory landscapes. Sex differences in sensing are widespread and involve specific cell types in key tissues. The study provides insights into the evolution of sensory systems in general, with potential implications for understanding human olfaction.
Published Microbial division of labor produces higher biofuel yields
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have found a way to boost ethanol production via yeast fermentation, a standard method for converting plant sugars into biofuels. Their approach relies on careful timing and a tight division of labor among synthetic yeast strains to yield more ethanol per unit of plant sugars than previous approaches have achieved.
Published Small but mighty -- study highlights the abundance and importance of the ocean's tiniest inhabitants
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New research sheds light on tiny plankton, which measure less than 0.02mm in diameter but can make up more than 70% of the plankton biomass found in the ocean.
Published How food availability could catalyze cultural transmission in wild orangutans
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The proverb "necessity is the mother of invention" has been used to describe the source from which our cultural evolution springs. After all, need in times of scarcity has forced humans to continually invent new technologies that have driven the remarkable cumulative culture of our species. But an invention only becomes cultural if it is learned and spread by many individuals. In other words, the invention must be socially transmitted. But what are the forces that drive social transmission?
Published Vitamin B12 adaptability in Antarctic algae has implications for climate change, life in the Southern Ocean
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The algae P. antarctica has two forms of the enzyme that makes the amino acid methionine, one needing B12, and one that is slower, but doesn't need it. This means it has the ability to adapt and survive with low B12 availability. The presence of the MetE gene in P. antarctica gives the algae the ability to adapt to lower vitamin B12 availability, giving it a potential advantage to bloom in the early austral spring when bacterial production is low. P. antarctica takes in the CO2 and releases oxygen through photosynthesis. Understanding its ability to grow in environments with low vitamin B12 availability can help climate modelers make more accurate predictions.
Published New technology unscrambles the chatter of microbes
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have developed a new search tool to that can match microbes to the metabolites they produce with no prior knowledge, an innovation that could transform our understanding of both human health and the environment.
Published Scientists see an ultra-fast movement on surface of HIV virus
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Seeing a glycoprotein on the envelope of the HIV virus snap open and shut in mere millionths of a second is giving investigators a new handle on the surface of the virus that could lead to broadly neutralizing antibodies for an AIDS vaccine. Being able to attach an antibody specifically to this little structure that would prevent it from popping open would be key.
Published Mechanism discovered that protects tissue after faulty gene expression
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A study has identified a protein complex that is activated by defects in the spliceosome, the molecular scissors that process genetic information. Future research could lead to new therapeutic approaches to treat diseases caused by faulty splicing.
Published Scammed! Animals 'led by the nose' to leave plants alone
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Fake news works for wallabies and elephants. Herbivores can cause substantial damage to crops or endangered or protected plants, with traditional methods to deter foraging lethal, expensive or ineffective. Biologists are now using aromas from plants naturally repellent with remarkable success to deter the animals.
Published How leafcutter ants cultivate a fungal garden to degrade plants and provide insights into future biofuels
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists developed a new method to map exactly how a fungus works with leafcutter ants in a complex microbial community to degrade plant material at the molecular level. The team's insights are important for biofuels development.
Published Disrupted cellular function behind type 2 diabetes in obesity
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Disrupted function of 'cleaning cells' in the body may help to explain why some people with obesity develop type 2 diabetes, while others do not. A study describes this newly discovered mechanism.
Published A clutch stretch goes a long way
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New results reveal a new mode of force transmission in which dynamic molecular stretching bridges the extracellular matrix and flowing F-actin moving at different speeds. This discovery underscores the necessity of molecular elasticity and random coupling for sufficiently transmitting force. The findings also call for revising the role of molecular unfolding.
Published Zebrafish navigate to find their comfortable temperature
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Zebrafish are smaller than your little finger, with a brain no more than half the size of a pinhead. Yet these animals possess an efficient navigation system that enables them to find their way back to spots in the water where the temperature suits them.
Published Clown anemonefish seem to be counting bars and laying down the law
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source We often think of fish as carefree swimmers in the ocean, reacting to the world around them without much forethought. However, new research suggests that our marine cousins may be more cognizant than we credit them for. Fish may be counting vertical bars on intruders to determine their threat level, and to inform the social hierarchy governing their sea anemone colonies.
Published The arrangement of bacteria in biofilms affects their sensitivity to antibiotics
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Many bacteria form an antibiotic-resistant slime. Research detailing that slime's structure could help lead to new treatments.
Published Active components of ginkgo biloba may improve early cognitive recovery after stroke
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Adults treated with 14 days of intravenous injections of ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine (GDLM) -- a combination of biologically active components of ginkgo biloba -- after an ischemic (clot-caused) stroke had better cognitive recovery at 14 days and 90 days.
Published Resistant bacteria can remain in the body for years
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Fighting disease-causing bacteria becomes more difficult when antibiotics stop working. People with pre-existing conditions in particular can carry resistant germs and suffer from repeated infections for years, according to a new study.
Published Plant receptors that control immunity and development share a common origin
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have traced the origin and evolutionary trajectory of plant immune receptors. Their discovery will make it easier to identify immune receptor genes from genomic information and could help in the development of pathogen-resistant crops.
Published Gut bacteria can process dietary fiber into an anti-allergy weapon
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are produced by gut bacteria from dietary fiber, regulate our immune system, but the mechanism of their action remains unknown. In a recent study, researchers investigated how SCFAs interact with mast cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a central role in allergic reactions. Their findings and insights could lead to innovative and effective anti-allergy medications, supplements, and diets, paving the way for healthier lives.