Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Chemistry: Biochemistry
Published

CRISPR-based genome editing in Nile grass rats      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of researchers has discovered a set of methods that enabled the first successful CRISPR-based genome editing in Nile grass rats.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Environmental: Water Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Creature the size of a dust grain found hiding in California's Mono Lake      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Mono Lake is a beautiful but harsh environment, its salty and arsenic-laced water home to brine shrimp, alkali flies and little else. Scientists recently discovered an unsuspected resident, however, a microscopic creature -- a choanoflagelatte -- that forms colonies that harbor their own unique bacterial microbiomes. The creature, part of the sister group to all animals, could shed light on the evolution of animals' intimate interactions with bacteria and the rise of multicellular life.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Developmental Biology: General
Published

T cells manipulate the memory of innate immune cells      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Research reveals that T cells from the adaptive immune system can manipulate the memory of innate immune cells. Previously, it was believed that the memory of innate immune cells operated independently. This surprising connection opens up new possibilities for the treatment of various diseases. A mouse model shows that no immunosuppressive drugs are needed after an organ transplantation if this interaction between T cells and the innate immunity is temporarily blocked after the transplantation.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

New nano-device could mean your run could power your electrical wearables      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Your early morning run could soon help harvest enough electricity to power your wearable devices, thanks to new nanotechnology.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

New theory could improve the design and operation of wind farms      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new model accurately represents the airflow around rotors, even under extreme conditions. The first comprehensive model of rotor aerodynamics could improve the way turbine blades and wind farms are designed and how wind turbines are controlled.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Benefits and downside of fasting      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers identified a signaling pathway in mice that boosts intestinal stem cells' regeneration abilities after fasting. When cancerous mutations occurred during this regenerative period, mice were more likely to develop early-stage intestinal tumors.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Sharing risk to avoid power outages in an era of extreme weather      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Heat waves, droughts, and fires place growing stress on the West's electric grid. New research suggests that more integrated management of electricity resources across the region could significantly reduce the risk of power outages and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Researchers uncover the secrets of 'plant puberty'      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have identified the genetic changes linked to why plants go through a developmental change similar to 'puberty' at different rates, a discovery which could lead to better crop nutrition.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Searching old stem cells that stay young forever      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is potentially immortal. Using molecular genetic methods, developmental biologists have now identified possible candidates for multipotent stem cells in the sea anemone for the first time. These stem cells are regulated by evolutionary highly conserved genes.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular
Published

Zebrafish use surprising strategy to regrow spinal cord      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study maps out a detailed atlas of all the cells involved in regenerating the zebrafish spinal cord. In an unexpected finding, the researchers showed that survival and adaptability of the severed neurons themselves is required for full spinal cord regeneration. Surprisingly, the study showed that stem cells capable of forming new neurons play a complementary role but don t lead the process.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Scientists map DNA of Lyme disease bacteria      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have produced a genetic analysis of Lyme disease bacteria that may pave the way for improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the tick-borne ailment.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General
Published

New way inflammation impacts cell communication      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have made significant progress in understanding how cells communicate during inflammation.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Batteries Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Physics: General
Published

A method that paves the way for improved fuel cell vehicles      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

More efficient and longer-lasting fuel cells are essential for fuel cell-powered heavy-duty hydrogen vehicles to be an alternative to combustion fuelled counterparts. Researchers have developed an innovative method to study and understand how parts of fuel cells degrade over time. This is an important step towards the improved performance of fuel cells and them becoming commercially successful.

Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General
Published

Common equine painkiller disrupts assisted reproduction technique efficiency in mares      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered that phenylbutazone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly prescribed in horses, can affect the ability of a mare's egg cells -- called 'oocytes' -- to become viable embryos, which is a crucial step in assisted reproduction in horses.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular
Published

Exciting advance in stem cell therapy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new technique for mechanically manipulating stem cells could lead to new stem cell treatments, which have yet to fulfill their therapeutic potential.

Chemistry: General Energy: Alternative Fuels Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

Measuring Martian winds with sound      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Martian landers have been able capture measurements of wind speeds -- some gauging the cooling rate of heated materials when winds blow over them, others using cameras to image 'tell-tales' that blow in the wind -- but there's still room for improvement. Researchers now demonstrate a novel sonic anemometric system featuring a pair of narrow-band piezoelectric transducers to measure the travel time of sound pulses through Martian air. The study accounted for variables including transducer diffraction effects and wind direction.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Rewriting the evolutionary history of critical components of the nervous system      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study has rewritten the conventionally understood evolutionary history of certain ion channels -- proteins critical for electrical signaling in the nervous system. The study shows that the Shaker family of ion channels were present in microscopic single cell organisms well before the common ancestor of all animals and thus before the origin of the nervous system.