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Categories: Biology: Developmental, Offbeat: Plants and Animals

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Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Australian woman found with parasitic roundworm in her brain caught from carpet python      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The world's first case of a new parasitic infection in humans has been discovered by researchers who detected a live eight-centimeter roundworm from a carpet python in the brain of a 64- year-old Australian woman.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Scientists invent new way to sort cells by type using light      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed and demonstrated a new method for high-throughput single-cell sorting that uses stimulated Raman spectroscopy rather than the traditional approach of fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The new approach could offer a label-free, nondestructive way to sort cells for a variety of applications, including microbiology, cancer detection and cell therapy.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular
Published

Unlocking the secrets of cell antennas      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The NSL (non-specific lethal) complex regulates thousands of genes in fruit flies and mammals. Silencing the NSL genes leads to the death of the organism, which gave the complex its curious name. Researchers have now discovered that the genes regulated by the NSL complex also include genes of the intraciliary transport system. This enables different cell types to form cilia on their surface, which are important for cell communication. The study shows that these genes are 'switched on' by the NSL complex, regardless of whether a particular cell has cilia or not. The researchers found that this class of cilia-associated genes is crucial for the function of podocytes. This is a highly specialized cell type of the kidney that, paradoxically, does not have cilia. These findings have important implications for ciliopathies and kidney disease.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Move over pythons: These snakes are the real champion eaters      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Pythons have huge appetites, but which snake would win an eating contest? Surprisingly, it's a harmless little African snake that consumes eggs whole like an amuse-bouche.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology
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Epigenetic mechanism that causes bitter taste distortion discovered      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A bitter taste in the mouth is often a symptom or side effect of illness, which may be the result of how the body reacts to pathogens. A new study sheds light on the mechanisms involved in the complex interplay between taste perception and immune function. Their work also highlights the potential of a sequencing tool for investigating epigenetic mechanisms that affect taste-cell gene expression.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular
Published

Researchers describe rebuilding, regenerating lung cells      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered a novel approach for engrafting engineered cells into injured lung tissue. These findings may lead to new ways for treating lung diseases, such as emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis and COVID-19. The two studies describe the methodologies for engineering lung stem cells and transplanting them into injured experimental lungs without immunosuppression.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular
Published

The 'treadmill conveyor belt' ensuring proper cell division      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered how proteins work in tandem to regulate 'treadmilling', a mechanism used by the network of microtubules inside cells to ensure proper cell division.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Oceanography Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Scientists solve mystery of why thousands of octopus migrate to deep-sea thermal springs      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers used advanced technology to study a massive aggregation of deep-sea octopus gathered at thermal springs near an extinct underwater volcano off the coast of Central California. Warm water from hydrothermal springs accelerates development of octopus embryos, giving young octopus a better chance of survival. The Octopus Garden is the largest known aggregation of octopus on the planet -- the size of this nursery, and the abundance of other marine life that thrives in this rich community, highlight the need to understand and protect the hotspots of life on the deep seafloor from threats like climate change and seabed mining.

Biology: Evolutionary Offbeat: Plants and Animals Offbeat: Space Physics: General Space: Cosmology Space: General
Published

How a cup of water can unlock the secrets of our Universe      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A researcher made a discovery that could change our understanding of the universe. He reveals that there is a range in which fundamental constants can vary, allowing for the viscosity needed for life processes to occur within and between living cells. This is an important piece of the puzzle in determining where these constants come from and how they impact life as we know it.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Genetics Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Longevity gene from naked mole rats extends lifespan of mice      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a groundbreaking endeavor, researchers have successfully transferred a longevity gene from naked mole rats to mice, resulting in improved health and an extension of the mouse's lifespan. The research opens exciting possibilities for unlocking the secrets of aging and extending human lifespan.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Oceanography Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Barnacles may help reveal location of lost Malaysia Airlines flight MH370      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Geoscientists have created a new method that can reconstruct the drift path and origin of debris from flight MH370, an aircraft that went missing over the Indian Ocean in 2014 with 239 passengers and crew. 

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental
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Noncoding DNA explains a majority of the heritability of dairy cattle traits, like milk production and fertility      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Regulatory genes -- genes that control how other genes are used -- are responsible for 69% of the heritability of dairy cattle traits such as milk production and fertility, according to a new study. This contribution is 44% more than expected and much higher than previous studies of regulatory genes in humans. The findings, reported by a team of animal and human geneticists, could improve the efficiency of agricultural breeding programs. The study also helps solve the longstanding mystery of why mammalian genomes contain so much noncoding DNA.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

This fish doesn't just see with its eyes -- it also sees with its skin      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Without a mirror, it can be hard to tell if you're blushing, or have spinach in your teeth. But one color-changing fish has evolved a clever way to keep watch on the parts of itself that lie outside its field of view -- by sensing light with its skin.

Biology: Botany Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Heat sensor protects the Venus flytrap from fire      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The sensory hairs of the Venus flytrap contain a heat sensor that warns the plant of bush fires. It reacts to rapid temperature jumps, as researchers have discovered.

Archaeology: General Biology: Zoology Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils
Published

Researchers extract ancient DNA from a 2,900-year-old clay brick, revealing a time capsule of plant life      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

For the first time, a group of researchers have successfully extracted ancient DNA from a 2,900-year-old clay brick. The analysis provides a fascinating insight into the diversity of plant species cultivated at that time and place, and could open the way to similar studies on clay material from other sites and time periods.

Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Coffee offers performance boost for concrete      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers in Australia have found a way of making stronger concrete with roasted used-coffee grounds, to give the drink-additive a 'double shot' at life and reduce waste going to landfills. The team developed a technique to make concrete 30% stronger by turning waste coffee grounds into biochar, using a low-energy process without oxygen at 350 degrees Celsius.

Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Did sabertooth tigers purr or roar?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

When a sabertooth tiger called out, what noise did it make -- a mighty roar or a throaty purr? A new study examined the data behind the arguments for each vocalization and found that the answer was more nuanced than they thought -- and that it could depend on the shape of a few small bones.

Biology: Developmental
Published

Cracking the code that relates brain and behavior in a simple animal      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers model and map how neurons across the tiny brain of a C. elegans worm encode its behaviors, revealing many new insights about the robustness and flexibility of its nervous system.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

'Viral relicts' in the genome could fuel neurodegeneration      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Genetic remnants of viruses that are naturally present in the human genome could affect the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers come to this conclusion on the basis of studies on cell cultures.