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Categories: Biology: Genetics, Paleontology: Early Mammals and Birds
Published Can't stop binging on fries and BBQ?
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source People overeat and become overweight for a variety of reasons. The fact that flavorful high-calorie food is often available nearly everywhere at any time doesn't help. Researchers have determined for the first time why certain chemicals in cooked or processed foods, called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, increase hunger and test our willpower or ability to make healthy choices when it comes to food.
Published Peering inside cells to see how they respond to stress
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The heat shock response of cells is a classic model of biological adaptation, part of the fundamental processes of life -- conserved in creatures from single-celled yeast to humans -- that allow our cells to adjust to changing conditions in their environment. For years, scientists have focused on how different genes respond to heat stress to understand this survival technique. Now, thanks to the innovative use of advanced imaging techniques, researchers are getting an unprecedented look at the inner machinery of cells to see how they respond to heat stress.
Published Climate change coping mechanism discovered in humble algae
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source One of the building blocks of ocean life can adapt to cope with the effects of climate change, according to new research. The discovery holds promises for biotechnology developments that could counter the negative effects of changing environmental conditions, such as ocean warming and even the reduction in the productivity of crops.
Published Fecal microbe transplants: B. vulgatus genes that correlate with early colonization
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Fecal microbe transplants from healthy donors can treat patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infections. However, after tens of thousands transplants, little was known about which donor strains provide long-term engraftment, and which engraft early after the transplant. Most failures of fecal microbe transplantation occur in the first four weeks. Researchers have now found 19 Bacteroides vulgatus genes that were unique to three strains that show early engraftment in patients after a fecal transplant, as opposed to seven strains that did not show early engraftment.
Published 200-year-old DNA helps map tiny fly's genetic course to new lands, modern times
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have extracted and analyzed DNA from fruit flies housed in museum collections in Lund, Stockholm and Copenhagen. Surprisingly, the researchers found the fruit flies collected in Sweden in the early 1800s were more genetically similar to 21st century flies than the Swedish samples from the 1930s.
Published Scientists generate first single-cell 'atlas' of the primate brain to help explore links between molecules, cells, brain function and disease
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source As part of the effort to better understand the evolution of the brains in people and animals, a research team has generated the world's largest primate brain-wide atlas.
Published Scientists unveil detailed cell maps of the human brain and the nonhuman primate brain
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A group of international scientists have mapped the genetic, cellular, and structural makeup of the human brain and the nonhuman primate brain. This understanding of brain structure allows for a deeper knowledge of the cellular basis of brain function and dysfunction, helping pave the way for a new generation of precision therapeutics for people with mental disorders and other disorders of the brain.
Published Honey bees may inherit altruistic behavior from their mothers
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source True altruism is rare behavior in animals, but a new study has found that honey bees display this trait. Additionally, they found that an evolutionary battle of genetics may determine the parent they inherit it from.
Published Win-win in muscle research: Faster results and fewer laboratory animals thanks to new method
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source To study muscle diseases, scientists rely on the mouse as a model organism. Researchers have now developed a new method that is not only faster and more efficient than conventional ones but also greatly reduces the number of experimental animals needed for studying the function of genes in muscle fibers.
Published Extraordinary fossil find reveals details about the weight and diet of extinct saber-toothed marsupial
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A 13-million-year-old saber-toothed marsupial skeleton discovered during paleontological explorations in Colombia is the most complete specimen recovered in the region.
Published Omega-3 discovery moves us closer to 'precision nutrition' for better health
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have obtained new insights into how African-American and Hispanic-American people’s genes influence their ability to use Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for good health. The findings are an important step toward “precision nutrition” – where a diet tailored to exactly what our bodies need can help us live longer, healthier lives.
Published Doubling down on known protein families
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A massive computational analysis of microbiome datasets has more than doubled the number of known protein families. This is the first time protein structures have been used to help characterize the vast array of microbial 'dark matter.'
Published Death is only the beginning: Birds disperse eaten insects' eggs
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Relationship patterns among flightless stick insects suggest that birds disperse the eggs after eating gravid females. Lab experiments previously suggested the possibility, but a new genetic analysis of natural populations in Japan now supports the idea.
Published Race to find world's oldest mammal fossils led to mud-slinging
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The hunt for the world’s most ancient mammals descended into academic warfare in the seventies, researchers have discovered.
Published Newfound mechanism suggests drug combination could starve pancreatic cancer
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A study found that a new combination of treatments safely decreased growth of pancreatic cancer in mice by preventing cancer cells from scavenging for fuel.
Published Epigenetic regulator MOF drives mitochondrial metabolism
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have unveiled a new mechanism for regulating mitochondrial function. The findings reveal the critical role played by the enzymatic activity of the lysine acetyltransferase MOF in maintaining mitochondrial integrity and function through acetylation of mitochondrial electron transport chain component COX17. Cells lacking MOF-mediated COX17 acetylation exhibit dramatic mitochondrial defects and impaired ability to produce energy. Underscoring the clinical relevance of these findings, the team also showed that cells from human patients with a developmental disorder caused by mutations in MOF also exhibited respiratory defects that could be ameliorated by interventions such as acetylation-mimetic COX17 or mitochondrially targeted MOF.
Published How male mosquitoes compensate for having only one X chromosome
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have discovered the master regulator responsible for balancing the expression of X chromosome genes between males and females in the malaria mosquito. This discovery helps scientists better understand the evolution of the epigenetic mechanisms responsible for equalizing gene expression between the sexes. The findings may contribute to the development of new ways to prevent the spread of malaria.
Published Natural GM crops: Grasses take evolutionary shortcut by borrowing genes from their neighbors
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Grass may transfer genes from their neighbors in the same way genetically modified crops are made, a new study has revealed.
Published New discovery may 'unlock' the future of infectious disease and cancer treatment
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have identified a 'guard mechanism' for a protein which attacks microbes in infected cells, opening the possibility of new treatments for Toxoplasma, Chlamydia, Tuberculosis and even cancer.
Published The end of genes: Routine test reveals unique divergence in genetic code
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists testing a new method of sequencing single cells have unexpectedly changed our understanding of the rules of genetics. The genome of a protist has revealed a seemingly unique divergence in the DNA code signalling the end of a gene, suggesting the need for further research to better understand this group of diverse organisms.