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Categories: Biology: Molecular, Environmental: Biodiversity
Published How climate change risks increase at a national scale as the level of global warming increases
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have quantified how climate change risks to human and natural systems increase at a national scale as the level of global warming increases. A collection of eight studies -- all focusing on Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana and India -- shows that the risks of drought, flooding, declines in crop yields, and loss of biodiversity and natural capital greatly increase for each additional degree of global warming. The overarching picture for the accrual of climate risk across these countries as global warming increases from 1.5 C to 4 C above pre-industrial levels is presented.
Published Scientists develop novel RNA- or DNA-based substances to protect plants from viruses
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Individually tailored RNA or DNA-based molecules are able to reliably fight off viral infections in plants, according to a new study. The researchers were able to fend off a common virus using the new active substances in up to 90 per cent of cases. They also developed a method for finding substances tailored specifically to the virus. The team has now patented the method.
Published Uncertainty in measuring biodiversity change could hinder progress towards global targets for nature
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source More than ever before, there is a growing interest in dedicating resources to stop the loss of biodiversity, as recently exemplified by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) decided at COP15 in December 2022. The GBF focuses on understanding why biodiversity is declining and what actions are needed to reverse this trend. However, according to researchers, implementing the plan is challenging because information about biodiversity changes is not evenly available everywhere, and is uncertain in many places.
Published The Golgi organelle's ribbon structure is not exclusive to vertebrates, contrary to previous consensus
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers report that the Golgi ribbon, an organelle structure previously thought to be exclusive to vertebrates, is also present in animal taxa, including mollusks, earthworms, and sea urchins. The function of the Golgi ribbon is still enigmatic, but its presence in diverse animal lineages indicates that its function is not vertebrate specific, as previously thought. The team also showed Golgi ribbons form at a specific timepoint during embryogenesis, which suggests that they might play a role in cell differentiation.
Published Bottlenecks and beehives: How an invasive bee colony defied genetic expectations
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An invasive Asian honeybee colony in northern Australia has defied expectations, displaying emergent genetic variation in a short period of time. While bad news for biosecurity agencies, it could be a sign that species under pressure from climate change can be resilient.
Published How first cells could have formed on Earth
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New phospholipid discovery brings researchers closer to understanding how primordial cells emerged during origin of life.
Published Older African elephants will be most severely affected by the changing climate
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Older elephants in East Africa will be most severely impacted by climate change, threatening the long-term survival of this vulnerable African mammal, according to a new study.
Published New tool helps decipher gene behavior
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have extensively researched the structure and sequence of genetic material and its interactions with proteins in the hope of understanding how our genetics and environment interact in diseases. This research has partly focused on 'epigenetic marks', which are chemical modifications to DNA, RNA, and the associated proteins (known as histones).
Published Radio waves can tune up bacteria to become life-saving medicines
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have found a new way to alter the DNA of bacterial cells -- a process used to make many vital medicines including insulin -- much more efficiently than standard industry techniques.
Published Nanocarrier with escape reflex
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Protein-based drugs must be transported into cells in a way that prevents their immediate degradation. A new approach is intended to ensure that they remain intact only in certain cells, such as cancer cells. A Japanese research team has introduced a nanocarrier that can 'escape' from endosomes before its cargo is destroyed there. This ability to escape is only triggered within the endosomes of certain tumor cells.
Published Change in gene code may explain how human ancestors lost tails
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A genetic change in our ancient ancestors may partly explain why humans don't have tails like monkeys.
Published Low-Temperature Plasma used to remove E. coli from hydroponically grown crops
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source In a new study, a team sterilized a hydroponic nutrient solution using low-temperature plasma generated from electricity and the oxygen in the atmosphere. This new sterilization technique may allow farmers to grow crops without the use of chemical pesticides, representing an important advance in agricultural technology for sustainable crop production.
Published New discovery shows how cells defend themselves during stressful situations
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A recent study has unveiled an exciting discovery about how our cells defend themselves during stressful situations. The research shows that a tiny modification in the genetic material, called ac4C, acts as a crucial defender, helping cells create protective storage units known as stress granules. These stress granules safeguard important genetic instructions when the cell is facing challenges. The new findings could help shed light on relevant molecular pathways that could be targeted in disease.
Published Extinctions could result as fish change foraging behavior in response to rising temperatures
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Fish species respond to temperature increases by going after more readily available prey. Models suggest this behavior could lead to more extinctions.
Published Scientists use blue-green algae as a surrogate mother for 'meat-like' proteins
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have not only succeeded in using blue-green algae as a surrogate mother for a new protein -- they have even coaxed the microalgae to produce 'meat fiber-like' protein strands. The achievement may be the key to sustainable foods that have both the 'right' texture and require minimal processing.
Published Microbial comics: RNA as a common language, presented in extracellular speech-bubbles
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Decoding the conversations between microbes of hypersaline environments reveals deep insights into the origins of complex life.
Published Human stem cells coaxed to mimic the very early central nervous system
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The first stem cell culture method that produces a full model of the early stages of the human central nervous system has been developed by a team of engineers and biologists.
Published Cutting-edge 'protein lawnmower' created
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have designed the first synthetic protein-based motor which harnesses biological reactions to fuel and propel itself. 'Imagine if a Roomba could be powered only by the dirt it picks up,' says one of the authors of the study. The motor uses the digestive enzyme trypsin to cut the peptides and convert them into the energy it needs to propel itself.
Published The small intestine adapt its size according to nutrient intake
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Resizing of the intestine is a highly conserved strategy employed by a wide range of organisms to cope with fluctuation in nutrient availability. Nevertheless, very little is known about the mechanisms and signals underlying nutrient-mediated gut resizing. New research has identified one of the signaling pathways implicated in this process.
Published Biomolecular condensates -- regulatory hubs for plant iron supply
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Iron is a micronutrient for plants. Biologists now show that regulatory proteins for iron uptake behave particularly dynamically in the cell nucleus when the cells are exposed to blue light -- an important signal for plant growth. They found that the initially homogeneously distributed proteins relocated together into 'biomolecular condensates' in the cell nucleus shortly after this exposure.