Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Replicating a genome starts with a twist, a pinch, and a bit of a dance
DNA replication begins with a set of proteins -- the Origin of Replication Complex (ORC). Researchers published images of the human ORC in exquisite detail, showing how it changes shapes...
CRISPR start-up Graphite Bio launches with $45 million for targeted DNA integration
Firm's initial focus is sickle cell disease, based on work by Stanford scientist Matthew Porteus
A new species of spider
During a research stay in the highlands of Colombia conducted as part of her doctorate, a PhD student has discovered and zoologically described a new species of spider.
Scientists identify gene family key to unlocking vertebrate evolution
New research finds that the traits that make vertebrates distinct from invertebrates were made possible by the emergence of a new set of genes 500 million years ago, documenting an...
Endangered wildlife, habitat burned in Washington's wildfires
Entire wildlife areas have been destroyed and endangered populations of animals gravely depleted by wildfires burning in Eastern Washington.
Coconut rhinoceros beetle makes unexpected 'host shift' to Guam's cycad trees
Researchers have documented what biologists call a 'host shift' of the coconut rhinoceros beetle in Guam. The beetle, first documented as an invasive species in Guam in 2007, has been...
Building bridges: PARP enzymes bring broken DNA together
Researchers capture the structure of PARP enzymes at work, leading to a new understanding of DNA repair that may aid cancer treatments targeting the process.
Marine animals live where ocean is most breathable, ranges may shrink with climate change
New research shows that a wide variety of marine animals -- from vertebrates to crustaceans to mollusks -- already inhabit the maximum range of breathable ocean that their physiology will...
Real Neurons are Noisy. Can Neural Implants Figure That Out?
If human eyes came in a package, it would have to be labeled “Natural product. Some variation may occur.” Because the million-plus retinal ganglion cells that send signals to the...
Scientists explain how diverse species coexist in microbial communities
Diversity in many biological communities is a sign of an ecosystem in balance. When one species dominates, the entire system can go haywire. For example, the uncontrolled overgrowth of certain...
Next-gen organoids grow and function like real tissues
Bioengineers have created miniature intestines in a dish that match up anatomically and functionally to the real thing better than any other lab-grown tissue models. The biological complexity and longevity...
Mapping cavefish brains leads to neural origin of behavioral evolution
For more than 1 million years, independent cavefish populations that are geographically and hydrologically isolated from one another have evolved to include about 29 different populations. Among them, the tiny...
Native stinging tree toxins match the pain of spiders and scorpions
The painful toxins wielded by a giant Australian stinging tree are surprisingly similar to the venom found in spiders and cone snails, University of Queensland researchers have found.
Minnesota moose will not be listed as federally endangered species
Minnesota and Midwestern moose will not be listed as a federally endangered species, putting to bed a petition that's been under review for five years.
Scientists update genome editing technology
Researchers from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) in collaboration with colleagues from the Pavlov University, ITMO University, and the University of Hamburg compared their developed carriers for...
Scientists identify gene family key to unlocking vertebrate evolution
New University of Colorado Boulder-led research finds that the traits that make vertebrates distinct from invertebrates were made possible by the emergence of a new set of genes 500 million...
COVID-19 virus uses heparan sulfate to get inside cells
Researchers discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can't grab hold of cell receptor ACE2 without a carbohydrate called heparan sulfate, which is also found on lung cell surfaces -- disrupting that...
Replicating a genome starts with a twist, a pinch, and a bit of a dance
The most basic activity of a living thing is to turn one copy of its genome into two copies, crafting one cell into two. That replication event begins with a...
Sharp attention explains why the early bird gets the worm
Many of the characteristics related to auditory attention in birds match those of humans, according to a study from the University at Buffalo.
Research opens the way to new drugs
Research by a team at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington's School of Biological Sciences dispels the belief that on the assembly line of enzymes there is a "proof-reading" mechanism...
Migration shapes patterns of disease transmission
Long-distance animal migrations can trigger relapse of dormant infections, influencing when and where infection risk peaks, according to a new paper in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The findings...
Coconut rhinoceros beetle makes unexpected 'host shift' to Guam's cycad trees
Researchers at the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center at the University of Guam have documented what biologists call a "host shift" of the coconut rhinoceros beetle in Guam. The beetle,...
Anti-reflective coating inspired by fly eyes
The eyes of many insects, including the fruit fly, are covered by a thin, transparent coating made up of tiny protuberances with anti-reflective, anti-adhesive properties. An article published in the...
RNA information transfer could be used in repairing DNA
Genomes are routinely subjected to DNA damage. But most cells have DNA repair systems that enforce genome stability and, ideally, prevent diseases like cancer. The trouble gets serious when these...
Bee brain size found to be related to diet diversity
An international team of researchers has found that the size of a bee's brain appears to be related to what it eats. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings...
The biggest fish in the sea are females, survey shows
Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea, and the biggest whale sharks are females, according to a new survey.
Tail regeneration in lungfish provides insight into evolution of limb regrowth
For most vertebrates, losing a limb is permanent, but a lucky few species—such as salamanders and tadpoles—have the ability to completely regrow complex body parts. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying...
Short cut to breed better non-GMO crops
Utrecht scientists have demonstrated a new non-GMO technology to develop new crops at a fraction of the cost of traditional breeding. By engineering the genes of bacteria that surround the...