Latest science news in Biology & Nature
NELL2-mediated lumicrine signaling through OVCH2 is required for male fertility
The lumicrine system is a postulated signaling system in which testis-derived (upstream) secreted factors enter the male reproductive tract to regulate epididymal (downstream) pathways required for sperm maturation. Until now,...
MTOR signaling orchestrates stress-induced mutagenesis, facilitating adaptive evolution in cancer
In microorganisms, evolutionarily conserved mechanisms facilitate adaptation to harsh conditions through stress-induced mutagenesis (SIM). Analogous processes may underpin progression and therapeutic failure in human cancer. We describe SIM in multiple...
Restoring light sensitivity using tunable near-infrared sensors
Enabling near-infrared light sensitivity in a blind human retina may supplement or restore visual function in patients with regional retinal degeneration. We induced near-infrared light sensitivity using gold nanorods bound...
The structure of human CST reveals a decameric assembly bound to telomeric DNA
The CTC1-STN1-TEN1 (CST) complex is essential for telomere maintenance and resolution of stalled replication forks genome-wide. Here, we report the 3.0-angstrom cryo–electron microscopy structure of human CST bound to telomeric...
Man finds 40 baby snakes living inside home air conditioner
An India resident who noticed baby snakes inside his home opened up his air conditioning unit and found about 40 snakes slithering around inside.
Novel switch protein that 'turns on' sperm for fertilization
For a sperm to fertilize an egg, the sperm must first mature in a man's epididymis. Now, an international team of researchers has identified a chain of events in which...
Plant detectives develop new way to trace global spread of major plant disease
A team led by Oregon State University scientists has developed a way to potentially thwart the spread of a disease-causing bacterium that harms more than hundred plant species worldwide, an...
Court cancels dicamba herbicide registration
Ruling nixes the use of herbicides formulated to spray on popular genetically modified soybean varieties
Butterfly-inspired nanotech makes natural-looking pictures on digital screens
Taking inspiration from nature's nanotech that creates the stunning color of butterfly wings, a University of Central Florida researcher is creating technology to make extremely low-power, ultra-high-definition displays and screens...
Atomic blueprint of 'molecular machine' reveals role in membrane protein installation
Scientists have revealed the first known atomic structure of a 'molecular machine' responsible for installing critical signaling proteins into cellular membranes. The findings shed new light on how this process...
DNA crossovers can drive healthy, abnormal sperm, egg cell division
Human genetic diversity wouldn't be possible without DNA crossovers in egg and sperm cells. Two studies provide new insights into how crossovers go right -- and wrong, leading to infertility,...
Egg-based coating preserves fresh produce
Eggs that would otherwise be wasted can be used as the base of an inexpensive coating to protect fruits and vegetables.
New role assigned to a human protein in transcription and genome stability
Transcription of genetic information is a fundamental process for life. If it does not work correctly, the consequences for the organism range from lethality to defects during development, genetic diseases,...
Fluorescence bioimaging: Near-infrared fluorescence imaging of living subjects
Scientists can monitor biomolecular processes in live tissue by noninvasive optical methods, such as fluorescence imaging. However, the fluorescent dyes used for that purpose are often rather unstable, and photobleaching,...
Discovery of a novel gene involved in DNA damage repair and male fertility
A research group from the Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG) at Kumamoto University, Japan has discovered that the gene C19ORF57 plays a critical role in meiosis. The gene...
redHUMAN: Deciphering links between genes and metabolism
In the last two decades, the life sciences have seen a growing partnership with information technology. The main drive behind this is the need to process and integrate enormous volumes...
Mothers ensure their offspring's success through epigenetics
Parents pass genes along to their offspring traits that equip them for life. In recent years, research has shown that the reality is much more complex and that parents endow...
Egg-based coating preserves fresh produce
Eggs that would otherwise be wasted can be used as the base of an inexpensive coating to protect fruits and vegetables, according to Rice University researchers.
Meet the hard-working microbes that make your favorite cheeses
Data from UMass Boston and Dairy Connection Inc. (Infographic by Sara Chodosh/)Every bite of cheese you’ve ever taken owes its funk and flavor to the community of microbes living inside it. The original...
New microscopy method provides unprecedented look at amyloid protein structure
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are often accompanied by amyloid proteins in the brain that have become clumped or misfolded. A newly developed technique that measures the orientation...
Stable and functional dyes for near-infrared fluorescence imaging of living subjects
Scientists can monitor biomolecular processes in live tissue by noninvasive optical methods, such as fluorescence imaging. However, the fluorescent dyes used for that purpose are often rather unstable, and photobleaching,...
Harvard bee experts discuss the murder hornet threat
They’re here. Native to East Asia, the so-called murder hornets were spotted in North America for the first time late last year and just again in May. The presence of the predators,...
Asian tiger mosquito gains ground in Illinois
Researchers report that the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has become more abundant across Illinois in the past three decades. Its spread is problematic, as the mosquito can transmit diseases—like...
A tiny arctic shrub reveals secrets of plant growth on Svalbard
The polar willow (Salix polaris) may not seem like much when you look at it—just a jumble of tiny green leaves in a dense mat that pokes out of the...
World's most sensitive strain sensor can detect the weight of a feather
Scientists have unveiled the world's most sensitive strain sensor, capable of detecting the weight of a single feather.
Back from extinction: a world first effort to return threatened pangolins to the wild
Pangolins are one of the most illegally trafficked animals on the planet and are suspected to be linked to the current coronavirus pandemic.
New studies show how DNA crossovers can drive healthy, abnormal sperm, egg cell division
In the famous words of movie character Forrest Gump, "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get."
Small protein, big impact: ProQ found to aid in DNA repair
Meningococci are bacteria that can cause life-threatening meningitis and sepsis. These pathogens use a small protein with a large impact: The RNA-binding protein ProQ is involved in the activation of...