Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Clicking knees are antelopes' way of saying 'back off'
Knee clicking can establish mating rights among antelopes. A study of eland antelopes, published in the open access journal BMC Biology, has uncovered the dominance displays used by males to...
Women really do have cooties
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study indicates that not only do human hands harbor far higher numbers of bacteria species than previously believed, women have a significantly greater...
How Body Determines Optimal Amount Of Germ-fighting B Cells
Researchers can now explain how the body determines whether there are enough mature B-cells in the blood stream at any one time.
Biodiesel from forest fungus
Patagonian fungus that converts cellulose to biodiesel could challenge theories on fossil fuel origins
Being unique has advantages: 'Rareness' key to some insects being favored by evolution
As the saying goes- blondes have more fun, but in the world of insects it may actually be the rare 'redheads' that have the last laugh….at least in terms of...
Famous French Artist's Genetic Disorder Sheds Light On Enzyme's Role In Bone Metabolism
Pycnodysostosis, a condition from which the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec suffered, is a genetic disease characterized by short stature. This rare disease, surprisingly, provides a window into how joints are...
Observatory: Commercial Production of Chickens Takes Toll on Genetic Diversity
Scientists report that fifty percent or more of the diversity of ancestral breeds of chickens has been lost.
Synthetic chemical boosts metabolism
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A French study using mice suggests an experimental drug can protect against obesity and metabolic diseases associated with a high-fat diet.
Poultry industry may need genetic restock
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. animal scientists say the poultry industry's commercial chickens are missing more than half the genetic diversity native to the species.
'Junk' DNA Proves Functional; Helps Explain Human Differences From Other Species
In a new study, scientists in Singapore report that what was previously believed to be "junk" DNA is one of the important ingredients distinguishing humans from other species.
Drug Mimics Low-cal Diet To Ward Off Weight Gain, Boost Running Endurance
A drug designed to specifically hit a protein linked to the life-extending benefits of a meager diet can essentially trick the body into believing food is scarce even when it...
Genes That Prevent Changes In Physical Traits Due To Environmental Changes Identified
Biologists have identified genes that prevent physical traits from being affected by environmental changes. The research, which studied the genetic makeup of baker's yeast, appears in the Public Library of...
Ecologists Say Metabolism Accounts For Why Natural Selection Favors Only Some Species
Why are some species of plants and animals favored by natural selection? And why does natural selection not favor other species similarly? According to a new study, the answer lies...
Scientists map molecular regulation of fat-cell genetics
A research team led by Mitchell Lazar, MD, PhD, Director of the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, has used state-of-the-art genetic...
How likely is mammoth cloning?
There's a child-like glee in knowing that off the back of recent experiments, scientists may try to "resurrect" long dead Woolly Mammoths that keeled over in the Siberian permafrost 11,000...
Malaysian police seize 10,000 endangered turtle eggs
Malaysia police said Tuesday they have seized a massive haul of 10,000 endangered turtle eggs which were destined for sale in food markets on Borneo island.
Homosexual Beetle Activity Offers Reproductive Edge
Among flour beetles, male homosexuality can up the chances of reproducing with the opposite sex, a new study finds.
Watching microorganisms at work: Minorities accomplish most
A novel nanoSIMS-based technology provides unprecedented insights into the activity of single cells with surprising results.
MIT captures single-cell response to vaccination
MIT engineers have painted the most detailed portrait yet of how single cells from the immune system respond to vaccination. The work, reported in the online edition of the Proceedings...
Rainforest fungus makes diesel
A unique fungus that makes diesel compounds has been discovered living in trees in the rainforest, according to a paper published in the November issue of Microbiology. The fungus is...
New hybrid plants could prompt more prodigious pepper production in Southwest
By themselves or as an ingredient in a variety of foods, including salsa, America's top-selling condiment, peppers have found a warm spot in the hearts and stomachs of U.S. consumers...
Light up your life processes
A modified enzyme could light the way to better imaging of brain tumours
Tropical farms 'aid biodiversity'
Long established, low-impact farming methods can help sustain the biodiversity of tropical forests, a study shows.
Improbable research: how Woody the living hammer hit the spot
Improbable research into how to make a better, lighter hammer involved two mechanical engineering students carrying out a post-mortem on a dead woodpecker
Recipes for Health: Quinoa: A Protein-Packed Alternative to Grains
Quinoa, with its mild, nutty flavor, is related to leafy green vegetables and is often used like a grain.
Researchers discover gene that helps control the production of stomach acid
University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have discovered a gene that helps control the secretion of acid in the stomach—information that could one day aid scientists in creating more efficient treatment...
Roads Bring Death And Fear To Forest Elephants
Why did the elephant cross the road? It didn't according to a new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Save the Elephants that says endangered forest elephants are avoiding...
Researchers describe how cells take out the trash to prevent disease
Garbage collectors are important for removing trash; without them waste accumulates and can quickly become a health hazard. Similarly, individual cells that make up such biological organisms as humans also...