Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Dallas Zoo drops plan to ship elephant to Mexico
(AP) -- Jenny the lonely elephant, whose pending move from the Dallas Zoo to Mexico had angered activists, isn't going anywhere after all.
New Technology Silences Genes: Suppressing Disease-causing Genes Is Now Within Reach
Researchers have developed a new gene silencing technology that could be used to target genes that can lead to the development of certain diseases. This technology could pave the way...
Ant royalty is about both nature and nurture
A new study found that an ant's social status in its colony depends both on its genetic inheritance and the food it eats when it is young.
Taking the bite out of shark DNA
(PhysOrg.com) -- Extracting shark DNA has been somewhat of a challenge in the past, with scientists having to overcome the obvious hurdles associated with carrying out biopsies on live and...
Spice-based compound may kill cancer cells
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've used a spice-based compound as a starting point to develop synthetic molecules able to kill cancer cells.
Hydrogels: Scaffolding for bone cells
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have developed hyaluronic hydrogels that might provide suitable scaffolding for bone regeneration.
Wireworms eating through P.E.I. potatoes
A handful of potato growers along P.E.I.'s south shore are battling a tiny worm that could wipe out their crops.
Icahn Boosts Biotech Activity
Dealmaker moves on several fronts to shake up the drug industry.
Bipolar Disorder And Gene Abnormalities: Sodium, Calcium Imbalances Linked To Manic Depressive Episodes
A large genetic study of bipolar disorder has implicated machinery that balances levels of sodium and calcium in neurons. The disorder was associated with variation in two genes that make...
Analysis Of Lake Washington Microbes Shows The Power Of Metagenomic Approaches
Today's powerful sequencing machines can rapidly read the genomes of entire communities of microbes, but the challenge is to extract meaningful information from the jumbled reams of data. Scientists have...
Lab animal use 'tops 100 million'
A new analysis claims the number of animals used worldwide in laboratory experiments is close to 115 million.
Avian botulism confirmed in Lake Michigan
LUDINGTON, Mich., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Biologists have confirmed the first cases of avian botulism on Lake Michigan this year.
Improved technique determines structure in membrane proteins
Understanding the form and function of certain proteins in the human body is becoming faster and easier, thanks to the work of researchers at the University of Illinois.
India offers money to villagers to vacate tiger reserves
India on Saturday offered money to villagers to vacate wildlife reserves in a bid to save the country's tigers from extinction, officials said.
Egypt: Septuplets' mother hopes to hold them soon
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- An Egyptian mother of septuplets says she's only seen her babies on TV but hopes to hold them and name them soon....
Feature: Scientific monitoring helps Eamons record-breaking swims
Natural talent and strength played a big part in Eamon Sullivan’s record-breaking performance at the Beijing Olympics but science also played a significant role by allowing his training to occur...
Salmon choose sperm from afar
Female salmon choose the father of their offspring from afar, by releasing ovarian fluid that either helps or hinders sperm swiftness, research has found.
By amplifying cell death signals, scientists make precancerous cells self-destruct
When a cell begins to multiply in a dangerously abnormal way, a series of death signals trigger it to self-destruct before it turns cancerous. Now, in research to appear in...
MSU to create genomic clearinghouse for biofuel crops
Michigan State University scientists, armed with a half-million-dollar federal grant, are creating an easily accessible, Web-based genomic database of information on crops that can be used to make ethanol.
In Germany, wandering whale creates wonderment
(AP) -- Germans have been treated to the rare sight of a lone and wayward humpback whale swimming in the Baltic Sea, but marine biologists said it may be...
Discovery of plant protein holds promise for biofuel production
Scientists at Michigan State University have identified a new protein necessary for chloroplast development. The discovery could ultimately lead to plant varieties tailored specifically for biofuel production.
Eyes regulate sleep cycles
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Aug. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. biologists said they've discovered the switching mechanism in the eye that helps the brain regulate activity and rest cycles in mammals.
Rare beetle killing So. Calif. oak trees
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- A rare beetle is attacking oak trees in Southern California's Cleveland National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service said.
Synthetic Biology Is Bearing Fruit: Blockers Against Blockers
Synthetic Biology is bearing fruit: the tuberculosis pathogen can be fooled by a widely used food additive. The WHO records around nine million new cases of the disease each year,...
Pacific dives recover novel fish
Marine biologists being filmed for a BBC TV series see an astonishing 13 new fish species on an expedition in the Pacific.
Mediterranean fruit flies wiped out, California says
The Medfly infestation is officially over with the imminent lifting of a quarantine in Los Angeles County and the declaration of victory in two other counties. ...
Instant insight: Tasting the chemistry
Susan Ebeler, University of California, Davis, US, reveals the science behind the flavour in everyone’s favourite tipple
Getting to grips with complex chirality
A proposal for defining the chirality of octahedral complexes with chelate ligands has been put forward