Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Human-specific ARHGAP11B increases size and folding of primate neocortex in the fetal marmoset
The neocortex has expanded during mammalian evolution. Overexpression studies in developing mouse and ferret neocortex have implicated the human-specific gene ARHGAP11B in neocortical expansion, but the relevance for primate evolution...
ANGEL2 is a member of the CCR4 family of deadenylases with 2',3'-cyclic phosphatase activity
RNA molecules are frequently modified with a terminal 2',3'-cyclic phosphate group as a result of endonuclease cleavage, exonuclease trimming, or de novo synthesis. During pre-transfer RNA (tRNA) and unconventional messenger...
An immune system quirk may help anglerfish fuse with mates during sex
For deep-sea anglerfishes, sex resembles an organ transplant. It’s hard to find a partner in the dark depths, so a tiny male anglerfish fuses its tissues to a more massive female during mating,...
Ancient mountain formation and monsoons helped create a modern biodiversity hotspot
One of the big questions in biology is why certain plants and animals are found in some places and not others. Figuring out how species evolve and spread, and why...
Stay or leave? A tale of two virus strategies revealed by math
As small and relatively simple as they may be, even viruses have strategies. Now, researchers in Japan report that they can evaluate two of these strategies through a combination of...
New understanding of CRISPR-Cas9 tool could improve gene editing
Within a mere eight years, CRISPR-Cas9 has become the go-to genome editor for both basic research and gene therapy. But CRISPR-Cas9 also has spawned other potentially powerful DNA manipulation tools...
Aidan Gallagher teases Season 2 ‘Umbrella Academy’ bloodbath
Aidan Gallagher says Season 2 of Netflix's superhero drama, "The Umbrella Academy," will show his character, Five, like he never has been seen before.
Researchers discover a new and unique class of carbohydrate receptors
An international team of researchers led by Aarhus University are the first to determine the crystal structure of an exopolysaccharide receptor. The results give insight into how plants and microbes...
Cubs' Kris Bryant turns rare triple play in loss to Reds
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant completed a triple play during a loss to the Cincinnati Reds, but he needed a little help from an umpire to complete the rare...
Rapid test for the determination of antibodies against Sars-Cov-2
Researchers present a test that determines the amount of neutralizing antibodies within a short period of time.
Whale airway mucus reveals likely poor health during migration
Researchers have linked the burden of humpback whales' annual migration to depleted microbial diversity in their airways - an indicator of overall health.
In defence mode: This is how Zika virus protects key parts of its genome
To fight viruses, cells can deploy defense enzymes that progressively destroy viral genome strands starting from one of the two strand ends. However, this degradation mechanism is not effective against...
Remote islands: Stepping stones to understanding evolution
For millions of years, remote islands have been hotbeds of biodiversity, where unique species have flourished. Scientists have proposed different theories to explain how animals and plants colonize and evolve...
Inbreeding detrimental for survival
Biologists have long known that inbreeding can be detrimental. Inbreeding results in less genetic variation, making species more vulnerable if changes occur that require them to adapt.
Gorilla relationships limited in large groups
Mountain gorillas that live in oversized groups may have to limit the number of strong social relationships they form, new research suggests.
Underwater robots reveal daily habits of endangered whales
Research has revealed the daily habits of the endangered Mediterranean sperm whale. The recordings confirmed the whales' widespread presence in the north-western Mediterranean Sea and identified a possible hotspot for...
Copper-catalyzed enantioselective trifluoromethylation of benzylic radicals developed
Scientists from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have developed the first copper-catalyzed enantioselective trifluoromethylation of benzylic radicals via a copper-catalyzed radical relay...
First gene knockout in cephalopod achieved
A team at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) has achieved the first gene knockout in a cephalopod using the squid Doryteuthis pealeii, an exceptionally important research organism in biology for...
Solar-powered animal tracker transforms how researchers collect data on animals in wild
A new solar-powered animal tracker promises to transform the collection of environmental and behavioural data, greatly improving animal welfare.
This molecule helps sweet-toothed protein complex sense sugar
In order to grow and thrive, cells need sugar. A repertoire of cellular mechanisms turn unwieldy molecules of glucose and fructose into versatile building blocks for making useful molecules such...
Images of antibodies as they neutralize the COVID-19 virus
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe in the first half of 2020, researchers worldwide worked around-the-clock to understand and combat it.
Caught in the act: Microscopy reveals key detail in retrovirus replication
A protein that is critical for retrovirus replication may select viral genetic material for packaging within the nuclei of host cells, rather than in the cytoplasm, as was previously believed....
Look: Blue Ivy appears in trailer for Beyonce's 'Black is King'
Beyoncé shared a teaser for "Black is King," her visual album based on "The Lion King: The Gift," featuring her daughter Blue Ivy.
Whale snot reveals likely poor health during migration
Whale-watching season is delighting the viewing public along the east Australian coast but while it's a boon for the tourism industry, for the majestic humpback whale it's potentially a time...
Scientists expose fascinating 'compartments' in bacteria
Bacteria—tiny and in some cases deadly single-celled organisms—are far more complex than commonly thought.
New maps of chemical marks on DNA pinpoint regions relevant to many developmental diseases
In research that aims to illuminate the causes of human developmental disorders, Salk scientists have generated 168 new maps of chemical marks on strands of DNA—called methylation—in developing mice.
Chemists craft molecular scalpels to clear unwanted proteins from cell surfaces
When scientists find a potentially dangerous protein on a cell, they might imagine shrinking themselves down to become tiny surgeons, cutting out just the problematic molecule and leaving the healthy...
Epigenetics and cell diversity in the embryo
A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin has explored the role of factors in embryonic development that do not alter the sequence of DNA,...