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Gourmet butterflies speed north

A new study led by scientists in the Department of Biology at the University of York has shown how a butterfly has changed its diet, and consequently has sped northwards in response to climate change.

CSHL researchers solve structure of human protein critical for silencing genes

This is a schematic representation of the hAgo2-miR-20a complex with the PAZ domain in red and the Mid domain in green. The microRNA, shown in stick representation, is anchored at its ends in the PAZ and Mid domains and tracks along the RNA binding groove.In a study published in the journal Cell on May 24, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) scientists describe the three-dimensional atomic structure of a human protein bound to a piece...

Nuisance seaweed found to produce compounds with biomedical potential

A seaweed considered a threat to the healthy growth of coral reefs in Hawaii may possess the ability to produce substances that could one day treat human diseases, a new...

A whale of a discovery: New sensory organ found in rorqual whales

Scientists at the University of British Columbia and the Smithsonian Institution have discovered a sensory organ in rorqual whales that coordinates its signature lunge-feeding behaviour -- and may help explain...

Top 10 new species list draws attention to diverse biosphere

The top 10 new species list was announced May 23 by the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University. The 2012 list includes a teensy attack wasp, night-blooming orchid, underworld worm, ancient “walking cactus” creature, blue tarantula, Nepalese poppy, giant millipede, sneezing monkey, fungus named for a TV cartoon character and a beautiful but venomous jellyfish.The International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University and a committee of scientists from around the world announced their picks for the top 10 new species described in...

Hacking code of leaf vein architecture solves mysteries, allows predictions of past climate

UCLA life scientists have discovered new laws that determine the construction of leaf vein systems as leaves grow and evolve. These easy-to-apply mathematical rules can now be used to better...

New frog species from Panama dyes fingers yellow

This is a yellow dyer rain frog while calling, with the air sacs exposed.A new bright yellow frog species has been found in the mountains of western Panama. The frog belongs to a species-rich group of frogs, the so called rainfrogs that lack...

New study shows how nanotechnology can help detect disease earlier

A new study led by University of Kentucky researchers shows a new way to precisely detect a single chemical at extremely low concentrations and high contamination.

New means of safeguarding world fish stocks proven

Powerful and versatile new genetic tools that will assist in safeguarding both European fish stocks and European consumers is reported in Nature Communications. The paper reports on the first system...

Mercury in dolphins: Study compares toxin levels in captive and wild sea mammals

Sue Hunter, the National Aquarium's director of animal programs and marine mammals, examines a resident dolphin.Amid growing concerns about the spread of harmful mercury in plants and animals, a new study by researchers from The Johns Hopkins University and The National Aquarium has compared levels...

Hitting snooze on the molecular clock: Rabies evolves slower in hibernating bats

The rate at which the rabies virus evolves in bats may depend heavily upon the ecological traits of its hosts, according to researchers at the University of Georgia, the U.S....

Gene study could pave way for non-hormonal male contraceptive

A new type of male contraceptive could be created thanks to the discovery of a key gene essential for sperm development.

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UMass Amherst wildlife researcher photographs rare Sumatran rabbit

Researchers recently captured photos of a rare striped rabbit in Sumatra with camera traps.Using camera traps, wildlife researchers including doctoral candidate Jennifer McCarthy and environmental conservation professor Todd Fuller of the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently captured photographs of one of the rarest...

DNA evidence shows that marine reserves help to sustain fisheries

Researchers reporting online on May 24 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology present the first evidence that areas closed to all fishing are helping to sustain valuable Australian fisheries....

Researchers find a way to delay aging of stem cells

These fluorescent microscope images of testes from young (left) and old (right) fruit flies show the effect of aging on the stem cell niche (top center). The hub cells (red) that function as part of the stem cells' supporting niche express more of a microRNA known as let-7 (green) in aged flies, which changes the signaling properties of hub cells, leading to fewer stem cells surrounding the hub that are available for tissue maintenance.Stem cells are essential building blocks for all organisms, from plants to humans. They can divide and renew themselves throughout life, differentiating into the specialized tissues needed during development, as...

Newly modified nanoparticle opens window on future gene editing technologies

Members of Kan Wang's research team gather in a Hach Hall meeting area dedicated to the late Victor Lin of Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory. From left to right are Wang, a professor of agronomy; Justin Valenstein, a doctoral student in chemistry; Susana Martin-Ortigosa, a post-doctoral research associate in Wang's lab; and Brian Trewyn, an associate scientist in chemistry.The scientific and technological literature is abuzz with nanotechnology and its manufacturing and medical applications. But it is in an area with a less glitzy aura-plant sciences-where nanotechnology advancements are...

Not a 1-way street: Evolution shapes environment of Connecticut lakes

Evolutionary changes in the alewife triggered by dams built by Colonial settlers changed the ecology of Connecticut lakes, Yale researchers have found.Environmental change is the selective force that preserves adaptive traits in organisms and is a primary driver of evolution. However, it is less well known that evolutionary change in organisms...

For monogamous sparrows, it doesn't pay to stray (but they do it anyway)

It's quite common for a female song sparrow to stray from her breeding partner and mate with the male next door, but a new study shows that sleeping around can...

Richer parasite diversity leads to healthier frogs, says University of Colorado study

A new University of Colorado study shows increases in parasite diversity can benefit the health and survival of amphibians.Increases in the diversity of parasites that attack amphibians cause a decrease in the infection success rate of virulent parasites, including one that causes malformed limbs and premature death, says...

Sequence it…and they will come!

Nanopore sequencing offers a new means of decoding the human genome's 3 billion nucleotide base pairs, rapidly and at low costRapid DNA sequencing may soon become a routine part of each individual's medical record, providing enormous information previously sequestered in the human genome's 3 billion nucleotide bases.

DNA barcoding verified the discovery of a highly disconnected crane fly species

This is a type locality in Kittilä, Finland, with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaise_trap">Malaise trap</a>.Northwestern Europe harbors one of the best known biotas, thanks to the long faunistic and floristic traditions practiced there. However, some animal groups are far better known than others. The...

A cell's first steps: Building a model to explain how cells grow

An illustration of the Lehigh mathematical model shows the evolution of Cdc42 distribution during cell growth, as cells transition toward a symmetric, or growth state.A collaboration between Lehigh University physicists and University of Miami biologists addresses an important fundamental question in basic cell biology: How do living cells figure out when and where to...

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