Gene Mutations In Mice Mimic Human-like Sleep Disorder

Mutations in two genes that control electrical excitability in a portion of the brain involved in sleep create a human-like insomnia disorder in mice, researchers have found.

Unique Adaptive Evolution Found In Snake Proteins Provide New Insight Into Vertebrate Physiology

Before the advent of large sequence datasets, it was assumed that innovation and divergence at the morphological and physiological level would be explained at the molecular level. Molecular explanations for...

Senegalese fisherman save dozens of stranded whales

YOFF, Senegal (Reuters) - Senegalese fishermen dragged dozens of stranded pilot whales back out to sea on Wednesday but at least 20 more died on the beach after mysteriously coming...

Puppy clones? Going once, going twice ...

Method to duplicate primitive stem cells found

Research from the University of Southern California (USC) has discovered a new mechanism to allow embryonic stem cells to divide indefinitely and remain undifferentiated. read more

Many Paths, Few Destinations: How Stem Cells Decide What They'll Be

The conventional view of how stem cells differentiate assumes that cells are "instructed" to progress along prescribed signaling pathways. However, new research shows that the decision is made collectively by...

Brain's 'trust machinery' identified

The brain centers triggered by a betrayal of trust have been identified by researchers, who found they could suppress such triggering and maintain trust by administering the brain chemical oxytocin....

VIDEO: Record Flying Fish Flight Seen

A TV crew in Japan has captured a 45-second glide believed to be the longest recorded flight of a flying fish.

"Frog-amander" Fossil May Be Amphibian Missing Link

A 290-million-year-old fossil may be an evolutionary missing link in the family tree of amphibians, scientists say.

Tiny robot replicates grasshopper's long leaps

Taking their cue from leaping insects like the grasshopper and flea, French roboticists have built a tiny robot with spring-powered legs, capable of jumping 27 times its own size.

Targeting A Pathological Area Using MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a common tool in clinical diagnosis due to the use of contrast agents, which are like colorants, enabling the contrast between healthy tissue and...

Caribou facing extinction as recovery efforts stall, biologist says

There has been no real progress in efforts to save the southern mountain caribou in B.C., according to a longtime wildlife biologist.

Disabling mouse enzyme increases fertility

ST. LOUIS, May 21 (UPI) -- A U.S. study shows changing the sugars attached to a hormone produced in the pituitary gland of mice increased fertility levels by...

Saltwater sleuths: Seeking clues to help determine the ages of fish and shellfish populations

Fishery biologist Sandy Sutherland looks through the lens of the microscope at tiny sections of fish earbones, known as otoliths, each showing annual bands of growth. She carefully counts the...

A foamy drink and the future of food

Michael Pollan`s recent bestseller The Omnivore`s Dilemma revealed to millions of readers the centrality, and dangers, of commodity corn in the modern industrialized agriculture system as developed in the United...

Virtual Biopsy Can Tell Whether Colon Polyp Is Benign Without Removal, Researchers Say

A probe so sensitive that it can tell whether or not a cell living within the human body is veering towards cancer development may revolutionize how future colonoscopies are done.

RNA Toxicity Contributes To Neurodegenerative Disease, Scientists Say

Biologists have determined that faulty RNA, the blueprint that creates mutated, toxic proteins, contributes to a family of neurodegenerative disorders in humans. The study demonstrates that faulty RNA also assists...

Kangaroos Threaten One Of Australia's Last Remaining Original Grasslands, And Endangered Animals

Australian Department of Defense is currently culling hundreds of kangaroos on the outskirts of the capital Canberra that have produced heated discussions and hit international headlines. Australia's iconic animal has...

New Peanut Variety Resistant To Nematodes, Virus

A new peanut variety may help farmers in their battle against two key peanut problems. Peanuts are a very popular commodity, with annual U.S. production well above 2 billion pounds....

Corn Rootworm Population Studies: Faster, Cheaper, And Just As Good

A new technique to obtain genetic markers to sort out corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera) populations has been developed. The new method is faster and cheaper than existing techniques, and it...

Genetic 'Fix' For Problem In Some Sweet Corn Hybrids Developed

A genetic quirk discovered in some sweet corn hybrids is helping plant breeders make critical "repairs" to the crop's herbicide-degrading machinery. Several herbicides registered for use on sweet corn kill...

Iron Transport Protein Mapped

Scientists have mapped the human protein Steap3, which plays an important role in the absorption of iron into the bloodstream. Iron irregularities are some of the most common blood disorders...

Rare pygmy hogs head for wild

Pygmy hogs, the world's smallest and rarest species of wild pig, are being released in the wild in Assam, reports the BBC's Subir Bhaumik.

Television Review: Adventures in Hands-On Science

About five minutes into “Lord of the Ants,” on Tuesday on the PBS “Nova” series, certain preconceptions you may have about ivory-tower types are likely to be exploded.

Vital Signs: Patterns: Craving Sweets? It May Be in Your Genes

Researchers have found that people with a common variant of a gene that helps the body handle sugar are more likely to crave foods like soda and cake.

Turn Off Gene Regulators To Tune In To Development

For a fertilized egg to develop into an embryo a mass of identical cells must be directed to become a large number of distinct cell types with different functions and...

Poland eyes new GMO rules

WARSAW, Poland, May 20 (UPI) -- Poland's Environment Ministry says it has authored a bill that would keep genetically modified organisms out of some Polish regions.

Aviation impacts 'hotly disputed'

Green advisers tell the government airport expansion should be suspended pending an inquiry.