Cell-cell adhesion in plant grafting is facilitated by {beta}-1,4-glucanases

Plant grafting is conducted for fruit and vegetable propagation, whereby a piece of living tissue is attached to another through cell-cell adhesion. However, graft compatibility limits combinations to closely related...

Ligand-recognizing motifs in plant LysM receptors are major determinants of specificity

Plants evolved lysine motif (LysM) receptors to recognize and parse microbial elicitors and drive intracellular signaling to limit or facilitate microbial colonization. We investigated how chitin and nodulation (Nod) factor...

Structural insight into precursor ribosomal RNA processing by ribonuclease MRP

Ribonuclease (RNase) MRP is a conserved eukaryotic ribonucleoprotein complex that plays essential roles in precursor ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) processing and cell cycle regulation. In contrast to RNase P, which selectively...

Erratum for the Report "Activation of methane: A selective industrial route to methanesulfonic acid" (previously titled "Activation of methane to CH3+: A selective industrial route to methanesulfonic acid") by C. Diaz-Urrutia and T. Ott

Nanoparticle system captures heart-disease biomarker from blood for in-depth analysis

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a method combining sticky nanoparticles with high-precision protein measurement to capture and analyze a common marker of heart disease to reveal details...

New insight into the evolution of complex life on Earth

A novel connection between primordial organisms and complex life has been discovered, as new evidence sheds light on the evolutionary origins of the cell division process that is fundamental to...

DNA from an ancient, unidentified ancestor was passed down to humans living today

A new analysis of ancient genomes suggests that different branches of the human family tree interbred multiple times, and that some humans carry DNA from an archaic, unknown ancestor. Melissa...

Tasmanian devil research offers new insights for tackling cancer in humans

Researchers found a single genetic mutation that leads to reduced growth of a transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils in the wild. The finding gives hope for the animals' survival and...

How cells keep growing even when under attack

Biochemists report that a damage-containment system in stressed bacteria can become overrun and blocked, but that this leads to cells responding by turning on different pathways to make sure that...

Faster rates of evolution are linked to tiny genomes

Inside every cell lies a genome - a full set of DNA that contains the instructions for building an organism. Across the biological world, genomes show a staggering diversity in...

This fruit attracts birds with an unusual way of making itself metallic blue

Instead of relying solely on pigments, the metallic blue fruits of Viburnum tinus use structural color to reflect blue light, a mechanism rarely seen in plants. Researchers show that the...

Scientists discover new concept of bacterial gene regulation

Bacteria are always with us: These tiny organisms are found within and on our body as is the case with all animals and plants. As part of a healthy microbiome...

Uncovering developmental mechanisms of elaborate petals in Nigella damascena

Researchers led by Dr. Kong Hongzhi from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported the mechanisms underlying elaborate petal development and specialized character formation in Nigella...

Faster rates of evolution are linked to tiny genomes, study finds

Inside every cell lies a genome—a full set of DNA that contains the instructions for building an organism. Across the biological world, genomes show a staggering diversity in size. For...

Detecting season presence of sharks in the water—with eDNA

New research reveals it's possible to detect sharks moving into an area without actually seeing any of them. All that's needed is a couple liters of water.

The Who announce 'Join Together' concert series for YouTube

The Who announced on Thursday a new concert series on YouTube that will feature live and rare performances.

Fruit's metallic blue caused by lipid nanostructures

Berries could use the color to advertise their nutritional benefits to birds

Ocean heatwaves dramatically shift habitats

Marine heatwaves across the world's oceans can displace habitat for sea turtles, whales, and other marine life by 10s to thousands of kilometers. They dramatically shift these animals' preferred temperatures...

Move over Akita: Introducing 'Kuma mutant' mice for islet transplantation research

Scientists have used a gene editing technique to establish a novel mouse model of permanent neonatal diabetes -- the immune-deficient Kuma mutant mice with a specific deletion in the Insulin2...

A new tool for modeling the human gut microbiome

Several thousand strains of bacteria live in the human gut. Some of these are associated with disease, while others have beneficial effects on human health. Figuring out the precise role of each...

This fruit attracts birds with an unusual way of making itself metallic blue

There's a reason why blue fruits are so rare: the pigment compounds that make fruits blue are relatively uncommon in nature. But the metallic blue fruits of Viburnum tinus, a...

Look: Police, wildlife officers wrangle loose alligator in Idaho

Police and wildlife officers in Idaho responded to a resident's property to remove a trespasser that was highly unusual for the area -- an alligator.

Tuatara's genome features the DNA of reptiles and mammals

New research suggests the tuatara shares genetic heritage with both reptiles and mammals.

Scales of critically endangered pangolin seized in Sumatra

An investigation led by a member of the Tiger Protection and Conservation Units—established in Sumatra by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) over two decades ago to safeguard Kerinci Seblat National...

Poison control: Chasing the antidote

Pick your poison. It can be deadly for good reasons such as protecting crops from harmful insects or fighting parasite infection as medicine—or for evil as a weapon for bioterrorism....

Watch: Meghan McCain says she'll return to 'The View' after baby's birth

Meghan McCain discussed her future at "The View" and named her pick for Joe Biden's running mate.

Monsoons help enhance the yield in East African fisheries

New research reveals the importance of the Monsoon in how abundant small pelagic fish are in East Africa.

Comprehensive catalogue of the molecular elements that regulate genes

A 17-year research project has generated a detailed atlas of the genome that reveals the location of hundreds of thousands of potential regulatory regions—a resource that will help all human...