Latest science news in Biology & Nature
Histones' secret enzyme gig may have helped power eukaryote evolution
Proteins with a key role in DNA packaging moonlight as copper-reducing enzymes
Sharing vitamins: Cobamides unveil microbial interactions
Microbial communities are essential to fundamental processes on Earth. Underlying the compositions and functions of these communities are nutritional interdependencies among individual species. One class of nutrients, cobamides (the family...
Cell position fates and collective fountain flow in bacterial biofilms revealed by light-sheet microscopy
Bacterial biofilms represent a basic form of multicellular organization that confers survival advantages to constituent cells. The sequential stages of cell ordering during biofilm development have been studied in the pathogen and model...
A phage-encoded anti-CRISPR enables complete evasion of type VI-A CRISPR-Cas immunity
The CRISPR RNA (crRNA)–guided nuclease Cas13 recognizes complementary viral transcripts to trigger the degradation of both host and viral RNA during the type VI CRISPR-Cas antiviral response. However, how viruses...
Scientists reveal why tummy bugs are so good at swimming through your gut
Researchers have solved the mystery of why a species of bacteria that causes food poisoning can swim faster in stickier liquids, such as within guts.
Anaplasmosis bacterium tinkers with tick's gene expression to spread to new hosts
For the first time, scientists have shown that the bacterium that causes the tick-borne disease anaplasmosis interferes with tick gene expression for its survival inside cells and to spread to...
'DeadEndia' animated series coming to Netflix
"DeadEndia," a new series based on Hamish Steele's graphic novels, will premiere on Netflix in 2021.
Marine algae from the Kiel Fjord discovered as a remedy against infections and skin cancer
Using state-of-the-art approaches coupled with bio- and cheminformatics and machine learning, researchers have succeeded in discovering new, bioactive components of the Baltic Sea Baltic Sea seaweed Fucus vesiculosus and its...
New sequencing technology will help scientists decipher disease mechanisms
New technologies capable of sequencing single molecules in fine detail will help scientists better understand the mechanisms of rare nucleotides thought to play an important role in the progression of...
Invasive mosquito found in Finland could potentially transmit malaria
During collections for a study to map the distribution of mosquito species in Finland, Anopheles daciae, a species previously not known to occur in Finland was found at several locations...
New sequencing technology will help scientists decipher disease mechanisms
New technologies capable of sequencing single molecules in fine detail will help scientists better understand the mechanisms of rare nucleotides thought to play an important role in the progression of...
Moss protein corrects genetic defects of other plants
Almost all land plants employ an army of molecular editors who correct errors in their genetic information. Together with colleagues from Hanover, Ulm and Kyoto (Japan), researchers from the University...
New candidate for raw material synthesis through gene transfer
Cyanobacteria hardly need any nutrients and use the energy of sunlight. Bathers are familiar with these microorganisms—often incorrectly called "blue-green algae"—as they often occur in waters. A group of researchers...
How that preprint about a 'more contagious strain' of coronavirus changed in peer review
On May 5, 2020, news broke about a reportedly more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—based on a preliminary paper posted to the preprint server bioRxiv. The preprint...
Botswana investigating mystery deaths of 275 elephants
Authorities in Botswana do not know what has caused 275 elephants to die in recent months. Poaching has been ruled out because the carcasses were found intact.
Chemical gradients revealed in human tooth enamel
New chemical details could help scientists understand how teeth decay
New way to see RNA could help fight pathogens
In genetics, DNA has always been the star of the show, but scientists are now uncovering the crucial roles of a lesser-known player: transfer RNA.
Twenty-year study tracks a sparrow song that went 'viral' across Canada
Most bird species are slow to change their tune, preferring to stick with tried-and-true songs to defend territories and attract females. Now, with the help of citizen scientists, researchers have...
Farewell smooth handfish: What can we learn from the world's first marine fish extinction?
Earlier this month, a group of Australian scientists confirmed a depressing landmark for our blue planet: The first marine fish of modern times has been declared extinct on the IUCN...
New system combines smartphone videos to create 4D visualizations
Researchers have demonstrated that they can combine iPhone videos shot 'in the wild' by separate cameras to create 4D visualizations that allow viewers to watch action from various angles, or...
Treatments tested for invasive pest on allium crops
Researchers field-tested 14 active ingredients in insecticides, applied in a variety of methods, to understand the best treatment options against the Allium leafminer, a growing threat to onions, garlic and...
Stopping koala extinction is agonizingly simple, but here's why I'm not optimistic
On Tuesday, a year-long New South Wales parliamentary inquiry revealed the state's koalas are on track for extinction in the wild by 2050, without urgent government intervention.
Understanding the circadian clocks of individual cells
Two new studies led by UT Southwestern scientists outline how individual cells maintain their internal clocks, driven both through heritable and random means. These findings, published online May 1 in...
Long-term culture of human pancreatic slices reveals regeneration of beta cells
Scientists have developed a method allowing for the long-term culture of 'pancreatic slices' to study the regeneration of the human pancreas in real time.
Robot vs alien: The freshwater fish saga
How do you get rid of an invasive fish that is taking over waterways across the globe? With robot predators designed to scare them, of course!
Stimulating production of enzyme in roundworms found to increase lifespan
A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in South Korea has found that stimulating production of a certain enzyme in roundworms can increase their lifespan. In their paper published...
Everybody’s Microbiome Is Different. So How Do You Study It Usefully?
We know fiber is good for us and is an important part of our diet. One way to get more fiber in our diets is to take fiber supplements, and...
Study Gains New Insight Into Bacterial DNA Packing
When bacteria are put in different environments, such as one that is more acidic or anaerobic, their genes start to adapt remarkably quickly. They’re able to do so because the...