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ScienceDaily: Plants & Animals News |
| The abyssal world: Last terra incognita of the Earth surface Posted: 04 Feb 2022 11:52 AM PST The first unified vision of the world ocean biodiversity, based on analysis of DNA sequences from the surface to deep-ocean sediments, unveils the rich and unknown life in the abyssal realm, the last terra incognita of the Earth surface. This collective effort was made possible by 15 international deep-sea expeditions. |
| How our body controls inflammation during clean-up mechanisms of damaged cells Posted: 04 Feb 2022 08:34 AM PST A research team has investigated in detail how messenger substances signal inflammation during the removal of damaged cells in the body. Using high-resolution microscopy methods, the researchers were able to show that two proteins interact dynamically with each other and thus determine whether a dying cell triggers an inflammatory reaction in the body. |
| Posted: 04 Feb 2022 05:54 AM PST Beating the bite of mosquitoes this spring and summer could hinge on your attire and your skin. New research indicates that a common mosquito species -- after detecting a telltale gas that we exhale -- flies toward specific colors, including red, orange, black and cyan. The mosquitoes tend to ignore other colors, such as green, purple, blue and white. The researchers believe these findings help explain how mosquitoes find hosts, since human skin, regardless of overall pigmentation, emits a strong red-orange 'signal' to their eyes. |
| Posted: 04 Feb 2022 05:54 AM PST Scientists take a promising step in the direction of developing an HIV vaccine using a unique native-like trimer to develop Tier-2 neutralizing antibodies -- the kind that matter for combating HIV -- in mice. |
| Losing amphibian diversity also means losing poison diversity Posted: 03 Feb 2022 04:25 PM PST Biologists argue that more research needs to be done on the colorful yet poisonous harlequin toads of Central and South America, not only because their ecology is poorly known, but because their toxins are even less studied. Since animal and plant toxins are often inspirations for new drugs, losing the toads through habitat destruction and fungal infections means we lose their poison diversity as well as their genetic diversity. |
| Tracking the cells that host HIV Posted: 03 Feb 2022 01:12 PM PST New research sheds light on the lifespans and location of the cells that are responsible for producing HIV, preventing its eradication. Understanding the cells' dynamics may help scientists develop new ways to reduce their number with the ultimate goal of curing HIV infection. |
| Humans and other primates have evolved less sensitive noses Posted: 03 Feb 2022 01:11 PM PST Variations in the genes for the newly discovered scent receptors for musk and underarm odor add to a growing body of research suggesting that humans' sense of smell is gradually becoming less sensitive. |
| Mothers' sleep apnea may increase risk of autism-like changes in their male offspring Posted: 03 Feb 2022 01:11 PM PST Sleep apnea in pregnancy may increase the risk for brain and behavioral changes associated with autism, especially in males, according to a study in rats. |
| How to get chloride ions into the cell Posted: 03 Feb 2022 01:11 PM PST A molecular movie has captured in detail the process of an anion transported across the cell membrane by a light-fuelled protein pump. Researchers have unravelled the mystery of how light energy initiates the pumping process -- and how nature made sure there is no anion leakage back outside. |
| Scientists decode chemical defense against plant sap-sucking leafhoppers Posted: 03 Feb 2022 01:06 PM PST Given the sheer number of potential enemies, plants are resistant to most pests, even if they can cause damage to other plants. Researchers describe a newly discovered mechanism that protects a wild tobacco species from plant sap-sucking leafhoppers. By combining different genetic screening methods with the study of chemical changes in tobacco leaves, they identified a previously unknown defense substance important for the tobacco's resistance to leafhoppers and characterized the genes for its biosynthesis. |
| Are scientists being fooled by bacteria? Posted: 03 Feb 2022 01:05 PM PST Researchers created a tailor-made gene sequencing method to accurately measure a biochemical, DNA tagging system, which switches genes on or off. This helped them study the system in any cell type, including human, plant and bacterial cells. While the results supported the idea that this system may occur naturally in non-bacterial cells, the levels were much lower than some previous studies reported and were easily skewed by bacterial contamination or current experimental methods. Experiments on human brain cancer cells produced similar results. |
| Treasure in tree rings: Using untapped tree ring data to calculate carbon sequestration Posted: 03 Feb 2022 09:30 AM PST Forests around the world have the capacity to pull carbon out of the atmosphere to battle global climate change. But how much carbon they actually absorb is a question that still needs answering, and tree ring data can help, according to a new research synthesis. |
| Scientists detect novel SARS-CoV-2 variants in NYC wastewater Posted: 03 Feb 2022 09:29 AM PST Researchers have detected at least four 'cryptic' variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in samples of wastewater from New York City's public sewer system. |
| How liquid-like protein droplets collectively read DNA regions to switch on genes Posted: 03 Feb 2022 09:29 AM PST When an organism develops, dividing cells specialize to form the variety of tissues and organs that build up the adult body, while keeping the same genetic material -- contained in our DNA. In a process known as transcription, parts of the DNA -- the genes -- are copied into a messenger molecule -the ribonucleic acid (RNA) -- that carries the information needed to produce proteins, the building blocks of life. |
| Structure of central inflammation switch elucidated Posted: 03 Feb 2022 09:29 AM PST Researchers have elucidated the structure of a central cellular inflammatory switch. Their work shows which site of the giant protein called NLRP3 inhibitors can bind to. This opens the way to develop new pharmaceuticals that could target inflammatory diseases such as gout, type 2 diabetes or even Alzheimer's disease. |
| New anti-HIV antibody function discovered: Tethering of viral particles at the surface of cells Posted: 03 Feb 2022 09:25 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new function of anti-HIV-1 antibodies by applying cutting-edge microscopy techniques to in vitro viral cultures. The scientists found that certain antibodies already known for effectively targeting HIV-1 envelope (Env) protein can prevent infected cells from releasing viral particles, thus halting viral spread. The findings demonstrate that these powerful antibodies exhibit different antiviral activities in addition to neutralization. |
| Unravelling the ancient stories hidden in DNA Posted: 03 Feb 2022 07:30 AM PST Scientists have compared the chromosomes of three major animal groups to reveal surprising stability across a time span of more than 550 million years. |
| Supermountains controlled the evolution of life on Earth Posted: 03 Feb 2022 07:30 AM PST Giant mountain ranges at least as high as the Himalayas and stretching up to 8,000 kilometers across entire supercontinents played a crucial role in the evolution of early life on Earth, according to a new study. |
| Exploring the strategies of categorization Posted: 03 Feb 2022 07:30 AM PST Our mental ability to divide the complex world into categories makes our daily life much easier. But how do we categorize? What kind of stimulus properties do we assess? Researchers have come a step closer to answering these questions with the help of pigeons. They discovered that birds use different strategies to successfully learn categories. To gather data, the researchers used a novel research method. To this end, they combined so-called virtual phylogenesis, in which artificial stimuli are generated by computers, with a machine learning approach, namely an automated evaluation of the birds' pecking behavior. |
| Bacterial trick: A kind of sponge that absorbs certain messengers Posted: 03 Feb 2022 07:30 AM PST Bacteria are extremely resourceful when it comes to adapting to a given environment. A team of researchers has now discovered a new trick bacteria use: a kind of sponge that absorbs certain messengers. |
| What a salamander virus can tell us about the future of biodiversity amid a changing climate Posted: 03 Feb 2022 05:36 AM PST The 'Ebola virus of the amphibian world' is as unpleasant as it sounds, but a species of salamander that lives in Arizona found a way to live with the endemic disease. As the climate changes, viruses change along with it, and this unpredictable virus could have a more severe effect on different species in the future. |
| Interactions between bee gut microbiotas and pesticides Posted: 02 Feb 2022 01:59 PM PST A major review has provided the first field-wide summary of how pesticide exposure affects social bee gut microbiotas and what pesticide-induced disturbances mean for bee hosts. |
| 'Taste' and 'smell' of coral reefs provide insights into a dynamic ecosystem Posted: 02 Feb 2022 01:27 PM PST Hundreds of molecules that are made by important members of the coral reef community were recently discovered by a team of scientists. Together, the compounds--modified amino acids, vitamins and steroids -- comprise the 'smell' or 'taste' of corals and algae in a tropical reef, and will help scientists understand both the food web dynamics and the chemical ecology of these ecosystems. |
| Cadmium's route into chocolate Posted: 02 Feb 2022 12:39 PM PST Researchers have chased the source of cacao's cadmium contamination for years, but an array of distinct sampling methods and sites led to mixed results. In a new analysis, scientists consider the soil factors influencing cadmium's ride into cacao beans, with the aim of recommending feasible and cost-effective ways farmers can minimize uptake. |
| Unwelcome guests: International tourism and travel can be a pathway for introducing invasive species Posted: 02 Feb 2022 08:18 AM PST International tourism can facilitate the dispersal of exotic species. A new analysis of data from tourism accommodations and exotic organism detections in New Zealand shows that levels of detection significantly correlated to international and domestic tourist movement, even with population levels taken into account. There was no detectable difference between the risk from international and domestic tourists, indicating that tourism as an activity correlates with the introduction and spread of exotic species. |
| Red snow phenomena are a balancing act Posted: 02 Feb 2022 06:19 AM PST Researchers found that the occurrence of red snow algal blooms is associated with the occurrence of new snowfall and the duration of snow melt. A revised snow algae model incorporated into a land surface model was used to simulate global snow algal abundance. The model can be used to predict the location and timing of red snow algal blooms, and their effects on global snow cover. |
| Surprising discovery surrounding an iconic biochemical cycle Posted: 01 Feb 2022 01:11 PM PST The Calvin-Benson cycle assimilates almost all the carbon in plants and is thus among the most important biochemical cycles for life on Earth. It is believed to be self-sufficient in that it regenerates its own substrate. A recent report challenges this classical view. |
| A neuron that tracks landmarks helps rats know where they are Posted: 31 Jan 2022 01:15 PM PST Visual landmarks enable an animal to know where it is oriented in relation to its environment. Researchers have identified a new type of neuron in the rat brain, which appears to help facilitate this type of visual and spatial processing. |
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