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Research shows why overfishing leads to smaller size in cod

Overfishing, hunting and intensive agriculture and forestry can sometimes contribute to plants and animals becoming endangered.

11 Feb 2021

Unusual DNA folding leads to higher mutation rates

DNA sequences that can fold into shapes other than the classic double helix tend to have higher mutation rates than other regions in the human genome.

From Penn State University 10 Feb 2021

Researchers uncover clues to why some corals are resistant to bleaching

Coral reefs are beautiful and diverse ecosystems that power the economies of many coastal communities. They're also facing threats that are driving their decline, including the planet's warming waters.

9 Feb 2021

New insights into the biology of chytrid fungus responsible for deadly skin infection

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have gained new insight into the biological processes of a chytrid fungus responsible for a deadly skin infection devastating frog populations worldwide.

9 Feb 2021

New bioinformatic tool allows scientists to digitally genotype sequenced populations

With the recently developed bioinformatic tool, called SSRgenotyper, scientists can now use simple sequence repeats to digitally genotype sequenced populations.

9 Feb 2021

Researchers identify genes that determine a person’s facial profile

A research team, headed by the University College London, has discovered genes that establish the shape of an individual’s facial profile.

From University College London 9 Feb 2021

Hidden genes in bacteriophages may be key to the development of new antibiotics

A study from the Center for Phage Technology, part of Texas A&M's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, shows how the "hidden" genes in bacteriophages -- types of viruses that infect and destroy bacteria -- may be key to the development of a new class of antibiotics for human health.

8 Feb 2021

Components of Neanderthals' gut microbiota are essential for human health

Neanderthals' gut microbiota already included some beneficial micro-organisms that are also found in our own intestine.

5 Feb 2021

Study shows how microbiomes may recover from biodiversity loss

For many years, researchers have fought with opposing theories to describe how inter-species interactions, including competition, affect biodiversity.

5 Feb 2021

Researchers gain a deep insight into the evolutionary history of bitter receptors

To evaluate the chemical composition of food from a physiological point of view, it is important to know the functions of the receptors that interact with food ingredients. These include receptors for bitter compounds, which first evolved during evolution in bony fishes such as the coelacanth.

3 Feb 2021

Study reveals NLRP1 protein that serves as a sensor for invasive pathogens

Researchers are paving the way to a more in-depth understanding of the race between pathogens and the host organisms they search to infect.

29 Jan 2021

Ocean acidification could be affecting lobsters on a molecular scale

The American lobster, which supports the most valuable fishery in North America, maybe more susceptible to the effects of climate change than previously thought, according to a new study published in Ecology and Evolution.

29 Jan 2021

3D genome study reveals molecular regulatory mechanisms of human brain evolution

A team led by Prof. SU Bing from the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Prof. LI Cheng from Peking University, and Prof. ZHANG Shihua from the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science of CAS has reported the highest resolution by far of the 3D genome of the primate brain, and demonstrated the molecular regulatory mechanisms of human brain evolution through cross-species multi-omics analysis and experimental validation. The study was published in Cell.

29 Jan 2021

New computational method simplifies the analysis of gene-environmental interactions

Scientists from Weill Cornell Medicine and the Ithaca campus at Cornell University have designed a novel computational technique for analyzing environmental and genetic interactions and how they affect disease risk.

28 Jan 2021

Mice study provides new data for studying aging and age-related diseases

A novel compound that increases lifespan in a small nematode worm has been shown to delay bone loss in aging mice.

28 Jan 2021

New transformative pathways to build a more resilient and sustainable future

It is clear that COVID-19 has drastically changed our world, but how can we use the lessons learnt to build a more resilient and sustainable future? The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the International Science Council (ISC) have drawn on the combined strengths and expertise of the two organizations to help find a way forward.

27 Jan 2021

New variant of CRISPR-Cas9 tool expands genomic editing in plants

For the first time, Yiping Qi has represented the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources on the Web of Science 2020 list of Highly Cited Researchers.

26 Jan 2021

Cancer cells can exchange and recombine their genetic material, shows study

Evolution within groups of tumor cells follows the principles of natural selection, as evolution in pathogenic microbes.

22 Jan 2021

Viral relatives of SARS-CoV-2 can evolve to evade the human immune system

Scientists have shown that two species of seasonal human coronavirus related to SARS-CoV-2 can evolve in certain proteins to escape recognition by the immune system, according to a study published today in eLife.

20 Jan 2021

Speciation process takes place in the presence of maximal gene flow, indicates study

Spatial isolation is known to promote speciation - but researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have now shown that, at least in yeast, the opposite is also true. New ecological variants can also evolve within thoroughly mixed populations.

15 Jan 2021