Fertility News and Research

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Study shows deforestation affects the soil’s bacterial composition

A soil scientist from RUDN University studied the effect of forest conversion on the properties of the soil: its acidity, carbon and nitrogen resources, bacterial composition, and the activity of microorganisms.

10 Nov 2020

Diversification of crops and vegetation does not impact crop yields

Increasing diversity in crop production benefits biodiversity without compromising crop yields, according to an international study comparing 42,000 examples of diversified and simplified agricultural practices.

9 Nov 2020

Fertilization of paddy soil can help reduce greenhouse gases

A soil scientist from RUDN University discovered the effect of fertilization on the ability of the soil to retain carbon. To understand this mechanism, he and his team studied the movement of organic carbon in the soil of rice paddies.

19 Oct 2020

Researchers develop a new assembler for decoding genomes of microbial communities

Researchers from the Center for Algorithmic Biotechnology at St Petersburg University, as part of a group of Russian and American scientists, have developed the metaFlye assembler.

9 Oct 2020

Too many genetic exchanges impede chromosome segregation into eggs

The exchange of DNA between chromosomes during the early formation of sperm and egg cells normally is limited to assure fertility.

9 Oct 2020

Women treated with fertility-sparing surgery for ovarian tumors could have children

Women receiving fertility-sparing surgery for treatment of borderline ovarian tumors were able to have children, a study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in Fertility & Sterility shows.

28 Sep 2020

A new method to fish out Y chromosome molecules from microbial DNA

In 1997, the very first Neanderthal DNA sequence - just a small part of the mitochondrial genome - was determined from an individual discovered in the Neander Valley, Germany, in 1856.

25 Sep 2020

Human genetics: New insights into our own biology

Who are we? Where did we come from? How did we get here? Throughout the ages, humans have sought answers to these questions, pursuing wisdom through religion, philosophy, and eventually science.

21 Sep 2020

Research can help farmers select the best cover crops to protect the soil

Farmers around the world are keen to protect their most important asset: their soil. The soil supports and enriches their crops. But the relatively thin layer of topsoil can readily wash away into streams, carrying unwanted nutrients with it.

17 Sep 2020

Scientists investigate how soils are affected by deforestation in the tropics

Tropical forest soils play a crucial role in providing vital ecosystem functions. They provide nutrients for plants, store carbon and regulate greenhouse gases, as well as storing and filtering water, and protection against erosion.

17 Sep 2020

Scientists recommend integrated weed management to augment the impact of herbicides

Given the increase in herbicide resistance among weeds, scientists and Extension weed specialists recommend integrated weed management (IWM), an approach that draws on physical, cultural, and biological strategies to augment the impact of herbicides.

11 Sep 2020

Researchers reconstruct the birth of a male sex chromosome in Atlantic herring

The evolution of sex chromosomes is of crucial importance in biology as it stabilises the mechanism underlying sex determination and usually results in an equal sex ratio.

10 Sep 2020

UQ researchers identify genetic link between cattle temperament and autism in humans

A strong association between the genes influencing cattle temperament and autism in humans has been discovered by University of Queensland researchers.

28 Aug 2020

Less popular farming methods could help farmers fight against climate change

New research from Ghana shows less popular methods of biochar application are more effective in promoting cowpea growth and yield.

25 Aug 2020

Study examines the effects of crossbreeding on fertility and milk production in cows

Since 1960, Holstein dairy cows have exhibited a substantial decline in fertility, with serious economic consequences for farmers.

25 Aug 2020

'Farm-tuning' cover crop mixtures to achieve maximum ecosystem services

Penn State researchers, in a recent study, were surprised to learn that they could take the exact same number of seeds from the same plants, put them in agricultural fields across the Mid-Atlantic region and get profoundly different stands of cover crops a few months later.

19 Aug 2020

'Survival of the fittest': How meiotic drivers shape the evolution of gamete formation

It can be hard to dispute the common adage 'survival of the fittest'. After all, "most of the genes in the genome are there because they're doing something good," says Sarah Zanders, PhD, assistant investigator at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research

18 Aug 2020

State-of-the-art 3D microscopy reveals how human sperms swim

Using state-of-the-art 3D microscopy and mathematics, Dr Hermes Gadêlha from the University of Bristol, Dr Gabriel Corkidi and Dr Alberto Darszon from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, have reconstructed the movement of the sperm tail in 3D with high-precision.

14 Aug 2020

Oxytocin can help control and prevent osteoporosis

Oxytocin, produced by the hypothalamus and sometimes known as the "love hormone" for its involvement in pair bonding and orgasm, can be a strong ally in the control and prevention of osteoporosis, according to a study by scientists at São Paulo State University in Brazil.

11 Aug 2020

Researchers identify strategies to improve livelihoods through sustainable agricultural development

The Barotse Floodplain in Zambia is one of Africa's largest wetlands, representing varied ecotypes and high biodiversity conservation value.

7 Aug 2020