http://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. The recently published genome sequences of seven well-studied ant species are opening up new vistas for biology and medicine. A detailed look at molecular mechanisms that underlie the complex behavioral differences in two worker castes in the Florida carpenter ant, Camponotus floridanus, has revealed a link to epigenetics. This is the study of how the expression or suppression of particular genes by chemical modifications affects an organism's physical characteristics, development, and behavior. Epigenetic processes not only play a significant role in many diseases, but are also involved in longevity and aging. http://phys.org/news279987194.html Biology Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:30:02 EST news279987194 (Phys.org)—Indiana University researchers have found evidence that a species of songbird that recently colonized an urban environment exhibits less stress and bolder behavior as compared to counterparts living in the forest. They conclude that adaptation to city life is connected to rapid genetic evolution of both behavior and corresponding hormonal responses. http://phys.org/news273741095.html Biology Mon, 03 Dec 2012 07:11:45 EST news273741095 Young children whose families immigrate to Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States are as prepared and capable of starting school as their native-born counterparts, with one exception—vocabulary and language development. That's the finding of a new study published in the September/October 2012 issue of the journal Child Development in a special section on the children of immigrants. http://phys.org/news266516283.html Other Sciences Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:04 EST news266516283 Hormone-mimicking chemicals released into rivers have been found to impact the mating choices of fish, a new study has revealed. The controversial chemical BPA, which emits oestrogen-like properties, was found to alter an individual's appearance and behavior, leading to inter-species breeding. The study, published in Evolutionary Applications, reveals the threat to biodiversity when the boundaries between species are blurred. http://phys.org/news261160644.html Biology Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:01 EST news261160644 A new study of chimpanzees living in the wild adds to evidence that our closest primate relatives have cultural differences, too. The study, reported online on October 22nd in Current Biology shows that neighboring chimpanzee populations in Uganda use different tools to solve a novel problem: extracting honey trapped within a fallen log. http://phys.org/news175435694.html Biology Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:09:28 EST news175435694