The "holy grail" for understanding how and why koalas respond to infectious diseases has been uncovered in an Australian-led, world-first genome mapping project.

Biology - Plants & Animals

Apr 09, 2013 4.5 / 5 (4) 0

(Phys.org)—Machines don't always run smoothly – phone calls drop, computers crash and cars stall.

Biology - Cell & Microbiology

Mar 01, 2013 3.7 / 5 (3) 0 |

(Phys.org)—Diatoms (unicellular photosynthetic organisms) reproduce through asexual cell division alternating with short periods of sexual reproduction. A German and Belgian team has now determined that ...

Chemistry - Biochemistry

Dec 14, 2012 5 / 5 (9) 0 |

The ability of embryonic stem cells to differentiate into different types of cells with different functions is regulated and maintained by a complex series of chemical interactions, which are not well understood. Learning ...

Biology - Cell & Microbiology

Oct 26, 2012 5 / 5 (3) 0 |

Fly eyes have the fastest visual responses in the animal kingdom, but how they achieve this has long been an enigma. A new study shows that their rapid vision may be a result of their photoreceptors - specialised ...

Biology - Plants & Animals

Oct 11, 2012 not rated yet 0 |

Sea cucumbers and sea urchins are able to change the elasticity of collagen within their bodies, and could hold the key to maintaining a youthful appearance, according to scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.

Biology - Biotechnology

Oct 01, 2012 5 / 5 (5) 3 |

(Phys.org)—Although scientists sequenced the entire human genome more than 10 years ago, much work remains to understand what proteins all those genes code for.

Biology - Biotechnology

Aug 28, 2012 5 / 5 (2) 0 |

Transcription is a cellular process by which genetic information from DNA is copied to messenger RNA for protein production. But anticancer drugs and environmental chemicals can sometimes interrupt this flow of genetic information ...

Chemistry - Biochemistry

Aug 21, 2012 5 / 5 (1) 0 |

Dodder vines are parasitic plants that suck water, nutrients and information from other plants as they spread over them. Plant biologists at the University of California, Davis, have now shown that they can make plants resistant ...

Biology - Biotechnology

Jul 24, 2012 5 / 5 (3) 0 |

Over the past decade, research in the field of epigenetics has revealed that chemically modified bases are abundant components of the human genome and has forced us to abandon the notion we've had since high school genetics ...

Biology - Cell & Microbiology

May 17, 2012 5 / 5 (2) 4 |

A University of Minnesota-led research team has proposed a mechanism for the control of whether embryonic stem cells continue to proliferate and stay stem cells, or differentiate into adult cells like brain, liver or skin.

Biology - Cell & Microbiology

Feb 06, 2012 4.8 / 5 (4) 0 |

A University of British Columbia geophysicist is part of a NASA mission that is analyzing the first sets of data being collected by MESSENGER as it orbits Mercury. The spacecraft is capturing new evidence that challenges ...

Space & Earth - Space Exploration

Sep 30, 2011 5 / 5 (3) 5

A software program developed by a Penn State synthetic biologist could provide biotechnology companies with genetic plans to help them turn bacteria into molecular factories, capable of producing everything from biofuels ...

Biology - Biotechnology

Jul 21, 2011 5 / 5 (1) 0

On March 18, 2011, the MESSENGER spacecraft entered orbit around Mercury to become that planet's first orbiter. The spacecraft's instruments are making a complete reconnaissance of the planet's geochemistry, ...

Space & Earth - Space Exploration

Jun 16, 2011 4.9 / 5 (16) 24 |

(PhysOrg.com) -- To find our way, we use maps. Cells use "chemical maps" to find the way: they orient themselves by following concentration gradients of attractants or repellants. David H. Gracias and a team ...

Chemistry - Biochemistry

Mar 07, 2011 5 / 5 (1) 0 |