News tagged with sensing receptor

Electric fish charges up research on animal behavior

An electric eel can generate enough current to stun its prey, just like a Taser. Weakly electric fish can also generate electricity, but not enough to do any harm. "Weakly electric fish are unique in that they produce and ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Apr 10, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Researchers find gene critical to sense of smell in fruit fly

(Medical Xpress) -- Fruit flies don't have noses, but a huge part of their brains is dedicated to processing smells. Flies probably rely on the sense of smell more than any other sense for essential activities ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Jan 19, 2012 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

The smell of danger: Rodent olfaction and the chemistry of instinct

The mechanics of instinctive behavior are mysterious. Even something as simple as the question of how a mouse can use its powerful sense of smell to detect and evade predators, including species it has never met before, has ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Jun 28, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Bacteria interrupted: Disabling coordinated behavior and virulence gene expression

New research reveals a strategy for disrupting the ability of bacteria to communicate and coordinate the expression of virulence factors. The study, published by Cell Press in the April 22nd issue of the journal Molecular Ce ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Apr 21, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Robot with frog egg smell sensor (w/ Video)

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from the University of Tokyo have invented a novel means of improving a robot's sense of smell, by using inexpensive olfactory sensors containing frog eggs.

Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry

created Aug 26, 2010 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast report

Darwin's finch and the evolution of smell

Darwin's finches - some 14 related species of songbirds found on the Galapagos and Cocos Islands - will forever be enshrined in history for having planted the seeds of the theory of evolution through natural selection. Today, ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Apr 06, 2010 | popularity not rated yet | comments 2

Scientists sniff out the evolution of chemical nociception

Whenever you choke on acrid cigarette smoke, feel like you're burning up from a mouthful of wasabi-laced sushi, or cry while cutting raw onions and garlic, your response is being triggered by a primordial chemical sensor ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Mar 17, 2010 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Small Fingers More Touch Sensitive

When it comes to finger sensitivity, bigger isn't always better.

Medicine & Health / Neuroscience

created Dec 16, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (5) | comments 0

Sniffing Out the Physical Condition of Conspecifics

To date, it has been unknown exactly how mammals are capable of sniffing out whether a conspecific is ill. The biologists Prof. Marc Spehr and Daniela Flügge are following a good lead. They have discovered ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created May 07, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 0