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Biology news
Insect-killing fungi find unexpected harmony in war
University of Maryland entomologists have uncovered a unique relationship between two species of fungi known for their ability to invade, parasitize and kill insects efficiently. Instead of violently competing for the spoils ...
Evolution
7 hours ago
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23
Chernobyl frogs exposed to radiation show no signs of accelerated aging or increased stress hormone levels
The radiation levels experienced by the frogs living in Chernobyl have not affected their age or their rate of aging. These two traits do not differ, in fact, between specimens captured in areas with high levels of radiation ...
Plants & Animals
6 hours ago
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20
Amnesia-causing diatoms found in Luzon shellfish farms
The densely-populated island of Luzon is home to over half of the Philippines' population, many of whom consume shellfish on a regular basis. An international team of scientists has just confirmed the presence there of two ...
Ecology
6 hours ago
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95
Symmetry in biology: A look into how bees actively organize nests in mirroring patterns
Mirroring the mechanisms that make human faces and bodies—and those of many multicellular organisms—symmetrical, bee colonies build symmetrical nests when they are placed on either side of a double-sided comb. The finding, ...
Evolution
7 hours ago
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1
A new GPS system for microorganisms could enhance forensic investigations
A research team led by Lund University in Sweden has developed an AI tool that traces back the most recent places you have been to. The tool acts like a satellite navigation system, but instead of guiding you to your hotel, ...
Biotechnology
7 hours ago
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10
Computer model uncovers plant thickness growth mechanisms
Most research on plant stem cells focuses on the tips of roots and shoots, where growth occurs in height. But biologist Kirsten Ten Tusscher from Utrecht University explains that thickness growth is just as essential.
Plants & Animals
7 hours ago
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55
Defense or growth: Study finds trade-off in how plants allocate resources
The more a plant species invests in defense, the less potential it has for growth, according to a new study. Research made possible by open science provides new insights into plant adaptation and interspecies variation.
Plants & Animals
7 hours ago
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11
How physical force affects cancer treatment: Research explores mechanics of programmed cell death
Programmed cell death-1, or PD-1, has become a headline-grabbing molecule best known for its role in cancer immunotherapies called checkpoint inhibitors. A study from Georgia Tech and Emory University researchers is offering ...
Cell & Microbiology
9 hours ago
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9
Evolutionary anthropologist presents hypothesis about why humans are dominating the world over other animals
Why is human culture—the shared body of knowledge passed down across generations—so much more powerful than animal cultures?
Evolution
16 hours ago
3
183
RNA-targeting CRISPR reveals that hundreds of noncoding RNAs are essential—not 'junk'
Genes contain instructions for making proteins, and a central dogma of biology is that this information flows from DNA to RNA to proteins. But only two percent of the human genome actually encodes proteins; the function of ...
Biotechnology
10 hours ago
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33
Plant engineering method promises to dramatically improve biofuel and bioproduct development
The ability to genetically engineer plants is largely thanks to a microscopic helper: a bacterium called Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Agrobacterium in the wild causes damaging tumors in flowering plants, including some economically ...
Biotechnology
9 hours ago
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6
Invasive fruit fly species puts parts of Southern California's Orange County under quarantine
The cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove have been placed under quarantine on Wednesday in light of an uninvited and unwelcome visitor: the oriental fruit fly, an invasive pest that attacks over 230 crops including fruits, ...
Plants & Animals
10 hours ago
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14
Atlantic killer whales show dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals
Killer whales off Canada's Atlantic coast continue to be contaminated with dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals that put them at elevated risk of severe immune-system and reproductive problems, a recent McGill-led study ...
Plants & Animals
10 hours ago
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23
The rise of color vision in animals: Study maps dramatic 100-million-year explosion in color signals
Colors are widely used in communication within and among animal species. For example, peacocks proudly display their vibrant tails, adorned with iridescent eyespots, to attract peahens for courtship. This is a classic example ...
Evolution
4 hours ago
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24
How do brains coordinate activity? From fruit flies to monkeys, scientists discover a universal principle
The brain is a marvel of efficiency, honed by thousands of years of evolution so it can adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Yet, despite decades of research, the mystery of how the brain achieves this has remained ...
Evolution
12 hours ago
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51
Spiders forage for prey rich in specific nutrients depending on species, life stage and sex
A new field study of arachnid hunting behavior has shown that spiders forage for prey rich in specific nutrients, and their preferences depend on the individual spider's species, life stage and sex. The results suggest that ...
Plants & Animals
6 hours ago
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0
Accumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in leaves poses threats to plants, study shows
Plastic debris can break down into smaller particles due to different environmental factors, and become micro-nanoplastics (MNPs). Foliar accumulation of MNPs in leafy crops could negatively affect plant productivity and ...
Plants & Animals
6 hours ago
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Advancing biodiversity monitoring with a network of automated wildlife cameras
What if we could keep an eye on nature 24/7 without constantly being there? Researchers at the University of Amsterdam Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) have teamed up with Waternet in a nature reserve ...
Ecology
6 hours ago
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0
A causal theory for studying the cause-and-effect relationships of genes paves the way for targeted treatments
By studying changes in gene expression, researchers learn how cells function at a molecular level, which could help them understand the development of certain diseases.
Molecular & Computational biology
12 hours ago
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0
Researchers discover genetic reason for the red, yellow and orange bills of Australian finches
What gives an Australian finch its brilliantly colored red, yellow or orange bill? A major new study has uncovered the genetic switches controlling these distinctive colors, revealing a key piece in the puzzle of how animals ...
Plants & Animals
13 hours ago
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