In an era of widespread genetic sequencing, the ability to edit and alter an organism's DNA is a powerful way to explore the information within and how it guides biological function.
Biotechnology
Aug 23, 2013
1
0
(Phys.org) —Diseases affecting the kidneys represent a major and unsolved health issue worldwide. The kidneys rarely recover function once they are damaged by disease, highlighting the urgent need for better knowledge of ...
Cell & Microbiology
Nov 18, 2013
1
0
At about the size of a pinkie nail, the jellyfish species Cladonema can regenerate an amputated tentacle in two to three days—but how? Regenerating functional tissue across species, including salamanders and insects, relies ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 22, 2023
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76
At some point during human evolution, a handful of genetic changes triggered a dramatic threefold expansion of the brain's neocortex, the wrinkly outermost layer of brain tissue responsible for everything from language to ...
Evolution
Feb 8, 2019
17
254
Humans belong to a select club of species that enjoy crisp color vision in daylight, thanks to a small spot in the center of the retina at the back of the eye. Other club members include monkeys and apes, various fish and ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jun 23, 2017
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49
Studying evolution by focusing solely on fossils would leave many questions unanswered, but evolutionary developmental biology (otherwise known as "evo-devo") helps fill in the gaps.
Plants & Animals
Jun 29, 2022
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75
Modern cetaceans—which include dolphins, whales and porpoises—are well adapted for aquatic life. They have blubber to insulate and fins to propel and steer. Today's cetaceans also sport a unique type of nasal passage: ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 5, 2021
3
492
(Phys.org) —Early embryonic development is a marvel of mechanics. Its signature step is the production of three tissue layers—mesoderm, ectoderm, and endoderm—through a topological maneuver known as gastrulation. While ...
A new report from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research chronicles the embryonic origins of planaria, providing new insight into the animal's remarkable regenerative abilities.
Cell & Microbiology
Feb 13, 2017
0
319
The story that's often told about crocodiles is that they're among the most perfectly adapted creatures on the planet—living fossils that have remained virtually unchanged for millions of years.
Evolution
Feb 20, 2019
0
141
