Sperm Evolution Becomes Supercharged Only When They Swim Inside Females
Sperm size varies dramatically among different animal species. But why is sperm size so variable when they share the same job — to fertilize eggs?…
Genetics
Anti-aging Protein in Red Blood Cells Helps Prevent Mental Decline, Poor Memory and Hearing Deficits
Mice lacking ADORA2B in their blood exhibit accelerated aging, including poor memory and hearing deficits. Research conducted by Qiang et al has discovered a link…
Unearthing Neanderthal Population History Using Ancient Nuclear DNA From Cave Sediments
Mitochondrial DNA of archaic humans has been retrieved from cave sediments, but it has limited value for studying population relationships. Now, researchers present a method…
Scientists Discover a New Genetic Mutation That Distinguishes Modern Humans From Neanderthals
Skoltech scientists and their colleagues from Germany and the United States have analyzed the metabolomes of humans, chimpanzees, and macaques in muscle, kidney, and three…
How Cells Use “Trash Bags” To Transport Their Waste for Recycling
Findings may have important implications for understanding age-related diseases. Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys have gained a deeper insight into the intricacies of autophagy, the…
Solving a Long-Standing Biological Mystery: How Cells Measure Themselves
Ever since scientists discovered cells under the microscope more than 350 years ago, they have noted that each type of cell has a characteristic size….
Engineered Natural Killer Cells Can Eliminate Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells
Deleting the TFG-β receptor in NK cells overcame immune suppression and enabled anti-tumor activity in preclinical models. Preclinical research from The University of Texas MD…
Unlocking the Mysteries of Human Development: Key Molecular Events in the Developing Human Embryo Identified
Researchers Identify Trigger for “Head-to-Tail” Axis Development in Human Embryo Scientists have identified key molecular events in the developing human embryo between days 7 and…
Hired Blade: Anchoring Complex in Plant Cells Recruits Its Own Katana Sword To Cut New Microtubules
Researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology find that an anchoring complex stabilizes microtubule creation sites within plant cells, then recruits katanin — named…
Reef-Building Corals and the Microscopic Algae Within Their Cells Genetically Evolve in Tandem
Genetics of coral-algal partnerships may have conservation implications. The microscopic algae that live inside and provide nutrients to their reef-building coral hosts may be evolving…
Genetic Mutation Reveals Surprising Role of Bioelectricity in Early Brain Formation
A mutation in four children with polymicrogyria illuminates the role of bioelectricity in early brain development. In polymicrogyria, the cortex of the brain has many…
Missing Link Identified: Mystery of Photosynthetic Algae Evolution Finally Solved
Scientists have identified the protein that was the missing evolutionary link between two ancient algae species – red algae and cryptophytes. An evolutionary mystery that…
Raucous Barks Reverberating in the Night Lead to the Discovery of New Species
The raucous calls of tree hyraxes — small, herbivorous mammals — reverberate through the night in the forests of West and Central Africa, but their…
Coloring Tumors Reveals Their Bad Influence: Detecting the Very Initial Steps That Lead to Cancer Development
Red2Onco, an innovative genetic mouse model, allows to detect the very initial steps that lead to cancer development. Red2Onco’s multi-color labeling system allows to trace…
Efficient Gene Therapy: A New Technique for Correcting Disease-Causing Mutations
Novel method, developed by McGovern Institute researchers, may lead to safer, more efficient gene therapies. Gene editing, or purposefully changing a gene’s DNA sequence, is…
New Discovery Shows Human Cells Can Write RNA Sequences Into DNA – Challenges Central Principle in Biology
In a discovery that challenges long-held dogma in biology, researchers show that mammalian cells can convert RNA sequences back into DNA, a feat more…
AI Trained With Genetic Data Predicts How Patients With Viral Infections – Including COVID-19 – Will Fare
Gene expression patterns associated with pandemic viral infections provide a map to help define patients’ immune responses, measure disease severity, predict outcomes and test therapies…
Human African Sleeping Sickness: Sex Cells in Parasites Are Doing Their Own Thing
Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered how microbes responsible for human African sleeping sickness produce sex cells. In these single-celled parasites, known as…