Biology

Scientists explain the genetics of what makes the smell of lavender specialCredit: Horticulture Research Even the mention of lavender evokes the distinct fragrance of the flower. This beautiful flower has been used to make…

Next-generation sequencing technology has made it easier than ever for quick diagnosis of plant diseases. "It's really exciting to see how sequencing technologies have evolved and how this new technology facilitates sequencing of entire…

Credit: Camila dos Santos/dos Santos lab, CSHL/2021 What if you could predict which cells might become cancerous? Breast tissue changes dramatically throughout a woman's life, so finding markers for sudden changes that can lead to…

Three billion years ago, light first zipped through chlorophyll within tiny reaction centers, the first step plants and photosynthetic bacteria take to convert light into food. Heliobacteria, a type of bacteria that uses photosynthesis…

Anthocerotibacter panamensis, a newly discovered species of cyanobacteria, can help researchers study the dawn of oxygenic photosynthesisCredit: Fay-Wei Li ITHACA, NY, May 13, 2021 -- Cyanobacteria are one of the unsung heroes of life…

A study led by LMU plant biologist Hans-Henning Kunz uncovers a new role for ion transporters: they participate in gene regulation in chloroplasts. In plants, photosynthesis takes place in intracellular 'factories' called…

NIH research could lead to new treatment strategies for stomach cancerCredit: Jonathan Busada, Ph.D./NIEHS Scientists at the National Institutes of Health determined that stomach inflammation is regulated differently in male and…

Credit: Tracy Langkilde, Penn State UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Mother fence lizards that experience stress during pregnancy give birth to male offspring with shortened telomeres, or bits of non-coding DNA that cap the ends of…

Credit: Loretta Roberson, MBL WOODS HOLE, Mass. and La Parguera, P.R. - A team of researchers led by Loretta Roberson of the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, has installed the first seaweed farm in Puerto Rico and U.S.…

Credit: WEHI, Australia Australian researchers have documented the diversity of cells in the human breast, explaining the relationship between healthy breast cells and breast cancer cells. The research, which relied on…

Ancient zircons from the jack hills of western Australia hone date of an event that was crucial to making the planet hospitable to lifeCredit: Michael Ackerson, Smithsonian. Scientists led by Michael Ackerson, a research…

New dye breaks new ground in versatility and capability, with applications in super high-resolution imaging and beyondCredit: Yoshikatsu Sato A group of scientists at Nagoya University, Japan, have developed an incredibly versatile…

Genetic changes in threespine stickleback fish driven by seasonal shifts could help scientist predict how certain species will adapt to new environmentsCredit: Rowan Barrett Climate change is exacerbating problems like habitat loss and…

The novel screening method can help scientists identify microorganisms that stimulate plant immune mechanisms without harming the plants themselvesCredit: Tokyo University of Science Plants have evolved unique immunity mechanisms that they…

Biologists have discovered the gene controlling the mating preference of male European corn borer moths for the female sex pheromoneCredit: Callie Musto, Charles Linn The mysteries of sexual attraction just became a little less…

Monash University researchers have validated a way to successfully detect a diverse range of bacteria (pathogens) that cause diarrhoeal disease in informal settlements. Better protection from disease for people living in communities…

A drug originally developed for osteoporosis could provide a more effective treatment for people with therapy-resistant ER-positive metastatic breast cancer than the current standard of care, with fewer unwanted side effects In a study…

Credit: John Innes Centre The first frost of autumn may be grim for gardeners but the latest evidence reveals it is a profound event in the life of plants. The discovery may affect how we grow crops in a fluctuating climate and…

Evolutionary biologists model the process of speciation, which follows population formation, improving on current species delineation methods.Credit: Tom Benson, https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/48246028557 A new approach…

Left-hand RNA and self-recognitionCredit: Alan Herbert In a paper published in the May 13th, 2021 issue of PLOS Genetics, a Z-RNA nanoswitch that regulates interferon immune responses is described. The switch, less than 5…