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Genetic Diversity in Wild Rice Offers Clues for Crop Improvement

A new study, seen in Nature Genetics and led by researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST; Saudi Arabia) and Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands), provides new insights on rice evolution, showing how the DNA of this valuable crop has changed across species.

29 Apr 2025

Reciprocal Regulatory Link Between ecDNA Maintenance and DNA Damage Response Revealed

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is a unique form of circular DNA that exists outside of normal chromosomes.

29 Apr 2025

New Pangenome Analysis Uncovers Genetic Key to Larger Peanut Yields

Researchers from Australia and China have identified crucial structural variations that determine seed size and weight in peanuts, paving the way for the development of higher-yielding crop varieties.

29 Apr 2025

How Mycorrhizal Fungi and Soil Bacteria Work Together to Enhance Plant Growth

Since time immemorial, plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have coexisted in a mutually beneficial relationship.

24 Apr 2025

Birds Hold Remarkable Clues to Fighting Human and Animal Infections

Australian and Dutch researchers have uncovered a remarkable evolutionary adaptation in birds that could hold vital clues for combating avian flu and respiratory infections in humans, including pneumonia and COVID-19.

24 Apr 2025

Revealing Noise-Filtering in Basic Circadian Networks

New research has revealed that a simple circadian clock network possesses advanced noise-filtering capabilities, which improves the understanding of how biological circuits maintain accuracy in dynamic environmental contexts.

16 Apr 2025

Complete Reference Genomes Unlocked for Six Ape Species

Comprehensive reference genomes have now been assembled for six ape species: siamang (a Southeast Asian gibbon), Sumatran orangutan, Bornean orangutan, gorilla, bonobo and chimpanzee.

12 Apr 2025

Rapid Growth of Blood Cancer Driven by a Single Genetic ‘HIT’

A new study has unveiled when chronic myeloid leukaemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, arises in life and how fast it grows.

10 Apr 2025

Study Sheds Light on Development and Evolution of the Human Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is a small but critical region at the base of the brain that controls the autonomic nervous system, regulates body temperature, signals hunger and thirst, exerts hormonal control over the pituitary gland, helps set circadian rhythms, influences sexual behavior and reproduction, and plays a role in instinctive behaviors like fear, aggression, and maternal bonding.

9 Apr 2025

DNA Analysis Sheds Light on Invasive Weed Strategies

A groundbreaking technique for analyzing the DNA of ancient plant specimens has provided researchers with a valuable tool in the fight against the proliferation of invasive plant species.

9 Apr 2025

Study Sheds Light on Evolutionary Role of Microglia in the Peripheral Nervous System

In a study published in Cell on April 7, a research team led by Prof. Li Hanjie from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed the presence of microglia in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and identified their crucial role in regulating neuronal soma size throughout evolution.

8 Apr 2025

X and Y Chromosome Genes Compete for Sperm Success in Mice

In evolutionary terms, fitness is defined as an organism's ability to survive and reproduce its genes into the next generation.

7 Apr 2025

Antibiotic Resistance Through Bacterial Genes Inhibiting Viral Reproduction

Antibiotic resistance is a global health threat that could supplant cancer mortality within a few decades. Researchers at Umeå University, Sweden, found that the emergence of resistance can be explained by how bacteria develop defenses against virus infection.

7 Apr 2025

Antibiotic Resistance Reaches Equilibrium in Many Bacterial Species

Antibiotic resistance tends to stabilize over time, according to a study published April 3, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Sonja Lehtinen from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and colleagues.

4 Apr 2025

Ancient DNA Reveals Long Isolated North African Lineage

The study provides critical new insights into the African Humid Period, a time between 14,500 and 5,000 years ago when the Sahara desert was a green savanna, rich in water bodies that facilitated human habitation and the spread of pastoralism.

4 Apr 2025

Genomic and Geological Timeline of Bacterial Evolution

Scientists at the University of Queensland have contributed to the development of a precise timeline for bacterial evolution, indicating that some bacteria used oxygen long before they evolved the ability to manufacture it through photosynthesis.

4 Apr 2025

Unraveling the Flowerpot Snake's Unique Genome

The flowerpot snake, recognized as one of the smallest snakes globally, possesses some remarkable characteristics.

3 Apr 2025

Fluid Dynamics of Stentors Offers New Insight Into Evolution of Multicellular Life

Life emerged on Earth some 3.8 billion years ago. The "primordial soup theory" proposes that chemicals floating in pools of water, in the presence of sunlight and electrical discharge, spontaneously formed organic molecules.

1 Apr 2025

Plants Repurpose Gas Exchange Genes for Improved Defense Against Herbivores

Throughout evolution, plants have continuously adapted to survive in changing environments. Apart from complex structural changes, plants have also developed various defense strategies against herbivores, including tougher protective layers, thorns, and chemical deterrents.

29 Mar 2025

New AI Model Helps Predict Future Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

It's been five years since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. As SARS-CoV-2 shifts to endemic status, questions about its future evolution remain.

28 Mar 2025