Reproduction News and Research

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Moth Wings Smell Host Plants to Identify Optimal Egg-Laying Spots

Insect wings are bristling with senses, feeling the wind blowing and even tasting potential mates, but little was known about whether moth wings are equipped with a sense of smell.

28 Jul 2026

Uncovering Plant Discrimination and Dose Responses to Beneficial Soil Microbes

For years, beneficial Bacillus bacteria have been used to promote plant growth and protect crops, yet most studies treat these microbes as functionally interchangeable.

28 Jul 2026

Synthetic Biology Breakthrough Rebuilds Basic Features of Cellular Life

Nature is beautiful, powerful and essential. But nature is not always gentle. The same biological world that gives rise to forests, coral reefs and human life also produces infections, cancer, genetic disease, crop blights and toxins.

24 Jul 2026

New Study Shows Larval Honey Bees Rely Entirely on Taste Rather Than Olfaction

Honey bee larvae lack the sophisticated olfactory capabilities of adult honey bees, a new study finds. Scientists point to this temporary loss-of-function as a side effect of the nurse bees' heroic level of brood care, calling it a consequence of social evolution.

21 Jul 2026

Fungal Resistance Requires Healthy Genetic Traits and Intact Natural Landscapes

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that a frog's resistance to a fungus that has decimated hundreds of amphibian species worldwide is due not only to its genes, but also to the beneficial bacteria living on its skin and to the organization of its surrounding landscape.

16 Jul 2026

Microtubule-Stabilizing Protein Camsap3 Proves Essential for Female Fertility

Female fertility depends on the successful growth and maturation of eggs (oocytes) within ovarian follicles.

3 Jul 2026

New Pathogen Mimics Symbiotic Microorganisms to Kill Stink Bugs

Researchers at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), in collaboration with researchers from The University of Electro-Communications (UEC) and Akita Prefectural University, have discovered a new insect pathogen that invades the gut symbiotic organ of stink bugs by mimicking their symbiotic microorganism, and this pathogen ultimately kills the host bugs.

2 Jul 2026

Uncovering How Box Jellyfish Reproduce at the Microscopic Level

Box jellyfish are commonly regarded as dangerous animals, with certain species capable of delivering severe or even lethal stings.

1 Jun 2026

Island Gigantism Drives Dramatic Changes in Scottish Wrens

A new study of British Wrens has provided new insights into the inner workings of 'island syndromes', according to research led by the University of Birmingham.

29 May 2026

Protein Plays Dual Role by Silencing Thousands of Genes While Keeping Vital Ones Active

The causes of male infertility can be hard to diagnose, with many tests failing to detect genetic defects. Sometimes, infertility doesn't even involve the genes themselves. It can arise from improper folding of the father's DNA in the sperm. If a couple conceives, this mispackaged DNA can damage the lifelong health of the child.

21 May 2026

Pronuclei Size Competition Maintains Gene Regulation in Early Embryos

The sperm and the egg cell's nuclei compete for size directly after fertilization and this is necessary for the proper embryonic development.

30 Apr 2026

Evolutionary Atlas Reveals Origin and Diversification of NF-Y Genes

Transcription factors are central to plant biology because they switch genes on and off in response to internal developmental programs and external stress.

9 Apr 2026

Genetic Analysis Reveals Why Haploid Fish Embryos Fail to Survive

Naturally occurring haploids are predominantly documented in plants; the first report dates to 1923, when haploid individuals were identified in the Jimson Weed.

27 Mar 2026

Microgravity Negatively Impacts Sperm Navigation

Having a baby in space may require a bit more direction, with new Adelaide University research revealing the navigational abilities of sperm are negatively impacted by a lack of gravity.

27 Mar 2026

'Spiderman' Cells Trap Viral Genomes With Sticky Protein Webs

Scientists have identified a cell defense mechanism that mimics Spiderman shooting his web to ensnare enemies.

18 Mar 2026

Study Uncovers How "Selfish Chromosomes" Cheat the Rules of Genetic Inheritance

A new University of Utah-led study has discovered the mechanism behind a decades-old evolutionary mystery-how "selfish chromosomes" cheat the rules of genetic inheritance.

16 Mar 2026

Reproductive Diapause in Fruit Flies Varies Based on Regional Conditions

Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have studied how fruit flies tune their development in response to environmental changes (diapause).

17 Feb 2026

Fruit Fly Study Reveals How Mating Triggers Behavioral Changes in Females

Researchers from The Universities of Manchester and Birmingham have identified the exact nerve cells in the brain that drive important behavioral changes in female fruit flies after they mate.

10 Feb 2026

Aging Muscle Stem Cells Trade Repair Speed for Survival

Aging muscles heal more slowly after injury - a frustrating reality familiar to many older adults.

31 Jan 2026

Fruit Fly Neurons Explain When Food Feels Rewarding

Why do we sometimes keep eating even when we're full and other times turn down food completely? Why do we crave salty things at certain times, and sweets at other times?

31 Jan 2026