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The biological advantages of sperm swimming in groups

Sperm actually swim better together when they are swimming against the current. Contrary to common belief, spermatozoa frequently cooperate to go through the female reproductive system in a variety of mammalian species, contradicting the notion that the fastest and fittest male reproductive cell wins the fertilization race.

22 Sep 2022

Rumen-protected lysine improves uterine health

Boosting milk yield when included in the diet at sufficient levels, lysine is an important amino acid for dairy cows. But how could lysine be advantageous for cows in other means? A new study by the University of Illinois reveals that rumen-protected lysine can enhance uterine health if given in the transition period.

20 Sep 2022

OsWRKY53’s peculiar role in suppressing rice’s resistance to cold weather

Rice output and quality are gravely threatened by cold stress at the booting stage, which causes a decrease in the rate of seed germination.

8 Sep 2022

Rochester biologists show a selfish “supergene” using population genomics

There are several “selfish genetic elements” in the human genome that do not appear to benefit their hosts but instead appear to exist only to reproduce themselves.

8 Jul 2022

Probiotics do not enhance unhealthy vaginal health, recent study shows

Several factors, such as the type of bacteria that naturally colonize the reproductive tract, can influence pregnancy chances in IVF. “Good” bacteria in the form of probiotics are gaining popularity in the treatment of vaginal microbiota imbalances in women.

5 Jul 2022

Using a microfluidic chip for selection of healthy sperm based on positive rheotaxis

The female genital tract can be a hostile environment for conception. Out of about 100 million sperm, only a few hundred make it to the fallopian tubes.

1 Apr 2022

Research investigates the effect of land-use change on plant-soil interactions

Marina Semchenko has been awarded a grant from the European Research Council to investigate the impact of land-use change on plant-soil interactions.

23 Mar 2022

Reversing the destructive aging process in egg cells to increase fertility in older women

Throughout much of the world, increasing numbers of women are delaying having their first child until they are in their late thirties, and even into their forties.

9 Mar 2022

Earlier onset of growing season in cold humid areas may benefit tree growth

A research group led by Prof. Liang Eryuan from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has found that trees may benefit from an earlier start of the growing season in cold humid areas, but not in dry areas.

1 Mar 2022

Researchers engineer strains of nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium to produce ammonia

Researchers from Washington State University have engineered strains of the ubiquitous, nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii to produce ammonia and excrete it at high concentrations, transferring it into crop plants in lieu of conventional chemical fertilizers.

18 Feb 2022

Research reveals crucial details about how microbiome species are acquired

The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of hundreds to thousands of microbial species living within the human body. These populations affect our health, fertility, and even our longevity. But how do they get there in the first place?

10 Feb 2022

Scientists on the verge of understanding how climate adaptation happens in plants

A century after scientists first noted that the environment contributes to the evolution of adaptive differences among plant populations, scientists are on the verge of figuring out how that adaptation happens -; by combining results from huge "common garden" experiments with genomic sequencing.

From Penn State University 9 Feb 2022

Bioenergy sorghum hybrids can improve soil fertility and potentially earn carbon credits

The world faces an increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and a shortage of carbon in the soil. However, bioenergy sorghum can provide meaningful relief from both problems, according to a new study by Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists.

10 Jan 2022

Researchers investigate how training methods can spread good farming practices in Ethiopia

Smallholder family farms shape the agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, they are often affected by declining soil fertility as well as hunger and poverty. Farming practices that increase productivity as well as protect the soil are therefore crucial.

21 Dec 2021

New method to generate embryo-like cell complexes from the stem cells of mice

Researchers at the University of Bonn have developed a method to generate embryo-like cell complexes from the stem cells of mice. The method provides new insights into embryonic development. In the medium term, it might also be suitable for developing tests for substances that could be harmful to fertility. The study is published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications.

17 Dec 2021