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The Pathogenic Mechanism Underpinning MEPAN Syndrome

New research published in Nature Metabolism discovered the pathogenic mechanism driving mitochondrial enoyl reductase protein-associated neurodegeneration (MEPAN) syndrome, a rare pediatric neurodegenerative disease.

1 Sep 2023

Bats' Navigation Brain Cells Also Encode Social Information

The same neurons that help bats navigate through space may also help them navigate collective social environments, finds a new study published today in the journal Nature.

31 Aug 2023

NSL Complex Regulates Intraciliary Transport Genes in Multiple Cell Types

The non-specific lethal (NSL) complex is a chromatin-associated factor that has been shown in both fruit flies and mammals to regulate the expression of thousands of genes. Abrogation of the NSL genes causes the organism to die, which gives rise to the complex’s unusual name.

28 Aug 2023

New Plant-Animal Relationship Hints at an Evolutionary Transition Towards Mutualistic Symbiosis

Fungi-eating orchids were found for the first time to offer their flowers to fungi-eating fruit flies in exchange for pollination, which is the first evidence for nursery pollination in orchids. This unique new plant-animal relationship hints at an evolutionary transition towards mutualistic symbiosis.

25 Aug 2023

Using Swabs to Detect Over 50 Species of Animals in Rainforest

An international research team demonstrates that the cotton buds themselves, which became familiar to all during the COVID-19 pandemic, are an important tool for mapping biodiversity.

23 Aug 2023

Stem Cells Used to Create Tooth Enamel in the Lab

Organoids have now been created from stem cells to secrete the proteins that form dental enamel, the substance that protects teeth from damage and decay.

16 Aug 2023

Comprehensive “Super-Pangenome” for Watermelon Displays Potential

In terms of overall production and economic value, watermelon is an important agricultural commodity on a worldwide scale.

14 Aug 2023

Understanding Watermelon Genetics Could Lead to Development of More Resilient, Delicious Varieties

Watermelon is a globally significant agricultural product, both in terms of the total amount produced and the total economic value generated.

14 Aug 2023

Fossil Phytoliths Reveal That Early Birds Were Leaf Eaters

A new type of analysis of a spectacular 120-million-year-old fossil skeleton of the extinct early bird Jeholornis from northeastern China has revealed the oldest evidence for birds eating leaves, marking the earliest known evolution of arboreal plant-eating among birds.

2 Aug 2023

Single-Cell Sequencing Finds New Cell Types in the Visual Systems of Flies

Researchers from New York University have created a method that discovers and labels neurons throughout development, which has allowed them to identify novel cell types in the visual system of flies.

1 Aug 2023

Smart Agrochemical Delivery Platform Shows Promise for Precision Agriculture

Improvements in crop productivity and nutritional value are needed to meet increased global demand for food in terms of both quantity and quality.

1 Aug 2023

Scientists Discover Secret of Virgin Birth, and Switch on the Ability in Female Flies

Scientists have pinpointed a genetic cause for virgin birth for the first time, and once switched on the ability is passed down through generations of females.

26 Jul 2023

Study Unravels How the Microbiome Shapes Evolutionary Immune Defenses

Animals and humans coexist with a vast array of microorganisms known as the microbiome, forming an intricate relationship that can range from mutually beneficial to pathogenic.

25 Jul 2023

Dietary Fiber Regulates Gut Microbiota and Improves Epithelial Cell Proliferation

A high-fiber diet is known to have several health benefits. Scientific studies point to protection against such diseases as cancer and diabetes.

25 Jul 2023

Study Identifies a Gene That Largely Controls Weeping Growth in Apple

Plant geneticists have identified a mutation in a gene that causes the "weeping" architecture – branches growing downwards – in apple trees, a finding that could improve orchard fruit production.

21 Jul 2023

Scientists Discover Specific Genes Involved in Rare, Life-Threatening Heart Disease

By identifying genes in patients and testing their effects in fruit flies, researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys have found new genes that contribute to hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a rare, life-threatening heart disease that occurs in infants.

18 Jul 2023