How to be a male without the Y chromosome
Hokkaido University researchers have revealed that key sex-determining genes continue to operate in a mammalian species that lacks the Y chromosome, taking us a step...
NEWS INDEX
Identifying children and saving lives one thumbprint at a time
Every day 353,000 children are born around the world, a majority of them in developing countries where there is a lack of proper record keeping,...
Scientists discover how cells put the brakes on protein production
A new scientific study conducted by a team of leading geneticists has characterized how cells know when to stop translating DNA into proteins, a critical...
Parents cite lack of need as reason for not getting kids flu shots
Despite the fact that influenza leads to more hospitalizations and deaths among children than any other vaccine-preventable disease, parents frequently decline vaccinating their children against...
New treatment strategy could cut Parkinson’s disease off at the pass
Researchers at Johns Hopkins report they have identified a protein that enables a toxic natural aggregate to spread from cell to cell in a mammal’s...
Structure of the BinAB toxin revealed
Could we get rid of mosquitoes without polluting the environment? Yes, we can, say researchers. The BinAB toxin, produced in crystal form by a bacterium,...
Game theory research reveals fragility of common resources
New research in game theory shows that people are naturally predisposed to over-use “common-pool resources” such as transportation systems and fisheries even if it risks...
Where you live shapes your immune system more than your genes
Like fingerprints, immune systems vary from person to person. And although we all inherit a unique set of genes that help us respond to infections,...
Moderate activity helps older adults maintain mobility, independence
By adopting a walking routine and other moderate physical activities, older adults can recover from a major disability more quickly, and maintain their independence over...
Good food puts bees in good mood
Biologists at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have discovered that after bumblebees drink a small droplet of really sweet sugar water, they behave like...
Research into fly development provides insights into blood vessel formation
Researchers working with flies at IRB Barcelona describe that the concentration of some small intracellular organelles determines the branching capacity of tracheal cells. Terminal tracheal...
Omega-3 fatty acid stops known trigger of lupus
A team of Michigan State University researchers has found that consuming an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, can stop a known trigger...
Brain disruptions similar across many emotional disorders
Researchers have long known that emotional disorders have a lot in common. Many often occur together, like depression and social anxiety disorder. Treatments also tend...
Scientists identify neurons devoted to social memory
Mice have brain cells that are dedicated to storing memories of other mice, according to a new study from MIT neuroscientists. These cells, found in...
Rare flu-thwarting mutation discovered
A rare and improbable mutation in a protein encoded by an influenza virus renders the virus defenseless against the body’s immune system. This University of...