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Science News for May 22, 2003


Essential gene for male fertility found

Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered a gene, Fkbp6, essential for male fertility but not female fertility. The study shows that the gene plays a critical role in sperm cell development and chromosome pairing, highlighting potential new principles in how cells control the number of chromosomes.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalScience·DateMay 22, 2003

Diversity hot spots at cold seeps?

Researchers at the College of William and Mary report that seep mussel beds exhibit higher diversity than vent mussel beds. This discrepancy may be due to a physiological barrier to invasion at vents, limiting dispersal and leading to lower biodiversity.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalEcology Letters·DateMay 22, 2003

Making sense of the genome

A new two-step method for identifying transcription factors has been developed, reducing irrelevant regulators by 85%. The tool, ConSite, uses a combination of sequence scanning and conservation analysis to pinpoint regulatory elements.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalJournal of Biology·DateMay 22, 2003

Older pilots OK to fly, study shows

A study of 3,306 pilots found that those with over 5,000 hours of flight experience had less than half the risk of a crash compared to less experienced counterparts. The study suggests that flight experience, not age alone, is a crucial factor in determining pilot safety.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·DateMay 22, 2003

SARS from outer space?

Researchers propose pathogenic bacteria and viruses could originate from outer space, citing the unusual nature of major epidemics like SARS. The novel virus in SARS has been identified as a possible explanation for its unexpected appearance and global spread.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateMay 22, 2003

The coming crisis of long-term care

The world's population is aging rapidly, with a quarter of the US population expected to be over 65 by 2030. Various models of care are discussed, including those in the UK, USA, Germany, and Italy. Governments must take initiative to configure or restructure long-term care, examining social and ethical values and public policies on el...

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateMay 22, 2003