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Science News for August 30, 2007


How drones find queens: Odorant receptor for queen pheromone identified

A team of scientists has identified an odorant receptor that allows male honey bee drones to detect the presence of a queen up to 60 meters away. The receptor, which can detect the specific pheromone '9-ODA', is expressed in the antennae of male drones and plays a crucial role in their mating rituals.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 30, 2007

COPD not just a disease of the lungs

The Lancet proposes adding chronic systemic inflammatory syndrome to COPD diagnosis to address frequent comorbidities and improve patient care. Patients with COPD often die from non-respiratory disorders such as cardiovascular disease or cancer.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateAug 30, 2007

The emergence of a sense of orientation

Scientists from Berlin developed a theoretical model that shows how an orientation map develops in the brain, allowing for the emergence of place cells and head direction cells. The model analyzes realistic image data to extract information relevant to orientation, leading to the formation of cognitive maps.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateAug 30, 2007

Children with autism don't adapt as readily to unfamiliar faces

A study by researchers at the Universities of Bristol, Florence, and Western Australia found that children with autism don't update their facial perceptions as readily as typically developing children do. As a result, they struggle to recognize faces belonging to different teams or individuals, which can contribute to social problems.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 30, 2007

Gene signature spells poor outcome

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have identified a genetic signature associated with aggressive melanomas. The study found that certain genes are linked to an aggressive profile, which could be used to predict patient outcomes and develop tailored therapies.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 30, 2007