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Science News for March 20, 2008


Do attractive women want it all?

A new study reveals that attractive women's preferences for partners are influenced by their own physical attractiveness, calibrating their standards across multiple characteristics. Women seek a balanced combination of good genes, resources, parenting proclivities, and emotional commitment in their partners.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalEvolutionary Psychology·DateMar 20, 2008

Adolescents with chronic insomnia report 'twofold to fivefold' increase in personal problems

A recent study found that adolescents with chronic insomnia are more likely to experience drug use, depression, and school work difficulties. The study, which involved over 3,000 teenagers, also suggests that primary care settings may be an effective venue for screening and early intervention of adolescent insomnia.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateMar 20, 2008

Research shows Earth's earliest animal ecosystem was complex and included sexual reproduction

Researchers discover ancient organism with multiple reproductive strategies, including sexual reproduction, dating back to the Neoproterozoic era. The findings suggest that ecosystems were complex and interconnected hundreds of millions of years ago, providing insights into early life evolution and potential extraterrestrial life.

A genetic study of Latin Americans sheds light on a troubled history

A recent molecular analysis of ancestry across Latin America has revealed a marked differentiation between regions, demonstrating a 'genetic continuity' between pre-and post Columbian populations. The research shows that mostly Native and African women and European men contributed genes to the subsequent generations.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateMar 20, 2008

Rare cosmic rays are from far away

Scientists confirm 1966 prediction that most energetic particles in the universe rarely reach Earth at full strength due to cosmic microwave background radiation. The GZK cutoff is a suppression of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays, suggesting they come from galaxies beyond 150 million light years away.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 20, 2008

JCI table of contents: March 20, 2008

Researchers have identified a crucial role for antibodies in protecting against nontyphoidal strains of Salmonella bacteria, which causes fatal infections in African children. Meanwhile, a study on HOXB4 gene therapy found that early precursors can cause leukemia in large animals, highlighting the need for extreme caution in human trials.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 20, 2008

'Jumping gene' may contribute to a premature aging syndrome

Researchers have discovered a fusion protein that may contribute to Cockayne syndrome, a debilitating disorder marked by premature aging and neurodegeneration. The study suggests that the CSB gene's continued expression of CSB-related proteins or protein fragments plays a crucial role in the disease's development.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateMar 20, 2008

Motor neuron disease and toxic substances: Possible link?

A team of University of Michigan scientists has identified a possible link between genetic mutations and toxic substance exposure in the development of motor neuron disease. The study found that abnormal protein changes caused by organophosphate exposure may contribute to the disease, offering new leads for diagnosis and treatment.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateMar 20, 2008