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Science News for June 16, 2023


From cross to self-pollination

Researchers found evidence for a modifier gene in sand cress that can lead to loss of self-incompatibility and acquisition of self-pollination. The study challenges current understanding of this process and opens up new avenues for research on plant breeding systems.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 16, 2023

Complexity is a barrier to horizontal gene transfer

Researchers investigated factors influencing horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in bacteria, finding that divergence and protein connectivity interact to limit its success. The study supports the Complexity Hypothesis, suggesting that newly transferred genes struggle to engage in normal protein-protein interactions.

SourceSMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 16, 2023

The use of genomic sequencing panels to personalise cancer treatment is beneficial in only 5% of the patients in whom they are currently used

A study by CNIO Breast Cancer Clinical Research Unit shows that genomic sequencing panels are beneficial in 5% of patients, increasing treatment efficacy and patient survival. The use of these panels is recommended for patients with metastatic lung, colon, or melanoma cancer, or those participating in clinical trials.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalEClinicalMedicine·TypeObservational study·DateJun 16, 2023

Research hints at how fungus farming ants keep their gardens healthy

Researchers discovered that ants sniff out diseased fungus by detecting chemicals called peptaibols, which are produced by the fungus. This finding suggests that the ants may be responding to a disease of their beneficial symbiotic partner rather than their own body, highlighting an extended defense response.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2023

Alcohol and smoking to blame for premature deaths among night owls, 37-year study suggests

A 37-year study in Finland found that evening types have a slightly increased risk of dying compared to morning types, primarily linked to smoking and drinking habits. The study tracked nearly 23,000 twins and found that lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption and smoking status, play a significant role in mortality rates.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalChronobiology International·TypeObservational study·DateJun 16, 2023

The global human day – A bird’s eye perspective

A study by McGill University found that humans spend approximately 9 hours on human-centered activities, such as sleep, eating, and personal care. Economic activities, including work and trade, account for only about 2.6 hours of the average day.

SourceMcGill University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJun 16, 2023

Wider search needed to improve outcomes for eosinophilic food allergy

A clinical trial found that benralizumab effectively depleted eosinophils, but it did not alleviate symptoms or improve gut tissue health in patients with eosinophilic gastritis. The study's findings suggest a new therapeutic target for eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases and highlight the need to reconsider remission definitions.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalThe Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 16, 2023

Study finds combustion from gas stoves can raise indoor levels of chemical linked to a higher risk of blood cell cancers

A new study by Stanford University finds that gas stoves can raise indoor levels of benzene, a chemical linked to leukemia and other blood cell cancers. The researchers found that exhaust fans often ineffective at eliminating benzene exposure, and concentrations measured in bedrooms can exceed national health benchmarks.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJun 16, 2023

CityU researchers invent a low-temperature synthesis method for high-quality tellurium nanomesh for next-generation electronics

A collaborative team led by City University of Hong Kong researchers invented a low-temperature vapour-phase growth method to produce large-scale synthesis of semiconducting tellurium nanomesh. The new method enables the scalability and cost-effectiveness of nanomesh for next-generation electronics.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2023

New technologies reveal the impact of circular economy on threatened species such as the Egyptian vulture

Researchers tracked Egyptian vultures with GPS transmitters, showing differences in food strategies between breeding and non-breeding individuals. Closing landfills may lead to scarcity of resources for these birds, prompting calls for conservation efforts that support extensive livestock farming.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalMovement Ecology·TypeObservational study·DateJun 16, 2023

Tracing the evolutionary origin of cognitive flexibility

A neuroscientific team mapped the brain's response to changing conditions, revealing a critical role for sensory regions in decision-making. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that cognitive flexibility evolved early in the development of the brain, with similarities observed between humans and mice.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2023

New imaging technique is no last resort

Researchers created a new method, RESORT, to image and analyze living systems in unprecedented detail. The technique combines benefits of super-resolution fluorescence and vibrational imaging, allowing for high spatial resolution and analysis of complex interactions.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2023

Adagrasib effective for patients with KRAS G12C-mutant lung cancer and untreated brain metastases

Researchers found adagrasib effective in suppressing cancer growth in both lungs and brain metastases, with a 90% intracranial disease control rate and 42% objective response rate. The median intracranial progression-free survival was 5.4 months, while the median overall survival reached 11.4 months.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJun 16, 2023