The study provides novel candidate genes for future studies on longevity and cancer resistance, while revealing physiological adaptations related to size in large whales. Researchers hope to apply these findings to humans to fight age-related diseases.
Scientists used magnesium isotopes to analyze the diet of living mammals in Gabon's equatorial forest. This method provides a strong basis for inferring the diet of extinct animals. The study's findings offer new insights into ancient ecosystems and interactions between organisms.
A recent study reveals that many metatherian mammals, including marsupials like opossums, nearly went extinct alongside the dinosaurs. This allowed advanced placental mammals to rise to dominance and become ubiquitous across the globe today.
A recent study sequencing the complete genomes of 45 avian species reveals that avian genomes have slower rates of evolutionary change compared to mammals. This finding suggests a larger-scale pattern of evolutionary stasis in avian genomes, with fewer opportunities for gene duplication and functional innovation.
A study of bird genomes reveals that birds are less susceptible to viral invasions or purge them more effectively than mammals. The research, published in Science, identified five viral families that have left a footprint in the bird genome during evolution.
A research team from TUM discovered that birds use their oval-shaped heads to transform sound waves, allowing them to identify sounds from different elevation angles. This unique ability combines information from hearing and vision to improve orientation and evading predators.
A new fossil analysis reveals that Vintana sertich was a badger-sized, herbivorous animal with keen senses of smell and vision. The study sheds light on the diversity of Mesozoic mammals and their paleoecology.
Researchers found that humans are susceptible to typhoid fever due to the absence of enzyme CMAH, which reconfigures sugar molecules on cell surfaces. This discovery has implications for developing new therapies for typhoid fever.
Researchers at TSRI have identified Piezo2 as the primary mechanoreceptor protein mediating the sense of touch in mammals. Mice lacking Piezo2 lose sensitivity to ordinary light touch but retain pain-related touch sensitivity.
Researchers found that birds can compare their own odor with potential mates and choose unrelated individuals as breeding partners. This suggests a link between mate choice and disease-resistance in birds, similar to mammals.
A meta-analysis of studies on reduced-impact logging (RIL) and conventional logging found that RIL causes smaller shifts in species abundance and less harm to birds, arthropods, mammals, and bats. RIL certified timber can support the diverse benefits of tropical forests and promote sustainable forestry practices.
Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center found that calorie-restricted diets slowed the normal rise and fall of genes linked to aging and memory formation in the brain. The study used female mice fed food pellets with 30% fewer calories than controls, and tissue analyses showed a significant impact on gene expression.
The fossilized skull of Vintana sertichi, a 66- to 70-million-year-old groundhog-like creature, offers significant insights into the lifestyle and relationships of early mammals. The analysis reveals that Vintana likely had large eyes, a good sense of smell, and could eat a diet of roots, seeds, or nut-like fruits.
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that a specific gene, Sox2, plays a crucial role in determining the source of stem cells in mammals. By studying mouse embryos, the team found that Sox2 appears to be acting ahead of other genes traditionally identified as playing critical roles in stem cell formation.
Scientists have developed a breath analyzer for dolphins, allowing for non-invasive diagnosis of health issues. The instrument captures metabolites in dolphin breath to identify changes associated with disease or environmental factors.
A new branch of mammals closely related to modern horses, rhinos, and tapirs has been identified through the discovery of ancient bones from India and Pakistan. These animals spent a considerable amount of time near water, similar to modern rhinos and tapirs, and were likely large and lumbering.
A new study finds that small, fast-living mammals and high population densities can increase the risk of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Research suggests that animals with fast life history features and large populations are more effective at transmitting pathogens to ticks.
The discovery of three new extinct squirrel-like species confirms that mammals originated at least 208 million years ago in the late Triassic period. The findings support earlier research suggesting a common ancestor for mammals existed during this time, and provide new insights into ancient mammalian evolution.
Scientists analyzed depictions of animals in ancient Egyptian artifacts to reconstruct the large mammal community that lived in the Nile Valley. The study found that species extinctions led to a decline in ecosystem stability, with only eight species remaining today compared to 37 six millennia ago.
Research suggests that ancient synapsid relatives, including the famous Dimetrodon, had eyes best suited for low-light conditions at night, 100 million years before the evolution of modern mammals. The findings indicate that nocturnal activity may have evolved in some synapsids as early as 300 million years ago.
Early Jurassic mammals in Wales developed specialized diets, with some favoring harder food like beetles and others softer foods like scorpion flies. This discovery suggests that competition drove the evolution of unique mammalian features, such as precise chewing and better hearing.
Research from the University of Guelph reveals that arctic mammals like caribou can metabolize current-use pesticides ingested through vegetation, limiting their impact on humans who consume them. The study found significant biomagnification was not observed in this food chain.
Researchers developed flyPAD technology to monitor fruit flies' feeding behavior, finding that they eat by rhythmically extending their proboscis in a stereotyped fashion. The study also shows that the way flies adapt to starvation is similar to how mammals do it.
Researchers found that prestin, a key hearing gene, has evolved independently to play a critical role in echolocation of bats and dolphins. The protein enables these animals to navigate through murky waters or find food in the dark using high-frequency sound waves.
Researchers found that African elephants have the largest number of olfactory receptor genes, with almost 2,000 OR genes. This unique repertoire is likely important for their living environment and allows them to detect subtle scents.
Researchers found that currently used pesticides are not biomagnified in Arctic food chains. Instead, Arctic mammals metabolize these pesticides, preventing their accumulation in the ecosystem.
Researchers found that a combination of developmental and biomechanical problems prevents evolutionary change in the number of trunk vertebrae in fast running and agile mammals. In contrast, these problems barely affect slow and sturdy mammals.
Researchers have identified two genes that may help prevent muscle wastage in humans: survivin and checkpoint kinase 1. These genes are highly active in burrowing frogs that survive dormancy without suffering significant muscle damage.
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that mammals do not use RNAi to fight viruses, contrary to previous studies. Instead, they use microRNAs, which are part of a different defense system based on interferons, signaling proteins made by immune cells.
Researchers tested the hearing of seven Bristol Bay beluga whales, finding surprisingly little variation in their abilities. The study provides a baseline for the population's health and may inform conservation efforts and validate studies of hearing in captivity.
A University of Strathclyde report suggests that EU's ban on ditching unwanted fish could have unintended consequences on wildlife and fail to improve fish stocks. Changing fishing practices to eliminate unwanted catches has dramatic effects on the entire food web, with major benefits for birds, mammals, and fish stocks.
A study by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found that commercially available sonar systems produce signals within the hearing range of killer whales and other marine mammals. The sounds are quiet but audible to animals beyond a few hundred meters, potentially affecting their behavior.
Researchers have identified two independent sex-determining genes, SRY and AMHY, that emerged around 180 million years ago in the common ancestor of mammals. These genes are responsible for testicular development and determine an individual's sex.
Research found that security barriers restrict native species' territory but do not necessarily limit human migration in affected areas. Camera trap data showed increased detection of puma and coati in areas without barriers.
Researchers found that the circadian clock network in fruit flies consists of many independent clocks, each driving activity rhythms. This organization may also apply to mammals, with implications for alleviating adverse effects associated with circadian disorders.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution identified a core skin bacterial community shared by humpback whales across populations, suggesting a way to assess their overall health. The study's findings could aid in population health monitoring and conservation status of threatened or endangered marine mammals.
Researchers discovered 3D plumes of brain activity propagating through the avian brain, differing from mammalian slow-wave-sleep patterns. This finding suggests alternative computational properties and challenges the layered organization assumption.
NOAA researcher Sue Moore says Arctic marine mammals respond to climate change by shifting their distribution, timing of movements, and feeding locations. This provides clues on how the ecosystem is responding to changes in sea ice, warming temperatures, and increased storminess.
Researchers analyzed predator-prey interactions among carnivorous mammals and birds of prey to explain the evolution of antipredator traits. They found that noxious spraying is favored by nocturnal animals, while sociality is favored by diurnal species.
A team of researchers used DNA testing to analyze preserved plant remains from the permafrost, finding that large ancient mammals roamed areas with abundant forbs. This discovery provides new insights into how these massive animals survived extreme cold conditions.
Scientists discovered that the mass extinction of large mammals after the latest Ice Age was linked to changes in vegetation, particularly the loss of protein-rich forbs. This finding provides a new understanding of the role of climate change in shaping ecosystems during the Ice Age.
Researchers found that a protein molecule on stem cells interacts with extracellular matrix and thyroid hormones to promote brain growth. Iodine deficiency in pregnant women can lead to abnormal brain development due to the lack of thyroid hormones.
Research by Robert Boessenecker uncovers a record of 21 marine mammal species from the San Francisco Bay Area's Purisima Formation, dating back 5-2.5 million years. A new species of fossil whale, Balaenoptera bertae, is discovered, closely related to minke and fin whales.
A study by researchers at the University of California, Davis found that growing up in space weakens a key immune system pathway in Drosophila flies. The Toll pathway was 'non-functional' in space-raised flies, but showed improvement under hypergravity conditions.
A new CU-Boulder study analyzed over 1,000 scientific studies on North American mammal responses to human-caused climate change, finding that only 52% of species responded as expected. Large mammal body size and restricted times during a day were key traits tied to climate change responses.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that primates, including humans, expend only half the daily energy needed by other mammals. This slow metabolism accounts for their prolonged childhoods, infrequent reproduction, and extended lifespans.
New fossils from Belgium have revealed the earliest known ancestor of modern carnivores, with species such as lions, tigers and bears tracing their ancestry to primitive carnivorous mammals. The new specimens, including over 250 teeth and ankle bones, provide valuable insights into the evolutionary history of these iconic animals.
Researchers develop a reaction-diffusion model to account for seasonal patterns in Lyme disease transmission, taking into consideration factors such as temperature, rainfall, and resource availability. The model aims to drive the basic reproduction number R0 below 1 to eradicate the disease.
Researchers found diverse aging patterns in 46 species, including those that weaken and strengthen with age, and remain unaffected by the process. Some species experience high mortality early on in life, while others become more fertile with age. The study reveals no correlation between aging patterns and typical lifespan.
A Syracuse University biologist has developed a system to track ships and monitor underwater noise levels in a protected marine mammal habitat. The techniques focus on the bottlenose dolphin population in Scotland's Moray Firth, where increasing shipping activity may negatively impact resident marine mammals.
Researchers have identified Sca1 stem cells as the key players in the regeneration of heart muscle cells in mammals. These stem cells increase their activity in response to heart damage, leading to the formation of new heart muscle cells.
A comprehensive database of generation lengths for all extant mammal species has been developed, providing a crucial time reference for population ecology and conservation biology. The dataset contains data on adult body mass, maximum longevity, reproductive life span, and age at first reproduction for 5427 mammal species.
A new study assesses the impact of offshore wind farm construction on marine mammals, providing a framework to mitigate potential harm. The research focuses on harbor seals and could inform climate change targets while protecting endangered species.
Researchers found that mammalian body size decreased during two ancient global warming events, the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM2). The study suggests that mammals may adapt to extreme warming by becoming smaller.
A team led by Chris Sullivan found that RNA interference does not play a role as an antiviral in most body cells in mammals. Researchers suggest that RNAi may have evolved to regulate the protein-based immune response instead.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered a new antiviral response in mammals, utilizing the RNA interference pathway to combat viral infections. This discovery sheds light on a previously overlooked aspect of innate immunity and highlights the simplicity and universality of this system.
Scientists have discovered that mammals use the RNA interference (RNAi) process to destroy viruses within their own cells, similar to plants and invertebrate animals. This finding could lead to the creation of vaccines against deadly infections such as SARS, West Nile, dengue, hepatitis C, and influenza.
Researchers found a brain-to-body signaling circuit in roundworms that enables weight loss independently of food intake, involving serotonin and octopamine neurotransmitters. The discovery hints at a similar circuit in humans and other mammals, potentially leading to more potent weight-loss therapies combining serotonin and adrenaline.
A new study by UC Davis reveals a strong correlation between human life expectancy and the loss of endangered species, with countries experiencing high GDP growth showing higher percentages of invasive birds and mammals. The research highlights the need for better scientific understanding of human-environment interactions.
A study spanning two decades reveals that species in forest fragments are more likely to disappear than previously thought. Habitat fragmentation and invasive species like the Malayan field rat contribute to the rapid decline of native wildlife populations.