A newly discovered biological clock controls many metabolic functions and determines life span, operating on shorter time intervals for small mammals like rats and longer ones for larger animals like chimpanzees. The discovery was made by NYU dental professor Dr. Timothy Bromage while observing incremental growth lines in tooth enamel.
A recent study suggests that selenium supplements may not be necessary for most people due to a reduced reliance on the trace element in mammals. This discovery raises questions about the need for supplements and highlights the importance of considering individual factors such as age, sex, and medical needs.
Researchers found that human red blood cells use the protein Glut1 to transport DHA, allowing efficient antioxidant production, while other mammals lack this trait. The discovery sheds light on how humans adapt to an 'inborn' metabolic error.
Researchers found that milk-protein genes arose in the mammalian common ancestor and preceded the loss of egg protein genes. This transition allowed mammals to feed their young via the placenta and with milk, abandoning eggs as a source of nutrition. The study provides insights into the origins of lactation and placentation in mammals.
Researchers discovered that roundworms use both G and C motifs to protect chromosomes, each uniquely attached to the DNA
Researchers found that pigeons increase slow-wave sleep to recover from sleep loss, mirroring human brain function. This discovery sheds light on the role of sleep in animals and may provide insights into human sleep patterns.
Researchers have discovered a novel mode of neurogenesis in Drosophila that shares similarities with mammalian brains. This breakthrough suggests key aspects of neural development may be conserved across insects and mammals.
NOAA is investigating how underwater sound affects marine mammals, which may cause them to strand. The agency is also studying the rapid rate of Arctic ice melt due to factors like aerosols and ozone in the lower atmosphere. Additionally, NOAA researchers are using radiocarbon traces to determine fish ages, which helps with fisheries m...
A recent study by Vanderbilt University reveals that shrews, despite their small size, employ highly developed hunting strategies. The researchers discovered that these tiny mammals can detect water movements, identify prey shapes using their whiskers, and utilize their sense of smell underwater.
The newly discovered grey-faced sengi (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis) is a large, rare species found only in two high-altitude forest blocks in Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains. Its unique features include a distinctive grey face and jet-black lower rump, highlighting the region's exceptional biodiversity.
Researchers have restored the naked mole-rat's ability to feel pain, particularly in response to capsaicin, but remain insensitive to acids. This unique resistance may hold key to developing new pain relief strategies.
Researchers propose that pika leptin's adaptive functional evolution may be driven by cold environmental stress, not hypoxia. This discovery has significant implications for understanding small mammals' adaptation to extreme environments and identifying new candidate therapies for human diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to explain infection patterns of Schistosoma japonicum. They found that transmission from snails to mammals was the primary factor in explaining differences among villages. Interventions targeting snail populations may be more effective than others, according to the study.
A new study by UC Berkeley scientists reveals that dinosaurs experienced rapid growth spurs and reached sexual maturity near the end of this phase, well before reaching maximum body size. This finding suggests that dinosaurs were born precocious and suffered high adult mortality, making early sexual maturity necessary for survival.
A study reveals that elephants, giraffes, and other large plant-eaters spur Acacia trees to hire ants as bodyguards, but without them, the trees suffer. The research highlights how people's impacts on ecosystems can cascade down unexpected paths.
Researchers found that human auditory neurons can detect subtle frequency differences down to a tenth of an octave, surpassing other mammals. This sensitivity may be linked to musical skill and cognitive abilities such as working memory.
A study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, found that certain marine mammals have evolved to protect their brains from conditions of low oxygen. The amounts and kinds of globins in the brain correlate with physical activity patterns of various wild mammals.
A recent study by University at Buffalo biologists provides the most complete picture to date of the complex biological mechanisms of bacterial viruses infected with Shiga toxin. The research reveals that toxins like Shiga are used by bacteria to become mobile and can lead to more effective treatments for humans infected with it.
A new study in journal Ecography analyzes Bergmann's rule in European carnivore mammals, partitioning body mass variation into historical and ecological components. The findings show that patterns can be better explained by recent and independent evolution of each species as a response to environmental conditions.
The domestic cat genome has been successfully sequenced, revealing approximately 65% of its euchromatic regions. The analysis identified 20,285 putative genes and hundreds of chromosomal rearrangements among mammals, shedding light on feline health and human disease.
Researchers studying burrowing mammals, such as moles and mole rats, have discovered unique adaptations that enable them to dig efficiently in rocky soils. Convergent evolution plays a key role in the development of these specialized features, allowing these mammals to thrive in challenging environments.
Researchers identified serotonin as the chemical responsible for inhibiting milk production and secretion in human mammary glands. The finding could aid development of therapeutics to increase milk production, aiding efforts to alleviate milk shortages worldwide.
Scientists are studying the mechanics of brain folding in higher mammals to better understand its relationship with cognitive ability and neurological diseases. They have found that tension in axons may play a key role in driving this process, which could lead to new insights into conditions such as schizophrenia and autism.
Genomic imprinting evolved in a stepwise, adaptive way, with genes becoming imprinted as needed. The study provides important clues about the evolution of imprinting, despite its complex nature.
A research team, including UC Riverside biologists, has found experimental evidence supporting a theory of genetic conflict in the reproduction of fish that bear placentas. The conflict is likened to an
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have solved the long-standing mystery of how mammalian ears amplify sound, concluding that movement of cilia atop hair cells dominates response in non-mammals but somatic motility drives amplification in mammals.
The gray, short-tailed opossum's genome reveals insights into connections between humans and other species, as well as the evolution of mobile elements. Mobile elements make up about 52% of the opossum genome, with distinct compositional differences compared to primate genomes.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois has made significant discoveries about germ cell development in planarians, a tiny flatworm species. They found that planarians express a key gene, nanos, which plays a critical role in germ cell formation and maintenance, similar to mammals.
Researchers developed a robust time estimation method, resolving discrepancies between paleontological and molecular studies on placental mammal evolution. The revised estimate places the root of placental mammals at 84 million years ago, aligning with fossil records and traditional morphological views.
A new study reveals that the mass extinction event that wiped out dinosaurs did not prompt the rapid diversification of modern mammal species. Instead, these early mammals evolved and radiated around 10 million years after the dinosaurs' demise, driven by a sudden increase in global temperature.
A new study has found that the ancestors of modern mammals did not quickly evolve and spread to fill empty niches following the mass extinctions of dinosaurs. Instead, diversification rates dropped and stayed low for 40 million years, with modern mammal orders emerging around 50-55 million years ago.
A comprehensive tree of mammalian evolution puts major diversifications well after dinosaur die-off, casting doubt on their impact. The team constructed a complete evolutionary tree using molecular data and fossil evidence, finding that diversification didn't take off until the Eocene epoch, about 56 to 34 million years ago.
Researchers found two basic categories of cells: those that stay the same size but have drastically different energy needs based on mammal size, or cells that grow larger in larger mammals. This discovery sheds light on how organism size affects cell life span and function.
A recent study by Stanford University researchers found that large herbivorous mammals can have a significant impact on ecosystem health. In an experiment in central Kenya, the removal of cattle, elephants, and zebras led to an increase in the populations of trees, beetles, lizards, and other species.
Carnivores can only sustain body mass up to one ton due to energy intake and expenditure limitations. This explains why large predators like lions and modern-day polar bears are relatively small compared to extinct herbivorous mammals.
A Mayo Clinic researcher has identified a target site in malaria-carrying mosquitoes that could be used to develop toxic pesticides. The residues are found in three mosquito species and the German cockroach, but not in mammals.
A Mayo Clinic researcher has identified a target site in malaria-carrying mosquitoes that could be used to develop pesticides toxic to the Anopheles gambiae mosquito and other species. This finding could lead to a safer and more effective method to control mosquito-borne diseases like malaria.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University discovered that some mammals, such as star-nosed moles and water shrews, can detect objects underwater using their sense of smell. By blowing bubbles into the water, these animals can create a rapid exchange of air molecules that allows them to sniff out objects with high accuracy.
Researchers developed an open-source software system called InvChecker to detect microinversions in genomic sequences. Microinversions can provide insights into genetic diversity and evolution. The new approach confirmed the existing phylogenetic tree for 15 mammals, shedding light on species splits and evolutionary relationships.
Scientists have discovered a unique, mouse-sized land animal in New Zealand, which challenges the theory that birds evolved without competition from land mammals. The discovery also sheds new light on climate change in the region, indicating a massive shift from warm and wet to cool and dry conditions.
Researchers found that Akt1 is specifically required for lactating mice to synthesize sufficient milk. The protein kinase plays a critical role in glucose metabolism, which may have implications for cancer therapy. Studies suggest that the metabolic demands of lactation bear similarities to those of tumor cells.
Researchers found that zebrafish have progenitor cells and an epicardium that can restore wounded heart muscle. The study's findings suggest that these mechanisms could be utilized for therapies, potentially improving the regenerative capacity of mammalian hearts.
A comprehensive worldwide map of mammals, birds, and amphibians shows that endangered species from different groups don't inhabit the same areas, contradicting conservationists' assumptions. This discovery has significant implications for conservation planning and decision-making.
A global study has found that pinpointing rare bird species isn't a reliable way to assume where other endangered animals occur. The research gathered data on 9,626 bird species, 4,104 mammal species, and 5,619 amphibian species to show that closer examination is needed for conservation efforts.
Early mammals' eyes have only one version of the photoreceptor gene that detects light, unlike birds, fish, and amphibians with two versions. This suggests they may have been nocturnal creatures.
Scientists discovered a unique evolutionary link between primitive B cells in fish and the adaptive immune response in humans. In fish, B cells participate in phagocytosis, attacking and eating foreign particles; this behavior is unexpected in mammals. The findings may lead to novel roles of B cells in mammals and improved fish vaccines.
A unique evolutionary link has been found between the immune systems of fish and mammals, with primitive B cells in fish playing a key role in phagocytosis. This discovery could lead to new strategies for developing effective fish vaccines and offers insights into the evolution and function of immune cells.
A team of scientists found that endogenous retroviruses are critical during early pregnancy in sheep, supporting the development of the placenta. The study suggests these retroviruses are remnants of ancient infections and have become indispensable for pregnancy in mammals.
A new species of hoofed mammal, Hemihegetotherium trilobus, has been discovered in Bolivia with distinctive three-lobed lower molar teeth. The animal is believed to have lived around 13 million years ago and was part of the notoungulate group, which dominated South America before its extinction.
Scientists suggest that primates evolved good close-up eyesight to avoid snakes, which were the primary predators of modern mammals. Fossil records show that snakes emerged around 100 million years ago, prompting primates to adapt their vision.
The most recent census found that efforts to protect the park's wildlife are reversing the trend of decline, with elephant populations increasing to 340 individuals. The park's large mammal populations have also increased, including buffalo and Uganda kob.
Researchers have discovered a new class of small RNAs called piRNAs in the mouse germline, which are bigger than previously described small RNAs. These novel small RNAs are thought to play a role in spermatogenesis and have unique features that distinguish them from other types of small RNAs.
Researchers discover non-coding RNA transcript Kcnq1ot1 is essential for paternal-specific gene silencing in mice. The study suggests that mammals have co-opted multiple transcriptional regulatory mechanisms to control imprinted genes, supporting the idea that imprinting evolved gradually over time.
Researchers discovered that males of the extinct species Thyrohyrax had oversized, swollen lower jaws shaped like a banana, which may have been used to produce sound. The discovery suggests that Thyrohyrax and its fossil relatives were the only mammals to use this skeletal structure for sound production.
A new gene, Lazaro, has been discovered to reduce retinal degeneration in fruit flies by enhancing the production of diacylglycerol, a key player in controlling TRP channels. This discovery may have implications for understanding sensory signaling in mammals.
Yale researchers found that environmental toxins like TBT can alter the balance of chloride ions in outer hair cells, causing profound changes in sound amplification in the inner ear. This study confirms that whales and other marine mammals exposed to TBT have altered hearing and may contribute to beaching incidents.
Researchers at Rutgers University discovered that the human protein lipin is a critical enzyme in regulating body fat. The study found that lipin plays a crucial role in fat metabolism, and its activity may be an important target for treating obesity and related conditions.
Researchers found that a protein called Cryptochrome helps regulate the biological clock in fruit flies, similar to its role in mammals. The study provides new insights into the human biological clock and its relationship to sleep-wake cycles and overall health.
Scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution use ocean gliders to collect passive acoustic recordings of baleen whales, including right, sei, and humpback whales. The gliders' findings suggest a close correspondence between changes in sei whale calls and near-surface copepod abundance.
Marine mammals like otters and manatees are providing early clues of our impact on the oceans. Research suggests that their deaths from diseases like Toxoplasma may be linked to human activities such as cat ownership and algal blooms.