Researchers created a mathematical model to understand microbial community stability, diversity, and reproducibility. They found that cross-feeding processes and nutrient consumption levels contribute to the emergence of multiple levels of consumption, promoting higher diversity and stability.
A study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that a wearable device can accurately predict the risk of falls in older adults. The device uses motion sensors to measure walking patterns and combines this data with an individual's fall history to determine future risk. This prediction could enable preventative measures...
Researchers developed an algorithm that combines genomic information to predict individual responses to anticancer drugs. The new tool, pGENMi, uses gene expression, DNA sequence and epigenetic factors to identify key characteristics associated with specific drug responses.
Researchers have confirmed a new mechanism for energy conservation in cells, called hydrogen cycling, which was previously thought to be impossible. This discovery sheds light on how organisms conserve energy and function as part of the global carbon cycle.
A study found that stickleback fish respond similarly to predation risk regardless of parental or personal experience, with similar molecular and developmental responses. This challenges traditional models assuming additive effects from different sources.
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed a robot called TerraSentia to count corn plants with high accuracy. The robot uses a suite of sensors, algorithms, and deep learning to capture each plant from top to bottom, overcoming challenges such as varying inter-plant spacing.
A new study led by the University of Essex engineers a model crop to overexpress a protein involved in recycling toxic chemicals, increasing yields by 27-47%. The approach may help farmers produce more food despite increasing temperature stress.
Researchers analyzed four African cassava cultivars and found that unimproved landraces outperform improved varieties in photosynthetic efficiency. The study suggests genetic engineering may be necessary to improve cassava yield potential, which has remained stagnant despite advances in breeding.
Researchers recommend translocating Sumatran rhinos to breeding centers due to low population numbers and genetic diversity loss. Combining remaining rhinos can prevent genetic erosion and potentially save the species from extinction.
Forest elephant populations across Central Africa exhibit genetic similarity, highlighting the importance of conserving this critically endangered species. Conservation efforts can save many species by protecting one, as forest elephants play a vital role in maintaining plant diversity and ecosystem balance.
Researchers have improved crop water-use-efficiency by 25% without compromising yield, using a single gene. The team increased photosynthetic protein PsbS levels to conserve water, allowing plants to grow faster and yield more during dry spells.
Researchers deployed 12-foot metal poles with sensors to capture sun-induced fluorescence, allowing them to rapidly monitor crop photosynthetic performance. This technology has the potential to transform phenotyping into an efficient, automated process.
The US Department of Energy awards a $10.6 million grant to produce more biodiesel and biojet fuel from high-oil content crops like energycane and Miscanthus. The project aims to increase oil production by 15 times compared to soybeans, making it a more sustainable alternative.
Researchers developed an automated system to monitor honey bee interactions, revealing a network structure that facilitates fast information spread. The study found that the bees' social network exhibited a 'bursty' pattern similar to human networks, but with rapid information spreading.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found that cross-system signaling activity between growth factors can direct blood vessel growth and influence cancer progression, stroke recovery, and other disorders. This discovery offers a new pathway to developing effective therapies by promoting or inhibiting this signal.
Researchers developed a novel method called CRISPR-AID that combines genetic manipulations to improve metabolic engineering efficiency. By exploring different combinations of gene modifications, scientists can discover optimal solutions for specific goals.
Bioengineers examine genomic diversity of microbes, exploring how mutation and recombination influence evolution. They find a balance between opposing forces that determine whether a species remains stable or diverges.
Researchers found that reducing chlorophyll content in plant leaves can save significant amounts of nitrogen, which can be reinvested to improve light use efficiency and increase yield. This strategy has the potential to enhance photosynthetic efficiency without sacrificing carbon gain.
Researchers identified an improved form of the enzyme Rubisco, which can enhance carbon dioxide-fixation kinetics. The new screening strategy enabled the discovery of 11 mutations that increased efficiency, with potential applications in crops and sustainable food production.
Scientists have engineered cowpea to produce a Bacillus thuringiensis protein that protects against the Maruca pod borer. The resulting Bt cowpea variety can yield up to 25% more than traditional varieties, making it an attractive option for smallholder farmers in Africa.
The Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) project aims to develop sustainable yield increases through engineered photosynthesis. With a five-year, $45 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others, RIPE seeks to provide new means to eradicate world hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
Researchers have developed a new promising feedstock for biojet fuel that could replace up to 65% of national jet fuel consumption. The feedstock, called lipidcane, produces oil-rich sugarcane that can be converted into biodiesel or jet fuel.
The TerraSentia robot, developed by the University of Illinois, can autonomously count plants and measure stem width to estimate biomass. Early adopters will receive consulting services to teach their robot to detect additional traits that drive their business or research.
Researchers are developing a new class of biological therapeutics that can coevolve with viruses, potentially eliminating or blunting resistance. By leveraging natural phenomena like defective interference, they aim to create therapeutic interfering particles that can reduce disease severity and transmission.
A $90 billion global problem in the oil industry may be solved by reducing environmental harm through a new process called biosouring. Researchers are developing a technology called GeoBioCell to track interactions between water, rock, microbes, and oil in controlled environments.
Researchers discovered that CP12 regulates enzymes GAPDH and PRK, allowing plants to respond to changing light levels. Removing all three forms of the protein results in reduced photosynthetic efficiency and smaller plant yield.
A new computer model predicts optimal planting designs for specific environments, reducing yield losses up to 10% with double-row spacing. The model incorporates biochemical and biophysical processes to simulate 3D plant growth, enabling farmers to make data-driven decisions.
Rachel Whitaker, Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Illinois, receives a $1.5 million award to study mobile genetic elements and their role in microbial evolution. Her research aims to develop a new evolutionary paradigm to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified genomic mechanisms that underlie social behavior in mice, including changes in brain regions and epigenetic modifications. These findings may provide insights into social disorders in humans and shed light on the shared biological mechanisms across animal species.
Researchers have successfully integrated cutting-edge technologies to produce novel yeast strains for industrial use, as well as reveal a more sophisticated understanding of the yeast genome. The new method enables exploration of all genes in yeast, identifying previously unknown functions.
Researchers have engineered soybeans to withstand increased temperature and carbon dioxide levels, resulting in higher yields in future climate conditions. The modified crops outperformed conventional soybeans in field studies conducted at SoyFACE, a facility emulating future atmospheric conditions.
A team of researchers has successfully engineered sugarcane to produce oil in its leaves and stems, resulting in higher oil content without compromising sugar production. This breakthrough could lead to the development of dual-purpose bioenergy crops that are more profitable and sustainable than traditional soybeans and corn.
Researchers have discovered a key protein involved in photorespiration, a process that wastes energy and fixed carbon in plants. The Bile Acid Sodium Symporter 6 (BASS6) protein could be manipulated to increase plant productivity by reducing losses from this process.
A new study successfully uses CRISPR-Cas9 to modify the genome of Methanosarcina acetivorans, an archaeal species, for the first time. This breakthrough enables accelerated studies on these organisms, with implications for understanding global climate change and the global carbon cycle.
Researchers developed software RODEO to identify clusters of genes indicating an organism's ability to synthesize therapeutically promising molecules. The tool uses machine learning approach to recognize predictive genomic features and has been successfully applied to a class of molecules called lasso peptides.
Researchers have developed a new method of genetic engineering that creates artificial restriction enzymes with enhanced sequence specificity and defined sticky ends. This technology has the potential to revolutionize genomic research and gene editing by improving precision and reducing obstacles posed by existing restriction enzymes.
Scientifics found that lower leaves of corn and Miscanthus are less efficient in low light, leading to a 10% loss in potential yield. This 'Achilles' heel' likely applies to other C4 crops, such as sugarcane and sorghum.
Recent research suggests that dual-purpose biofuel crops like sugarcane and sweet sorghum can produce both ethanol and biodiesel for nine months of the year, increasing profits. This technology has the potential to decrease capital utilization costs and increase annual biofuel production by 20-30%.
Researchers have created an open-source database to facilitate bioenergy research, confirming Miscanthus as the top US bioenergy crop. The database, BETYdb, contains over 40,000 records of yield data for various biomass crops, revealing that Miscanthus is 2.4 times more productive than switchgrass under different environmental conditions.
Modern soybean crops produce too many leaves, wasting resources like water and carbon. By reducing leaf area, researchers found an 8% increase in seed yield through increased photosynthesis and decreased respiration. The study aims to optimize crop structure for higher yields without compromising water efficiency.
The Carl R. Woese Institute has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant to study antimicrobial resistance in mobile microbiomes. The research aims to better understand how AMR genes spread in different environments and develop targeted measures to slow its transmission.
A new Illinois study makes detailed predictions about an intriguing mechanism of genomic evolution. The researchers modeled the interaction between Alu and L1 elements as a stochastic process, predicting oscillations similar to predator-prey interactions.
A recent Tansley Review found that cassava yields have stagnated since 1961, with potential for 25-100% improvements in yield, water, and fertilizer use efficiency. Researchers highlight the importance of improving photosynthesis to increase sustainable food productivity.
Researchers found that Namibian desert elephants share the same DNA as African savanna elephants due to their high learning capacity and long-distance migrations. They possess unique survival skills, including sand-wetting and water conservation techniques.
A new study has discovered a diverse range of plant enzymes, including Rubisco, that have superior characteristics for improving crop photosynthetic efficiency. The research found that some plant species produce more effective Rubiscos than major crops like wheat and soybean, which could help address global food security.
A new study uses computer learning to create a standardized atlas that can automatically annotate samples, including lost metadata such as tissue type. By combining data from over 7,000 samples and 200 labs, the work represents a way to leverage publically available 'omics data while improving quality control.
The PETROSS project has developed sugarcane that accumulates 13% oil by dry weight, making it 4.5 times more profitable than soybeans per acre. The project aims to increase yields and expand the growing region of sugarcane through improvements in photosynthesis.
Researchers have sequenced the mitochondrial genome of the Hispaniolan solenodon, revealing that it diverged from other living mammals 78 million years ago. The venomous mammal survived asteroid impact and human colonization, but is now threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators.
A team of plant scientists has identified two superior forms of a naturally occurring enzyme known as Rubisco, which could improve photosynthesis and increase wheat yields by up to 20%. The researchers found variation in the enzyme's catalytic properties among closely related genotypes, including wild relatives of bread wheat.
A new study has demonstrated a molecular method that reduces the wait time to confirm transgenic work from weeks to just a few days. Digital drop PCR (ddPCR) was found to be reliable, fast and high throughput, making it a promising alternative to traditional methods.