Researchers have developed a method called 'LIGR-Seq' to explore the functions of non-coding RNAs in human cells. The study revealed new roles for small nucleolar RNAs in regulating protein-coding mRNA stability and abundance.
A new University of Toronto study examines the effect of infant vocalizations on adult cognitive conflict processing and attention. The research found that infant cries reduce attention to tasks and trigger greater cognitive conflict than infant laughs.
A team of collaborators has developed a cell-free, paper-based diagnostic platform for detecting the Zika virus. The platform uses toehold sensors and isothermal RNA amplification to provide rapid, low-cost, and programmable diagnostics.
Researchers studied how tree crickets adjust their ears to match the changing frequency of their song with rising temperatures. By analyzing nerve cell reactions and ear vibrations, they found that tree cricket ears can adapt at a cellular level to recognize specific frequencies.
Researchers at the University of Toronto will investigate how environmental factors contribute to chronic conditions, with a focus on autoimmune disease, colorectal cancer, and respiratory diseases. The funding will help identify better ways to prevent and treat these diseases affecting millions of Canadians.
A team of researchers has developed a new technology that can stitch together DNA barcodes inside cells, allowing scientists to search amongst millions of protein pairs for protein interactions. This breakthrough increases the rate of discovery without increasing costs.
A new study by the University of Toronto reveals that people intuitively pair front vowel sounds with things close by and back vowel sounds with distances away. This knowledge can inform marketing strategies, such as choosing names for products or brands that align with their intended distance from customers.
A recent U of T study found that acetaminophen inhibits Error Related Negativity and Error Related Positivity in the brain, indicating impaired conscious awareness of errors. The research suggests potential implications for cognitive control in daily life.
A team led by Professor Fritz Roth found that bakers' yeast can identify harmful genetic mutations more reliably than leading algorithms. By testing the effects of human mutations in yeast, they identified 62% of disease variants as damaging, outperforming computational methods.
Researchers found that social media campaigns can attract attention worldwide but do not necessarily lead to significant fundraising or action. The study suggests that the visibility of social media messages is often not matched by a corresponding increase in donations.
The new Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Network in Diabetes and Related Complications aims to transform health outcomes for individuals with diabetes. The network will focus on improving care and reducing costs for vulnerable groups, including Indigenous peoples, immigrants, women, and lower socio-economic groups.
Drumlin hills, shaped like upturned boats, are formed when sediment is streamlined 'islands' that are often bisected to form megaridges. The research suggests that drumlins and megaridges are part of a single family of landforms formed by erosion, with the data indicating they occur on hard rock.
A study published in Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics reveals that people can intentionally exclude objects from their mental model of their environment. Test observers were faster at finding a target when the objects matched the color of the rectangle, but not when they did not, indicating top-down control over attention.
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that baby monkeys in groups with higher risks of infanticide develop faster. This accelerated growth may be triggered by stress hormones in maternal milk, allowing mothers and infants to better survive.
A study published in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine found that stem cell therapy can restore normal bone structure in mice with age-related osteoporosis. The treatment involves injecting healthy mesenchymal stem cells into the mice, which can then produce new bone tissue.
A new study by the University of Toronto and Cornell University found that older adults living alone with their abusers were up to four times more likely to experience severe mistreatment. The 'youngest old' (ages 60-74) were particularly vulnerable to the most severe forms of abuse.
Rachel Harding, a University of Toronto researcher, is making her lab notes publicly available to accelerate research into Huntington's disease. By sharing raw data and detailed updates, she aims to speed up the process and encourage collaboration among scientists.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered a new set of rules governing the formation of materials with unusual properties, including superconductivity and superfluidity. By studying ultracold atomic interactions, they found a new type of pressure that arises from p-wave interactions.
A new study by the University of Toronto found that individuals with schizophrenia have a lifetime prevalence of 39.2% for suicide attempts, compared to 2.8% of those without the disorder. Those who experienced childhood physical abuse were five times more likely to attempt suicide.
New research on ancient rodent Paramys reveals its brain was larger than expected but smaller in the neocortex region. This suggests that brain evolution occurred differently in early rodents compared to primates, highlighting the limitations of using brain size as a measure of intelligence.
A new study from the University of Toronto found that nearly 40% of formerly suicidal Canadians reach complete mental health. Social support was identified as a crucial factor in achieving this state, with those having someone to confide in seven times more likely to succeed.
A long-term study at Harvard Forest found that adding litter accelerated the breakdown of organic matter, releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere. The experiment contradicts previous assumptions about soil's ability to store carbon.
The discovery of eggs with embryos preserved within the body of a 508-million-year-old Waptia fossil provides the oldest direct evidence of a creature caring for its offspring. This finding supports the theory that the presence of a bivalved carapace played a key role in the early evolution of brood care in arthropods.
University of Toronto scientists have identified a specific channel in the brain where opioids interfere with breathing, leading to dangerous consequences. Researchers found that mice without this channel breathed normally even under opioid overdose conditions.
The study found that stromal cells, specialized fibers, and T helper 17 cells collaborate to form tertiary lymphoid tissues (TLTs) in the brain of MS patients. This discovery may lead to potential treatment options, such as targeted Th17 blockers, by understanding how TLTs are formed.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Toronto found that negative views on aging can negatively impact memory and hearing in older adults. The study suggests that education and training exercises can help improve cognitive and physical performance, dispel stereotypes about aging, and enhance overall quality of life.
Psychologists have determined the amount of weight required to make a difference in facial adiposity perception. Women need to lose about twice as much as men to be considered more attractive. A change in BMI of approximately 1.33 kg/m2 is required for noticeable changes.
Scientists have mapped out the human genome to identify essential genes for cell survival, revealing a core set of over 1,500 genes. The findings suggest that each tumor relies on a unique set of genes that can be targeted by specific drugs, offering hope for devising new treatments.
Researchers have reclassified a Canadian 'dinosaur' fossil as Dimetrodon borealis, featuring distinctive blade-like teeth. The discovery sheds new light on the animal's relationship to mammals and dinosaurs, and provides insight into its evolutionary history.
Researchers at U of T discovered genetic mutations in Candida albicans that allow it to defend itself against neighboring bacteria. The fungus has evolved to ignore bacterial signals, potentially becoming a more significant threat to patients with weakened immune systems.
A new U of T study argues that stakeholders should be rewarded for their valuable input in climate change research. The researchers categorized 27 climate change research networks and listed the roles of stakeholders in producing knowledge on local communities.
Researchers discovered a new way in which ALS kills nerve cells by disrupting protein synthesis, highlighting the importance of RNA-binding proteins in disease progression. The study provides a potential key to treating both ALS and dementia.
Researchers found that nicotine increases the speed at which codeine is converted into morphine in the brain, leading to greater pain relief but also a higher risk of addiction. People with more of this enzyme may experience increased pain relief but be more prone to codeine dependence.
Scientists tracked proteins from the C9orf72 gene, finding a specific protein helps transport essential proteins into motor neuron cells' nuclei. Misplacement of this protein can lead to cell death in diseases like ALS and FTD.
Two University of Toronto scientists developed a new research framework to measure agricultural impacts using functional trait-based ecology. The approach focuses on how plants respond to and affect changes in their environment, providing insights into crop diversity, nutrient cycling, pest repellence and drought mitigation.
Scientists have identified 500 novel membrane proteins that play a critical role in normal heart function and may help uncover new information about heart failure and arrhythmias. The research focuses on protein Tmem65, which regulates communication between cardiac contractile cells.
A new model proposes that Darwinius, the famous primate fossil, shares more in common with modern lemurs than previously thought. The study re-examined the interpretation of Darwinius based on its dental eruption sequence, finding it had a similar pattern to that of lemurs.
Researchers at University of Toronto develop model predicting tornado activity relative to changes in atmospheric conditions. The model takes into account instability and vertical windshear, shedding light on why actual tornado activity is vastly underestimated.
A multinational team of scientists created the world's largest protein map, revealing tens of thousands of new protein interactions that account for about a quarter of all estimated protein contacts in a cell. The map is helping researchers spot individual proteins that could be at the root of complex human disorders.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have identified the process of endocytosis as a key driver of rapid embryonic healing, which coordinates cell movement to close wounds. This discovery holds promise for developing more efficient treatments for human wound repair.
Researchers create interaction between single photon and rubidium atoms, enabling new field of optics. This breakthrough advances development of quantum computers by demonstrating useful ways to get photons to interact with each other.
A single molecular event in cells may hold the key to how mammals evolved intelligent brains. Alternative splicing (AS) enables cells to create more than one protein from a single gene, and researchers found that PTBP1 plays a crucial role in regulating AS events that lead to neuron development.
A new study from the University of Toronto found that adults with ulcerative colitis were twice as likely to have childhood physical or sexual abuse, with one-quarter reporting physical abuse and one-fifth reporting sexual abuse. The study also found no association between childhood maltreatment and Crohn's disease.
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that individuals with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis are twice as likely to develop generalized anxiety disorders. Women with IBD have four times the odds of anxiety compared to men, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
A new study reveals that the distinctive, saw-like tooth structure of theropod dinosaurs enabled them to effectively process food, contributing to their success as predators. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of dinosaur dentition and has implications for our understanding of these ancient creatures.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered a motor protein complex that transports severely damaged DNA within cells. The discovery sheds light on how cancer operates and could lead to new anti-cancer drug targets.
Research from University of Toronto psychologists explores how self-other overlap affects relationships, finding those with high overlap protect their partner from comparisons and maintain positive perceptions.
A new study has uncovered a key factor in the variability of genetic disease severity, enabling prediction and personalized treatment approaches. By analyzing genetic background, researchers can now estimate disease severity, providing hope for improved management and therapy development.
A University of Toronto research team discovered a new link between the genetic cause of ALS and its pathology, suggesting that C9orf72's mislocalization leads to TDP-43 buildup. This breakthrough offers new avenues for research and potential treatment or cure.
Researchers at the University of Toronto predict which plants and animals may be vulnerable to climate change by analyzing historical data on 30 fish species in over 1,500 lakes. The study found that bass and smaller fish species can wipe out vulnerable fish species due to predation and resource competition.