Add BrightSurf on Google Email

University of Toronto


Self-fertilizing plants contribute to their own demise

A recent study published in Nature Genetics reveals that self-fertilizing plants like Red Shepherd's Purse accumulate harmful mutations over time, reducing genetic diversity. This can lead to extinction, highlighting the importance of preserving crop genetic variation to avoid yield losses due to mutation accumulation.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Genetics·DateJun 9, 2013

Giving blood donors a good reason to give

A study by University of Toronto Mississauga researchers found that offering economic incentives such as gift cards increased blood donations without compromising safety. The study used field-based studies with larger samples and found that incentives like paid vacation days led to a significant rise in annual blood donations.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalScience·DateMay 23, 2013

Productivity increases with species diversity

New research from University of Toronto Scarborough confirms that environments with distantly related plant species are more productive. The study suggests that such diversity can enhance species function and fill different environmental niches, leading to increased carbon drawdown and potential climate benefits.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 2013

How to build a very large star

A team of astronomers at the University of Toronto propose a mechanism for forming very large stars, where baby stars are fed gas from surrounding older stars, allowing them to grow in mass. They observed evidence of this phenomenon in the Westerhout 3 cloud, located 6,500 light years from Earth.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateMar 27, 2013

'Crazy-busy' Canadians under pressure on the job

A new study from the University of Toronto found that Canadian workers who report high levels of job pressure often experience problems navigating work and family roles, as well as symptoms of physical and mental health issues. Having control over one's work schedule and job autonomy are associated with lower levels of job pressure.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalSocial Science Research·DateFeb 28, 2013

Everyday evolution

A study from the University of Toronto Mississauga discovered that insect interaction can cause rapid evolutionary changes in plants, with populations diverging significantly in as few as three to four generations. This suggests that insects play a crucial role in plant evolution and diversity.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalScience·DateOct 4, 2012

Parental divorce linked to stroke in males

Adult men from divorced families are three times more likely to suffer a stroke than those from intact families, according to a new University of Toronto study. Researchers found that parental divorce was still associated with a tripled risk of stroke even after adjusting for other risk factors.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalInternational Journal of Stroke·DateSep 13, 2012

Childhood sexual abuse linked to later heart attacks in men

A new study by the University of Toronto found that men who experienced childhood sexual abuse are three times more likely to have a heart attack than men who were not sexually abused as children. The researchers also noted that the pathways linking childhood sexual abuse to physical health outcomes in later life may be gender-specific.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalChild Abuse & Neglect·DateSep 6, 2012

From microns to centimetres

University of Toronto researchers have developed a device that can create three-dimensional, functional tissues through a precise and controlled process. The technology uses biomaterials to form a 'mosaic hydrogel' sheet, onto which cells are seeded in specific placements, mimicking natural cell placement in living tissues.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJul 31, 2012