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Study first to explore ‘walking’ sharks on the move in early life stages

A study by Florida Atlantic University researchers compared the walking and swimming behaviors of neonate and juvenile epaulette sharks. Contrary to expectations, results showed that differences in body shape did not alter kinematics between early life stages, suggesting a consistent locomotor performance.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalIntegrative and Comparative Biology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2022

The evolution of axial patterning

A research group discovered that β-catenin signaling is used for axial patterning in sea anemones and sea urchins, a mechanism that also exists in vertebrates. This suggests that this system was present in the common ancestor of Cnidaria and Bilateria around 650 million years ago.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature·DateJun 29, 2021

Yale researchers create 'Ancestry.com' for cells

Researchers at Yale University have developed a method to recreate the earliest stages of cellular development, allowing scientists to track individual cell lineages. By analyzing tiny variations in skin cells' genomes, they can reconstruct the early lineage trees for each person, shedding light on human biology and potentially diagnos...

SourceYale University·JournalScience·DateMar 18, 2021

Biological 'Rosetta Stone' brings scientists closer to deciphering how the body is built

Researchers from Columbia University and the Spanish National Research Council have discovered a method to systematically identify the role of each Hox gene in a developing fruit fly. This breakthrough offers a new path forward for decoding the underlying genetic mechanisms that guide growth and development, aging, and disease.

SourceThe Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 29, 2019

The organizer of body axes

Researchers have found a blastoporal organizer in sea anemone embryos, using the same signaling molecules as vertebrate organizers. This principle existed in the common ancestor of vertebrates and sea anemones over 600 million years ago.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 1, 2016

3-D printed 'building blocks' of life

Researchers have created a 3D printing technique that produces highly uniform 'blocks' of embryonic stem cells, which can be used as building blocks to construct tissue constructs, larger structures of tissues, and potentially even micro-organs. The method outperforms existing methods in terms of cell uniformity and homogenous prolifer...

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalBiofabrication·DateNov 3, 2015

Gut feeling restored by growth outside the body

Researchers successfully joined two separate pieces of embryonic mouse intestine using growth supports, allowing nerve signals to pass through and promoting growth. The breakthrough could lead to treatment for conditions like short bowel syndrome, a condition causing damage to the bowel that prevents nutrient absorption.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalJournal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine·DateAug 25, 2015

Sci-Fly study explores how lifeforms know to be the right size

Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center found that the size and patterning accuracy of an embryo depend on the amount of reproductive resources invested in by mothers before eggs leave the ovary. The study used fruit flies to develop a mathematical model, TEMS, which links core pieces of the developmental picture. ...

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 26, 2015

Evolution of the back-to-belly axis

Researchers found that sea anemones use BMP signaling molecules to establish a second body axis, regulating mesenteries and Hox gene activation. This discovery provides insights into the evolution of animal body axes over hundreds of millions of years.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalCell Reports·DateMar 18, 2015

A twist on planetary origins

Researchers at MIT and Purdue University have found that meteorites are not building blocks of planets, but rather byproducts of a violent planetary process. Computer simulations show that large moon-sized bodies likely existed before chondrules formed, which were then created by collisions of these bodies.

Blocking cells' movement to stop the spread of cancer

Researchers at University College London have discovered a way to block the movement of cancer cells by targeting chemical signals that trigger their transformation into an invasive, liquid-like state. This breakthrough could lead to innovative techniques to stop cancer cells from spreading and causing secondary tumours.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateJul 7, 2014

How did we get 4 limbs? Because we have a belly

Researchers propose that fins and limbs develop from the area surrounding the belly due to the interaction of ectodermal tissues with mesoderm layers. This model, published in Evolution & Development, suggests that epigenetic factors play a crucial role in shaping embryonic development and ultimately giving rise to paired appendages.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalEvolution & Development·DateJan 27, 2014

$23 million to create a 'window into the body'

The University of Adelaide has been awarded $23 million to establish a new Center of Excellence that will explore the boundaries of biology, lasers, and nanoscience to create a 'window into the body'. The center will focus on three main themes: sensing in developing embryos, immune signals linked to touch and pain, and exploring the ro...

Stem cell reprogramming made easier

Researchers find removing MBD3 protein increases efficiency of stem cell reprogramming from 1% to 100%, allowing for faster production of cells for medical use. This breakthrough provides a deeper understanding of embryonic development and could advance treatment of various diseases.

Environmental toxins enter the brain tissue of polar bears

Researchers have detected perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the brain tissue of polar bears, which could have severe impacts on human health. The study suggests that PFASs are crossing the blood-brain barrier and accumulating in all parts of the brain, highlighting the need for further research into their effects.

SourceAarhus University·JournalEnvironmental Toxicology and Chemistry·DateJul 23, 2013