Articles tagged with Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
A team of biologists has discovered an ancient neurohormone called bombesin that controls appetite in humans and other vertebrates. The study also found that bombesin-like neurohormones are present in starfish, revealing a common ancestor of appetite regulation dating back over half a billion years.
Researchers have discovered that a specific gene pathway is crucial for feather formation, dating back to the origins of proto-feathers in dinosaurs. The study provides insights into how genetic interactions evolved to allow for the emergence of complex structures like feathers.
Researchers found that inhibiting the sonic hedgehog pathway restricts feather bud outgrowth and branching in chickens. Temporarily modified Shh expression resulted in proto-featherlike structures, highlighting the pathway's importance in feather development.
Research from the University of Chicago and University of Missouri reveals how modern birds' larger brains led to changes in their skulls, jaw muscles, and feeding mechanics. This evolution allowed for the development of cranial kinesis, enabling birds to move different parts of their skull independently.
A new study found that birds have lower cancer rates despite high blood sugar levels, challenging existing assumptions. The research suggests that some species have evolved natural biological defenses against cancer, which could inspire new approaches to prevention and treatment in humans.
Researchers investigated genetic and sensory mechanisms behind mate preferences in Heliconius cydno butterflies with yellow or white wing patches. They found that males prefer females with matching wing colors due to differences in how sensory information is processed.
Researchers analyze gene expression in Retinal Determination Network to identify developmental differences between Tegenaria pagana and other spider species. The study sheds light on evolutionary adaptations in cave environments, including the genetic factors influencing eye reduction.
Researchers found a single young adult Paranthropus robustus fossil with evidence of habitual upright walking, weighing only about a meter tall and 27 kg at death. The species' small size made it vulnerable to predators like sabertooth cats and giant hyenas.
Scientists have uncovered the molecular structure of Mycoplasma mobile's twin motors that power its gliding ability, using cryo-electron microscopy. The complex structure reveals a new mechanism by which energy from ATP hydrolysis is converted into motility.
Researchers compared feathers and bodies of flightless birds and their flying relatives, finding that some features change relatively quickly. The study sheds light on evolution of complex traits that lose original function, and could help reveal which fossil birds were flightless.
Researchers discovered synovial joints in ancient fish lineages, suggesting these features first evolved in jawed vertebrates. The study's findings shed light on the origins of humans' flexible joints and provide critical information for research into vertebrate skeletal architecture.
Research team develops novel method to exploit frictionless sliding for improved memory performance and energy efficiency. The new technology enables unprecedentedly efficient data read/write operations while consuming significantly less energy.
A new study reveals that the transition from water to land occurred multiple times in arachnids, with whole-genome duplication playing a key role in shaping traits like silk production and venom synthesis. This finding provides a foundation for future genetic and evolutionary studies.
Understanding how dominance and tribal instincts fuel division is critical to addressing global conflicts and economic inequality. Professor Jorge A. Colombo argues that fundamental behavioural drives are hardwired into our species and continue to shape human behaviour today.
Researchers have discovered that anemonefish have evolved to maintain very low levels of sialic acid in their skin mucus to avoid triggering the release of nematocysts in their sea anemone hosts. This adaptation allows them to safely coexist with sea anemones, which also lack these sugar compounds in their own mucus.
Two studies led by Dr. García-Moreno reveal birds' unique brain evolution, showing convergent evolution of neural circuits without homologous ancestors. Birds retained inhibitory neurons for hundreds of millions of years, while excitatory neurons evolved in new ways, highlighting the evolutionary flexibility of brain development.
Researchers used deep learning models to compare gene regulation in different cell types of human and chicken brains, shedding new light on brain evolution and providing tools for studying gene regulation. The study found that while some cell types are highly conserved between birds and mammals, others have evolved differently.
A new study explores how chemical mixtures transform under shifting environmental conditions, shedding light on prebiotic processes that may have led to life. The research finds that environmental factors played a key role in shaping the molecular complexity needed for life to emerge.
In a study on dance flies, researchers found that males have developed sharper eyesight to detect whether females are genuinely full of eggs or bluffing. This adaptation is linked to the evolution of female traits such as hairy legs and enlarged eye facets, which the males can use to determine a female's reproductive status.
Marshall University researcher Brandon Henderson has secured a $1.85 million NIH grant to study the impact of synthetic coolants in vaping products on nicotine addiction. The five-year research project will explore how synthetic coolants influence addiction-related behaviors, particularly among adolescents.
Researchers discovered that Wnt3 coordinates a two-step process of cell polarity orientation, enabling jellyfish embryos to develop around a central axis. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of body plans in early animals and may provide insights into cellular-level organisation.
Researchers at the University of Oregon identified a sex chromosome in the California two-spot octopus that has been around for 480 million years. This discovery sheds light on how cephalopods determine their sex and suggests that they have found an effective system that has remained unchanged over time.
Research revealed a single gene drives the production of a super enzyme in male ruff's blood, which rapidly breaks down testosterone. This process regulates sex hormones and influences mating behaviors in non-aggressive males.
A team of researchers from Penn State and the University of California, Irvine, have proposed a novel theory on the molecular basis underlying human scalp hair growth. They suggest that long scalp hair initially evolved to protect early human ancestors in equatorial Africa from intense heat and solar radiation.
Research reveals that bacteria form species through a process called homologous recombination, which exchanges genetic material across the entire genome. This exchange acts as a cohesive force, keeping members of the same species similar and maintaining distinct species boundaries.
A team of researchers has developed a theoretical model forecasting the ideal body plan of a fruit fly's early embryo, indicating that evolution might have had many optimal options. The study suggests that optimization is a key driving force in nature, with biological systems often having multiple optimal solutions for the same problem.
A study by researchers at Helmholtz Munich has discovered that ancient viral DNA elements are re-expressed in mammalian embryos, playing a crucial role in early development. The activation of these elements is conserved across species and provides opportunities for manipulating thousands of genes simultaneously.
A new study identifies five snow leopard fossils in China, France, and Portugal dating back to one million years ago. The findings suggest that snow leopards adapted to rocky, barren terrains rather than high altitudes, contradicting traditional assumptions.
This review highlights the transformative capabilities of single-cell and spatial genomics, providing critical insights into disease mechanisms and developing innovative therapies. The technologies enable comprehensive cell atlases, tracing the evolution of sequencing methods and incorporating multi-omics approaches, which significantl...
A USC Stem Cell study found that the mammalian outer ear evolved from cartilaginous gills in fishes and marine invertebrates. The research used gene control elements to show a connection between gill and ear development.
Researchers at OIST have developed a customizable method for studying detailed dental characteristics of living fish and vertebrates without harming them. This approach allows for non-destructive examination of tooth replacement and development over time, revealing valuable information on feeding habits and comparative anatomy.
The study traces the evolutionary history of brown algae through genomic analysis, highlighting their role in sustaining coastal habitats and combating climate change. The research also identifies practical applications in aquaculture, biotechnology, and ecosystem restoration.
A study by Durham University found that bonobos orphaned by the illegal trade in bushmeat and pets can develop social abilities despite early life trauma. Researchers observed 83 bonobos at different stages of their lives, finding that female bonobos' social skills increased with age, while males' decreased, similar to wild interactions.
Researchers identified genes that impact tooth development and variation among ethnic groups. They found associations with tooth dimensions on genes inherited from Neanderthals and other genetic variants.
Researchers from UNIGE found that mechanical forces, linked to tissue growth, drive the emergence of diverse biological structures. They demonstrated this using computer modeling and microscopy, revealing how variations in skin growth rates and stiffness generate distinct scale forms among different crocodilian species.
The LabEmbryoCam is a robotic instrument that autonomously monitors embryonic development in aquatic species, providing insights into how environmental conditions impact early life stages. The open-source instrument enables scientists to track key features such as heart rate and growth in large numbers of embryos simultaneously.
Three Texas A&M biologists have received NIH Maximizing Investigators’ Research Awards to support their research on type IV pili, darter fish social behaviors and bacteriophages. Drs Koch, Moran and Ramsey will explore bacterial behavior, genetic mechanisms and neural basis of paternal care in fish.
Evo, a generative AI model, uses patterns in microbial genomes to write new genetic code, expanding the length of sequences models can process and improving resolution. Researchers use Evo to understand microbial and viral genomes, fashion new proteins, and reprogram microbes for remarkable tasks.
Researchers from CRG, UPF, and IBE are teaming up to explore evolutionary underpinnings of disease at the molecular level. The program combines evolutionary medicine and medical genomics to enhance precision medicine.
Researchers identified critical proteins involved in animal stem cell regulation, including SOX and POU transcription factors, which existed in single-celled organisms over 700 million years ago. These ancient proteins retained functional properties that enabled them to induce stem cell reprogramming in mouse cells.
Researchers explore adapting agricultural techniques, such as integrated pest management, to treat cancer. By managing cancer as a chronic condition, adaptive therapy aims to overcome treatment resistance and improve patient outcomes.
Exposure to multiple environmental stressors simultaneously impairs the ability of herring larvae to react at a molecular level, reducing their capacity for acclimatization. This can lead to increased protein damage and cell injury, potentially affecting growth and survival.
An international team of researchers successfully created a mouse using genetic tools from a unicellular organism, challenging the notion that these genes evolved exclusively within animals. The study uses ancient genetic tools to reprogram mouse cells into pluripotent stem cells.
Iowa State researchers discovered a surprising chromatin arrangement in two species of turtles, which may shed light on the evolution of vertebrate genomes. The study's findings could have potential biomedical applications, such as treating strokes or cryogenic preservation of human tissues.
A new study led by Arizona State University researcher Michael Lynch explores the substantial energy demands required to maintain and evolve multicellular life. Multicellular organisms require a tenfold increase in energy compared to protists, highlighting how respiration and metabolic processes are crucial for advanced life forms.
A study by researchers at the University of Zurich found that common marmosets' brain development is shaped by prolonged learning from social interactions, similar to humans. This similarity suggests that early-life social experiences may be crucial for the formation of neural and cognitive networks in humans.
Researchers found that chimpanzees have a similarly narrow pelvis to humans, contradicting previous theories. The study proposes a new hypothesis that the obstetrical dilemma developed gradually and became increasingly exacerbated over evolution.
The international project will analyze temperature-sensitive proteins in animals adapted to different thermal environments to understand how they perceive temperature changes. The study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying cold perception in animals, enabling them to initiate physiological responses crucial for survival.
The study of turtle genomes provides crucial information for the development of effective conservation strategies and the understanding of the evolution of sex chromosomes. Researchers have identified a novel three-dimensional chromatin conformation in both lineages, allowing for centromere-telomere interactions.
A team of scientists studied the Kashmir skull and found it to be a distinct species from other known Eurasian Palaeoloxodon. The research suggests that Palaeoloxodon turkmenicus represents a poorly-known missing link in the evolution of these prehistoric megaherbivores.
Researchers identify a plausible geological environment where nucleic acids can replicate and potentially lead to life. The study reveals a circular fluid flow at the gas-water interface drives strand separation, allowing replication to occur.
Researchers discovered a massive number of evolutionary events in the Asteraceae family on remote islands, resulting from rapid speciation over short time periods. The findings confirm that larger, isolated islands harbor unique species and highlight the importance of protecting this diverse group of plants.
Researchers discovered that sea robins' legs are covered in sensory papillae with taste receptors, allowing them to detect and uncover food. The findings reveal an ancient gene controlling leg development and sensory organ formation, shedding light on the evolution of complex traits in wild organisms.
A recent study published in iScience found that the length of time cells spend engaged in the repair process is also key to regulating regeneration in African killifish. The researchers discovered that skin cells launch a genetic program that primes the whole animal to prepare for a repair response, guiding repair cells to get to work.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that flowers like hibiscus use an invisible blueprint to dictate the size of their bullseyes, which can significantly impact their ability to attract pollinating bees. Larger bullseyes are preferred by bees and can potentially boost efficiency for both bees and blossoms.
Researchers propose a new approach to understanding cancer evolution, acknowledging the importance of environmental influences and epigenetic changes. By refining the clonal evolution model, they aim to develop more effective cancer therapies that consider the full complexity of cancer cell evolution.
Researchers from King's College London found that the lateral fabella, a sesame seed-sized bone in the knee, evolved differently in humans than most primates. This distinct evolutionary pathway may have helped early humans walk upright and could be an example of exaptation.
A new method called VitelloTag has been developed at the Marine Biological Laboratory, allowing researchers to deliver miniature research tools into egg cells and embryos. The approach uses a yolk protein found in most animals to bind to the receptor on the egg cell surface, enabling efficient delivery of CRISPR-Cas9.
A previously unstudied ancient gene called 'waist-less' is required for the development of a spider's narrow waist, according to researchers. The discovery sheds light on the formation of the distinctive body plan in spiders and highlights the function of new genes in ancient groups of animals.
Researchers found a choanoflagellate harboring its own microbiome, forming colonies that enclose bacteria and exhibiting a unique symbiotic relationship. This discovery sheds light on the origin of interactions between animals and bacteria in ancient oceans.