Articles tagged with Animal Science
A novel neural circuit has been discovered in rats that responds to the sound of silence, triggering defense responses. The study found that a specific combination of brain regions, including those involved in sound processing and emotional responses, are necessary for rats to freeze in response to silent danger.
Scientists found a correlation between pack hunting and dietary diversity, which is rare in animals that hunt in groups. The study suggests raptors likely only hunted solo or with limited cooperation.
A new wireless biologging network enables high-resolution tracking of small animals, even in closed habitats. The system allows for fully automated tracking and proximity-sensing at high spatial and temporal resolution.
Researchers found that copper hydroxychloride improves pigs' ability to utilize fat after absorption, leading to increased energy utilization. The element enhances lipid metabolism in the liver, adipose tissue, and muscle, enabling better feed conversion rates and economic savings.
Researchers found that rats prioritize providing food assistance to those in need, as indicated by the 'smell of hunger'. Seven volatile organic chemicals differed significantly between hungry and satiated rats, serving as a reliable cue for reciprocal cooperation.
The PETA International Science Consortium Ltd. has contributed to the development of EpiAlveolar, a human cell-based alveolar model that can simulate the effects of inhaling different substances on the human lung. This breakthrough technology allows for the testing of chemicals and other respirable materials without animal testing.
The team discovered a tiny, wormlike creature named Ikaria wariootia, the earliest bilaterian ancestor of modern animals, including humans. The creature lived over 555 million years ago and had a distinct head and tail, with rudimentary sensory organs.
Researchers have found that squid edit their genetic instructions outside the nucleus, in the axon, allowing for localized protein function adjustments. This discovery has implications for understanding neurological disorders and potentially harnessing natural RNA editing processes for therapeutic benefits.
A recent study found that rates of climatic-niche evolution are similarly slow in both plants and animals, with only slight variations across different clades. This research highlights the importance of understanding climate change impacts on species distribution and evolution.
Researchers studied vampire bat social dynamics in captivity and found that trust builds over time through grooming and smaller mutual investments. Almost 15% of unfamiliar female adult bats formed food-sharing relationships after 15 months together, suggesting that even strangers can develop strong bonds.
Researchers have developed a mini movie theater to measure the color spectrum visible to fiddler crabs, revealing their ability to discriminate between different wavelengths of light. The device uses blue and green light-emitting diodes and tilted screens to stimulate the crabs' reaction.
Researchers at NCBS discovered that dopamine released by nerve cells activates faster motor neurons, allowing zebrafish to swim faster. This finding suggests motor neuron plasticity can be exploited for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury or stroke.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Matthew Knope found that ecologically diverse animal groups are more resistant to extinction and dominate the modern ocean's biodiversity. The study analyzed fossil and living marine animals over 500 million years, showing a link between diversity and resistance to mass extinctions.
Researchers found that mantis shrimp's hammer blows are significantly weaker in air compared to water, with forces averaging only 18 km/h. The crustaceans may be downgrading their attacks to avoid joint damage and injury.
Researchers at Yale University found a unique brain signature associated with pro-social and anti-social decisions in monkeys. Monkeys prefer to drink alone when faced with the option of sharing fruit juice with another monkey.
Researchers identified a new genus and species of salamander from the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 166-168 million years ago. The fossil discovery provides insight into the evolution of stem salamanders and their ecological niches.
Biologists from Bayreuth investigate the role of Mauthner cells in fish and amphibian species, revealing a strong hierarchical dependence on these cells for essential functions. The researchers discovered that Mauthner cells remain functional without their cell bodies, contradicting widespread assumptions about nervous system hierarchies.
The white-lipped peccary population in Central America has declined by up to 87%, with current IUCN estimates severely underestimating the actual decline. The species plays a critical ecological role and is highly vulnerable to human influence and forest loss.
Biology student Jenny Yi-Ti Sung studies how Beijing operas convey details about motivation and character through colorful masks. Her research reveals recurring archetypes and facial features, similar to those found in jumping spiders, which use pattern and color to communicate species, sex, and romantic intentions.
Researchers found that jewel beetles' bright colors can act as a form of camouflage, outperforming dull-colored counterparts in detection avoidance. The ability to remain hidden became even more pronounced when the iridescent wing cases were placed against a glossy leaf background.
Researchers have identified a genetic signaling pathway that limits tissue growth in planarian flatworms, allowing for precise regeneration and repair. The mob4 gene suppresses tissue growth by preventing the production of Wnt, a protein involved in cancer cell regeneration.
A new Stanford study finds that analyzing DNA in soil can identify nearly every animal present in an area, including rare species, with high accuracy. The technique also distinguishes between similar-looking animals and has potential to reveal previously unknown species diversity.
Researchers found a 550-million-year-old fossilized digestive tract that challenges our understanding of early animal evolution. The discovery resolves the debate over the evolutionary positioning of cloudinid fossils from the Ediacaran Period.
African grey parrots exhibit prosocial behavior by helping others obtain food rewards, even when it's not in their immediate interest. They also reciprocate favors and are tolerant of unequal treatment due to their long-term monogamous nature.
A team of scientists found that whale body size is limited by the availability of their prey, with filter-feeding whales achieving the largest body sizes due to a high-energy payoff. Toothed whales, on the other hand, are limited by the energy spent chasing large prey in deep-sea environments.
Researchers have identified a new species of bobtail squid in Okinawa's waters, named Euprymna brenneri, which is the eleventh known in the Euprymna genus. The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of cephalopods off the coast of Okinawa and may shed light on their genes, behavior, and development.
Human screams share specific acoustic characteristics, including higher pitch and roughness, variability in frequency, and a wider range of sound waves. Listeners can readily distinguish screams from other human calls, highlighting the unique properties of this primal human call.
The Quantitative Colour Pattern Analysis (QCPA) framework uses digital image processing techniques to analyze complex visual information in animals. This enables researchers to understand how animals see the world, including color patterns and behavior, which drives their behavior.
Researchers found that harbor porpoise calves carry a more neurotoxic mixture of PCBs than their mothers, who detoxify themselves by transferring the chemicals through lactation. The study highlights the need to monitor individual chemical composition to better understand the risk posed by these chemicals.
Researchers describe an extremely well-preserved pterosaur specimen from the Afro-Arabian continent, shedding light on the evolutionary history of these creatures. The study suggests that this type of pterosaur likely fed on crustaceans and lived in shallow marine waters during the Late Cretaceous period.
During diving, blue whales exhibit extreme bradycardia, with heart rates as low as 2 beats per minute. This contrasts with their normal resting heart rate of 15 beats per minute, highlighting the circulatory system's adaptability to accommodate deep dives.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a protective membrane made of cellulose that significantly reduces fibrotic tissue formation around cardiac pacemaker implants. The membrane's unique surface structure impedes protein deposition and cell adhesion, leading to reduced tissue growth and improved surgical outcomes.
Researchers discovered that an extract from ginseng can induce Enterococcus faecalis, which produces myristoleic acid to activate brown adipose tissue and reduce adiposity. Increasing BAT activity could be a novel therapeutic approach for obesity and related diseases.
Researchers found that clay can improve the degradability of feedstuffs in lactating cows, reducing aflatoxin and subacute ruminal acidosis symptoms. Clay was added to six different feedstuffs at varying percentages, showing improved digestibility and fat utilization.
Researchers from Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies propose a new framework for understanding same-sex behavior in animals, arguing that these behaviors are not costly but rather neutral and advantageous. They suggest that these tendencies likely evolved in the earliest forms of sexual behavior and may be more common than ...
Researchers studied Drosophila and Chymomyza flies, revealing two possible explanations for arrhythmic behavior in high-latitude species. The study suggests that strong behavioral rhythms may be a disadvantage in polar regions, but certain characteristics could aid survival.
Scientists have identified a new subspecies of fin whale in the northern Pacific Ocean using genetic research, highlighting the diversity of marine mammals. The finding reveals that fin whales have been separated for hundreds of thousands of years and can be assigned to their ocean of origin using genetic data.
Researchers have identified two types of dinosaur footprints in Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, and Morocco that suggest large predators strolled between the two continents. The footprints belong to carnivorous theropods similar to Tyrannosaurus rex.
Researchers studied fossilized Moroccan Ampyx trilobites and found evidence of orderly lines during storms, suggesting ancient group behavior. This discovery implies that group behavior may have conferred an evolutionary advantage on early animals, allowing them to survive environmental stress.
A global Foundational Standard describes how to represent data for natural history and efficacy studies in animals submitted under the FDA's Animal Rule. The standard aims to streamline data reporting and accelerate therapies for humans.
The Animal Study Registry is a free platform that pre-registers and documents details of animal studies to increase transparency and reproducibility in bioscience research. By promoting open science and data quality, the registry aims to reduce redundant experiments and improve knowledge gain.
Scientists have discovered a new family of microinvertebrates from the mid-Tertiary period, dating back 30 million years. The 'mold pigs' exhibit characteristics with both tardigrades and mites but belong to neither group.
Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered the cellular mechanisms behind jellyfish's remarkable ability to regenerate body parts. The study found that free-swimming adult jellyfish possess actively proliferating cells controlling body-size, tentacle shape, and regeneration.
Scientists are exploring hundreds of years' worth of information on organisms and ecosystems using digital records of preserved plants and animals. Biodiversity databases are being used to track species populations, migration patterns, and ecosystem health, providing crucial information for conservation and public health research.
A team from the University of Pennsylvania has created a comprehensive molecular map of every cell in a developing animal embryo, using single-cell genomics methods. The study provides insights into how cells specialize their function during development and could lead to breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and cellular engineering.
An interdisciplinary group of scholars urges animal behavior scientists to engage in growing ethical conversation, highlighting broader impacts on moral standing and conservation. Greater integration between animal ethics and behavior communities may benefit ethical theory and practice.
A study published in Evolution Letters reveals that many carnivorous species share a common ancestor dating back 800 million years, while herbivory is more recent. The research suggests that animals tend to adopt the same dietary category as their closely related species, implying that switching diets may not be easy.
Research by Rutgers University found that moderate to heavy drinking during pregnancy can alter genes in newborns, increasing the risk of health issues. The study also identified biomarkers that predict prenatal alcohol exposure risks.
Researchers developed a fundamental model of collective movement that predicts optimal strategies for animal groups. By considering how individual movements should be optimized for colony success, the team found that animals like ants should allocate their foragers to areas with high probabilities of finding food.
A University of Technology Sydney study found that a micronized mineral compound reduced asbestos-induced cellular damage in cell lines and significantly slowed MM development in mouse models. The discovery offers new hope for treating MM and asbestosis, two incurable diseases.
A recent study in Nature Ecology and Evolution found that gene arrangements in the genome have played a key role in animal evolution. The researchers discovered that genes present together in several species are also active in the same cells, highlighting a new perspective on investigating cell type identities.
Researchers describe 11 new species of rain frogs in the Ecuadorian Andes, showcasing remarkable genetic and morphological diversity. The discovery highlights pressing conservation issues due to habitat destruction and human activities.
Researchers have developed a powerful new brain imaging tool called Voltron, which lets them track neuron activity in living animals more precisely and for longer periods than before. Voltron uses an ultra-bright synthetic dye and a specially engineered protein to detect neural signals throughout the brain.
A recent study reveals that global agriculture is shifting towards monocultures, threatening food security and the livelihoods of millions. The majority of the world's fastest-growing crops rely on pollinators, which are under threat due to pesticides and habitat loss.
Researchers from Oxford University and the International Fund for Animal Welfare document a wild group of endangered Barbary macaques adopting an injured juvenile from a neighboring group. The unusual display of concern provides valuable information for rehabilitation and release strategies.
A new UC Riverside-led research reveals that some of Earth's oldest animals could travel on their own to get food, settling a longstanding debate about the earliest animal communities. The team analyzed over 1,300 fossils of Dickinsonia, which moved like worms to consume microorganisms.
A newly identified genus and species of freshwater clam, Lithoredo abatanica, was found to eat rocks and expel sand as it burrows in the Abatan River. The shipworm's unique anatomy has revealed new information about its ecosystem engineering capabilities.
A new roadmap by the Engineering Biology Research Consortium outlines potential breakthroughs in synthetic biology, including genetically modified crops, disease-fighting microbes, and novel biofuels. The report aims to secure federal support for this field to address societal challenges and fuel economic growth.
Researchers compared traditional bird survey methods to modern sound recording devices, finding that machines can accurately measure population densities and map species territories. The study provides a systematic overview of available recording devices and user guides for scientists to sample animal populations acoustically.
A team of researchers at the University of Queensland has challenged the long-held theory that multi-celled animals evolved from a single-celled ancestor resembling a modern sponge cell. Using new technology, they found that the first multicellular animals were more like a collection of convertible cells, contradicting years of tradition.