Articles tagged with Animal Science
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 new study reveals that some snakes have evolved super-resistance to the toxic newt's poison, rendering it ineffective. This rare exception highlights a previously unknown aspect of co-evolutionary arms races and challenges our understanding of species interactions.
A MU study found that salamanders and frogs evacuated clearcut areas more often than entered, suggesting a behavioral response to habitat changes. This response could improve the chances of amphibian survival in forestry practices.
A photograph taken by a wildlife biology student in 2008 may depict a California wolverine, sparking further analysis and investigation. The animal's presence has not been confirmed since the 1920s, but forest service scientists believe it is a rare sighting.
A Brown-led study uses genomics tools to reorganize the animal phylogenomic research project, clarifying relationships between major groups and offering surprises. Comb jellyfish diverged from other animals even before sponges, questioning the root of the animal tree.
Researchers argue that autistic savants' exceptional skills come at a cost in other aspects of processing, while animals process sensory inputs according to rules. This shared processing method is thought to be a specialized feature of the left hemisphere, common to both humans and nonhuman animals.
A Harvard University scientist has synthesized four key differences in human and animal cognition into a hypothesis on what exactly differentiates human and animal thought. The theory of
A newly sequenced genome reveals insights into the evolution from single-celled life forms to multicellular animals. Choanoflagellates, tiny planktonic organisms, are the closest living relatives of animals and hold key information about human history and the origins of life.
Scientists used detection dog teams to study a Pacific fisher population in the Sierra National Forest, finding dogs three and a half times more successful than cameras. The method also only needed one visit per site, aiding land management decisions by providing insights into ecosystem health.
A Northwestern University study quantifies the volumes of movement and sensation in animals, defining three modes - collision, reactive, and deliberative. The findings apply to understanding behavioral control strategies in animals and can aid in designing autonomous robots and improving cockpit information systems.
Scientists have quantified and compared the 3D volumes for sensation and movement in electric fish, finding a restricted sensory space due to energetic constraints. This overlap between sensory and movement volumes can provide insight into optimal control strategies for guiding behavior.
Mice rely on a highly specialised set of proteins in their urine to recognise different individuals, suggesting this may also be true for other animals. The team found that female mice distinguish between dominant and weaker males by the freshness of male scent-marks.
UCSB researchers have discovered a key milestone in the evolution of animal vision, finding evidence of light-sensitive genes in ancient aquatic animals. The study, published in PLoS ONE, suggests that animal vision emerged around 600 million years ago.
Researchers find that bdelloid rotifers, an asexual organism, have evolved different gene functions to protect themselves during dehydration. This discovery provides insight into the benefits of asexuality and challenges the assumption that sexual reproduction is always necessary for survival.
Scientists have demonstrated that fossils can be used to effectively understand complex branching in the evolutionary tree of life. By comparing morphological datasets of living and extinct species, researchers found no difference in the impact on the family tree when fossil data is included or removed.
A three-way mating struggle observed in North American lizards has been discovered in a distant European relative, the European common lizard. The species share behavioral and reproductive details, including gaudy colors of males, indicating a potential universal evolutionary pattern among social animals.
Researchers at Rice University successfully detected carbon nanotubes in living fruit flies using a technique called near-infrared fluorescent imaging. The study found that only a small percentage of the nanotubes were incorporated into the flies' organs, suggesting potential for early disease detection and monitoring.
A six-week survey of the Yangtze River found no Yangtze River dolphins, a species considered one of the world's most endangered. The baiji's decline is attributed to fishing nets and habitat degradation, raising concerns about human-caused extinctions of marine mammals worldwide.
The Peters' elephantnose fish uses its electric sense to detect the capacitative properties of objects, allowing it to distinguish between living and dead organisms. It can also measure distances with a precision of several millimeters and perceive complex images of its surroundings.
The discovery provides new insights into the evolutionary process, suggesting that the coelacanth's fin pattern is similar to that of paddlefishes, sturgeons, and sharks. The fossil sheds light on the developmental evolution of limbs in tetrapods, challenging the conventional understanding of primitive fish models.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield found that pterosaurs were not adapted for 'skimming', contrary to previous studies. Instead, they likely used conventional feeding methods. The study's findings provide new insight into the lifestyle of these prehistoric flying reptiles.
Rats who received help in the past were more likely to help another unknown partner, demonstrating generalized reciprocal cooperation. This finding suggests that evolutionary explanations for cooperation in animals may be broader than previously thought, potentially involving cultural and anonymous experiences.
A team of researchers analyzed fruit fly behavior and found it to be non-randomly generated by the brain, suggesting a mechanism for free will in animals. This discovery could lead to the development of robots with spontaneous behavior and help combat human disorders related to compromised spontaneity.
A comprehensive global survey reveals that island populations have significantly higher densities of lizards and other animals compared to mainland ecosystems. This study highlights the increased vulnerability of island species to biological invasions, sea level rise, and storm activity due to climate change.
A new study reveals that Western scrub-jays can anticipate their future needs independently of their current motivation. The birds store food in places where they will be hungry and recover it at a later date. This innovative behavior demonstrates the birds' ability to plan ahead, a feature previously thought to be uniquely human.
University of Alberta researchers discovered that individual animal movements can influence the entire group, producing complex collective behaviors such as swarm formation and zig-zag group movements. By analyzing communication patterns, they found simple rules could produce intricate designs.
Researchers have identified a growth-factor antibody that may treat chronic lung disease affecting premature infants. The treatment, which inhibits transforming growth factor-beta activity, improved lung development and body growth in animal models of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Researchers have discovered two species of arthropods that use distinct methods to combat the cold: Onychiurus arcticus loses water through dehydration, while Cryptopygus antarcticus accumulates anti-freeze compounds to lower its freezing point. These findings provide insight into the evolutionary adaptations of these animals.
Honeybees can learn to associate toxic odors with food and retain this ability for up to 24 hours. Researchers found that both sugar content and toxin levels affect a honeybee's memory for learned odours, suggesting they may have an innate ability to react to toxins.
A recent study published in The Journal of Experimental Biology suggests that longer legs are more efficient due to reduced force production and lower energy cost. According to the LiMB model developed by Herman Pontzer, this is because longer limbs require less force to move, resulting in decreased energy expenditure.
Researchers have confirmed that cuttlefish employ night camouflage to adapt quickly to microhabitats on temperate rock reefs. The ability is key to their nighttime predator/prey interactions and fine-tuned visual system, allowing them to dominate the dark environment.
Researchers at UGA show rats can think about their own thinking, knowing when they don't know an answer. The study opens new areas of research on animal cognition and memory, challenging previous beliefs that only primates possess metacognition.
Researchers discovered that ants in São Paulo, Brazil's largest city, have adapted to higher temperatures. The findings suggest a link between urban heat islands and the physiological adjustments of species.
Researchers at UC Davis have made a groundbreaking discovery about the body's temperature sensing capabilities. By reassembling subunits from different ion channels, they found that there are more than six channel types responsible for sensing temperature, which could help solve the mystery of thermosensitivity in animals.
David H. Baker, a renowned expert in animal and nutritional sciences, will be honored with the Charles A. Black Award for his outstanding achievements in the field. His research has led to significant discoveries about amino acid metabolism, toxicology, and nutrient needs of humans and animals.
A new theory proposes that cold, ice-containing climates created by strong algal growth in the oceans led to the rise of multicellular animals. This climate-biosphere interaction mechanism may have facilitated complex life around more massive and short-lived stars.
Land plants have evolved microscopic pores called stomata to conserve water and regulate CO2 uptake. The discovery of genes Speechless and Mute sheds light on this process, allowing for better understanding of plant growth and development.
A team of international scientists has discovered a new group of microscopic organisms in the Arctic Ocean, which have diverged from known organisms more than land plants and animals. These 'picobiliphytes' are highly fluorescent and transform light into biomass, highlighting the ocean's complex biodiversity.
A new study reveals that birds with larger brains relative to their body size have a lower mortality rate than those with smaller brains. The research supports the cognitive buffer hypothesis, which suggests that large brains enable animals to better cope with environmental challenges such as climate change and habitat destruction.
The complexity of tooth surfaces reveals a species' diet, with carnivores and rodents having similar complexity despite differing diets. The MorphoBrowser database provides publicly available information on phenotypes, enabling scientists to study extinct animals' diets.
Researchers have visualized alternative splicing in a living mammal, providing new insights into the genetic process that creates unique proteins. This discovery sheds light on how different tissues and organs produce varied proteins, which dictate their function, and may offer clues to diseases such as cancer.
Genetic analysis of Xenoturbella, a worm-like creature, reveals its unique characteristics and confirms the common ancestry between humans and other chordates. The discovery provides insight into the evolution of brains in animals.
Scientists found that orangutans confined to resource-limited areas of Borneo had smaller brains than those living in more abundant Sumatra. The study suggests an evolutionary connection between food availability and brain size in primates.
In a study published in PNAS, researchers found that female pronghorns prioritize male vigor over ornamentation when choosing a mate. This leads to the survival advantage of offspring sired by these vigorous males, as they exhibit faster growth rates and increased survival up to five years.
A team of scientists reconstructed the early evolution of fungi, finding that ancestors may have lost flagellae and adapted to life on land in multiple instances. Fungi are believed to be animals' closest relatives and play a crucial role as decomposers in ecosystems.
Fossilized embryos from 550 million-year-old Doushantuo Formation in China show early animals had adopted some structures and processes seen in modern embryos. The discovery reveals primitive animals could divide cells asynchronously, forming unique shapes.
Researchers at Harvard University found that the dynamic elastic and dampening roles of ankles, feet, and other distal extremities help legged animals maintain stability on uneven terrain after stumbling. By modulating limbs dynamically, selectively, and quickly, animals can recover from falls and maintain forward momentum.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Bath discovered that Accutane, a common acne treatment, can induce depression-like behavior in mice. The study found that mice treated with the drug spent more time motionless and exhibited reduced escape-related behavior compared to untreated animals.
Biologists at UCSD discovered red and yellow monkeyflowers have distinct pollinators, with hummingbirds preferred for the red form and hawkmoths for the yellow. The shift in flower color is likely due to natural selection by these different pollinators.
Researchers found that bluegill sunfish larvae preferentially associate with the odor of siblings they've never encountered before. This ability provides compelling evidence for the use of kin recognition through a process in which individuals match their own physical characteristics to those of others.
Researchers analyzed branching morphogenesis in lung, kidney and mammary glands, shedding light on organ development and implications for human health. The study's findings have significant implications for genetic manipulation and virtual reconstruction of organogenesis.
Researchers found that conservation measures appear feasible in gap locations with large tracts of habitat and sparse human populations. However, difficulties may arise near coasts and in regions with agricultural interests, highlighting the need for further efforts to establish new protected areas.
Researchers have identified a genetic defect causing some people to feel full despite eating, providing hope for new anti-obesity treatments. The study pinpointed the melanocortin-4 receptor's role in regulating hunger and found potential therapeutic compounds.
Researchers have found that velvet worms, ancient creatures thought to be similar to ancestors of modern arthropods, share brain structures more closely related to those of spiders and scorpions than initially thought. This discovery sheds new light on the evolutionary origin of these fascinating animals.
A study by Craig McClain and colleagues found that marine snails in deep sea areas tend to be smaller than their shallow-water relatives, while those less than 12mm long become larger. This suggests a compromise between different selection pressures.
The Ocean Tracking Network, a global collaboration of scientists and experts, aims to track the movements of important species using electronic tags. The network will use an extensive international array of acoustic receivers on the ocean floor to collect data on water temperatures, salinity, and light conditions encountered by animals.
A comprehensive theory explains Madagascar's high levels of plant and animal endemism, relating it to watershed configurations and recent climatic shifts. The research provides a clear framework for testing evolutionary relationships and understanding the island's unique biodiversity.
Fire ant expert Walter R. Tschinkel's new book reveals the fascinating world of S. invicta, dispelling misconceptions and showcasing the creature's vital role in ecosystems. The fire ant thrives in disturbed habitats, controlling pest populations and adapting to human activities.
A study on side-blotched lizards found that cooperating males pass on their genes through a trait known as the 'greenbeard,' despite personal costs. The researchers identified three throat colors and behaviors that follow 'rock-paper-scissors' cycles, showcasing how cooperation can be beneficial in evolutionary terms.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison reveal how evolution occurs at a fine level of detail, explaining molecular mechanisms behind animal adaptations. They show how fruit fly wing spots, which are driven by female preferences, can be gained and lost independently in different species.,
Researchers found a genetic switch controlling animal development and cancer growth, involving protein PTEN. The discovery provides insight into cancer progression and suggests additional genes may be involved.