Articles tagged with Animal Research
Scientists have developed a mouse model to study the unique marker ATRX on mom's chromosomes, which helps regulate cell divisions during early development. The findings suggest that stability of this chromosomal domain is crucial for subsequent development and health.
Researchers at ITbM have discovered new molecules that can change the circadian rhythm in mammals by targeting the clock protein CRY. The study found critical sites on the molecules for bioactivity, which were used to investigate the regulation of the clock protein in the body's timekeeping mechanism.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new microscope that can observe magnetic sensitivity in photochemical reactions within sub-cellular structures. The microscope, called TOAD imaging, allows for the detection of radical pairs formed from flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and their response to weak magnetic fields.
Researchers found that rats made prosocial choices 70% of the time, indicating a preference for helping others. The study suggests that biological mechanisms such as positive feelings and social sensitivity may drive prosocial behavior in both humans and rats.
A review of 10 studies found no human data to support claims that eating placenta reduces postpartum depression or pain. Unknown risks to women and babies are also a concern due to lack of regulation and inconsistent dosing.
A study on Rhinanthus minor, a 'vampire' plant, reveals that it increases abundance and diversity of animals in semi-natural grasslands. This finding has significant implications for conservation and management of these rare ecosystems.
New research finds that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) preserves avian red blood cell viability, offering a potential solution for treating birds with life-threatening conditions. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of DMSO for long-term blood storage.
Researchers at Michigan State University have found that Varroa mites can mimic the scent of honeybees to infiltrate hives. The study revealed that the parasites are able to adapt quickly, changing their surface chemicals within days to evade detection by bees.
Researchers investigate how sex chromosomes allow gene dosage imbalances without negative effects, with a focus on butterflies and moths as model species. The goal is to understand the mechanisms of 'sex chromosome dosage compensation' (SCDC) in different species.
A study found that about 3% of critically endangered smalltooth sawfish are products of virgin births, with no genetic diversity loss. Researchers hope this discovery may help save the species from extinction due to overfishing and habitat loss.
Researchers at UCSB have identified a TRP channel that plays a key role in the insect's fine motor coordination. Null mutations in this channel impair highly coordinated movements while leaving gross motor control intact. The discovery sheds light on molecular processes underlying fine motor control in other animals, including humans.
Ibn Sina's seven rules for testing drug potency via analogy and experiment are relevant to modern clinical trials. His seventh rule emphasizes the need for human-based experimentation to avoid differences between animal and human bodies.
A team of researchers discovered that the main clock of flies is controlled by mechanisms similar to those regulating human internal clocks. This study demonstrates how distant organisms can share similar biological clock gears despite displaying different circadian activities.
A study by UC Riverside researchers used a computer model to simulate observed behavior in moths, finding that random walks can create the most efficient paths for discovering odor plumes. The simulations suggest that airborne robots programmed to contact an odor plume need not involve wind flow detection.
Researchers found that fruit flies can learn to connect different scents with sugar rewards depending on the hour. The insects' ability to tell time remained as long as events were separated by at least four hours.
Contagious yawning has been observed in budgies, a bird species for the first time, corroborating previous observations in social parrots. In experiments, yawns occurred more frequently when birds could see each other or viewed video clips of another bird yawning.
Beetle species segregate mating activity by time of day and seasonal changes, allowing females to choose mate from specific species. This discovery provides a framework for understanding how insects produce separate signals with the same pheromone.
Researchers have developed a drug-releasing electronic stent that provides diagnostic feedback by measuring blood flow, which slows when an artery starts narrowing. The device can also heat up on command to speed up drug delivery, and it can dissolve once it's no longer needed, reducing the risk of blood clot formation.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a chip placed under the skin that can detect multiple molecules, including glucose, lactate, cholesterol, and drugs, using induction-powered biosensors. The device has been successfully tested on mice with promising results, paving the way for clinical trials in humans within three to five years.
Researchers discovered that synapses facilitate the spread of Tau aggregates in Alzheimer's patients, which could counteract synaptic repair efforts. This new understanding has significant implications for developing therapeutic strategies against Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers from the University of Sydney have found a humane way to kill cane toads by placing them in a refrigerator for a few hours before transferring them to a freezer. This method induces unconsciousness without causing pain, solving a long-standing dilemma for communities affected by the invasive species.
New research by Dr. Liisa Galea suggests that previous motherhood permanently alters the brain's response to hormone therapy, with estradiol-based HT showing beneficial effects and estrone-based HT having detrimental effects on cognition and dementia risk in women.
Researchers discovered that Mexican Jays can 'weigh' peanuts by shaking them in their beaks, producing sounds that help identify the content. The birds prefer heavier nuts with more content over lighter ones, even when they appear identical.
Researchers found that migratory birds' social hierarchy plays a significant role in avoiding collisions with obstacles like wind turbines. The study's computer simulations revealed that groups with a single well-informed leader are more likely to avoid such hazards.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that mice use separate systems to determine their location and direction, with environmental cues influencing place recognition but not heading retrieval. The study used identical rooms with different markings on the north wall, which allowed researchers to isolate the two processes.
The development of a two-photon ophthalmoscope aims to enhance retina imaging and detect eye diseases earlier, with potential applications in other organs as well. The instrument's super-magnification capabilities could accelerate the discovery of new eye therapies.
A NIH-funded study suggests that the presence of companion animals may reduce social anxiety in children with autism. Children with ASDs showed lower skin conductance levels when interacting with peers and companion animals compared to typically developing children.
The discovery of stone tools in northwestern Kenya pushes the known date back by 700,000 years and may challenge the notion that modern humans' ancestors were the first to create such tools. The tools suggest an earlier group of proto-humans may have had the thinking abilities needed to figure out how to make sharp-edged tools.
Giant pandas have a carnivore-like gut microbiota that can't efficiently digest bamboo due to the lack of genes for plant-digesting enzymes in their genome. Their gut diversity is also lower compared to other herbivores, leading to nutritional challenges and increased risk of extinction.
A new study shows that diverse soil communities can limit the effects of climate change by regulating microbial activity and controlling carbon emissions. Small animals like insects and worms play a crucial role in this process, feeding on microbes that can trigger increased carbon emissions.
Researchers have reconstructed the ancestral snake, revealing it had tiny hindlimbs and targeted soft-bodied prey. The study suggests snakes originated on land, rather than in water, during the middle Early Cretaceous period.
Researchers have discovered two new species of bryozoans in Madeira, as well as a previously unknown species from Brazil. The study utilized modern techniques and electron microscopy to analyze rock samples collected at a depth of 11 meters, revealing six documented species and one endemic to Brazil.
Researchers from Yale University have reconstructed the ancestral snake's body plan, revealing a nocturnal, stealth-hunting predator with complete ankles and toes. The study sheds light on the origin of snakes, which originated around 128.5 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.
A new study reveals that most mountain ranges increase in land area at higher elevations, contradicting the long-held assumption that they decrease. This finding could lead to more precise conservation strategies for mountain animal species threatened by climate change.
A study by Penn State researchers found that wolves in packs with at least five healthy members have a similar death rate to their companions when infected with mange. This suggests that social living can help individuals cope with various chronic conditions by providing supportive care and resources.
A new Caltech study reports that fruit flies display emotion primitives analogous to fear, including valence, persistence, scalability, trans-situationality, and context generalization. The researchers used a fear-inducing stimulus to track the flies' responses, finding that they exhibited these primitive states in their behavior.
Researchers discovered that fruit flies use a brain structure called the ellipsoid body to navigate and maintain their bearings. The ellipsoid body cells locked onto visual patterns, allowing the fly to track its orientation in the dark.
New research shows that chacma baboons associate with others of similar age, dominance rank, and even personality type. This homophily may limit the dissemination of new knowledge to the wider troop. The study tracked two baboon troops over several months and found bolder animals tend to spend more time with like-minded individuals.
Researchers discovered that many fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds can naturally produce gadusol, a compound providing protection from ultraviolet sunlight. This ability may have been obtained through prehistoric genetic engineering, with the gene found in algae transferring it to vertebrate animals.
As the global population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, robotic pets are becoming increasingly popular, offering alternatives for those who cannot have live pets. However, concerns arise about the ethics of relying on robots for companionship and potential impacts on human relationships with real animals.
TSRI scientists find flakka to be equivalently potent as a stimulant, making it as addictive as MDPV or 'bath salts.' The new drug's chemical difference from its cousin makes it highly dangerous and warrants serious concern among police and health officials.
Researchers discovered that dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon have preferred friends and avoid certain individuals, forming communities along the lagoon's north-south axis. The study provides insight into dolphin social behavior, habitat use, and potential breeding habits.
Research found that prolonged noise exposure alters cells connected to the brain in mice, enabling them to conserve neurotransmitters and better cope with loud conditions. The cells also changed their structure to increase storage capacity for these chemicals.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia discovered stretchy nerves in rorqual whales that can double in length like a bungee cord. This unique structure allows the whales to create a large pocket between their body wall and blubber to capture prey during feeding dives.
A study led by Princeton University researchers found that bird species with increasing prices and decreasing availability exhibited plummeting populations in the wild. Market monitoring can be done more quickly and cheaply than field-based monitoring, making it an effective tool for conservation.
The U.S. Northeast Passive Acoustic Sensing Network (NEPAN) uses buoys and autonomous underwater vehicles to record and archive sounds from marine mammals and fish in the western North Atlantic. The data will inform NOAA Fisheries stock assessment reports, permit consultations, and specific management actions.
Researchers at Oregon State University successfully field-tested a two-legged robot that can move, balance, and withstand mild blows while taking a walk in the grass. The 'ATRIAS' robot is three times more energy-efficient than other human-sized bipedal robots, heralding the running robots of the future.
New biomechanical modeling reveals complex relationships between animal diets and skull shapes, with ancestry playing a stronger role than previously thought. The study distinguishes between hypercarnivores and generalists based on specific biomechanical attributes.
A study found that early separation of cow and calf has long-term effects on social behavior, stress responses, and motivation in dairy cows. Animals raised with maternal contact showed improved heart rate regulation and higher activity during isolation.
A new USGS study tracked 19 wild-caught Burmese pythons to reveal their home range and habitat use patterns. The research found that pythons share common areas within the park, which may be optimal locations for control efforts, and provides insights into the snakes' movement patterns during wet and dry seasons.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes discovered a way to prevent MS onset in mice by blocking SIRT1, suggesting its role in autoimmune disorders. The treatment also shows promise for other diseases like type I diabetes.
A Princeton University study found that male and female Stegosaurus had distinct plate shapes, with females having shorter and wider plates and males having taller and narrower ones. This discovery sheds light on sexual dimorphism in non-avian dinosaurs, challenging previous assumptions.
Research by NOAA Fisheries found that dolphins consume 80% more oxygen when whistling at higher vocal energy levels, suggesting a biological cost of communication in loud environments. This study supports concerns about vessel traffic and noise impacting marine mammals like Southern Resident Killer Whales.
A McGill research team identified over 460 Arctic beetle species, showing clear differences in feeding habits and ecological roles along latitude gradients. This suggests that beetles may quickly reflect changes in climate on soil, plants, and animals.
Researchers found evidence supporting the idea that the last common bilaterian ancestor had tentacular appendages, a concept favored by the Russian zoological school. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of chordate animals and could help refine the classification system.
A Cooper's hawk in Greater Vancouver has been found with the highest levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) ever recorded, significantly higher than levels in California or China.
Research from Concordia University and Memorial University of Newfoundland found that the introduction of foreign species has resulted in an increase in prey per predator, which could lead to a decrease in prey species. This study sheds light on the impact of invasive mammals on the island's food web.
The study found that self-DNA regulates plant populations and coexistence among organisms like algae, protozoa, fungi, and animals. The discovery could lead to new pharmacological applications in agriculture and medicine.
A new study has found that the colour of light impacts how the brain clock measures time of day and regulates animals' physiology and behavior. By analyzing changes in light color around dawn and dusk, scientists discovered that blue light is reliably detected during twilight hours, unlike during the day.
The documentary follows University of Miami researcher J. Albert C. Uy as he investigates a genetic mutation causing two bird populations to split into separate species. Uy's research aims to unlock secrets of speciation and the planet's animal diversity.