Articles tagged with History Of Biology
Professor Katerina Harvati has revolutionized our understanding of human origins with her pioneering techniques in Virtual Anthropology and 3D geometric morphometrics. Her research confirms the African origin of modern humans and reveals new insights into Neanderthal species.
Bioversity's UMass Lowell training program now has a new lab space thanks to a $660,000 grant. The program trains working-age adults in biotech workforce skills and has placed 80% of its 135 graduates in local life sciences jobs.
This journal issue examines the evolution of traditional Chinese medicine through texts, practice, empire, and global cross-cultural exchange. Key findings include the gradual development of foundational concepts like the three yin-yang system and the concept of Du, as well as the role of medicine in political and social systems.
Researchers discovered how lycophytes, ancient spore-bearing vascular plants, adapted to survive the Permian-Triassic mass extinction by using carbon acid to store CO2 for daytime photosynthesis. This CAM photosynthesis method helped them thrive in extreme heat and dry environments.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are developing AI models to accurately detect melanoma by analyzing images of skin abnormalities. The technology can help dermatologists identify cases that may require closer attention, leading to earlier treatment and improved health outcomes.
A Mizzou researcher developed an antibody that attaches to and lights up EphA2 protein in cancerous tumors, allowing for non-invasive detection and identification of patients who can benefit from targeted treatments. This innovation could save time and money while advancing precision medicine.
Researchers found that male fish exposed to vitamin C and potassium perchlorate showed improved fertility and less damage to their testes compared to those exposed only to the chemical. The study suggests a potential safeguard for individuals regularly exposed to these chemicals, including military personnel.
A study by Leipzig University found that non-native plant species can quickly integrate into natural ecosystems, with some species becoming hosts for native animals and fungi in just a few centuries. This challenges the assumption that non-native plants spread aggressively but are poorly accepted by native species.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are exploring the use of extracellular vesicles to target lung cancer. By manipulating these tiny messenger particles, scientists can deliver specific instructions to kill cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.
Fungi are older than previously imagined, with origins dating back to between 900 million and 1.4 billion years ago. The discovery sheds new light on pre-Cambrian terrestrial ecosystems, suggesting that fungi were already present on land environments at least 800 million years ago.
University of Missouri researchers are helping farmers prevent disease outbreaks by teaching biosecurity practices, such as hand sanitizing and wearing farm-dedicated shoes. They also provide guidance on safe composting methods to dispose of dead livestock, reducing the risk of disease spread.
The study analyzed genetic material of 682 barley accessions and found that barley's genome is a mosaic composed of contributions from five wild barley populations. This suggests that barley does not come from a single origin, but rather has a complex history with multiple introductions of key haplotypes over time.
A team of researchers at Mizzou identified which immune cells in pigs have receptors most reactive to influenza. This knowledge may help develop improved therapies or vaccines for both species. The study's findings could also aid in the creation of more effective flu vaccines that provide immunity for longer periods.
The latest Osiris volume examines how animals have influenced human knowledge production and shaped the natural world. Studies on animal agency, individual animals, groupings, and technological systems reveal new insights into historical scientific inquiry.
Researchers at University of Missouri uncover the antiviral potential of defensins, tiny proteins with powerful antimicrobial properties. Defensins can block SARS-CoV-2 from entering human cells, offering a promising approach to treating viral and bacterial infections.
A new study uses preserved plants and animals from natural history museums to track pollution trends over two centuries. Researchers found significant changes in pollutant levels between specimens collected in the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting the impact of industrial activity on human health.
A team of physicists analyzed biophotons from lentil seeds to test if they play a role in plant information transport. Their statistical analyses support the emergence of plant 'intelligence', where biophotonic emission carries information for communication and cooperation among cells.
A new study from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research has discovered that sea lampreys and humans share an remarkably similar molecular and genetic toolkit in their hindbrain development. The research found a crucial molecular cue, retinoic acid, to be involved in both species' brain stem formation.
The Isis journal has published a special bibliographic issue on the history of pandemics, gathering current and important historical scholarship on infectious disease. The issue features nineteen essays with accompanying bibliographies and is available for free online.
A study by University of Copenhagen researchers challenges a 70-year-old assumption about the origins of life on Earth. They found that oxygen concentrations in ancient ocean samples were 5-10 times lower than today, contradicting previous theories that increased oxygen levels drove the evolution of more complex marine organisms.
Scientists have discovered weak, fossilised sediments beneath the seafloor of Antarctica's eastern Ross Sea, which led to massive underwater landslides. These layers made the area susceptible to failure due to past climate change.
Researchers found that over 60% of investigated microbial species matched their human host's evolutionary history, indicating a co-evolutionary relationship spanning ~100,000 years. This discovery fundamentally changes how the human gut microbiome is viewed and opens up new possibilities for population-specific therapies.
Scientists found that weedy rice has developed herbicide resistance through gene flow from crop rice, with most fields showing resistant plants within 20 years of herbicide-resistant rice cultivation. This rapid evolution is due to the close proximity of weedy and crop rice in the same fields, allowing for pollen transfer and outcrossing.
A new paper in The Quarterly Review of Biology reviews studies on workload distribution and division of labor to better understand individual differences in cooperation. The authors argue that integrating collective action and offspring care literatures could lead to a deeper understanding of these factors.
Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research have developed a precise model for the stinging organelle of the starlet sea anemone, revealing its complex architecture and firing mechanism. The findings could lead to beneficial applications in medicine, including microscopic therapeutic delivery devices.
Eukaryotes emerged in an anoxic environment in the ocean, and their mitochondria-bearing cells likely resulted from a merger between archaea and bacteria. This finding contradicts the long-held view that oxygenation of Earth's surface environment led to eukaryogenesis.
Research reveals high rates of parasitic worm infections in ancient British populations, particularly during the Roman and Medieval periods. The study sheds light on the lives and habits of past populations, providing insights into public health measures.
A new study using a two-dimensional drawing technique has found no general patterns in the fin and body shapes of five warm-blooded Lamniformes species to determine Megalodon's shape. The research challenges previous conclusions about the extinct shark's body form, suggesting that warm bloodedness does not make sharks differently shaped.
A recent study discovered high levels of mercury exposure in human bones from Copper Age Iberia, dating back 5000 years. Cinnabar powder used for pigments and rituals led to severe health effects, including intoxication.
Over an 80-year period, marketable ear mass in sweet corn hybrids grown at high densities increased by 2.85 tons per acre, while fresh kernel mass and recovery showed minimal changes. Modern hybrids were found to be more suitable for growth at high densities due to their compact plant architecture.
An international team found the genetic basis for the seadragon's lack of teeth, leaf-like appendages and sex-determination gene. The research also showed that males care for fertilized eggs until they hatch.
A recent study published by Swansea University found that venomous fish and insects diversified faster than their non-venomous counterparts. This is attributed to the use of venom as a means of repelling predators or catching prey, leading to increased opportunities for species to exploit their environment.
A new study by University of Arizona researchers found that both multicellularity and sexual reproduction helped explain the rapid proliferation of animal, plant, and fungal species. The study suggests that multicellularity is actually more important than sexual production in driving diversity.
A Stanford University seminar discovered that vector-borne diseases had a profound impact on historical societies, with some populations developing immunity while others were decimated. The researchers found that diseases often preyed on inequities in society, leaving marginalized groups most at risk.
The article argues for a revitalized view of history in ecology and evolution, proposing nine understandings of history to generalize findings and observe scientific laws. These 'flavors' include contingency, chance, chaos, capriciousness, approach, constraint, construction, turnover, and template.
An interdisciplinary study of three African skeletons found in Mexico City sheds light on the lives of first-generation enslaved Africans. The analysis reveals evidence of forced migration, physical trauma, and the introduction of infectious diseases from Sub-Saharan Africa.
In Botswana, scientists have successfully controlled invasive aquatic weeds like salvinia, water lettuce, and water hyacinth through biocontrol and legislation. The country's efforts have improved water resource use, wildlife conservation, and tourism, contributing 25% to GDP.
A new statistical model explains the emergence of major world religions around rising affluence in Eurasia. Researchers found that as individuals reached a threshold of 20,000 kcal/day, they experienced increased peace and security, leading to a shift towards moralizing religions.
A study on Mauritius kestrels reveals that the birds have adopted a faster reproductive strategy due to habitat loss, allowing them to maintain population numbers despite reduced survival rates as young adults. The researchers warn that human activities can have long-lasting impacts on wild species' life histories.
The Hula painted frog, declared extinct by the IUCN in 1996, has been rediscovered in Israel with unique genetic and morphological characteristics. The species' revival suggests a potential future for conservation efforts to restore its habitat.
A study in PLOS Computational Biology reconstructs the complete early evolutionary history of biological carbon-fixation. The researchers identified an early form of carbon fixation that achieved built-in robustness, allowing early life to compensate for internal chemistry issues.
A NYU scientist concludes that Charles Darwin's theory of gradual evolution is not supported by geological history. Instead, Scottish horticulturist Patrick Matthew proposed a more accurate theory, highlighting the role of catastrophic mass extinctions in driving evolutionary changes.
The Woods Institute has awarded grants to five faculty research teams to tackle global sustainability challenges. The projects include salmon farming in Chile and farmland irrigation in California, with a focus on developing solutions that can be applied beyond their immediate area of interest.
Genentech's $2.5 million donation will support the formation of a new center at CSHL, focusing on preserving and disseminating the history of molecular biology and biotechnology. The facility will house archival collections from Nobel laureates and leaders in the industry.