ScienceDaily: Plants & Animals News

Marijuana use is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents Posted: 13 Feb 2015 01:47 PM PST A new study found 10 percent of adolescents sent to a Sleep Center for evaluation of excessive daytime sleepiness with testing results consistent with narcolepsy had urine drug screens positive for marijuana.

Female pumas kill more, eat less when humans are near Posted: 13 Feb 2015 11:51 AM PST Female pumas kill more prey but consume less when their territories bump into human development, researchers report in a new study based on monitoring more than two dozen pumas in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Researchers use isotopic analysis to explore ancient Peruvian life Posted: 13 Feb 2015 11:50 AM PST Bioarchaeologists and archaeologists have been able to study the diets of 14 individuals dating back almost 2,000 years. The mummies were unearthed from one of the most famous sites in Peru: the Paracas Necropolis of Wari Kayan, two densely populated collections of burials off the southern coast.

Distant species produce 'love child' fern after 60-million-year breakup Posted: 13 Feb 2015 11:50 AM PST A delicate woodland fern discovered in the mountains of France is the love child of two distantly-related groups of plants that haven't interbred in 60 million years, genetic analyses show. Reproducing after such a long evolutionary breakup is akin to an elephant hybridizing with a manatee, or a human with a lemur, the researchers say.

Google-style ranking used to describe gene connectivity Posted: 13 Feb 2015 08:21 AM PST Coining the term "Gene Rank" (GR), a researcher has captured a new characterization of gene connectivity by using a computer algorithm to compare tissues across or within organisms at great speed with a simple laptop computer.

Harm and response: Plants recognize and respond to different insects Posted: 13 Feb 2015 07:47 AM PST In one of the broadest studies of its kind, scientists recently looked at all plant genes and their response to the enemy. Their results showed that the model Arabidopsis plant recognizes and responds differently to four insect species. The insects cause changes on a transcriptional level, triggering proteins that switch on and off plant genes to help defend against more attacks.

Neural basis of 'being in the mood': Researchers discover neurons that combine social information with hormonal state in female mice Posted: 12 Feb 2015 10:16 AM PST What determines receptivity or rejection towards potential sexual partners? In a recent study of female mice, researchers recorded the activity of neurons in an area within the hypothalamus dedicated to socio-sexual behavior. The activity of the neurons was observed while the females interacted with males or with other females.

A new model organism for aging research: The short-lived African killifish Posted: 12 Feb 2015 10:16 AM PST Studying aging and its associated diseases has been challenging because existing vertebrate models (e.g., mice) are relatively long lived, while short-lived invertebrate species (e.g., yeast and worms) lack key features present in humans. Scientists have found a new middle ground with the development of a genome-editing toolkit to study aging in the naturally short-lived African turquoise killifish.

Plant-based diet may reduce obese children's risk of heart disease Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:52 AM PST Obese children who begin a low-fat, plant-based vegan diet may lower their risk of heart disease through improvements in their weight, blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol levels, insulin sensitivity, and high-sensitivity C-reactive, according to new research.

Critical green turtle habitats identified in Mediterranean Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:52 AM PST A new study has identified two major foraging grounds of the Mediterranean green turtle and recommends the creation of a new Marine Protected Area to preserve the vulnerable species.

Alligator blood contains naturally strong germ fighters Posted: 11 Feb 2015 03:47 PM PST Alligator blood contains bacteria fighters that could help wounded soldiers in the field, according to new research. Alligators live in bacteria-filled environments and dine on carrion. Yet this ancient reptile rarely falls ill.