ScienceDaily: Plants & Animals News

Insect and mammal ovulation more alike than not? Posted: 19 Feb 2015 06:19 PM PST The average American woman lives more than 80 years and ovulates for 35 of them, producing an egg approximately once a month. The typical fruit fly lives about 4 weeks as an adult and ovulates every 30 minutes. Despite the vast differences, researchers have found that during a key process in ovulation, the same gene may govern both. The results could bring insight to cancer metastasis, human fertility and ovarian disease.

Probiotic toxin fights coldwater disease in rainbow trout Posted: 19 Feb 2015 01:24 PM PST The rainbow trout is a work of art but when the freshwater fish falls prey to Coldwater Disease, its colorful body erodes into ragged ulcers. The bacterial infection can kill up to 30 percent of hatchery stock and causes millions in economic loss. Now, scientists have found a simple and effective method to combat Coldwater Disease using some of the trout's own intestinal bacteria as probiotics.

Gene may help reduce GM contamination Posted: 19 Feb 2015 01:05 PM PST Genetically modified crops have long drawn fire from opponents worried about potential contamination of conventional crops and other plants. Now a plant gene might help farmers reduce the risk of GM contamination and quell arguments against the use of transgenic food crops, says the lead author of a new research paper.

Minimizing 'false positives' key to vaccinating against bovine TB Posted: 19 Feb 2015 11:46 AM PST New diagnostic tests are needed to make vaccination against bovine tuberculosis (bovine TB) viable and the number of false positives from these tests must be below 15 out of every 10,000 cattle tested, according to research.

Animals tend to evolve toward larger size over time Posted: 19 Feb 2015 11:46 AM PST In one of the most comprehensive studies of body size evolution ever conducted, scientists have found fresh support for Cope's rule, a theory in biology that states that animal lineages tend to evolve toward larger sizes over time.

Mouse embryo with really big brain: Evolving a bigger brain with human DNA Posted: 19 Feb 2015 10:31 AM PST The human brain expanded dramatically in size during evolution, imparting us with unique capabilities. Scientists have now shown that it's possible to pick out key changes in the genetic code between chimpanzees and humans and visualize their respective contributions to early brain development in mouse embryos. The findings may lend insight what makes the human brain special and why people get some neurological disorders, such as autism and Alzheimer's disease, whereas chimpanzees don't.

Proteins pull together as cells divide Posted: 19 Feb 2015 10:30 AM PST Like a surgeon separating conjoined twins, cells have to be careful to get everything just right when they divide in two. Otherwise, the resulting daughter cells could be hobbled, particularly if they end up with too many or two few chromosomes. Successful cell division hangs on the formation of a dip called a cleavage furrow, a process that has remained mysterious. Now, researchers have found that no single molecular architect directs the cleavage furrow’s formation; rather, it is a robust structure made of a suite of team players.

Invasive weed Kochia's resistance to well-known herbicide stems from increase in gene copies Posted: 19 Feb 2015 08:24 AM PST Kochia has evolved to have multiple copies of a gene code that targets glyphosate, the most common herbicide, a study has found. These copies enable the invasive weeds to survive the field rate of glyphosate applications.

Climate change may dramatically reduce wheat production, study shows Posted: 19 Feb 2015 08:24 AM PST In the coming decades, at least one-quarter of the world's wheat production will be lost to extreme weather from climate change if no adaptation measures are taken, researchers warn.

Global impact of debris on marine life studied Posted: 19 Feb 2015 07:16 AM PST Nearly 700 species of marine animal have been recorded as having encountered humanmade debris such as plastic and glass according to the most comprehensive impact study in more than a decade.

Genetic mechanism discovery key to controlling cell growth in the vinegar fly Posted: 19 Feb 2015 07:15 AM PST A group of researchers has described a key interaction to understanding growth control in the vinegar fly (Drosophila melanogaster). According to the study, the interaction between the transcription factor Cabut and the protein Yorkie (YAP/TAZ in humans) is necessary for tissue and organ regeneration and growth. The study could have biomedical implications as the protein Yorkie is associated with different types of cancer; to avoid the interaction between Cabut and Yorkie could be a potential therapeutic target.

Cattle damage to riverbanks can be undone Posted: 19 Feb 2015 07:14 AM PST Simply removing cattle may be all that is required to restore many degraded riverside areas in the American West, although this can vary and is dependent on local conditions, researchers have found after comparing repeat photographs to assess rehabilitation of Oregon wildlife refuge. The team analyzed photographs to gauge how the removal of grazing cattle more than two decades ago from Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in eastern Oregon has helped to rehabilitate the natural environment.

Making a mark on mitochondria Posted: 19 Feb 2015 05:44 AM PST A fluorescent probe for labeling mitochondria helps scientists study fat-burning brown adipose tissue.

Using fungi to catch algae: Harvesting microalgae for fuels and chemicals production Posted: 19 Feb 2015 05:44 AM PST Fungal waste biomass from biotechnology applications could be used to harvest microalgae for fuels and chemicals production

Licorice extract protects the skin from UV-induced stress Posted: 18 Feb 2015 04:19 PM PST New research introduces a new plant-derived agent which protects skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet irradiation.

Cheap solar cells made from shrimp shells Posted: 18 Feb 2015 04:17 PM PST Researchers have successfully created electricity-generating solar-cells with chemicals found the shells of shrimps and other crustaceans for the first time.

Stalking a wily foe: Scientists figure out how C. difficile bacteria wreak havoc in gut Posted: 18 Feb 2015 04:16 PM PST By staying up for two days straight, researchers have figured out for the first time exactly how Clostridium difficile wreaks havoc on the guts of animals in such a short time. The findings could help prevent or treat severe diarrhea and life-threatening disease in humans.

Moths shed light on how to fool enemy sonar Posted: 18 Feb 2015 04:15 PM PST It's hard to hide from a bat: The camouflage and mimicry techniques that animals use to avoid becoming a meal aren't much use against a predator using echolocation. But a new study shows that moths can outsmart sonar with a flick of their long tails.

Fearless birds and big city spiders: Is urbanization pushing earth's evolution to a tipping point? Posted: 18 Feb 2015 04:15 PM PST That humans and our cities build affect the ecosystem and even drive some evolutionary change is already known. What's new is that these evolutionary changes are happening more quickly than previously thought, and have potential impacts on ecosystem function on a contemporary scale. Not in the distant future, that is -- but now.

Where ants go when nature calls: Ants use corners of their nest as 'toilets' Posted: 18 Feb 2015 11:55 AM PST Ants may use the corners of their nest as 'toilets,' according to a new study. Little research has been done on ant sanitary behavior, so the authors of this study conducted an experiment to determine whether distinct brown patches they observed forming in ants' nests were feces. They fed ants, living in white plaster nests, food dyed with either red or blue food coloring and observed the nests for the colorful feces.

Neighboring birds sing 'out of tune' Posted: 18 Feb 2015 11:55 AM PST Great tits living next to each other may sing their songs at significantly different rates, more or less frequently, as compared to non-neighboring birds.