ScienceDaily: Plants & Animals News

A gene that shaped the evolution of Darwin's finches Posted: 11 Feb 2015 12:39 PM PST Researchers have identified a gene in Galápagos finches studied by English naturalist Charles Darwin that influences beak shape and that played a role in the birds' evolution from a common ancestor. The study illustrates the genetic foundation of evolution, including how genes can flow from one species to another, and how different versions of a gene within a species can contribute to the formation of new species.

How CBD, a component in marijuana, works within cells Posted: 11 Feb 2015 11:09 AM PST Researchers have identified fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) as intracellular transporters for two ingredients in marijuana, THC and CBD (cannabidiol). The finding is significant because it helps explain how CBD works within the cells. Recent clinical findings have shown that CBD may help reduce seizures and could be a potential new medicine to treat pediatric treatment-resistant epilepsy.

Apes prefer the glass half full: Nearest primate relatives also susceptible to marketing spin Posted: 11 Feb 2015 10:21 AM PST Humans aren't the only species to be influenced by spin. Our closest primate relatives are susceptible, too. For example, people rate a burger as more tasty when it is described as "75 percent lean" than when it is described as "25 percent fat," even though that's the same thing. A new study finds that positive and negative framing make a big difference for chimpanzees and bonobos too.

Unraveling the complex web of global food trade Posted: 11 Feb 2015 10:18 AM PST Growing global trade is critically important for providing food when and where it's needed -- but it makes it harder to link the benefits of food and the environmental burden of its production. A new study proposes to extend the way we characterize global food trade to include nutritional value and resource consumption alongside more conventional measures of trade's value.

Oldest fur seal identified, ending 5-million-year 'ghost lineage' Posted: 11 Feb 2015 09:40 AM PST The oldest known fur seal has been discovered by a Geology PhD student at New Zealand's University of Otago, providing a missing link that helps to resolve a more than 5-million-year gap in fur seal and sea lion evolutionary history.

Plant extract fights brain tumor Posted: 11 Feb 2015 09:40 AM PST Silibinin from milk thistle seeds could be a novel, non-invasive treatment strategy for Cushing Disease. Cushing Disease, not to be confused with Cushing's Syndrome, is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland in the brain.

What makes the feather soar Posted: 11 Feb 2015 09:36 AM PST Bird species have adapted to so many ecological niches in large part because of the variety of ways feathers lend them a competitive advantage. New research shows that one key to the feather's manifold manifestations is the dynamic evolution of a protein family that first appeared some 150 million years ago: the beta-keratins.

Fluorescing food dyes as probes to improve food quality Posted: 11 Feb 2015 09:25 AM PST Food dyes can give cakes, candy and sodas brilliant colors of the rainbow. Now a team of food scientists has found that food coloring may be able to play more than its traditional esthetic role in food presentation.

Extreme mechano-sensitive neurons of tactile-foraging ducks fit the bill for touch research Posted: 11 Feb 2015 09:25 AM PST Mechanosensation is one of our fundamental physiological processes, on par with sight and smell, but how it works on a cellular level remains poorly understood, holding back development of effective treatments for mechanosensory disorders like chronic pain. Now, a team of researchers has identified a new model organism that may help elucidate the cellular mechanisms behind mechanosensation: the ordinary duck.

Better batteries inspired by lowly snail shells Posted: 11 Feb 2015 09:25 AM PST Researchers have isolated a peptide, a type of biological molecule, which binds strongly to lithium manganese nickel oxide (LMNO), a material that can be used to make the cathode in high performance batteries. The peptide can latch onto nanosized particles of LMNO and connect them to conductive components of a battery electrode, improving the potential power and stability of the electrode.

A new variant of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease endangers the Iberian lynx Posted: 11 Feb 2015 07:19 AM PST A new study demonstrates the effects that a new variant of the hemorrhagic disease virus RHDV has on wild rabbits on the Iberian Peninsula. The virus threatens the survival of its predator, the Iberian lynx. Scientists have identified a new variant of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) throughout the entire Iberian Peninsula, including the areas where the Iberian lynx lives, such as the Sierra Morena mountains.

Scientists take first X-ray portraits of living bacteria Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:29 AM PST Researchers have captured the first X-ray portraits of living bacteria. This milestone is a first step toward possible X-ray explorations of the molecular machinery at work in viral infections, cell division, photosynthesis and other processes that are important to biology, human health and our environment.

Unwanted impact of antibiotics broader, more complex than previously known Posted: 10 Feb 2015 06:26 PM PST Researchers have discovered that antibiotics have an unwanted impact on the microorganisms that live in an animal's gut that's more broad and complex than previously known. A study has helped to explain these processes, which are now believed to affect everything from the immune system to glucose metabolism, food absorption, obesity, stress and behavior.

Predicting plant responses to drought Posted: 10 Feb 2015 06:26 PM PST A new study shows how plants' vulnerability to drought varies across the landscape; factors such as plant structure and soil type where the plant is growing can either make them more vulnerable or protect them from declines.

Crocodiles just wanna have fun, too Posted: 10 Feb 2015 06:20 PM PST Crocodilians engage in all three main types of play distinguished by behavior specialists: locomotor play, play with objects and social play. Crocodiles have also been seen playing with other animals. In rare cases, individual crocodilians have been known to bond so strongly with people that they become playmates for years.

Cancer researchers may inspire new area of research in cellular biology Posted: 10 Feb 2015 10:32 AM PST New research has some scientists wondering if the entire study of cellular biology needs to be adjusted. Researchers made the discovery that mitochondria are capable of passing through the healthy membrane of a host cell into defective tumor cells, possibly kicking off the rapid proliferation of tumour cells which is the hallmark of cancer. Until now each cell was believed to be a unique entity, with mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) bound within the cell membrane. New research has found this mtDNA is capable of moving from a healthy cell to a dysfunctional tumor cell.

Engineered insulin could offer better diabetes control Posted: 10 Feb 2015 10:05 AM PST Engineers hope to improve treatment for diabetes patients with a new type of engineered insulin. In tests in mice, the researchers showed that their modified insulin can circulate in the bloodstream for at least 10 hours, and that it responds rapidly to changes in blood-sugar levels.

First humanized mouse model of Sjögren’s syndrome opens door to study other autoimmune diseases Posted: 10 Feb 2015 05:35 AM PST Despite the prevalence of Sjögren’s syndrome – an autoimmune disease most commonly known for causing dry eyes and mouth - a lack of knowledge about how the condition starts has stalled the development of new treatments. Researchers have now developed a specialized animal model of Sjögren’s that engrafts human cells into mice, allowing scientists to track various factors that affect disease development and discover potential new therapies.