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Queens genes determine sex of entire ant colonies
Researchers have discovered the genetic basis for a quirk of the animal kingdom — how ant queens produce broods that are entirely male or female. «It’s weird to have any parent that’s only producing one sex or the other,» said UC Riverside entomologist and study author Jessica Purcell. Scientists have known for some time that…
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Sharp size reduction in dinosaurs that changed diet to termites
Dinosaurs were generally huge, but a new study of the unusual alvarezsaurs show that they reduced in size about 100 million years ago when they became specialized ant-eaters. The new work is led by Zichuan Qin, a PhD student at the University of Bristol and Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing. He measured…
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Volcanic ash may have a bigger impact on the climate than we thought
Volcanic ash shuts down air traffic and can sicken people. But a new study suggests that it may also be more important for Earth’s climate than scientists once thought. A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that such volcanic ash may also have a larger influence on the planet’s climate than…
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Biologists found hundreds of plant viruses hitchhiking on pollen
Biologists found hundreds of virus species traveling on pollen grains. The results carry lessons for agriculture and even backyard beekeepers. In the first study to take a broad look at virus hitchhikers on pollen grains, Pitt biologists show that a variety of viruses travel on pollen — especially in areas close to agriculture and human…
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Some animal species can survive successfully without sexual reproduction
Studying a species of beetle mite, an international research team has demonstrated for the first time that animals can survive over very long periods of time (possibly millions of years) entirely without sex. So far, scientists have seen the great evolutionary advantage of sexual reproduction in the genetic diversity produced in offspring by the encounter…
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Cells reprogrammed to make synthetic polymers; also making them resistant to viruses
Scientists have developed the first cells that can construct artificial polymers from building blocks that are not found in nature, by following instructions the researchers encoded in their genes. The study also found the synthetic genome made the bacteria entirely resistant to infection by viruses. The study, led by scientists from the Medical Research Council…
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Plotting the placental protein NRK: Understanding the molecular evolution processes underlying placenta acquisition in eutherian ancestors
The molecular evolution of placental protein NRK and its function in regulating placental growth has finally been clarified. They elucidated that eutherian NRK regulates placental development by a novel mechanism, modulating the CK2-PTEN-AKT pathway. They also determined that this new function was acquired due to the amazingly rapid molecular evolution of NRK in eutherian ancestors.…
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Building blocks of the Earth
Geologists gain new insights regarding the Earth’s composition by analyzing meteorites. They conclude that the building blocks that brought volatile elements to Earth have a chemical composition similar to that of primitive carbonaceous chondrites. The study focuses on the distribution and origin of so-called volatile elements such as zinc, lead and sulphur, which have low…
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Fix, not fight: Scientists help plants regenerate after injury
After injury, plants make a trade-off between repairing damaged tissue and ramping up their defenses, according to a new study. Understanding how plants regulate these responses enabled the researchers to nudge wounded plants toward repair instead of defense, a strategy that could be useful in improving regeneration in important staple crops like corn. Understanding how…
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Streetwise bees cut corners to find food
Bumblebees waste no time enjoying the beauty of flowers — instead learning the bare minimum about where to land and find food, new research shows. A team led by the University of Exeter presented bees with artificial flowers — circles of blue or yellow, or half and half, with sugar solution in the centre. The…