Biology
Exploring the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes within poultry litter
Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to human and animal health. Bacteria containing antibiotic resistance genes are found in poultry litter, usually from commercial chicken production. Since poultry litter is often used as a soil fertiliser, there is a risk that this antibiotic resistance could be transferred into the soil. Professor John Maurer at Virginia Tech University, USA, has shown […]
Pollen: Surviving the hay fever season
The temperature is rising, the ice cream van is playing a merry tune, children are playing in the garden, and a warm summer breeze floats in through the window bearing – for some – a payload of pollen that will set off a chain reaction that leads to hay fever – runny noses, itchy eyes, and bouts of sneezing. Hayfever […]
The vampire squid – a deep-sea monster or a misunderstood mollusc?
Neither squid nor vampire, Vampyroteuthis infernalis is a mysterious deep-sea member of the Cephalopod class of molluscs. The last of its kind, the vampire squid is the only living member of the order Vampyromorphida. Because of its curious name (which literally means ‘vampire squid from hell’ in Latin) and intimidating appearance, the vampire squid has captured the minds of people […]
Biomimicry: The imitation game
Evolution has the advantage of millions of years of trial and error to refine nature’s designs; biomimetics uses nature as the source of inspiration for innovative design solutions to complex problems. The scope of opportunity offered by biomimicry is breathtaking – and the results are often beautiful. Here, we take a closer look at brilliant examples of biomimicry and the […]
Evolutionary theory: Debating the origins of our DNA
For over a decade, Mr Shaojie Deng of Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, China, has been formulating and more recently presenting his new evolutionary theory to the academic world. Over time his thought processes too have evolved with his most recent manuscript centring around the stable complex model as an explanation for the evolution of enzymes and […]
The origin of hair: The evolution of the trichocyte
Hair is a defining feature of mammals and was essential for their adaptation to a range of ecological niches. To shine a light on the evolution of hair, Professor Thomas Litman of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Professor Wilfred D Stein of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, investigate the ancient origins of the proteins which interact structurally with […]
How oxidative stress contributes to neurodegenerative diseases
The human brain relies on a constant energy supply that when compromised, neurodegenerative disease ensues, initially disrupting nerve cell communication followed by nerve cell death. Paul Hyslop and Michael Chaney investigate fundamental mechanisms driving neurodegenerative disease, to identify therapeutic interventions. They focus on how an enzyme integral to energy supply to nerve cells, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) – is inhibited and […]
Cut of the crop: High-yields of non-browning eggplant via genome editing
Eggplant is cultivated globally – but its production is fraught with issues affecting the crop’s overall yield and post-harvest properties. The fruit can be less appealing when damaged or cut due to the enzymatic browning of tissues. Cultivating high-yielding yet non-browning eggplants is an area of ongoing research at the Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, UAE. The researchers […]
The flipside of DNA: Flipons and alternative nucleic acid structures
DNA sequences called flipons can adopt alternative DNA structures. New research suggests that they have important biological roles. In a quest to further unravel the mystery of these dynamic DNA elements, Dr Alan Herbert, InsideOutBio Inc, USA, and colleagues have spent years conducting experiments at the cutting edge of genomic and molecular science. Now, they demonstrate that by targeting flipons, […]
Foot-and-mouth disease: A new antiviral stops the super-spreader in its tracks
Dr Tatsuya Nishi and Dr Kazuki Morioka from the National Institute of Animal Health at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Japan, have been testing a promising treatment against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Feeding pigs an antiviral drug (T-1105) may prevent any outbreak from spreading since it inhibits pigs from producing virus particles. Pigs are currently thought to be […]