Biology
Growing soybean in Canada: Collaborative genomics research
The collaborative research initiative, SoyaGen, was launched officially in October 2015 to develop soybean as a valuable and viable crop in Canada. François Belzile and Richard Bélanger of the Université Laval, Québec, co-lead this ambitious project involving six research institutions. Supported by Genome Canada, Génome Québec, the Western Grain Research Foundation and fourteen other partners, the project also includes grower […]
Unravelling the secrets of the cell with suspended microchannel resonators
Researchers can learn much about the properties of many materials simply by weighing them. In cell biology, repeatedly measuring the mass of a cell reveals how fast the cell grows. However, this is very challenging: the mass of a single-cell is extremely difficult to measure with enough accuracy and without perturbing the cell. The laboratory of Dr Scott Manalis at […]
Poultry science: chicken & egg
Production of poultry meat and egg comprise a significant part of the economy throughout Alabama. At Auburn University, the Department of Poultry Science in the College of Agriculture conducts research to aid local, national, as well as many different international poultry industries. Emeritus Professor Edwin Moran’s efforts typify the broad scope of work being performed in the Department. In one […]
Non-native lake trout suppression: A fisheries restoration success story
Introduction of non-native species can cause severe disruption to ecosystems. A rapid growth in lake trout numbers in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho threatened both native species conservation and the popular recreational fishery on the lake. This prompted Andrew M. Dux, Matthew P. Corsi and colleagues at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, along with Michael J. Hansen of the […]
The great grunion run: Monitoring grunion runs to inform conservation
Grunion runs describe the unusual breeding behaviour of the California grunion, which come ashore on sandy beaches to spawn. Fertilised eggs then incubate in the sand and only hatch when scouring waves from the next spring tide reveal them. These life history traits leave both adult fish and eggs vulnerable to negative human impacts. Professor Karen L. M. Martin from […]
Legumes can help to eliminate trace element deficiency in Africa
Nutrient-poor soils in Africa is a pressing issue. As a result, many people in the African continent suffer from nutrient deficiency due to not being able to access nutritious foods. This is what makes the work of Professor Felix D. Dakora of Tshwane University of Technology so important. His pioneering research into finding foods that will enable increased nutrient consumption […]
Understanding the impact of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in domestic sheep
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is frequently present in domestic sheep operations and is associated with negative effects on productivity and profitability. Infection of a flock with this pathogen may increase frequency of pneumonia, reduce lambing rates, and impair feed efficiency, resulting in significant financial costs. In addition, presence of this pathogen is associated with increased risk for nearby wild bighorn sheep, which […]
Alpha-Gal syndrome Trade-off between allergy and protection to infectious diseases
Tick bites are responsible for the development of Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) in humans. Resulting in severe allergies to red meat, tick bites and certain drugs, the syndrome is life threatening. Anti-α-Gal IgE antibodies induced by tick bites trigger the allergies. However, anti-α-Gal IgM antibodies induced by microbiota bacteria protect against infectious diseases. Professor José de la Fuente and Dr Alejandro […]
Understanding the olfactory system
The recent discovery of endogenous cannabinoids has kickstarted a whole area of research into their function. Cannabinoids have been widely studied in the hippocampus and amygdala of the brain but their role in other regions, including the olfactory system, are largely a mystery. Professor Thomas Heinbockel and his team from Howard University College of Medicine research cannabinoids in the olfactory […]
Biomimetic assembly of multienzyme reactions on DNA nanostructures
Using DNA nanotechonology, researchers from Rutgers University-Camden have created self-assembly biomimetic systems capable of enzyme proximity immobilisation and enzyme compartmentalisation. Remarkably, these structures have proven themselves capable of forming a multi-enzyme cascade with substrate channeling and regulated reaction circuit. The potential for future applications of this research are wide-ranging and include healthcare and biomedical research to energy release and chemical […]