This plant may be a surprise hero in our fight against fungal pathogens

While water lilies are perhaps most famous for starring in impressionist artist Claude Monet’s work, they may also have a molecular secret weapon that could help in our fight against deadly fungal infections, which are becoming increasingly worse.

Source of Article

Continue ReadingThis plant may be a surprise hero in our fight against fungal pathogens

Scientists give nature a nudge, training native species hunt invaders

In a twist on using animals as biological control, a method that in the past has often had disastrous outcomes for native wildlife, scientists have successfully trained native bush rats to actively seek out a new food source they’ve never seen before.

Source of Article

Continue ReadingScientists give nature a nudge, training native species hunt invaders

Virgin birth at Cambridge thanks to genetically modified fruit flies

By decoding a genetic process responsible for asexual reproduction, researchers induced virgin births for the first time in a normally sexual fruit fly species. It was then discovered that the trait was passed down to all of the flies' daughters.

Source of Article

Continue ReadingVirgin birth at Cambridge thanks to genetically modified fruit flies

Like humans, elephants also prefer variety at dinner time

Although we could, most of us don’t want to eat the same food for every meal. Now researchers have found it's the same for African elephants, whose diverse and individualistic food selection shows they're incredibly discerning at the dinner table.

Source of Article

Continue ReadingLike humans, elephants also prefer variety at dinner time

Potential CRISPR alternative gene-editing tool occurs naturally in animals

CRISPR-Cas9 is the household name of genetic engineering tools, but there might be other, better ways. MIT scientists have now demonstrated an alternative called Fanzor, which is naturally found in animals so could be a better fit for human use.

Source of Article

Continue ReadingPotential CRISPR alternative gene-editing tool occurs naturally in animals

New venomous cocktails from cone snail have huge drug potential

In a world first, researchers have successfully reared cone snails in a laboratory aquarium, gaining rare insight into juveniles with different venom and unlocking the power of their complex conotoxin compounds for a vast range of human therapeutics.

Source of Article

Continue ReadingNew venomous cocktails from cone snail have huge drug potential

Earliest evidence yet of butchery and cannibalism among ancient humans

Cannibalism among our ancestors is not a surprise, but scientists have been taken aback to find clues of this behavior that hail from 1.45 million years ago. Precision cuts made with a stone tool suggests there were some skilful butchers around too.

Source of Article

Continue ReadingEarliest evidence yet of butchery and cannibalism among ancient humans

Megalodon was warm-blooded – and that might have been its downfall

Scientists have used fossilized megalodon teeth to estimate the ancient shark’s body temperature, and found it wasn’t exactly a cold-blooded killer. Strangely enough, that might have contributed to its downfall.

Source of Article

Continue ReadingMegalodon was warm-blooded – and that might have been its downfall

Tricky survival tactics of the flu virus uncovered in new study

Researchers have just uncovered how the influenza A virus is able to thrive by slicing and dicing genetic material inside our cells while keeping itself intact. The finding might arm researchers with a new way to fight the virus.

Source of Article

Continue ReadingTricky survival tactics of the flu virus uncovered in new study