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Thu, 16 May 2013 14:25:25 EDT
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Asian lady beetles use biological weapons against their European relatives
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Once introduced for biological pest control, Asian lady beetle populations have been increasing uncontrollably. Scientists have now found the reason for the animal's success. Its body fluid contains microsporidia, fungus-like protozoa that parasitize body cells and can cause immense harm to their host. The Asian lady beetle is obviously resistant to these parasites. However, transferred to native species, microsporidia can be lethal.
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Thu, 16 May 2013 10:52:52 EDT
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X-ray tomography of living frog embryo
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Classical X-ray radiographs provide information about internal, absorptive structures of organisms such as bones. Alternatively, X-rays can also image soft tissues throughout early embryonic development of vertebrates. Related to this, a new X-ray method allowed researchers to view three dimensional reconstructions showing developing embryos of the African clawed frog.
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Wed, 15 May 2013 17:44:44 EDT
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H1N1 discovered in marine mammals
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Scientists detected the H1N1 (2009) virus in free-ranging northern elephant seals off the central California coast a year after the human pandemic began.
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Wed, 15 May 2013 16:39:39 EDT
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Developmental genetics of space and time
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Scientists have conducted a study that reveals important and useful insights into how and why developmental genes often take inputs from two independent “morphogen concentration gradients.”
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Wed, 15 May 2013 12:50:50 EDT
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No idle chatter: Malaria parasites 'talk' to each other
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Scientists have made the surprise discovery that malaria parasites can 'talk' to each other -- a social behavior to ensure the parasite's survival and improve its chances of being transmitted to other humans. The finding could provide a niche for developing antimalarial drugs and vaccines that prevent or treat the disease by cutting these communication networks.
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Wed, 15 May 2013 11:37:37 EDT
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Intestinal bacterium Akkermansia curbs obesity
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A dominant and useful bacterium called Akkermansia muciniphila is present in the intestinal system of all humans, from babies to the elderly. This microorganism is found in the intestinal mucus layer that protects against intruders. Even more remarkable is that this bacterium has a favorable effect on the disrupted metabolism associated with obesity.
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Wed, 15 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT
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Untangling the tree of life
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Phylogeneticists examined the reasons why large-scale tree-of-life studies are producing contradictory results and have proposed a suite of novel techniques to resolve the conflicts.
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