https://phys.org/biology-news/molecular-computational en-us Medical Xpress provides the latest news on molecular and Computational biology Chickpeas, lentils, beans and peas are a fast-growing food market, with new uses going well beyond bean salads and hummus—think brownies, vegan meats, and salad dressing. Researchers like Chitra Sivakumar are working to drive dining innovation by studying the tiniest details of flours made from these pulses. Sivakumar has three publications in the journal Advanced Powder Technology. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-pulse-flours-consumer-synchrotron-optimal.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Fri, 08 Nov 2024 04:16:16 EST news650261772 The crucian carp (Carassius auratus) is a common freshwater fish species in China, and its aquaculture mainly depends on excellent varieties through artificial breeding. The hybrid strain derived from Carassius cuvieri (♀) × C. auratus red var. (♂) (HFJ) and the new homodiploid crucian carp-like strain derived from Cyprinus carpio (♀) × Megalobrama amblycephala (♂) (NCRC) are important germplasm sources of crucian carp. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-team-population-genetic-characteristics-hybrid.html Plants & Animals Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:59:03 EST news650217541 A research team led by Lund University in Sweden has developed an AI tool that traces back the most recent places you have been to. The tool acts like a satellite navigation system, but instead of guiding you to your hotel, it identifies the geographical source of microorganisms. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-gps-microorganisms-forensic.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:43:04 EST news650212982 Most research on plant stem cells focuses on the tips of roots and shoots, where growth occurs in height. But biologist Kirsten Ten Tusscher from Utrecht University explains that thickness growth is just as essential. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-uncovers-thickness-growth-mechanisms.html Plants & Animals Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:30:04 EST news650212201 The more a plant species invests in defense, the less potential it has for growth, according to a new study. Research made possible by open science provides new insights into plant adaptation and interspecies variation. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-defense-growth-allocate-resources.html Plants & Animals Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:00:01 EST news650190482 Programmed cell death-1, or PD-1, has become a headline-grabbing molecule best known for its role in cancer immunotherapies called checkpoint inhibitors. A study from Georgia Tech and Emory University researchers is offering an improved understanding of why these inhibitors work—and how to make them effectively fight cancer for more patients. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-physical-affects-cancer-treatment-explores.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:27:05 EST news650204821 Genes contain instructions for making proteins, and a central dogma of biology is that this information flows from DNA to RNA to proteins. But only two percent of the human genome actually encodes proteins; the function of the remaining 98% remains largely unknown. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-rna-crispr-reveals-hundreds-noncoding.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:00:01 EST news650193702 The brain is a marvel of efficiency, honed by thousands of years of evolution so it can adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Yet, despite decades of research, the mystery of how the brain achieves this has remained elusive. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-brains-fruit-flies-monkeys-scientists.html Evolution Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 Nov 2024 09:34:29 EST news650194465 "How is plant growth controlled?" and "What is the basis of variation in stress tolerance in plants?" were among the 125 most challenging scientific questions, according to the journal Science in 2016. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-scientists-reveal-strigolactone-perception-mechanism.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Thu, 07 Nov 2024 09:30:38 EST news650194234 By studying changes in gene expression, researchers learn how cells function at a molecular level, which could help them understand the development of certain diseases. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-causal-theory-effect-relationships-genes.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 Nov 2024 09:20:38 EST news650193632 A team of microbiologists and virologists at Wuhan University, working with colleagues from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Washington and Humabs BioMed SA, has found that it is possible to use coronavirus DNA to create receptors that can be added to the membranes of human or animal cell membranes for research efforts. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-artificial-receptors-coronavirus-dna-avenues.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:00:24 EST news650131220 Over the last few years, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, has undergone significant changes, evolving from the original wild-type strains to the highly transmissible omicron variant. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-efficacy-clinical-drugs-sars-cov.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:56:22 EST news650127371 Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and the world's fastest supercomputers, a research team led by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has developed an innovative computing framework to speed up the design of new proteins. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-ai-framework-incorporates-experimental-text.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:56:13 EST news650127365 The CRISPR molecular scissors have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of genetic diseases. This is because they can be used to correct specific defective sections of the genome. Unfortunately, however, there is a catch: under certain conditions, the repair can lead to new genetic defects—as in the case of chronic granulomatous disease. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-genetic-crispr-inadvertently-defects.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 06 Nov 2024 11:07:18 EST news650113633 Because nitrogen fertilizers contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are looking for ways to modify agricultural plants so that they rely on less nitrogen. In research published in New Phytologist, investigators have found that blocking a particular protein may achieve this goal in potatoes. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-potatoes-reliant-nitrogen-fertilizers.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 06 Nov 2024 08:51:02 EST news650105461 The "RNA world" hypothesis proposes that the earliest life on Earth may have been based on RNA—a single-stranded molecule similar in many ways to DNA—like some modern viruses. This is because, like DNA, RNA can carry genetic information, but, like a protein, it can also act as an enzyme, initiating or accelerating reactions. While the activity of a few RNA enzymes—called ribozymes—have been tested on a case-by-case basis, there are thousands more that have been computationally predicted to exist in organisms ranging from bacteria to plants and animals. Now, a new method, developed by Penn State researchers, can test the activity of thousands of these predicted ribozymes in a single experiment. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-thousands-rna-enzymes-twister-ribozyme.html Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:17:24 EST news650045832 Scientists from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB), together with partners from the University of Cologne, have discovered a new group of defense substances in barley that are effective against a broad spectrum of fungal pathogens. One exception is the root rot pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana. This fungus neutralizes the defense substances and uses them to grow better. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-scientists-arms-barley-fungal-pathogen.html Plants & Animals Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 Nov 2024 13:08:03 EST news650034481 Over the past two decades, new technologies have helped scientists generate a vast amount of biological data. Large-scale experiments in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and cytometry can produce enormous quantities of data from a given cellular or multicellular system. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-complex-biological-insights-genomic-huge.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 Nov 2024 12:25:35 EST news650031930 Think back to that basic biology class you took in high school. You probably learned about organelles, those little "organs" inside cells that form compartments with individual functions. For example, mitochondria produce energy, lysosomes recycle waste and the nucleus stores DNA. Although each organelle has a different function, they are similar in that every one is wrapped up in a membrane. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-cells-mini-thought-rogue-organelles.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 Nov 2024 12:21:05 EST news650031662 Romance is a complex affair in humans. There's personality, appearance, seduction, all manner of physical and social cues. Mosquitoes are much more blunt. Mating occurs for a few seconds in midair. And all it takes to woo a male is the sound of a female's wingbeats. Imagine researchers' surprise when a single change completely killed the mosquitoes' libidos. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-deaf-male-mosquitoes-dont.html Ecology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:22:04 EST news650024521 Eggs pop out of ovaries. But what propels them has been unknown. Now, researchers from the University of Connecticut explain in an article published in the September 18 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that tiny, muscle-like fibers in the ovary's cells squeeze the egg out. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-mechanics-ovulation-muscle-fibers-eggs.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:02:33 EST news650023349 The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT signaling pathway is one of the most critical and extensively investigated signaling pathways. It is the central regulator of various cellular processes including cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, and survival. Hyperactivation of PI3K-AKT signaling is highly related to a significant number of human diseases, particularly cancers. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-uncover-focal-adhesions-subcellular-hubs.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 Nov 2024 09:42:03 EST news650022121 From the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro to the shoulders of pirates: parrots are synonymous with color for people across the world. In a study published in the journal Science, scientists from The University of Hong Kong, together with an international team led by scientists from BIOPOLIS-CIBIO (Portugal) have uncovered for the first time a "switch" in the DNA of parrots that controls their wide gamut of colors. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-biologists-reveal-genetic-parrot-diversity.html Evolution Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 Nov 2024 07:28:04 EST news650014081 Professor Carsten Carlberg has published a comprehensive new textbook, "Gene Regulation and Epigenetics: How Science Works," which presents the current understanding of gene regulation and epigenomics. Published by Springer and designed for graduate students, this textbook builds on Professor Carlberg's lectures at the University of Eastern Finland. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-textbook-illuminates-gene-epigenomics.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 Nov 2024 07:16:02 EST news650013361 A research team has successfully sequenced and assembled the genomes of all four Macadamia species, marking a significant advance in crop improvement efforts for this commercially valuable nut. The findings reveal key genetic traits that could enhance disease resistance, climate adaptability, and crop yield, addressing the challenges of genetic diversity in macadamia breeding. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-genome-sequencing-macadamia-species-potential.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:51:59 EST news649957912 If left unchecked, insect pests can devastate crops. To minimize damage and reduce the need for insecticide sprays, crops have been genetically engineered to produce bacterial proteins that kill key pests but are not harmful to people or wildlife. However, widespread planting of such transgenic crops has led to rapid adaptation by some pests. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-usual-reveals-genetic-basis-pest.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:51:31 EST news649957885 Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a mathematical model that models how the evolutionary strategies of organisms are affected by the environment. They studied salmonid fishes which choose either to migrate to the sea then return to lay eggs or stay in the river depending on their individual features. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-mathematical-illuminates-environment-impacts-life.html Ecology Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:48:03 EST news649957681 EU researchers are testing DNA from archaeological cat remains to help unravel the tale of cat domestication. It probably will not surprise cat owners, familiar with the enigmatic and independent nature of their beloved pets, to know that scientists have found the feline domestication process to be rather unconventional in comparison to other animals. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-journey-egyptian-cat-mummies-modern.html Molecular & Computational biology Paleontology & Fossils Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:14:05 EST news649955641 Vibrational spectroscopy has long been valued in the pharmaceutical and forensic sectors, and its application is expanding into agriculture, particularly for quality and origin verification of biological materials. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-vibrational-spectroscopy-optimized-accurate-coffee.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:00:11 EST news649951201 Researchers have made significant progress in the field of artificial intelligence by applying deep learning techniques to automate the detection and classification of crop leaf diseases. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-advanced-ai-techniques-crop-leaf.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Mon, 04 Nov 2024 13:59:03 EST news649951141