Less than 2% of the three billion letters of the human genome are dedicated to proteins. Only around 20,000 distinct protein-coding genes were found to exist in the long lines of molecules…
Category: Life
Parasites flex their mussels to influence ecosystem function – Functional Ecologists
In this new post, Joshua Brian, a new ecological researcher working at King’s College London, UK, discusses his paper: Parasitism dramatically alters the ecosystem services provided by freshwater mussels—recently shortlisted…
Octopus, squid and cuttlefish arms evolved to ‘taste’ different compounds
People have different tastes. It turns out that octopuses, squid and cuttlefish do too. These soft-bodied cephalopods have proteins on suckers along their tentacles that allow them to “taste” by…
Bryophyte-associated nitrogen fixation in a tropical mountain cloud forest—rates and responses to climate change – Functional Ecologists
In this new post, Aya Permin, a new ecological researcher at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, discusses her paper—High nitrogen-fixing rates associated with ground-covering mosses in a tropical mountain cloud…
How High Blood Pressure Affects Mental Health
Summary: Researchers have discovered high blood pressure, depression, and emotion-related brain activity are linked to the development of hypertension. Source: Max Planck Institute Our mental health and that of our…
To What Extent Are We Ruled by Unconscious Forces?
Summary: Unconscious mechanisms that occur as a result of neural activity set us up for actions we are going to take. This happens before we are consciously aware of the…
Probiotic Supplementation Reduces Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Caused by Chronic Sleep Loss
Summary: Probiotics have recently attracted increasing interest for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers tested the ability of probiotics to contrast oxidative stress and inflammation induced by sleep loss. Findings…
Disrupted Rhythms of Rest and Wakefulness Contribute to Worse Symptoms in Schizophrenia Patients
Summary: Those with schizophrenia who had more erratic sleep patterns, excessively rigid daily routines, and dysregulated patterns between sleep and wake transition had worse symptoms associated with schizophrenia and poorer…
Indirect control of decomposition by an invertebrate predator – Functional Ecologists
In this new post, Alice Walker, a new ecological researcher at the School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK, discusses her paper: Indirect control of decomposition by an invertebrate…
Viewpoint: GMO crops are key to sustainable farming—why are some scientists afraid to talk about them?
Molecular genetic engineering has spawned a strange new allergy. No, not the kind of allergy that causes hives or wheezing; rather, an aversion to mentioning the role of genetic engineering in…
