Biochemistry Research – Page 5 – PossibleThreat Articles

Scientists track frog-killing fungus to help curb its spread

September 23, 2019 0 Comments animals, Biochemistry Research, Biology, Frogs and Reptiles, Fungus, Microbes and More, Nature, New Species

With the help of advanced genetic testing and hundreds of frog skin swabs, an international team of researchers has created the most complete map to date of when and where different genetic variants of the frog-killing Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis have infected frog populations around the world. The investigation also uncovered a whole new genetic lineage of the fungus, one that appears to have originated in Asia and may be the oldest variant yet discovered.

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Capturing extreme close-ups of cellular gene expression

September 23, 2019 0 Comments Ancient DNA, Biochemistry Research, Biotechnology, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Charles Darwin, Evolution, Genetics, Origin of Life

Scientists studying genetic transcription are gaining new insights into a process that is fundamental to all life. Transcription is the first step in gene expression, the process taking place within all living cells by which the DNA sequence of a gene is copied into RNA, which in turn (most generally speaking) serves as the template for assembling protein molecules, the basic building blocks of life.

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DNA is held together by hydrophobic forces

September 23, 2019 0 Comments Biochemistry Research, Biology, Biotechnology, Diseases and Conditions, Forensics, Genes, Genetics, Human Biology

Researchers have disproved the prevailing theory of how DNA binds itself. It is not, as is generally believed, hydrogen bonds which bind together the 2 sides of the DNA structure. Instead, water is the key. The discovery opens doors for new understanding in research in medicine and life sciences.

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These pink sea urchins have teeth that sharpen themselves

September 18, 2019 0 Comments Behavioral Science, Biochemistry Research, Biology, Endangered Animals, Evolutionary Biology, Extreme Survival, Marine Biology, Sea Life

Sea urchins have five teeth, each held by a separate jaw in a circular arrangement at the center of their spiked, spherical bodies. Now, researchers have discovered how the teeth of the pink sea urchin are specially equipped to sharpen themselves.

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Scientists develop DNA microcapsules with built-in ion channels

September 18, 2019 0 Comments Artificial intelligence, Biochemistry, Biochemistry Research, Biotechnology, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Computational Biology, Engineering, Organic Chemistry, Robotics

A Research group reports a way of constructing DNA-based microcapsules that hold great promise for the development of new functional materials and devices. They showed that tiny pores on the surface of these capsules can act as ion channels. Their study will accelerate advances in artificial cell engineering and molecular robotics, as well as nanotechnology itself.

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Researchers mix RNA and DNA to study how life's process began billions of years ago

September 17, 2019 0 Comments Ancient DNA, Biochemistry Research, Biology, Biotechnology, Charles Darwin, Evolution, Genetics, Origin of Life

RNA World is a fascinating theory but it may not hold true. The problem is that the ingredients, such as enzymes, to make RNA World work just didn't exist on early Earth.

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Researchers unlock cancer-causing mechanism of E. coli toxin with synthetic biology approach

September 17, 2019 0 Comments Biochemistry Research, Biology, Biotechnology, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Cancer, Forensics, Genes, Human Biology

An inter-disciplinary team of researchers has unraveled how a toxin released by Escherichia coli (E. coli) – a human gut bacteria, is connected to colorectal cancer, offering new insights to the health impact of this prevalent bacteria and facilitating future research on the prevention of this third most common cancer worldwide.

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Nature documentaries increasingly talk about threats to nature, but still don't show them

September 17, 2019 0 Comments Agriculture and Food, Behavioral Science, Biochemistry Research, Biology, Endangered Plants, Monkeys, Nature, Wild Animals

Researchers analyzing recent BBC and Netflix nature documentaries found that although they increasingly mention threats to nature, visual depictions of these threats remain scarce, potentially misleading audiences on the state of the natural world.