Biology – Page 2 – PossibleThreat Articles

Stressing cancer with spice

October 23, 2019 0 Comments Biology, Biotechnology, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Colon Cancer, Genetics, Lung Cancer, mice

A new study reports how an experimental drug agent stops cancer cells from growing. A little over a decade ago, scientists first reported pentagamavumon-1 (PGV-1), an analogue of a molecule found in turmeric and that has been since discovered to have anti-cancer effects. In the new study, tests on cancer cells and animals reveal that these anti-cancer effects come from PGV-1 inhibiting a series of enzymes responsible for the metabolism of reactive oxygen species. This finding is expected to clarify how modifications to PGV-1 will lead to its use for cancer treatment.

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Strategies of a honey bee virus

October 23, 2019 0 Comments Agriculture and Food, Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Microbes and More, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Virology

The Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus is a pathogen that affects honey bees and has been linked to Colony Collapse Disorder, a key factor in decimating the bee population. Researchers have now analyzed in detail how the virus hijacks the cellular protein production machinery and misuses it for its own purposes.

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Immune response to influenza

October 23, 2019 0 Comments Biology, Bird Flu, Bird Flu Research, Cold and Flu, Immune System, Influenza, Microbiology, Virology

New research provides insights into how the body can protect itself from immunopathology during flu.

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Embryology: How cell competition modulates morphogen gradients

October 23, 2019 0 Comments Biology, Cancer, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Immune System, Lymphoma, Molecular Biology, Stem Cells

Tissue patterning is an important process during embryo formation, which ensures that groups of cells are arranged in an appropriate manner that allows them to function properly.

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Embryonic development: Earlier origin of neural crest cells

October 22, 2019 0 Comments Biology, Biotechnology, Developmental Biology, Immune System, Lymphoma, Molecular Biology, Skin Cancer, Stem Cells

Neural crest cells have been thought to originate in the ectoderm, the outermost of the three germ layers formed in the earliest stages of embryonic development. But their capacity to form derivatives like bone and tooth-forming cells defies fundamental concepts in developmental and stem cell biology. A research team has found a solution to this mystery by demonstrating an earlier origin of the neural crest in chick embryos.

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Scientists enhance color and texture of cultured meat

October 22, 2019 0 Comments Batteries, Biochemistry, Biology, Cell Biology, Civil Engineering, Food and Agriculture, Molecular Biology, Organic Chemistry

Researchers are exploring the development of cultured meat found that the addition of the iron-carrying protein myoglobin improves the growth, texture and color of bovine muscle grown from cells in culture. This development is a step toward the ultimate goal of growing meat from livestock animal cells for human consumption.

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Survey completeness of a global citizen-science database of bird occurrence

October 22, 2019 0 Comments Biology, Birds, Environmental Policies, Nature, New Species, Ocean Policy, STEM Education, Travel and Recreation

There are many shortfalls in knowledge of the world's biodiversity, and one of the most basic is the lack of knowledge about where species occur geographically. This deficiency has broad ramifications for research and conservation. This study suggests the development of citizen science programs to collect data by volunteers has the potential to reduce this shortfall.

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Biological material boosts solar cell performance

October 22, 2019 0 Comments Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Energy and the Environment, Genetics, Geomagnetic Storms, Materials Science, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy

Next-generation solar cells that mimic photosynthesis with biological material may give new meaning to the term 'green technology.' Adding the protein bacteriorhodopsin (bR) to perovskite solar cells boosted the efficiency of the devices in a series of laboratory tests, according to an international team of researchers.

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Ants: Jam-free traffic champions

October 22, 2019 0 Comments animals, Behavioral Science, Biology, Insects (including Butterflies), Invasive Species, Life Sciences, Zoology

Whether they occur on holiday routes or the daily commute, traffic jams affect cars as well as pedestrians. Scientists have demonstrated that ant colonies, however, are spared these problems and circulate easily, even in the event of extremely dense traffic, thus ensuring consistent efficiency in their foraging.

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Animal study shows how stress and mother's abuse affects infant brain

October 21, 2019 0 Comments Animal Learning and Intelligence, Behavioral Science, Biology, Child Development, Child Psychology, Infant and Preschool Learning, mice, Parenting

A new study in rats shows the extent of brain damage in newborn rodents from even short-term abuse by their mother.