Enzymes, which are crucial to controlling how cells replicate in the human body, could be the very ingredient that encourages DNA to spontaneously mutate -- causing potentially permanent genetic errors, according to new research.
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A better model for type 2 diabetes: The Nile rat
Researchers have assembled the first reference genome for the Nile rat -- a kind of genetic template of this species that may be used for laboratory and clinical studies. The hope is that it will be useful for those who investigate Type 2 diabetes and neurological disorders associated with a...
New discoveries could improve cheese production and safety, lead to novel cheeses
New research shows that the flavoring of various soft cheeses is due in part to the bacteria that colonize them during the ripening process.
Dam Safety: Probable Maximum Flood Events Will Significantly Increase Over Next 80 Years, Study Finds
The flood capacity of dams could be at greater risk of being exceeded due to out-of-date modelling for potential maximum rainfall, according to industry-funded research by UNSW and the University of Melbourne.
Study Shows How to Boost Early Intervention for Climate-Related Health Risks
Being able to predict where and when extreme weather and other environmental impacts of climate change will increase the risk of infectious disease outbreaks can help public health officials respond earlier and more effectively to control the spread and reduce its toll.
ASU Study Shows Full Decarbonization of US Aviation Sector Within Grasp
Research demonstrates pathway to sustainably produce biojet fuel domestically, meet country’s growing aviation fuel demand.
The hunt for disrupted brain signals behind autism
Part of understanding the underlying causes of autism spectrum disorder relies on figuring out which cells' signaling patterns in the brain are disrupted, and when during nervous system development the disruption occurs. New research findings in mouse models of one genetic risk for autism support the idea that loss of...
A gene from 28 million years ago protects today’s plants against caterpillars
The defense mechanisms plants use to recognize and respond to a common pest -- the caterpillar -- has arisen from a single gene that evolved over millions of years, according to a new report.
Ancient disease has potential to regenerate livers
Leprosy is one of the world's oldest and most persistent diseases but the bacteria that cause it may also have the surprising ability to grow and regenerate a vital organ. Scientists have discovered that parasites associated with leprosy can reprogram cells to increase the size of a liver in adult...
Desert dust collected from glacier ice helps document climate change
Researchers are using dust trapped in glacier ice in Tibet to document past changes in Earth's intricate climate system -- and maybe one day help predict future changes.