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Texas A&M researchers report de novo evolution of an overlapping gene in bacteriophage

A team of researchers from Texas A&M University has discovered a hidden gene, embedded within another gene, in the group of bacteriophages called leviviruses. They report that the hidden gene is rapidly evolving and thus holds the potential for understanding and preventing antibiotic resistance.

NIH: All of Us Research Program returns first genetic results to participants

The National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program has begun to return genetic results to participants who have donated biosamples for research.

An update on origin-of-life research: DNA self-assembly in the solid state using heat

DNA is the code of life. In order to better understand life, scientists are seeking an explanation for its beginnings.

DeepMind's artificial intelligence algorithm accurately models unique protein folding structure

An artificial intelligence (AI) program has successfully cracked a 50-year problem in biology: How to accurately determine the three-dimensional structure of protein folding from the protein's amino acid sequence.

Scientists discover that platypuses glow in the dark

The platypus just became known for another unusual characteristic: It is biofluorescent.

Science association taps four UCLA professors as fellows

Four UCLA faculty members were named 2020 fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Catalog of proteins encoded by human genome published

A special issue of the Journal of Proteome Research celebrates the 90% completion of the human proteome, a catalog of all the proteins encoded by the human genome.

Advance in synthetic DNA production promises practical storage capability

A new advance in a method to synthetically produce DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) brings us closer to using DNA to efficiently store the increasingly huge amount of information the world generates.

EMORY: Engineered 'stealth bomber' virus could be new weapon against metastatic cancer

Many cancer researchers can claim to have devised “smart bombs.” What has been missing is the stealth bomber – a delivery system that can slip through the body’s radar defenses.

Microbiology Spectrum, a new scientific journal, launching in 2021

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) has established plans for a new journal titled Microbiology Spectrum, set to launch in spring of 2021.

UCLA: Study of threatened desert tortoises offers new conservation strategy

Animals with more genetic variation are more likely to survive relocation

University of Pittsburgh researchers discover why a deadly staph infection thrives in diabetes

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM) scientists say we now know why those suffering uncontrolled diabetes are so vulnerable to the superbug staph infection Staphylococcus aureus.

Mapping the DNA genetic code using energy flow

A new look at the genetic code from the standpoint of thermodynamics (energy flow) is proposed by a team of scientists from Rutgers University in New Jersey and the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Natural disaster plans could help businesses amidst COVID-19 damage

Small and medium businesses have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving millions of Americans out of jobs, and researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) worked with NOAA's Climate Program Office to survey these businesses on the impacts.

Tsetse fly breaks general rule that infants are smaller than mothers

Every 10 days, the female gives birth to a baby weighing more than she does.

Too much EPA without DHA may cause cognitive deficits, study finds

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the human body's functioning, but scientists recently discovered that too much omega-3 fatty acid EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) alone can damage learning and memory function in mice.

Evolutionary ecology axiom overturned: No advantage for 'gleaners' over 'exploiters'

New research has overturned the basic assumption in ecology and evolution of a trade-off between food availability to an organism and how efficiently it can process it.

MIT cell biology pioneer recognized for her substantial contributions

The staff and administration at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently honored the scientific contributions of Angelika Amon, an MIT cell biologist who pioneered research on chromosome imbalance, after her passing at the age of 53.

Pre-Cambrian species shared many characteristics with organisms living today

Animals who lived in an ancient period, which until the mid-20th Century lacked evidence in the fossil record, shared much of the same complexity and similarity as do living things today, the journal "Nature" recently reported.

The promise of design evolution: Adrian Bejan's new look at life and machines

Sometimes it helps to step outside your specialty and read publications that view the familiar world from entirely new perspectives.