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Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for February 17, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Plants may have a single ancestor- Rare Earth element tellurium detected for the first time in ancient stars
- Physicists discover evidence of rare hypernucleus, a component of strange matter
- Researchers develop better control for DNA-based computations
- Intelligent software assigns appropriate background music for pictures
- Researchers find energy storage 'solutions' in MetILs
- Brain-imaging differences evident at 6 months in infants who develop autism
- Go-ahead for bird flu study publication after security check
- Countries agree on new mobile spectrum at radio conference
- Man-made photosynthesis to revolutionize food and energy production
- Georgia Tech develops braille-like texting app (w/ video)
- Live from the thymus: T-cells on the move
- A single protein helps the body keep watch over the Epstein-Barr virus
- Black arsenic: Fact or fiction? Synthesis and identification of metastable compounds
- Differences in tungsten isotopes show Earth surface formed unevenly
Space & Earth news
Chilling climate-change related news
A presentation at the world’s largest science fair by a Simon Fraser University earth sciences professor promises to make the skin crawl of even the most ardent disbelievers of the predicted impacts of climate change.
Fracking risks, fact or fiction?
A Simon Fraser University researcher known for his expertise on naturally occurring hazards will participate Friday in a shake down of the truth about a new form of human-induced earthquakes.
A new way to visualize Earth
As the state geologist for Arizona, Lee Allison knows granite from sandstone, a syncline from an anticline. But he has lacked the ability to look through rocks to visualize the inner workings of the Earth.
Map details Coral Sea highs and lows
James Cook University’s Robin Beaman has produced a new map of Australia’s Coral Sea region that details the reefs, mountains, and canyons that exist under the sea.
ESA's Fifth ATV named after Georges Lemaitre
ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATVs) are an essential contribution by Europe to running the International Space Station. Naming the fifth after Belgian scientist Georges Lemaître continues the tradition of drawing on great European visionaries to reflect Europe’s deep roots in science, technology and culture.
Deepwater Horizon disaster could have billion dollar impact: new study
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 will have a large economic impact on the U.S. Gulf fisheries.
Climate change leads to pollution of indigenous people's water supplies
Indigenous people around the world are among the most vulnerable to climate change and are increasingly susceptible to the pathogen loads found in potable water after heavy rainfall or rapid snow melt.
Arctic micro-organisms may hold key to dealing with oil spills in the North
Marcel Babin, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Remote Sensing of Canada's New Arctic Frontier at the Université Laval, will be discussing his research on the effects of environmental changes in the Arctic as part of an upcoming press breakfast panel discussion. The February 17 Canada Press Breakfast on the Arctic and oceans will be part of the 178th annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, to be held in Vancouver, and will feature a variety of prominent researchers.
As ice melts in Far North, opportunities abound to advance Canada's oceanic laws
Thinning ice resulting from climate change in the Arctic is happening far faster than experts previously imagined. With it come new global shipping routes and growing interest in natural resource development and regional tourism. These changes, says a leading expert in oceanic governance, are urging Canada to advance its laws on shipping regulation, ocean governance and marine biodiversity protection.
Launch of new system for observing the Southern Ocean
An international committee of experts will meet this month to begin the implementation of a new observing system for the study of the Southern Ocean.
Controlling forest fires
Simon Fraser University statistician Rick Routledge will share his knowledge of what layers of charcoal in lake-bottom sediment can tell us about an area's forest fire history, at the world's largest science fair in Vancouver.
Mitsui to pay record fine for Gulf oil spill
Japanese conglomerate Mitsui will pay $90 million for its role in the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the worst oil spill in US history, authorities said Friday.
Linking human evolution and climate change
It’s not a take on climate change we often hear about. But Mark Collard, a Simon Fraser University Canada Research Chair and professor of archaeology, will talk about how climate change impacts human evolution at the world’s largest science fair.
China's next space mission to carry 3 astronauts
China's next space mission will carry three astronauts who will dock with and live inside an experimental orbiting module launched last year, state media said Friday.
Europe hammered by winter, is North America next?
For the first half of this year's winter, the big news was warm temperatures and lack of snow. Ski resorts were covered in bare dirt, while January temperatures in southern California topped July highs.
The legacy of the megaflood
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ambling through the parched and scarred landscape of eastern Washington state is the 60-mile-long Grand Coulee, the largest of the stair-step canyons that give the region called the Channeled Scablands its character. Looking out over this majestic scenery, a visitor feels compelled to throw open both arms, take a deep breath, and say, "Wow! How did this get here?"
From Earth's water to cosmic dawn: New tools unveiling astronomical mysteries
(PhysOrg.com) -- Two new and powerful research tools are helping astronomers gain key insights needed to transform our understanding of important processes across the breadth of astrophysics. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and the newly-expanded Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) offer scientists vastly improved and unprecedented capabilities for frontier research.
John Glenn fever gripping Cape Canaveral -- again
(AP) -- John Glenn fever gripped Cape Canaveral on Friday, just as it did half a century ago when America was on the verge of launching its first man into orbit.
UI researcher notes importance of particulate matter on climate, health
When it comes to predicting climate change, researchers need to take into account the effects of particles in the air.
Models underestimate future temperature variability; Food security at risk
Climate warming caused by greenhouse gases is very likely to increase the variability of summertime temperatures around the world by the end of this century, a University of Washington climate scientist said Friday. The findings have major implications for food production.
Rain-soaked Madagascar again threatened by Cyclone Giovanna
Rainfall data from NASA's TRMM satellite revealed that parts of Madagascar's east coast received over a foot (30 cm) of rainfall from Cyclone Giovanna's passage, and new satellite data shows Cyclone Giovanna re-strengthening and turning back toward southeastern Madagascar.
THEMIS celebrates 5 years of watching aurora and space weather
People still talk about the launch. It was the first – and so far, only – time NASA has launched five satellites at one time. Carefully balanced inside a Delta II rocket, the five THEMIS (short for Timed History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) spacecraft were launched into space from Cape Canaveral at 6:01 p.m. ET on February 17, 2007. The spacecraft were nestled in a ring shape, four around the outside and one on a middle pedestal. A critical sequencing guided how each spacecraft launched into space, first the top one, then the ones on the outside, so the platform would remain balanced and stable.
Differences in tungsten isotopes show Earth surface formed unevenly
(PhysOrg.com) -- Many versions of early Earth history offer visions of a hot melting mix of materials which would have resulted, after cooling, in a smooth blend of ingredients, much a like a cake after beating and baking. New research from a trio of Geologists from the University of Maryland, suggests that such an image doesn’t correspond with evidence they’ve discovered in looking at tungsten isotopes in ancient lava rocks found in Russia. They note, as they point out in their paper published in Science, that differences in the amount of a certain type of tungsten isotope in that region differ from others in other parts of the world indicating that some parts of the Earth’s surface have been there longer than others.
Rare Earth element tellurium detected for the first time in ancient stars
Nearly 13.7 billion years ago, the universe was made of only hydrogen, helium and traces of lithium — byproducts of the Big Bang. Some 300 million years later, the very first stars emerged, creating additional chemical elements throughout the universe. Since then, giant stellar explosions, or supernovas, have given rise to carbon, oxygen, iron and the rest of the 94 naturally occurring elements of the periodic table.
Technology news
NY appeals court orders NJ programmer's acquittal
(AP) -- A federal appeals court on Friday reversed the conviction of a former Goldman Sachs programmer on charges he stole computer code, ordering an acquittal in a case that tested the boundaries of what can be considered a crime as companies seek to protect their intellectual property from competitors.
Murdoch launches 'Sun on Sunday'
Rupert Murdoch said Friday he will launch a Sunday version of his top-selling British tabloid The Sun, vowing to stand by demoralised staff despite the arrest of senior reporters over bribery claims.
Malaysian court asked to stop rare earths plant
Malaysian activists said on Friday they had filed a court challenge to block a rare earths plant being built by Australian miner Lynas, which has stoked fears over radiation pollution.
Computing professor sparks gamers' creativity at world renowned conference
Gamers don't just play Nicholas Graham's new video game, Liberi Live – they design it. While one player is rolling and bouncing a ball over obstacles and collecting coins another player can control the course design. The two interact together and with a touch of a button, obstacles or ramps can be added to completely change the game.
Twitter unveils self-service advertising system
(AP) -- Buying ads on Twitter is about to get easier for small businesses as the online messaging service adds a key piece to its moneymaking model.
Yelp looking for $12 to $14 per share in IPO
(AP) -- Online review service Yelp rated its own business Thursday, setting an IPO target of $12 to $14 per share that could value the 7-year-old company as high as $840 million.
Facebook dabbles with validating user identity
Facebook on Thursday began testing a way for celebrities, journalists, athletes and others with massive followings to have their identities validated at the globally popular online social network.
Lawmakers concerned by US social media monitoring
US lawmakers expressed concern on Thursday over the monitoring of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter by the Department of Homeland Security.
No more virtual pickpocketing of credit cards, thanks to new tap and pay technology
(PhysOrg.com) -- With technology has come ease. These days, thanks to near-field communications (NFC) and radio frequency identification (RFID), consumers no longer have to swipe credit cards through an interrogative machine—they are able to simply wave their credit cards to make purchases or withdraw money from their bank accounts.
China faces conflict of law, business in iPad row
(AP) -- Chinese officials face a choice in Apple's dispute with a local company over the iPad trademark - side with a struggling entity that a court says owns the name or with a global brand that has created thousands of jobs in China. Experts say that means Beijing's political priorities rather than the courts will settle the dispute if it escalates.
More US govt websites hacked by Anonymous
(AP) -- Cyber rebels from Anonymous announced Friday the group has carried out a new series of attacks against U.S. government websites to protest a global copyright treaty.
Twitter stores user iPhone address books for 18 months after scan
Twitter Inc. said that to help users find friends also using the service, it retrieves entire address book from users' smartphones, including names, email addresses and phone numbers, and keeps the data on its servers for 18 months.
Dating sites become mainstream and focus on more niche markets
Online dating has brought romance to millions of men and women. And now, a new website for Jewish singles, Jewcier.com, operated by Miami Beach-based Avalanche, is geared to help even more people find love through the Internet.
Groupon testing out VIP program
Groupon Inc. is testing a new program called Groupon VIP, the Chicago-based daily deals company's first foray into a paid product for subscribers.
Who goes there? Verifying identity online
We are all used to logging into networks where we have a unique identity, verified by the network server and associated with our account for other members of the network to see. Such an identity-based network system is useful because it is relatively simple. However, there are three major drawbacks including loss of anonymity of communicating users, misplaced trust and identity theft.
US sites hacked as objections grow to piracy deal
(AP) -- Opponents of a controversial global copyright treaty counted three victories Friday as American government websites were hacked and the Eastern European nations of Poland and Slovenia distanced themselves from the deal.
Chinese firm in iPad row threatens to sue Apple in US
A debt-laden Chinese computer firm embroiled in a copyright row with Apple over the iPad name on Friday threatened to sue the technology giant in the United States for $2 billion.
Google bypassed Apple privacy settings: report
Google and other online advertisers bypassed the privacy settings of an Apple web browser on iPhones and computers in order to survey millions of users, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
Intelligent software assigns appropriate background music for pictures
Previously, setting a picture or whole series of pictures to suitable music required expert knowledge and a great deal of time. Newly developed software called Picasso succeeds in arranging pictures with appropriate compositions in an instant, by utilizing the technical skills of movie directors. Scientists at the Cluster of Excellence on "Multimodal Computing and Interaction" at Saarland University developed the software, and they will present the program with its associated smart phone app "PicasSound" at the Cebit computer expo. Cebit will take place from the 6th through the 10th of March at the fairground in Hanover, Germany.
Researchers find energy storage 'solutions' in MetILs
(PhysOrg.com) -- Sandia researchers have developed a new family of liquid salt electrolytes, known as MetILs, that could lead to batteries able to cost-effectively store three times more energy than today’s batteries.
Countries agree on new mobile spectrum at radio conference
The International Telecommunication Union said Friday its World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-12) has agreed a treaty aimed at revising the radio frequency spectrum to speed up mobile services.
Georgia Tech develops braille-like texting app (w/ video)
Imagine if smartphone and tablet users could text a note under the table during a meeting without anyone being the wiser. Mobile gadget users might also be enabled to text while walking, watching TV or socializing without taking their eyes off what they're doing.
Medicine & Health news
Fever control using external cooling reduces early mortality in septic shock patients
Fever control using external cooling in sedated patients with septic shock is safe and decreases vasopressor requirements and early mortality, according to a new study from researchers in France.
NDSU assistant professor publishes paper on pancreatic tumor regulator
Erxi Wu, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences, co-wrote the review article, “The paracrine Sonic Hedgehog signaling derived from tumor epithelial cells: A key regulator in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment,” which has been accepted by Critical Reviews in Eukaryotic Gene Expression.
Choline-poor diet in older women linked to worse damage from fatty liver disease
(Medical Xpress) -- Menopausal women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who don’t consume enough of the essential nutrient choline appear to be at higher risk for liver scarring, according to research led by scientists at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.
Facing the facts of autism
Recognising a person’s face can be challenging at the best of times, yet the task becomes all the more onerous for those with autism.
New analysis shows most Australians at increased risk of bowel cancer are under-screened
(Medical Xpress) -- People who are at an increased risk of developing bowel cancer, because they have a family history of the disease, are failing to have adequate screening, a University of Melbourne study has found.
Pregnant asthmatic women warned of health risks
(Medical Xpress) -- Many pregnant women who suffer from asthma are putting their unborn child's health at risk by failing to use the right medication, according to a University of Adelaide researcher.
Vanderbilt doctors say repeal of Tennessee's motorcycle helmet law is a bad idea
Tennessee’s Legislature is again considering a repeal of the state’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law. The bill, which is scheduled to be heard by the House Transportation General Subcommittee early next week, would allow individuals over 21 to ride motorcycles without a helmet.
UCSD uses heat energy to fix odd heart beat
(Medical Xpress) -- UC San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center is now offering patients with atrial fibrillation the breakthrough benefits of heat energy, or radio frequency waves, to irreversibly alter heart tissue that triggers an abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia. The THERMOCOOL SF Catheter is an FDA-approved outpatient procedure for an early-stage form of the condition called paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, when recurring symptoms are unresponsive to medicine. Patients typically experience rapid heartbeats that can lead to debilitating fatigue, dizziness, fainting or shortness of breath if left untreated.
Research aids nasal drug delivery
RMIT University researchers have developed computer models to design more effective nasal sprays to provide alternate drug delivery to needles or pills.
Griffith's 3-D microscopy a research breakthrough
The understanding of diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's is set to take a step forward following groundbreaking technology at which will enable cell analysis using automated 3D microscopy.
Mapping proteins key to human health and immune system
Proteins, the building block for all living organisms, are the ultimate transformers – able to splice and switch roles and functions within the human body. But when these changes go wrong, diseases such as cancers and arthritis may result, says University of British Columbia researcher Chris Overall.
Gaming to improve eyesight and 'hearing' colors
How we perceive the world tells us a lot about how the brain processes sensory information.
Countdown to the introduction of a norovirus vaccine
Noroviruses are believed to make up half of all food-borne disease outbreaks in the United States, causing incapacitating (and often violent) stomach flu. These notorious human pathogens are responsible for 90 percent of epidemic nonbacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis around the world.
Pregnancy-related complications predict CVD in middle age
If you develop pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders or diabetes, you may have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life, according to research in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Bird flu still a menace in Asia and beyond
(AP) -- Thought bird flu was gone? Recent human deaths in Asia and Egypt are a reminder that the H5N1 virus is still alive and dangerous, and Vietnam is grappling with a new strain that has outsmarted vaccines used to protect poultry flocks.
International ranking for infant mortality flawed: study
Canada's ranking in international child health indexes would dramatically improve if measurements were standardized, according to a new study by researchers from the University of British Columbia, Dalhousie University, McGill University, the University of Calgary, and the Public Health Agency of Canada, working with the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Public interest in pandemic flu vaccine faded over time
(Medical Xpress) -- When a new strain of influenza began to sicken even healthy younger adults three years ago, public interest in getting the newly developed H1N1 vaccine started strong but declined over time even as more people were getting sick, a new study shows.
Genetic 'Rosetta Stone' unveiled in Nature
Scientists have developed a new community resource that may act as a Rosetta Stone for revealing the genetic basis of traits and disease.
New study looks at medication use of kids with ASD, ADHD
(Medical Xpress) -- Many children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can benefit from medication for related disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Think fast! Take risks! New study finds a link between fast thinking and risk taking
(Medical Xpress) -- New experiments show that the experience of thinking fast makes people more likely to take risks. This discovery suggests that some of the innovations of the modern world—fast-paced movies, social media sites with a constant flow of fresh updates—are pushing people toward riskier behavior. An article describing two experiments showing this effect will appear in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Even small increases in copays affect children's healthcare use
(Medical Xpress) -- Increases in copayments of only a few dollars for ALL Kids, Alabama's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), led to declines in the use of several healthcare services for the children they affected, reveals a study in Health Services Research. Use of services within ALL Kids with no increase in copayments did not decline, nor was a decline in services observed for children whose copayments did not rise.
Sequencing cancer mutations - there's an app for that
Using precise information about an individual’s genetic makeup is becoming increasingly routine for developing tailored treatments for breast, lung, colon and other cancers. But techniques used to identify meaningful gene mutations depend on analyzing sequences of both normal and mutant DNA in tumor samples, a process that can yield ambiguous results. Now, a team of Johns Hopkins researchers says it has developed an easy-to-use online computer software application that can clear up any confusion faster and cheaper than other methods currently used to do the job.
Quitting smoking results in minimal weight gain
The declining rate of smoking is unlikely to be a major contributor to the recent increases in the incidence of obesity. While quitting smoking might cause some people to gain weight, the amount gained will probably be small, reports a new study in Health Services Research.
Use multiple measurements to track weight loss
Six weeks into 2012, those who made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or get into better shape have either started to see some progress, or for others, fallen off track.
Finding a tumor suppressor's groove
The tumor suppressor protein called adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is a central genetic risk factor for colorectal cancer. In fact, mutations that potentially alter the structure or function of this protein are found in an estimated 85% of human colorectal tumors, which are currently the third highest-ranked cause of cancer-related death worldwide.
Few depressed college students receive adequate care
Less than one in four college students with symptoms of serious depression receives adequate treatment. Current health care services on campus might not be sufficient for delivering good quality mental health care, according to a new study in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.
Vitamin C may enhance radiation therapy for aggressive brain tumors
Recent research by the University of Otago, Wellington has shown that giving brain cancer cells high dose vitamin C makes them much more susceptible to radiation therapy.
To stop epidemics, acting locally more important than globally
It's flu season. You know this because you hear it on television and read about it in newspapers, so you get flu shots and generally avoid crowds.
Chess masters help researchers understand how we see the world
(Medical Xpress) -- Just as expert chess players scrutinize a board to calculate their next moves, UT Dallas cognitive neuroscientists are studying the way these players’ brains work to better understand how visual information is processed.
War and peace require different leaders
"I'm a war president." George W. Bush said it more than once. But is there an actual distinction between war and peace leaders?
Brain study hopes to help boxers deal with safety issues
Some days are better than others for Leon Spinks. At 58, he has dementia, difficulty maintaining balance and short-term memory impairment, says wife Brenda.
J&J consumer health segment recalls infant Tylenol
Johnson & Johnson is recalling all infant Tylenol on the U.S. market because some parents have had problems with newly designed bottles - just introduced three months ago - that the company had touted as a big improvement to make measuring the correct dose easier.
Psychiatry debates whether the pain of loss is really depression
The pain of losing a loved one can be a searing, gut-wrenching hurt and a long-lasting blow to a person's mood, concentration and ability to function. But is grief the same as depression?
Study: Kids have been sleep-deprived for more than 100 years
Worried that your children aren't getting enough sleep? You're not alone. As one prominent educational psychologist put it, "Physicians and writers on school hygiene agree that children are likely to receive less sleep than is needful to them."
No single diet will work for all diabetics
Paula Deen, the queen of Southern cuisine, created a hoopla last month when she revealed that she has Type 2 diabetes and has known about it for three years.
Dash to help - new app to improve stroke treatment
The Newcastle team who helped develop the FAST system to identify a stroke are now piloting an app to ensure the best treatment for stroke patients.
The balancing act between protection and inflammation in MS
Scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism that could help explain how multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases can be exacerbated by the onset of an infection.
Vitamin B and omega-3 supplementation and cancer: new data
Researchers from the Nutritional Epidemiology Joint Research Unit have just published a study showing that, in men with a previous history of cardiovascular pathologies, supplementation with B vitamins and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids did not significantly increase the occurrence of cancer.
When your left hand mimics what your right hand does: It's in the genes
Further work carried out on mice suggests that this gene plays a part in motor network cross-over. Cross-over is a key factor in the transmission of brain signals, because it allows the right side of the brain to control the left side of the body and vice versa. This research has been published in The American Journal of Human Genetics.
Maternal depression and bilingual households can impact infant language development
While babies are born ready to learn any of the world's languages, the crucial developmental period when they attune to their native languages can change due to environmental influences such as maternal depression or a bilingual upbringing, according to new University of British Columbia research.
Flu season off to latest start in decades
(AP) -- Health officials say the flu season is finally here - the slowest start in nearly 25 years.
Cranky today? Even mild dehydration can alter our moods
Most people only think about drinking water when they are thirsty; but by then it may already be too late.
Brain-imaging differences evident at 6 months in infants who develop autism
A new study led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found significant differences in brain development starting at age 6 months in high-risk infants who later develop autism, compared to high-risk infants who did not develop autism.
How mitochondrial DNA defects cause inherited deafness
(Medical Xpress) -- Yale scientists have discovered the molecular pathway by which maternally inherited deafness appears to occur: Mitochondrial DNA mutations trigger a signaling cascade, resulting in programmed cell death. The study is in the Feb. 17 issue of Cell.
A single protein helps the body keep watch over the Epstein-Barr virus
Some 90 percent of people are exposed to the Epstein Barr virus (EBV) at some point in their life. Even though it is quickly cleared from the body, the virus can linger silently for years in small numbers of infected B cells. According to researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and the Immune Disease Institute (IDI), the immune system subdues the virus by watching for a single viral protein called LMP1, knowledge that has already helped suggest two new treatments for the EBV-fueled cancers seen in some immunosuppressed patients.
Live from the thymus: T-cells on the move
T-cells are the immune system's security force. They seek out pathogens and rogue cells in the body and put them out of action. Their precursors are formed in the bone marrow and migrate from there into the thymus. Here, they mature and differentiate to perform a variety of tasks. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg have now succeeded for the first time in observing the maturation of immune cells in live zebrafish embryos. During their development, the immune cells migrate into and out of the thymus more than once. The zebrafish is thus an ideal animal model for studying the dynamic processes of immune cell development.
Klebsiella pneumoniae 'superbug' is being studied
University at Buffalo researchers are expressing concern about a new, under-recognized, much more potent variant of a common bacterium that has surfaced in the U.S.
Biology news
Under the microscope #9 - skate head
Under the Microscope is a collection of videos that show glimpses of the natural and man-made world in stunning close-up. They are released every Monday and Thursday and you can see them here: http://bit.ly/A6bwCE
How the 'Quarter' Horse won the rodeo
American Quarter Horses are renowned for their speed, agility, and calm disposition. Consequently over four million Quarter horses are used as working horses on ranches, as show horses or at rodeos. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Genomics used 'next-generation' sequencing to map variation in the genome of a Quarter Horse mare. Analysis of genetic variants associated with specific traits showed that compared to a Thoroughbred the Quarter Horse's genome was enriched for variants in genes involved in sensory perception, signal transduction and the immune system.
A new, beautifully colored lizard discovered in the Peruvian Andes
Germán Chávez and Diego Vásquez from the Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI) in Peru have discovered a new colorful lizard which they named Potamites montanicola, or "mountain dweller". The new species was found in Cordillera de Vilcabamba and Apurimac river valley, the Cusco Region of Peru at altitude ranging from 1,600 to 2,100 meters. Their study was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
Plants may have a single ancestor
(PhysOrg.com) -- An international group of scientists has analyzed the DNA of primitive microscopic algae, and their findings suggest that all plants on Earth may have had a single ancestor.
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