Category Archives: Biology

Strong evidence now shows that human and animal parenting share many nervous system mechanisms. This is the conclusion of Yerkes National Primate Research Center researchers Larry Young, PhD, and James Rilling, PhD, in their review article about the biology of mammalian parenting, published in this week's issue of Science. Better understanding this biology could lead to improved social development, benefitting generations of humans and animals to come. In their article, Young and Rilling review the biological mechanisms governing a shift in mammals' parental motivation that begins with aversion and transforms into irresistible attraction after giving birth. They say the same molecules that prepare the uterus for pregnancy, stimulate milk production and initiate labor also activate specific neural pathways to motivate parents to nurture, bond with and protect their offspring. According to Young, "We have learned a tremendous amount about the specific hormonal and brain mechanisms regulating parental behavior and how parental nurturing influences the development of the offspring brain by using animal models, and many of these same mechanisms influence human parenting behavior as well." Young is division chief of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders at the Yerkes Research Center, director of the Center for Translational Social Neuroscience at Emory, … Continue reading →

Friends of the Earth, Center for Food Safety and the ETC Group (orAction Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration) have launched a campaign to frighten consumers and consumer product companies about synthetic biology. The groups are following a well-worn campaign formula, threatening individual consumer product companies with boycotts to force them to abandon biotechnology. The groups campaign has resulted in some inconsistent advice for consumers.Friends of the Earth recently advocated the use of palm oilin consumer products, which other environmental allies such as theEnvironmental Working Grouphave classified as a hazardous product. FOE also apparently advocates the use of chemically synthesized vanillin and saffron flavorings, which it calls natures own compounds. Otherfood advocates have cautioned consumers against their use. Further, the campaign has enlisted an ally, theInstitute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, to parrot their misinformation. The Institute mistakenly equates synthetic biology with new methods of agricultural biotechnology and claims that synthetic biology is unregulated. The truth of the matter is that theU.S. governments oversight of any products produced with synthetic biologyfalls under the Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology. The same is true in Europe. Thats because synthetic biology is part of the ongoing growth and development of genetic engineering, … Continue reading →

By Kara Guzman kguzman@santacruzsentinel.com @karambutan on Twitter SANTA CRUZ >> Construction will begin in November on a $54 million UC Santa Cruz coastal biology building on the marine science campus. Expected to be complete by fall 2016, the 40,000-square-foot building the new home for UCSC's ecology and evolutionary biology department includes a marine life teaching lab, greenhouses and a 125-seat classroom. The state-funded project also includes a $19 million upgrade to roads, parking, pathways and underground utilities on the marine science campus, located near Natural Bridges State Beach. The project is the first on UCSC's Coastal Long Range Development Plan, approved by the California Coastal Commission in 2009 after an eight-year process. Next up is the $6.8 million expansion of UCSC's marine mammal pools, likely to start in 2015, said Gary Griggs, director of UCSC's Institute of Marine Sciences. Funds are still being raised for the last major project, a new wing for the Center for Ocean Health, he said. According to the plan available at lrdp.ucsc.edu 72 of the marine science campus's 98 acres are set aside for environmental preservation as part of the Younger Lagoon Reserve. The new building will overlook this lagoon, beach, marsh and coastal bluff … Continue reading →

(PRWEB) August 13, 2014 The Molecular Biology Enzymes, Kits, & Reagents Market by Application (Cloning, Epigenetics, PCR, Restriction Digestion, Sequencing), Product (Ligase, Phosphatase, Polymerase, Protease, Restriction Endonuclease, Reverse Transcriptase) - Global Forecast to 2018 report provides a detailed overview of the major drivers, restraints, challenges, opportunities, current market trends, and strategies impacting the global molecular biology enzymes, kits & reagents market along with the estimates and forecasts of the revenue and market share analysis. Browse 133 market data tables, 52 figures spread through 265 pages and in-depth TOC on Molecular Biology Enzymes, Kits, & Reagents Market by Application (Cloning, Epigenetics, PCR, Restriction Digestion, Sequencing), Product (Ligase, Phosphatase, Polymerase, Protease, Restriction Endonuclease, Reverse Transcriptase) - Global Forecast to 2018 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/molecular-biology-enzymes-kits-reagents-market-164131709.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The global molecular biology enzymes, kits & reagents market was valued at $2,847.63 million in 2013. This market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.74% to reach $5,420.63 million in 2018. For More Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=164131709 The molecular biology enzymes, kits & reagents market is segmented on the basis of applications, end users and products. By application, the market is divided into cloning, epigenetics, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), restriction digestion, … Continue reading →

Researching Life in the Digital Age: A Philosophical Analysis of Data-Intensive Biology In this talk, Dr Sabina Leonelli provides a philosophical framework through which the current emphasis on data-intensive biology can be studied and understood. By: OIIOxford … Continue reading →

All life on Earth came from one common ancestor -- a single-celled organism -- but what it looked like, how it lived and how it evolved into today's modern cells is a four billion year old mystery being solved by researchers at UCL using mathematical modelling. Findings published in PLOS Biology suggest for the first time that life's Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) had a 'leaky' membrane, which helps scientists answer two of biology's biggest questions: 1. Why all cells use the same bizarre, complex mechanism to harvest energy 2. Why two types of single-celled organism that form the deepest branch on the tree of life -- bacteria and archaea -- have completely different cell membranes The leakiness of the membrane allowed LUCA to be powered by energy in its surroundings, most likely vents deep on the ocean floor, whilst holding in all the other components necessary for life. The team modelled how the membrane changed, enabling LUCA's descendants to move to new, more challenging environments and evolve into two distinct types of single-celled organism, bacteria and archaea, creating the deepest branch of the tree of life. Bacteria and archaea share many common features such as genes, proteins and mechanisms … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise LA JOLLA, CA AND JUPITER, FL August 11, 2014 The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) Board of Trustees today announced that James Paulson, chair of TSRIs Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, has been appointed acting president and CEO as Michael Marlettas presidency comes to a close. I would like to thank Michael for his service to the institute and commitment to its scientific excellence, and to Jim for his willingness to step into a leadership position during this transitional period, said Chair of the TSRI Board of Trustees Richard A. Gephardt. The Board will be working closely with the TSRI community to conduct a nationwide search for a new president for this renowned institution. It is an honor to be asked to serve the institute during this transition, said Paulson. I look forward to working with the Board, the faculty and management team to identify permanent leadership and begin to evaluate strategic options to secure a sustainable future for TSRI as one of the worlds preeminent private institutes for biomedical research and graduate education. Paulson and the TSRI Board of Trustees will appoint members of a search committee and work with an … Continue reading →

Beliefs Become Biology, Rev Patrick Abent, Aug 2014 Inspiring message of how one can change their world. Rev Patrick Abent. Inner Quest Church, Alpharetta, Ga http://www.innerquestchurch.org. By: InnerQuestChurch … Continue reading →

In The Greenhouse ~ Biology Bucket List Hello and welcome to a quiet little Q A behind-the-scenes series with Seri! Here you can ask questions about the person behind the channel, your favorite series, or even about animals and the... By: Seri! Let's Play! … Continue reading →

CeVIO Biology Meets Technology By: NyangleStudio … Continue reading →