Category Archives: Biology

Fungal Dynamics: video articles for Fungal Genetics and Biology Fungal Genetics and Biology Video Editor Gero Steinberg introduces'Fungal Dynamics' the journals' video article section. This new section recognizes the imp... By: Elsevier … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 1-Aug-2014 Contact: Joe Caspermeyer MBEpress@gmail.com 480-258-8972 Molecular Biology and Evolution (Oxford University Press) A little over a decade ago, prestin was found to be a key gene responsible for hearing in mammals. Prestin makes a protein found in the hair cells of the inner ear that contracts and expands rapidly to transmit signals that help the cochlea, like an antique phonograph horn, amplify sound waves to make hearing more sensitivity. Now, in a new study published in the advanced online edition of Molecular Biology and Evolution, Peng Shi, et al., have shown that prestin has also independently evolved to play a critical role in the ultrasonic hearing range of animal sonar, or echolocation, to help dolphins navigate through murky waters or bats find food in the dark. Although both toothed whales and echolocating bats can emit high frequency echolocation calls, which show a substantial diversity in terms of their shape, duration, and amplitude, they receive and analyze the echoes returned from objects by their high-frequency hearing. The research team finely dissected the function of the prestin protein from 2 sonar guided bats and the bottlenose dolphin compared with non-sonar mammals. Evolutionary analyses of the prestin protein sequences … Continue reading →

Human Biology Tutorial 1 By: Salt River … Continue reading →

POST IT | Biology Breakdance Short Film As a student, It's not often when passions and academics unite but when they do it's an unforgettable moment. Concept inspired by my invertebrate biology class at the University of Washington.... By: Justin Law | MOB Media … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 31-Jul-2014 Contact: Cody Mooneyhan cmooneyhan@faseb.org 301-634-7104 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Going to the dentist isn't fun for anyone, but for those with periodontal disease related to type 2 diabetes, a new research discovery may have them smiling. In a report appearing in the August 2014 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, one of the most important blood cells involved in the human immune response, B cells, are shown to promote inflammation and bone loss in type 2 diabetes-associated periodontal disease. These findings support the idea that treatments that manipulate the responses of B cells may treat or prevent this complication. "Our study identified common inflammatory mechanisms shared by type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease. It paves the way for the development of novel therapeutics which aim to simultaneously treat both type 2 diabetes and its complications," said Min Zhu, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the department of microbiology at Boston University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. To make this discovery, scientists used an experimental model (mouse model) of periodontal disease and applied it to two groups. The first group had a genetic alteration that knocked out all B cells. … Continue reading →

COLUMBIA - How evolution is taught in South Carolina was debated once again on Tuesday, despite the Department of Education's June announcement that it was moving forward with the state's 2005 biology standards. A six-member panel voted Tuesday unanimously on a change to the state's biology standards touted as a compromise that would encourage a discussion among students with the topic of evolution. The recommendation now goes to the Education Oversight Committee and the Board of Education for approval, which is required by both bodies for the change to take effect. The vote came after the board rejected a proposal last month to have students "learn the controversy." That proposed language required biology students construct scientific arguments that seem to support and seem to discredit Darwinism. Because neither party could agree, the state kept the language based on its 2005 standards. Still, a panel was convened to further address the issue, and Tuesday's compromise requires students to understand that the theory of evolution may change as new scientific information is obtained - like any other scientific theory. "This, albeit small, is a step towards more than encouragement in giving the teachers additional flexibility and they know what to do with … Continue reading →

Stream Ecology and Biology - Nostoc cyanobacteria colony I videoed this colony in an isolated deep water pool fed by a cold water spring flowing beneath the rocks along a partially dry stream bed. I was told the orb seen is actually an air bubble... By: Dustie Meads … Continue reading →

UCL Human Biology PhD This video was made to promote a PhD Course in Human Biology and Evolution at UCL (University College London). By: Rodolph Schlaepfer … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Reinventing biology labs by turning smartphones into microscopes Newswise ROLLA, Mo. With nothing more than a smartphone and less than $10 of trinkets and hardware supplies, students at Missouri University of Science and Technology can build their own microscopes this fall as part of a biology lab. This do-it-yourself microscope is part of Missouri S&Ts effort to re-imagine how lab courses can be taught in five science and engineering disciplines on the campus. Organizers of the project hope to use the findings from their experiment to create a how-to manual for other colleges and universities. The Transforming Instructional Labs project, which is funded through a grant from the University of Missouri System, also involves an evaluation of other universities that are experimenting with their instructional labs. Were working with different lab courses on campus that use blended or online learning and plan to come up with an instructional model that could be reproduced anywhere, says Angela Hammons, manager of instructional technology services at Missouri S&T. This fall, students enrolled in two biological sciences courses taught by Terry Wilson, an associate teaching professor in that department, will be a part of this experiment. In … Continue reading →

Biology Chapter 9 Endangered Ecosystem # Water Pollution # By: USA K Xian … Continue reading →