ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Evolution caught in the act: Scientists measure how quickly genomes change
• Mutant gene lessens devastation of flesh-eating bacteria
• Carbon nanotubes show promise for high-speed genetic sequencing
• Alzheimer's: How amyloid beta reduces plasticity related to synaptic signaling
• Two proteins act as molecular tailors in DNA repair
• Changing Behavior Helps Patients Take Medication As Prescribed
• 'Lifeless' prions capable of evolutionary change and adaptation
• Unusual protein modification involved in muscular dystrophy, cancer
• Whiskers hold secrets of invasive minks
• Physiologic factors linked to image quality of multidetector computed tomography scans
• Indian Ocean climate event recurs quicker with global warming
• Telephone Depression Program Offers Benefits At A Moderate Cost
• Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease: Nervous culprit found
• Scientists identify DNA that regulates antibody production
• Small changes in protein chemistry play large role in Huntington's disease
• Molecular anchor links the two inheritable diseases Fanconi anemia and Bloom's syndrome
• Fungus contaminant in corn, peanuts, soybeans: Chlorophyll effective against aflatoxin
• The Skinny On 'Lean' Education

Evolution caught in the act: Scientists measure how quickly genomes change Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Mutations are the raw material of evolution. Scientists have now been able to measure for the first time directly the speed with which new mutations occur in plants. Their findings shed new light on a fundamental evolutionary process. They explain, for example, why resistance to herbicides can appear within just a few years.

Mutant gene lessens devastation of flesh-eating bacteria Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Scientists recently discovered a simple gene mutation that decreases the chance people will get a flesh-eating disease called necrotizing fasciitis. Further, they proved that inactivating this section of the gene lessens the devastating disease in humans.

Carbon nanotubes show promise for high-speed genetic sequencing Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Scientists have demonstrated the potential of a new DNA sequencing method in which a single-stranded ribbon of DNA is threaded through a carbon nanotube.

Alzheimer's: How amyloid beta reduces plasticity related to synaptic signaling Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST The early stages of Alzheimer's disease are thought to occur at the synapse, since synapse loss is associated with memory dysfunction. Evidence suggests that amyloid beta plays an important role in early synaptic failure, but little has been understood about amyloid beta's effect on the plasticity of dendritic spines.

Two proteins act as molecular tailors in DNA repair Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Every day tiny segments of our DNA are chipped or fragmented or get stuck together when they should really be pulled apart. But what our genome necessarily lacks in stability it makes up for with a phalanx of guards that monitor and repair the damage.

Changing Behavior Helps Patients Take Medication As Prescribed Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Researchers found that applying behavior changing strategies, such as using pill boxes or reducing the number of daily doses, can improve patients' abilities to take their medications as required.

'Lifeless' prions capable of evolutionary change and adaptation Posted: 03 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Scientists have determined for the first time that prions, bits of infectious protein devoid of DNA or RNA that can cause fatal neurodegenerative disease, are capable of Darwinian evolution.

Unusual protein modification involved in muscular dystrophy, cancer Posted: 03 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST With the discovery of a new type of chemical modification on an important muscle protein, a new study improves understanding of certain muscular dystrophies and could potentially lead to new treatments for the conditions.

Whiskers hold secrets of invasive minks Posted: 03 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Details of the lifestyle of mink, which escaped from fur farms and now live wild in the UK, have been revealed through analysis of their whiskers. New research reveals more about the diet of this invasive species and provides a clue to its whereabouts. There are now plans to use the findings to eradicate it from environments where it can be devastating to native species.

Physiologic factors linked to image quality of multidetector computed tomography scans Posted: 03 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST The image quality of multidetector computed tomography scans, used for the noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease, can be significantly affected by patient characteristics such as ethnicity, body mass index and heart rate, according to a new study.

Indian Ocean climate event recurs quicker with global warming Posted: 03 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), an oscillation of sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean, has become a major influence on the weather variations in the Indian Ocean region. During positive IOD events, abnormally warm sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean are accompanied by severe droughts over the Indonesian region and heavy rainfall over east Africa.

Telephone Depression Program Offers Benefits At A Moderate Cost Posted: 03 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Patients who participate in a structured telephone program to manage their depression appear to experience significant benefits and only a moderate increase in health care costs when compared with those who receive usual care, according to a new report.

Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease: Nervous culprit found Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Cells that protect nerves are the likely origin of the devil facial tumor disease that has been devastating Australia's Tasmanian devil population, an international team of scientists has discovered.

Scientists identify DNA that regulates antibody production Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Performance enhancers are the currency of a competitive society. But there's one that we have always had: For millions of years, segments of our DNA have improved the performance of our genome, revving up protein production at those times we need it most. New research now show that these genome enhancers regulate how our bodies make germ-fighting antibodies, molecules that keep savvy viruses and bacteria at bay.

Small changes in protein chemistry play large role in Huntington's disease Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Investigators studying the toxic protein at the root of Huntington's disease have found that small biochemical changes to the protein have a large effect on its toxicity. These changes could be exploited or mimicked to develop a drug treatment for Huntington's.

Molecular anchor links the two inheritable diseases Fanconi anemia and Bloom's syndrome Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST A new study establishes a molecular link that bridges two rare inherited disorders and explains why these diseases result in genetic instability. The research may lead to a better understanding of the complex mechanisms that enable cells to repair damaged DNA.

Fungus contaminant in corn, peanuts, soybeans: Chlorophyll effective against aflatoxin Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST A new study has found that chlorophyll and its derivative chlorophyllin are effective in limiting the absorption of aflatoxin in humans. Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus that is a contaminant of grains including corn, peanuts and soybeans; it is known to cause liver cancer -- and can work in concert with other health concerns, such as hepatitis.

The Skinny On 'Lean' Education Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Educators should learn from the "Just-In-Time" and "Lean" production techniques used by the automotive industry if they are to add value to the student experience as quickly and effectively as possible.

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