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There is some evidence to suggest that peptide segments that are found rarely or never in the host proteome play a role in the immune response to disease-related proteins, both those derived from microbes and those derived from the host itself. We conjecture that this pattern may extend to human proto-oncoproteins.

Paleogenomics Of Pterosaurs And The Evolution Of Small Genome Size In Flying Vertebrates The two living groups of flying vertebrates, birds and bats, have constricted genome sizes compared with their close relatives.

Burrowing bivalves of the North Atlantic intertidal, Macoma balthica, predict their own future. Assessments of their depth of living at over 2000 mudflat stations visited repeatedly over 11 successive years, demonstrated that in years after Macoma burrowed deeply in late summer, their population had grown.

Marine ecosystems support complex behaviours and interactions between organisms, many of which are driven by their physical environment. Arctic scientists generally assume that biological processes often stop during winter to cope with low food availability.

The genetic status of wolves in the western Great Lakes region (WGLR) has received increased attention following their removal from the U.S. Endangered Species List. We examined the genetic composition of three historic wolves from the WGLR and showed that they were genetically similar to the present animals in the region, which are derived from eastern wolf (Canis lycaon) and gray wolf (C.

Understanding the human brain in health and disease is an important endeavour in biomedical research. Much of the research, however, happens in other animals. The extrapolation of results found in other animals to humans is crucially dependent on a correct understanding of brain evolution.

Scientists in Israel are reporting the first successful spinning of a key natural protein into strong nano-sized fibers about 1/50,000th the width of a human hair. The advance could lead to a new generation of stronger, longer-lasting biocompatible sutures and bandages to treat wounds. The study is scheduled for the November 10 issue of ACS’ Biomacromolecules, a monthly journal.

Seabirds are sensitive bellwethers of global environmental change, yet census data are rare. Here, we demonstrate that seabird population dynamics can be reconstructed over long-term timescales. Using dated pond sediments, we show that a colony of Arctic seabirds has experienced climate-induced increases in population in recent decades.

The leafflowers (Phyllanthus; Phyllantheae) and their allies include an estimated 500 species that are pollinated by the females of species-specific seed-parasitic Epicephala moths, which, upon oviposition, actively collect and transport pollen to ensure food for their larvae.

Infrared radiation from hot cones on cool conifers attracts seed-feeding insects. Insects with a taste for plants commonly respond to specific colours or odours associated with them. Cone-feeding western conifer seed bugs, however, have come up with a most unusual and intriguing way to locate their food. They respond to infrared radiation (IR) that is emitted from conifer cones.