ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Potential molecular target to prevent growth of cancer cells identified
• Are genes our destiny? Scientists discover 'hidden' code in DNA evolves more rapidly than genetic code
• Virus as a potential future cancer medicine?
• Genetics may explain why calcium increases risk for prostate cancer
• MRI research demonstrates ALS attacks multiple parts of the brain
• Molecular evidence of brain changes in depressed females
• T cells making brain chemicals may lead to better treatments for inflammation, autoimmune diseases
• A wild and woolly discovery: Tibetan expedition ends with prehistoric find
• Previously unknown ocean bacteria lead scientists to entirely new theories
• Moms who eat high-fat diet before, during pregnancy 'program' babies to be fat, at risk
• Quantum behavior with a flash
• New threat closes in on iconic Galápagos wildlife
• Restoring reefs: Study underway in underwater lab may help manage seaweed-eating fish that protect coral reefs
• Lack of protein FKBP51 in old mice improves resilience to depressive behavior
• Newest cancer therapies multi-task to eliminate tumors
• Temperature controls the genetic message
• Number of children poisoned by medication rising dramatically, study says
• Antibacterial effect of phenolic compounds from peat moss and the polysaccharide chitosan
• International innovation needed for efficient nitrogen management
• Gamma-ray bursts shed light on the nature of dark energy
• Producer responsibility solution to electronic waste in developing countries

Potential molecular target to prevent growth of cancer cells identified Posted: 16 Sep 2011 12:24 PM PDT Researchers have shown for the first time that the protein fortilin promotes growth of cancer cells by binding to and rendering inert protein p53, a known tumor suppressor.

Are genes our destiny? Scientists discover 'hidden' code in DNA evolves more rapidly than genetic code Posted: 16 Sep 2011 12:24 PM PDT A 'hidden' code linked to the DNA of plants allows them to develop and pass down new biological traits far more rapidly than previously thought, according to new findings.

Virus as a potential future cancer medicine? Posted: 16 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT Researchers document that the vesicular stomatitis virus plays a previously unknown dual role in the prevention of a number of cancers.

Genetics may explain why calcium increases risk for prostate cancer Posted: 16 Sep 2011 10:12 AM PDT A new study suggests that a high intake of calcium can cause prostate cancer among African-American men who are genetically good absorbers of the mineral.

MRI research demonstrates ALS attacks multiple parts of the brain Posted: 16 Sep 2011 10:12 AM PDT Medical researchers demonstrate that ALS -- known as Lou Gehrig's disease -- damages neurons in parts of the brain responsible for cognition and behavior. The scientists provide evidence that ALS affects more than just the motor cortex, the part of the brain responsible for motor function.

Molecular evidence of brain changes in depressed females Posted: 16 Sep 2011 09:11 AM PDT Researchers have discovered molecular-level changes in the brains of women with major depressive disorder that link two hypotheses of the biological mechanisms that lead to the illness. Their results also allowed them to recreate the changes in a mouse model that could enhance future research on depression.

T cells making brain chemicals may lead to better treatments for inflammation, autoimmune diseases Posted: 16 Sep 2011 09:11 AM PDT Scientists have identified a surprising new role for a new type of T cell in the immune system: some of them can be activated by nerves to make a neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) that blocks inflammation. The discovery of these T cells is novel and suggests that it may be possible to treat inflammation and autoimmune diseases by targeting the nerves and the T cells.

A wild and woolly discovery: Tibetan expedition ends with prehistoric find Posted: 16 Sep 2011 09:11 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered the oldest known species of woolly rhino. They found the complete skull and lower jaw of a previously unknown and long-extinct animal.

Previously unknown ocean bacteria lead scientists to entirely new theories Posted: 16 Sep 2011 08:41 AM PDT Earth's most successful bacteria are found in the oceans and belong to the group SAR11. Researchers have now provide an explanation for their success and at the same time call into question generally accepted theories about these bacteria. In their analysis they have also identified a rare and hitherto unknown relative of mitochondria, the power stations inside cells.

Moms who eat high-fat diet before, during pregnancy 'program' babies to be fat, at risk Posted: 16 Sep 2011 07:24 AM PDT New research in mice indicates that babies born to moms who eat a high-fat diet before and during pregnancy have a higher fat mass and smaller livers than babies whose moms consume low-fat fare, according to scientists.

Quantum behavior with a flash Posted: 16 Sep 2011 07:24 AM PDT Just as a camera flash illuminates unseen objects hidden in darkness, a sequence of laser pulses can be used to study the elusive quantum behavior of a large "macroscopic" object. This method enables experiments that push the boundaries of the quantum world to larger and larger scales.

New threat closes in on iconic Galápagos wildlife Posted: 16 Sep 2011 07:24 AM PDT Renewed vigilance over the biosecurity of the Galápagos Islands is needed, based on new research on the risk posed by West Nile virus.

Restoring reefs: Study underway in underwater lab may help manage seaweed-eating fish that protect coral reefs Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:29 AM PDT A team of researchers is using the Aquarius underwater laboratory off the coast of Florida to study how the diversity of seaweed-eating fish affects endangered coral reefs.

Lack of protein FKBP51 in old mice improves resilience to depressive behavior Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:29 AM PDT Decreasing expression of a protein associated with susceptibility to depression made old mice resistant to depressive-like behavior while improving their hormonal response to stress, a new study reports.

Newest cancer therapies multi-task to eliminate tumors Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:29 AM PDT Some of the newest therapies in the war on cancer remove the brakes cancer puts on the immune system, researchers report.

Temperature controls the genetic message Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:29 AM PDT Alternative splicing, the mechanism enabling a gen to encode different proteins, according to the cell's needs, still holds many secrets. It has transformed the initial theory of one gen, one protein, but how it is controlled remains poorly understood.

Number of children poisoned by medication rising dramatically, study says Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:29 AM PDT The number of young children admitted to hospitals or seen in emergency departments because they unintentionally took a potentially toxic dose of medication has risen dramatically in recent years, according to a new study. The rise in exposure to prescription products has been so striking that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established the PROTECT Initiative, intended to prevent unintended medication overdoses in children.

Antibacterial effect of phenolic compounds from peat moss and the polysaccharide chitosan Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:21 AM PDT The polysaccharide (sugar substance) chitosan has a documented antibacterial effect. New research shows that this antibacterial activity varies according to the chemical composition of the chitosan. The work demonstrates how chitosan can impede the growth of different kinds of bacteria - including bacteria that cause food poisoning - and provides new insight into the way the substance works. However, the study also shows that phenolic compounds from peat moss have little potential as bacteriostatic agents.

International innovation needed for efficient nitrogen management Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:21 AM PDT The use of nitrogen in chemical fertilizers has had enormous benefits: feeding the ever-increasing world population. But there is a downside: the huge burden to the environment, public health and climate say experts. It is essential that we maximize efficiency in our use of nitrogen and pool resources, they say.

Gamma-ray bursts shed light on the nature of dark energy Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:21 AM PDT Dark energy is the basic constituent of the today's Universe, one that is responsible for its accelerated expansion. Although astronomers observe the cosmological effects of the impact of dark energy, they still do not know exactly what it is. A new method for measuring the largest distances in the Universe helps solve the mystery. A key role is played by the most powerful cosmic explosions -- gamma-ray bursts.

Producer responsibility solution to electronic waste in developing countries Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:21 AM PDT How can legislation be used to avoid hazardous waste being dumped where it could poison people and the environment in developing countries? Introducing producer responsibility could be one solution, say researchers.

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