RefBan

Referral Banners

Monday, April 9, 2012

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News


Evolution at sea: Long-term experiments indicate phytoplankton can adapt to ocean acidification

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 06:23 PM PDT

Fossil fuel derived carbon dioxide has a serious impact on global climate but also a disturbing effect on the oceans, know as the other CO2 problem. When CO2 dissolves in seawater it forms carbonic acid and results in a drop in pH, the oceans acidify. A wealth of short-term experiments has shown that calcifying organisms, such as corals, clams and snails, but also micron size phytoplankton are affected by ocean acidification. The potential for organisms to cope with acidified oceanic conditions via evolutionary adaptations has so far been unresolved. Scientists have now for the first demonstrated the potential of the unicellular algae Emiliania huxleyi to adapt to changing pH conditions and thereby at least partly to mitigate negative effects of ocean acidification.

Sugar production switch in liver may offer target for new diabetes therapies

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 12:06 PM PDT

A newly discovered molecular switch controls liver glucose production and may represent a new avenue for treating insulin-resistant type II diabetes.

New 'genetic bar code' technique establishes ability to derive DNA information from RNA

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 12:06 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a method to derive enough DNA information from non-DNA sources—such as RNA—to clearly identify individuals whose biological data are stored in massive research repositories. The approach may raise questions regarding the ability to protect individual identity when high-dimensional data are collected for research purposes.

Genes identified in common childhood obesity

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 12:06 PM PDT

Genetics researchers have identified at least two new gene variants that increase the risk of common childhood obesity. The meta-analysis is the largest-ever genome-wide study of the common condition.

Emergence of artemisinin resistance on Thai-Myanmar border raises spectre of untreatable malaria

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 12:05 PM PDT

The most deadly species of malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is becoming resistant to the front line treatment for malaria on the border of Thailand and Myanmar, according to new evidence. This increases concern that resistance could now spread to India and then Africa. Eliminating malaria might then prove impossible.

No comments: