Whale carcass yields bone-devouring worms
MOSS LANDING-Scientists studying a whale carcass in Monterey Canyon recently announced the discovery of two new species of unique worms that feed on the bones of dead whales. In the July 30 issue of Science, the researchers describe these worms, whose bodies and feeding strategies differ from those of any other known animal. The worms have no eyes, legs, mouths, or stomachs, but they do have colo...'Evo-devo' biology tackles evolutionary history's unanswered questions
The recent marriage of evolutionary biology with developmental biology has resulted in the birth of a new field, evolutionary developmental biology, or "evo-devo." Evo-devo scientists study the mechanisms that produce evolutionary changes in body plans over time. As one of the field's creators, Indiana University Bloomington biologist Rudolf Raff brings new understanding to the evolution of human...Virginia Bioinformatics Institute to decode plant devourer genomes
Blacksburg, Va. -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have jointly awarded $2.3 million to Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) researchers at Virginia Tech. Combined with $1.5 million from the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, these funds will enable sequencing of the genomes of two species of Phytophthora, a plant pathogen whose n...Chemical may deter starfish from devouring endangered coral reefs
. Click here for :. . HONOLULU, Dec. 17 - Researchers have discovered a chemical in sea urchins that might be used to lure starfish away from coral reefs, an endangered ecosystem they are devouring at an alarming rate. The finding was presented here today du....The University of Chicago's Biological Sciences Division will sponsor a.symposium bringing together some of the biggest names in evolutionary.developmental biology. The symposium, titled "The Developmental Basis of.Evolutionary Change" will be held Thursday May 13 through Saturday May 15.. . Evolutionary developmental biology, also known as "evo-devo" studies the.genes that control em...