Chemical reaction in birds provides sense of direction during migratory flights
...e candidates. Magnetite in the beaks, however, may play a role in detecting the strength but not the direction of the Earths magnetic field. The experiments on the birds were conducted in a six-week period in 2003 in Frankfurt, Germany, in the laboratory of Wolfgang and Roswitha Wiltschko, co-authors of t...Model shows long-held constant in ocean nutrient ratio may vary as ecological conditions change
...r resources among microscopic marine plants, which play a role in global climate. The future of these pla...tions, as well, because of the roles phytoplankton play in the ocean ecosystem and across the globe. "Phytoplankton do half of the planet's primary produc...Research into cetacean reproduction leads to birth of killer whales by artificial insemination
...in conjunction with artificial insemination, could play an important role in ensuring the genetic vitality of captive marine mammals. Robeck's team studied one male and five female killer whales to evaluate the reproductive physiology of these animals. The females were between 13 and 20 years old and wei...Pearly mussels: One of North America's natural jewels is disappearing
...erstanding of their life history and the role they play in freshwater ecosystems. Lead author Dr. David L....ze, ecologists still don't know the role that they play or what their absence might mean for the functioning of modern river ecosystems. The loss of pearly...Emory scientists receive NIH MIDAS grant for computer modeling of infectious diseases
...late epidemics and response strategies."MIDAS will play a key role in the NIH biodefense plan," said Elias A. Zerhouni, MD., NIH director. "The computer models created through this initiative will help us determine the best strategies to detect, control and prevent the spread of disease." MIDAS will bring...Closing in on treatment for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?
... Additional research has shown that these proteins play an important role in many other neurodegenerative disorders as well. This research moves us a step closer to the development of new therapies. CMT, a serious disorder without a cure CMT, the most common hereditary disorder of the peripheral nervou...Fire ant killing protozoa found in 120 Texas counties
...ell said. These are crucial questions because ants play a critical role in the ecological balance. The predatory types kill and eat many other insects, both harmful and beneficial. Though small individually, collectively ants can make a huge impact. Worldwide, a figure for ants comprising 15 percent of al...Analysis uncovers critical stretches of human genome
...o not appear to code for proteins, but may instead play a regulatory role. Evolutionary theory suggests th...ten next to or surrounding genes that are known to play a role in regulating the activity of other genes in embryonic development. The conserved elements in...Gene therapy reduces drinking in rats with genetic predisposition to 'alcoholism'
...tting feelings of pleasure and reward and known to play a role in addiction. After the gene treatment, the alcohol-preferring rats exhibited a 37 percent reduction in their preference for alcohol and cut their total alcohol consumption in half -- from 2.7 grams per kilogram of body weight before treatment...Plankton may influence climate change says UCSB scientist
(Santa Barbara, Calif.) -- Plankton appear to play a major role in regulating the global climate syst... hypothesis. And the DMS-climate feedback may also play out under possible global warming and climate change scenarios. As the Earth's ozone shield thins a...The science of overcrowded life boats and other moral dilemmas
...nd that parts of the brain associated with emotion play roles in processing some moral dilemmas, but not all of them. Understanding why different kinds of moral dilemmas are processed in different ways could create greater insight for philosophers, Sinnott-Armstrong said. "If you want to know whether you...Computer modeling targets epidemics, bioterror
...ate epidemics and response strategies. "MIDAS will play a key role in the NIH biodefense plan," said Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., NIH director. "The computer models created through this initiative will help us determine the best strategies to detect, control and prevent the spread of disease." MIDAS will brin...Closing in on the cellular culprits of schizophrenia
...ns of dollars spent trying to discover which genes play a role in its etiology. In at least 10 populations around the world, a significant association between schizophrenia and the gene for dysbindin has been noted making dysbindin the most highly replicated schizophrenia-associated gene described to dat...Recognition of bacteria in the cytosol by the immune system
...in the cytosol during infection, and that this may play a key role in activation of the immune system. A surprising result came when Salmonella was compared with Listeria, a bacterium which normally occupies the cytosol. Listeria avoided recognition by the ubiquitin system by moving within this compartmen...JGI decodes wood & toxic waste-degrading fungus genome
...hite rot fungi such as Phanerochaete chrysosporium play a pivotal role in the carbon cycle--the circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again. They also have demonstrated the ability to remediate explosive contaminants, pesticides and toxic waste with similar chemical structures...Study detects protein in human milk linked to reduced risk of obesity
...is another protein produced by fat that appears to play an important role in the regulation of body fat. Leptin is a satiety hormone, involved in the state of being "full." Adiponectin levels, however, are substantially greater than leptin in human milk, according to Dr. Martin, a researcher in the Cen...Rb2 expression could play vital role in ovarian cancer Temple University researchers find
...ssion of the tumor suppressing gene Rb2/p130 could play a vital role in ovarian cancer, according to a study by researchers at the Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine in the Center for Biotechnology at Temple University ( http://www.shro.org ). Their study, "Frequent loss of Rb2/p...Solving the mystery of the dancer mice, and cleft lip too
...ther genes. Two closely related genes are known to play a role in cranio-facial development, he says, and mutations in other "T-box" genes result in birth defects. Looking more closely, the team found the precise genetic defect responsible for the Dancer mice: They discovered a chunk of genetic material ...What it Takes: Design principles to broaden participation in SET
...at are fundamental to the intervention. Educators play multiple roles as teachers, coaches, mentors, tutors and counselors. Teachers develop and maintain quality interactions with students and each other. Active family support is sought and established. These design principles provide tools that will...Mexican farmers effectively cultivate phenotypic diversity in maize
...opulations of the same region in which the farmers play a predominant role. They thus appear to cultivate maize population diversity. These populations appear as open genetic systems, maintaining the centres of diversity of this major food cereal. The research conducted in this context on the inter-popula...