Cities change the songs of birds
...irds. The findings also offer strong support for a theory known as the acoustic-adaptation hypothesis, which states that some aspects of the vocal variety of animal communication sounds are shaped by the environment. The authors point out that song divergence within a species as a result of such environment...Vanishing beetle horns have surprise function
...in evolutionary studies, "Even today, evolutionary theory is very much a theory of adults," Moczek said. "But evolution doesn't morph one adult shape into another. Instead there's ...Why do some queen bees eat their worker bee's eggs?
...ltiple males would have more worker policing. This theory is widespread and in animal behavior textbooks. ...need rewriting," write the authors. "Kin selection theory is important when studying relatedness in social behavior. Social insects, with their great variatio......amson, Bryan Dewsbury and "The role of ecological theory and practice in poverty alleviation and environmental conservation" by Fabrice DeClerck and colleagues from the Earth Institute at Columbia University....Theory of oscillations may explain biological mysteries
...y of Michigan, shows how extensions of established theory suggest that many animal and plant populations oscillate in synchrony because of interactions such as predation and competition. Such synchronization can have far-reaching effects. Vandermeer suggests that several well-known biological conundrums, su...Parental genes do what's best for baby
...s development is being challenged by a new genetic theory of parental teamwork. Biologists at The Universi...ing characteristics can only be explained by their theory of genetic cooperation. When we are conceived we inherit two copies of every gene one set from ou...Stormy days ahead for coral reefs
...uses mathematical models borrowed from engineering theory to translate the movement of storm waves into mechanical stresses on the coral in different parts of the reef, incorporates the various shapes of coral colonies and calculates whether they will be dislodged during extreme weather. The research int...Ancient predator had strongest bite of any fish, rivaling bite of large alligators and T. rex
...this study shows how useful mechanical engineering theory can be in studying the behavior of fossil animals, he added. We cannot actually watch these animals feed or interact, but we can understand the range of possible behaviors by examining how the preserved parts are shaped and connected to each other....A human taste for rarity spells disaster for endangered species
...es are targeted by collectors. Classical economics theory predicts that such exploitation is unlikely to extinguish a species because the cost of finding the last individuals would outweigh the benefits. But a new theoretical study in PLoS Biology shows that adding human behavior to the equation--specifical...Speak, memory: Research challenges theory of memory storage
... neuroscientists have embraced and built upon this theory of memory storage, or consolidation, for a generation. But the theory is difficult to test. New research led by Brown University neuroscientist Mayank Mehta, conducted wi...Unraveling where chimp and human brains diverge
...aningful," said Oldham. "This finding supports the theory that variations in the DNA sequence contributed to human evolution." Relying on a new analytical approach developed by corresponding author Steve Horvath, UCLA associate professor of human genetics and biostatistics, the UCLA team used data from D...Genes offer researchers a 'crystal ball' to help them prevent, diagnose and treat cancer
...er it is," she said. "Surprisingly, although in theory body response could be similar for several cancers, in practice it is very different." TMPRSS2-ERG fusion prostate cancer: an early molecular event associated with invasion The presence of a gene fusion in prostate tumors is significantly associa...A buffet for early human relatives
... and evolved. The new study casts doubt on that theory by showing that Paranthropus, like Homo, also consumed a variety of foods. "Thus, other biological, social or cultural differences may be needed to explain the different fates of Homo and Paranthropus," the scientists conclude....Decoded sea urchin genome shows surprising relationship to humans
... Britten and Eric Davidson offered a comprehensive theory of gene regulation in higher organisms and the sea urchin has been the premier model for testing these predictions" said Richard Gibbs, Director of the BCM-HGSC. "The complete sequence is now available to further these studies." Because of its evolu...Decoded sea urchin genome shows surprising relationship to man
... Britten and Eric Davidson offered a comprehensive theory of gene regulation in higher organisms, and the sea urchin has been the premier model for testing these predictions," said Gibbs. "The complete sequence is now available to further these studies." Because of its evolutionary position, the sea urchin...UCSD scientists establish connection between life today and ancient changes in ocean chemistry
...National Academy of Sciences, sought to verify the theory that the rise in atmospheric oxygen some 2.3 billion years ago, and attendant shifts in ocean chemistry, led to changes in types of metals used with protein structures. Such changes are hypothesized to have led to the diversification and increased co...Novel experiment documents evolution of genome in near-real time
... bacterial strains is also useful for refining the theory of evolution and the related process of natural selection of individuals with traits that convey a selective survival advantage. "Opinion surveys indicate that many people don't believe that evolution occurs," said Herring, "but if the skeptics could...Research linking Ashkenazi Jews and breast cancer genes beset by problems
...eticists interpreted Jewish history to support the theory of Ashkenazi genetic uniqueness. This interpretation views the historic Ashkenazi Jewish population as isolated, and as having undergone extreme expansions and contractions. It attributes Ashkenazi Jewish genetic uniqueness to "founder effects," the ...Study finds periodontal treatment does not lower preterm birth risk
...y might be one of those elusive risk factors. The theory is based on the idea that bacteria associated with periodontal disease may spread to the womb and help to induce preterm births. Results of a previous small-scale clinical trial further supported this idea, but what's been missing are more definitiv...