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Rhythm Of Life - Genetics Tells Us Why Italian And English Flies Act Differently

Italian flies behave completely differently from English ones – and the difference lies in their genes, a new study from the University of Leicester has discovered.

The finding in the world renowned Department of Genetics at the University of Leicester has shed new light on the rhythm of life.

The Leicester team has published its findings in two back-to-back papers in the journal Science and further develops a decade-old Leicester discovery.

The Leicester research relates to two important aspects of life:

- The 24-hour body clock known as the circadian cycle

Human Immune System In A Test Tube Eliminates Animal Experiments

Surgical instruments or implants that are contaminated with residual bacteria, or pyrogens, can cause blood poisoning in patients. Researchers are developing a test that imitates the human immune system in the laboratory, eliminating the need for animal experiments.

Free Lunch Isn't Only Not Free, It Could Also Be Societally Disastrous

Freeloaders can live on the fruits of the cooperation of others, but their selfishness can have long-term consequences, reports an evolutionary biologist from The University of Texas at Austin in a new study.

“There is a historical dimension to cooperation,” says Dr. Sam Brown, the Human Frontier Science Foundation Fellow in the Section of Integrative Biology. “The act of a cooperator can continue to give benefits even after the cooperator is dead. Conversely, cheating will have consequences in the future.”

Prescriptions Costs For Elderly Men Higher Than Women

Independent research, involving over 3 million Italians, conducted by Henley Management College and the University of Milan has concluded that the prescription costs for men over the age of 65 is significantly higher than it is for women.

The primary objective of this study was to make the first step in the modelling of pharmaceutical demand in Italy to improve the governance of prescribing funds.

Small Amounts Of Dark Chocolate May Lower Blood Pressure As Much As Dieting, Study Says

Eating about 30 calories a day of dark chocolate was associated with a lowering of blood pressure, without weight gain or other adverse effects, according to a study in the July 4 issue of JAMA.

Previous research has indicated that consumption of high amounts of cocoa-containing foods can lower blood pressure (BP), believed to be due to the action of the cocoa polyphenols (a group of chemical substances found in plants, some of which, such as the flavanols, are believed to be beneficial to health).

Rats Know The Golden Rule - Do Unto Others ...

Cooperation in animals has long been a major focus in evolutionary biology. In particular, reciprocal altruism, where helpful acts are contingent upon the likelihood of getting help in return, is especially intriguing because it is open to cheaters.

In a new study published this week Claudia Rutte and Michael Taborsky demonstrate the first evidence for generalized reciprocal cooperation in non-humans. The authors show that rats who received help in the past were more likely to help another unknown partner.

Chromosome Disorders In Sex Cells Cause Infertility And Miscarriage

Chromosome disorders in sex cells cause infertility, miscarriage and irregular numbers of chromosomes (aneuploidy) in neonates. A new study from Karolinska Institutet published in Nature Genetics shows how chromosome disorders can arise when sex cells are formed.

Rethinking Implants - Make Them React With The Body, Not Be Inert

A world leader in medical implants calls for a rethink in our approach to building medical implants.

Currently so-called biomaterials are chosen because they are reasonably successful at hiding from the body’s immune system, and are consequently not rejected. All the same, within a month of implanting them, the body isolates implants by wrapping them in a collagenous, avascular sac. Materials are considered to be ‘biocompatible’ if this sac is not too thick.

Acrux Announces Positive Clinical Trial With Combination Contraceptive Sprays

Acrux announced positive results from its Phase 1 clinical studiesusing two unique contraceptive skin sprays, each containing a progestin and an estrogen.

The first study was a Phase I, pharmacokinetic study, investigating the delivery of a formulation combining Nestorone® and the synthetic estrogen, Ethinyl Estradiol. A single dose of the combination formulation was applied to the forearm of healthy volunteers.

Curing Cancer With 'Suicide Genes' Derived From Fat

It doesn't get more self-explanatory than that, does it?

Researchers in Slovakia have been able to derive mesenchymal stem cells from human adipose, or fat, tissue and engineer them into “suicide genes” that seek out and destroy tumors like tiny homing missiles. This gene therapy approach is a novel way to attack small tumor metastases that evade current detection techniques and treatments.

Every Girl Is Crazy About An Electronically-Monitored Man

Anyone can buy a suit that fits - but elite geeks are going to own clothes embedded with tiny electronics that can monitor heart and respiratory functions wirelessly. After three days, whether it needs it or not, they can take it off and throw it in the wash.

Studies show antidepressants not linked to birth defects

Two research studies published today in The New England Journal of Medicine found taking SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), anti-depression drugs, during pregnancy did not significantly increase the overall risk for most birth defects. However, each study found that taking SSRIs during pregnancy was associated with a small increase in the risk of certain rare birth defects – but they were different birth defects.

Cloning The Male Genome May Help Infertile Men

Artificially replicating the male genome could help men with very low sperm counts become fathers, a scientist told the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (Tuesday 3 July). Professor Takumi Takeuchi, of Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, USA, said that mouse experiments by his team, led by Professor Gianpiero D. Palermo, had shown that offspring born as a result of such replication had shown a level of abnormalities consistent with that shown in cloned animals.

Even Color Is Subjective, Researchers Say

In some regions of Central Europe, salad dressing is made with pumpkin seed oil, which has a strong characteristic nutty flavor and striking color properties - in the bottle it appears red, but it looks green in a salad dressing.

Elderberries Help Skin, Study Says

Forget expensive moisturisers and cosmetic surgery, a compound found in the humble elderberry could give a natural boost to skin.

In the first study of its kind, a team of researchers led by Prof Aedin Cassidy at the University of East Anglia and Dr Paul Kroon at the Institute of Food Research, will explore whether the skin’s condition is improved by a compound which gives berries their vibrant colour (called ‘anthocyanin’).