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DNA evidence shows that salmon hatcheries cause substantial, rapid genetic changes

CORVALLIS, Ore. - A new study on steelhead trout in Oregon offers genetic evidence that wild and hatchery fish are different at the DNA level, and that they can become different with surprising speed.

The research, published today in Nature Communications, found that after one generation of hatchery culture, the offspring of wild fish and first-generation hatchery fish differed in the activity of more than 700 genes.

A single generation of adaptation to the hatchery resulted in observable changes at the DNA level that were passed on to offspring, scientists reported.

'Stay-at-home' males fueled menopause evolution

The evolution of the menopause was 'kick-started' by a fluke of nature, but then boosted by the tendency for sons and grandsons to remain living close to home, a new study by Liverpool scientists suggests.

Menopause is an evolutionary puzzle, as an early end to reproduction seems contrary to the laws of natural selection, where passing on genes to the next generation is the main purpose of life. Yet female humans, and some other mammals, spend up to a third of their lives unable to reproduce.

New type of optical material discovered in the secret language of the mantis shrimp

A study into how animals secretly communicate has led to the discovery of a new way to create a polarizer - an optical device widely used in cameras, DVD players and sunglasses.

What your gut bacteria can tell you about type 2 diabetes

Identifying changes in the types and activities of microorganisms that live in the human gut could help early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D), a study by researchers from the Broad Institute in the US and Seoul National University, South Korea, has found.

Involving spiritual organizations may reduce health disparities among urban Black women

Collaborating with spiritual organizations may help health professionals reach Black women who have heart disease and stroke risk factors and little health knowledge, according to research presented at the Nursing Symposium of the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.

Chinese culture supports family caregiving for stroke survivors

Chinese cultural values underlie the willingness of family members to care for stroke survivors at home, so interventions to support caregivers should consider incorporating these values, according to research presented at the Nursing Symposium of the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.

Each year, an estimated 22.5 million people in China survive a stroke and 78 percent of them require home care. This study probed stroke caregivers' perceptions of this responsibility within the Chinese culture.

Mutual mistrust may have added a few X-files to the UFO era

Uncloaking the flying saucer movement in the United States could offer historians a snapshot of Cold War attitudes at work in society, as well as insights into how science communication may be tied to current denialism and conspiracy theory movements, according to a Penn State historian.

'Beiging' white fat cells to fight diabetes

PHILADELPHIA - Researchers are getting closer to learning how to turn white fat cells into brown fat cells, in a process called "beiging," to bring down blood sugar levels and fight diabetes. The team, led by Joseph Baur, PhD, an assistant professor of Physiology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania published their findings this month in the journal Diabetes.

MD Anderson researchers propose new staging for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV) status is a strong predictor of prognosis for patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC), but the current staging system does not adequately account for biological and clinical differences between HPV-positive OPC and HPV-negative OPC, commonly caused by alcohol and tobacco use. With rates of HPV-related OPC rising rapidly, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center propose a new staging system to more accurately predict patient outcomes and identify the most appropriate treatments.

Synthetic plant hormones shut down DNA repair in cancer cells

WASHINGTON (February 16, 2016) -- Two drugs that mimic a common plant hormone effectively cause DNA damage and turn off a major DNA repair mechanism, suggesting their potential use as an anti-cancer therapy, say investigators at Georgetown University Medical Center. Their study is published online in Oncotarget.

The agents, MEB55 and ST362, are a synthetic version of strigolactones, a class of plant hormones made in roots that regulate development of plant roots under ground and shoots above ground.

Study suggests sildenafil may relieve severe form of edema in swimmers

DURHAM, N.C. -- Swimmers and divers who are prone to a sudden and potentially life-threatening form of pulmonary edema in cold water could benefit from a simple and readily available dose of sildenafil, according to findings from a small study by Duke Health researchers.

Zika doesn't deter Americans from traveling abroad, study shows

Global concerns about Zika virus aren't stopping Americans from making international travel plans, a new study finds, but many who do plan to go abroad say they want more information about the virus.

The findings may point to the need for travel destinations to provide more detailed information about where the risks actually are as well as where travelers can seek medical help if they fall ill, said Lori Pennington-Gray, director of the University of Florida's Tourism Crisis Management Initiative, which conducted the study.

RNA modification discovery suggests new code for control of gene expression

A new cellular signal discovered by a team of scientists at the University of Chicago with scientists from Tel Aviv University provides a promising new lever in the control of gene expression.

The study, published online Feb. 10 in the journal Nature, describes a small chemical modification that can significantly boost the conversion of genes to proteins. Together with other recent findings, the discovery enriches a critical new dimension to the "Central Dogma" of molecular biology: the epitranscriptome.

A new method to dramatically improve the sequencing of metagenomes

An international team of computer scientists developed a method that greatly improves researchers' ability to sequence the DNA of organisms that can't be cultured in the lab, such as microbes living in the human gut or bacteria living in the depths of the ocean. They published their work in the Feb. 1 issue of Nature Methods.

Nocturnal migrating songbirds drift with crosswinds and compensate near coastal areas

Using novel, recently developed techniques for analysis of Doppler polarimetric weather surveillance radar data, a University of Oklahoma team examined impediments (crosswinds and oceans) of nocturnally migrating songbirds in Eastern North America. Migrants in flight drifted sideways on crosswinds, but most strongly compensated for drift near the Atlantic coast. Coastal migrants' tendency to compensate for wind drift increased through the night, while no strong differences were observed at inlands sites.