evolution
Decoding Okinawan Snake Venom
Researchers in Japan have sequenced the genome of the Okinawan habu and identified nearly 60 genes from 18 different gene families that make up the snake's venom cocktail.
22,000-Year-Old Panda Ancestor Found In Southern China
Mitochondrial DNA from a 22,000-year-old specimen found in a cave in Southern China belongs to an ancient panda, study says.
Echoes Of An Ancient Bird
The super-elongated windpipe of a fossilized ‘coiled chicken’ suggests that the bird produced a deep and loud call.
Ants Tell The Story Of Tropical Biodiversity
Researchers have studied ants to explain why biodiversity is higher in tropical regions compared to areas further away from the equator.
Creating Custom Yeast Strains For Industry
Scientists have devised a method to ‘reshuffle’ the yeast genome, allowing them to create new yeast strains for industrial biotechnology applications.
Sweet Potatoes May Have Originated In India
Based on the discovery of 57-million-year-old leaf fossils, scientists in India and the US suggest that the sweet potato first appeared in India.
Aggression Gene Amped Up In Humans And Chimps
A gene regulating the fight-or-flight response is more active in humans and chimpanzees than more peaceful primates, researchers say.
Plants Conquered Land 500 Million Years Ago
Scientists in China and the UK have used fossil evidence and genomic data to demonstrate that land plants first appeared about 500 million years ago.
The Stuff Of Nightmares: Long-tailed Spiders
Spiders that lived approximately 100 million years ago had long tails, according to research by Chinese scientists.
