Nature : Science World Report

Dec 16, 2013 04:51 PM EST

Speeding Up Gene Discovery

New gene-editing system enables large-scale studies of gene function.

Dec 16, 2013 11:23 AM EST

Evolution on the Molecular Level: From Bacteria to Humans

Evolution also occurred at the molecular level; it reshaped some of the enzymes that help complete crucial chemical processes. Now, scientists have described the evolution of the various forms of the enzyme "dihydrofolate reductase" as it occurred from bacteria to humans, revealing a bit more about ...

Dec 16, 2013 09:07 AM EST

Deep-Sea Corals Reveal Dramatic Shift in Pacific Ocean Ecosystem

It turns out that a dramatic, long-term shift in the Pacific Ocean ecosystem may have occurred. Scientists have discovered that long-lived deep-sea corals hold a record of changes in the marine food web that could reveal a bit more about the history of our marine environment and could tell them a bi...

Dec 16, 2013 08:19 AM EST

Environmental History Key to Future of Wildlife in England

As environmental conditions shift and change due to human impacts, wildlife across the globe is suffering. Now, scientists have stated that protecting and enhancing our wildlife for future generations will need radical new policies that are informed by history as much as science. The findings reveal...

Dec 16, 2013 08:49 AM EST

Could Comb Jellyfish be Humans’ Oldest Ancestors?

Scientists from the University of Miami and the National Human Genome Research Institute, NHGRI, believe that comb jelly fish may have been the oldest multicellular animal on the planet-a position that was previously occupied by sea sponges.

Dec 16, 2013 03:57 AM EST

Dogs' Bonds With Humans Grow Stronger, Can Predict 'Human Behavior'

Dogs understand humans far better than previously believed and can predict human behavior, Abertay University in Dundee researchers found.

Dec 15, 2013 04:30 PM EST

How Climate Change may Endanger Caribou Habitat

A recent study shows how climate change played a role in the evolution of reindeer native to Northern Europe, Asia and North America.

Dec 14, 2013 03:36 AM EST

Bats' Power of Echolocation Make Them Royalties Of The Night

The Power of both echolocation and vision has given bats an evolutionary edge of other nocturnal bird species, making them rulers of the night, Tel Aviv University researchers revealed in a press statement.

Dec 14, 2013 11:04 AM EST

Rapid Evolution Triggered in Blind Cavefish

The classical view of evolution is that species experience spontaneous genetic mutations over time that produce traits that either benefit them, or don't. Now, though, it seems as if there may be some other mechanism that drives evolution--at least when it comes to blind cavefish.

Dec 13, 2013 12:17 PM EST

How Benign Bacteria Evolve into Virulent Pathogens

Bacteria can evolve quickly in order to adapt to environmental change. But what happens when the "environment" is an immune response from an infected host? Relatively harmless bacteria can quickly turn into virulent pathogens. Now, scientists have taken a closer look at this evolutionary process in ...

Dec 13, 2013 10:01 AM EST

Chimpanzees are Rational, Not Conformist: Chimps Choose Logic Over Popularity

It turns out that chimpanzees are more rational than you might expect. Scientists have discovered that while chimps are sensitive to social influences, they maintain their own strategy to solve a problem rather than conforming to what the majority of group members are doing.