Category: Science

Science

Why it matters that scientists modified a ‘sexual’ fruit fly to be asexual

Posted on By admin

The fruit-fly (Drosophila melanogaster) has been among the favourite organisms of genetics researchers for more than a hundred years. Many years of intense research with these diminutive creatures have led to many breakthroughs in our understanding of biology and evolution. Recently, researchers from Cambridge University and the California Institute of Technology reported yet another such…

Read More “Why it matters that scientists modified a ‘sexual’ fruit fly to be asexual” »

Science

Rhinos can’t sweat, making them vulnerable to overheating

Posted on By admin

Now, the first study of how climate change affects rhinos in southern Africa has found that they will cease to exist in the region’s national parks by 2085 if the world takes the worst-case scenario climate change pathway.  | Photo Credit: The Hindu Southern Africa is home to 22,137 of the world’s 23,432 white and black African rhinos….

Read More “Rhinos can’t sweat, making them vulnerable to overheating” »

Science

Scientists genetically modify ‘sexual’ fruit fly to reproduce asexually

Posted on By admin

The fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) has been among the favourite organisms of genetics researchers for more than a hundred years. Many years of intense research with these diminutive creatures have led to many breakthroughs in our understanding of biology and evolution. Recently, researchers from Cambridge University and the California Institute of Technology reported yet another…

Read More “Scientists genetically modify ‘sexual’ fruit fly to reproduce asexually” »

Science

Are many Labradors hard-wired for obesity?

Posted on By admin

New research finds around a quarter of Labrador retriever dogs face a double-whammy of feeling hungry all the time and burning fewer calories due to a genetic mutation. This obesity-driving combination means that dog owners must be particularly strict with feeding and exercising their Labradors to keep them slim. The mutation is in a gene (POMC), which…

Read More “Are many Labradors hard-wired for obesity?” »

Science

Can resveratrol-copper be used to prevent metastasis without trials?

Posted on By admin

Toxic effects of chemotherapy are caused by cell-free chromatin fragments that emerge from the dying cells A large body of work by researchers at the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai has found conclusive evidence in cell lines, animal studies and two phase-2 clinical trials that cell-free chromatin fragments that are released from dying cells have…

Read More “Can resveratrol-copper be used to prevent metastasis without trials?” »

Science

Why India urgently needs a legal framework for genomics

Posted on By admin

The last two decades have seen unprecedented advances in genomics. These advancements have come in the background of our ability to sequence, analyse and interpret genomes at an unprecedented scale, along with an emerging and expanding corpus of evidence to act upon the genomic information for healthcare decision making. As the costs of sequencing continue to…

Read More “Why India urgently needs a legal framework for genomics” »

Science

Pentagon study finds no sign of alien life in reported UFO sightings going back decades

Posted on By admin

File picture of an aerial view of the U.S. Pentagon. A new Pentagon study has found no evidence of aliens or extraterrestrial intelligence in UFO sightings | Photo Credit: AP A U.S. Pentagon study released Friday that examined reported sightings of UFOs over nearly the last century found no evidence of aliens or extraterrestrial intelligence,…

Read More “Pentagon study finds no sign of alien life in reported UFO sightings going back decades” »

Science

The physics of why Shami’s ‘bolt upright’ seam works magic

Posted on By admin

Mohammad Shami about to deliver a ball in a one-day international match against New Zealand, October 23, 2023. | Photo Credit: Deepak K.R./The Hindu At the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup, Mohammad Shami ended with the most wickets – 24 from only seven games. The standout feature of Mr. Shami’s bowling was his…

Read More “The physics of why Shami’s ‘bolt upright’ seam works magic” »

Science