Through a combination of the forest biomass removal itself and the resulting climate change which feeds back on the ecosystem productivity the researchers calculate that biomass on the ground could decline by up to 65 per cent for the period 2041-2060brazil faces a huge
and destroy pre-malignant cells before they can become cancer said lead author Lance D. Miller Ph d. associate professor of cancer biology at Wake Forest Baptist.
The study published online ahead of print last month in the journal Genome Biology. This approach is known as gene expression profiling
and by studying the expression profiles of 2000 human breast tumors Miller and his team identified several immune gene signatures that reflect the abundance
and anti-tumor properties of different types of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. They found that in certain aggressive types of breast cancer such as basal-like
In these cases high expression levels of the immune genes predicted for recurrence-free survival
while low immune gene expression predicted for a high likelihood of cancer recurrence. An important next step Miller said will be translating this into a diagnostic test that may help doctors make more informed treatment decisions.
and biomedical engineering and co-author of a paper on the work published in the May 9 issue of Nature.
#Setting the standard for sustainable bioenergy cropsbioenergy crops such as Miscanthus and switchgrass appear to be promising resources for renewable energy
Jody Endres University of Illinois professor of energy and environmental law and chair of the Council on Sustainable Biomass production (CSBP) says standards are needed
so farmers ethanol producers and others in the biofuels industry will all be on the same page here in the United states as well as in Europe and Brazil.
Instead of the substantive innerworkings of standards'principles such as protections for air water soil biodiversity and community values debate has centered on the level of participation
Even if the biomass goes to the biorefinery with the right lignin-to-sugar content and the right amount of water if you had to add nitrogen to produce it
A biomass farmer doesn't know where to begin to apply it to their farming practices.
or lands that are high in biodiversity values Endres said. They also require a cross-compliance with agro-environmental laws
For the past three years the Council for Sustainable Biomass production has been developing a standard that the European commission will recognize
European calls for biofuels certification are pushing efforts in the U s. to figure out how to certify an agricultural supply chain.
Although the requirement has been postponed until January 2014 the aviation sector is actively seeking ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through biofuels.
Endres said that there are still a lot of questions about how to implement standards for biomass. It's important to match the goal of regulation with
'In the war of words and in the public media biofuels have had to face more accusations than any other renewable energy source such as solar power
or climate mitigation benefits or that we're having increased energy security people may still be suspicious of biomass fuels
Funding was provided by the Energy Biosciences Institute. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by University of Illinois College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental sciences (ACES.
#Differences between marathon mice and couch potato mice reveal key to muscle fitnessresearchers discovered that small pieces of genetic material called micrornas link the two defining characteristics of fit muscles:
To do this they turned to two different mouse models each specially engineered to produce distinct but related proteins that turn muscle-specific genes on and off.
The first model dubbed the marathon mouse has a muscle-gene regulator called PPARÎ/Î'.These mice can run much further than normal mice.
The second model known as the couch potato mouse produces a different muscle-gene regulator called PPARÎ.
#Biomechanical performances of old-fashioned leather and modern football helmets comparedresearchers at the Center for Injury Biomechanics at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg Virginia compared the relative safety afforded by two 1930-vintage leather football helmets
Details on their methods and findings are found in Biomechanical performance of leather and modern football helmets.
Ray W. Daniel a biomedical engineering graduate student and Stefan M. Duma professor and head of the Virginia Tech--Wake Forest School of Biomedical engineering published today online ahead of print in the Journal
Rowson and his coauthors state that they offer biomechanical analysis based on helmet testing methodologies that compare relative helmet performance.
--which is used also to produce starch flour biofuel and even beer--as the perfect crop for helping to feed a continent where growing conditions in many regions are deteriorating in the face of climate change.
Fauquet and his colleagues in the GCP21--an alliance of scientists developers donors and industry representatives--are gathering at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Italy this week for a conference dedicated to declaring war on cassava viruses in Africa.
and little-known until about ten years ago CBSD has emerged as the most serious threat among the various cassava viruses.
and numerous small-scale processors CMD--a Scourge for Cassava on the African Continentscientists at the conference will also consider options for dealing with another devastating virus--the Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD).
The disease is caused by several viruses and the African continent witnessed several major CMD epidemics over the past decades the most recent and devastating
which carry the viruses that cause CMD and CBSD and pass it along as they feed on the plant's sap.
Compounding the effects of rising temperatures scientists also think that genetic changes have led to the emergence of super whiteflies.
Experts to Develop Plan to Stop Viruses in their Tracksat the Italy meeting experts will discuss a variety of tactics for combating virus diseases such as developing more disease-resistant varieties like those recently released in Tanzania.
and working with scientists to mine the cassava gene bank at CIAT in Colombia--the biggest repository of cassava cultivars in the world.
how to eradicate cassava viruses altogether. The aim will be to develop a bold regional strategy that will gradually step-by-step village-by-village replace farmers'existing infested cassava plants with virus-free planting material of the best and most resistant available cultivars.
Approaches will include new molecular breeding and genetic engineering technologies to speed up the selection and production of CMD and CBSD resistant cassava cultivars more appealing to farmers.
There also will be discussions about cost-effective and environmentally sustainable ways to control whiteflies as well as proposals for new surveillance systems that can better track
and poverty in Africa but CBSD and other viruses are crippling yields. We need to treat CBSD
and other destructive viruses like the smallpox of cassava--formidable diseases but threats we can eradicate
or viruses that can make us sick. But in California's Salinas Valley some more vigorous interventions are cutting into the last corners of wildlife habitat and potentially threatening water quality without evidence of food safety benefits.
Genetic heritage to be preservedthe Saharan cousin of Mediterranean olive trees remains largely unknown. However this subspecies (called the Laperinne's olive tree) is of great interest for several reasons.
Extremely drought-resistant this relict tree could act as a genetic resource to improve its domestic counterparts provided conservation actions are implemented to prevent its disappearance.
In order to preserve this exceptional genetic heritage over the course of time it developed an unusual reproductive strategy.
A genetic resource for cultivated plantsa symbol of Saharan mountain ecosystems the Laperrine's olive tree is a source of wood for local populations.
Thanks to molecular analyses biologists discovered that such crossing has already been carried out previously confirming the possibility of hybridizing the two subspecies.
Today it pays the price of its isolation and genetic protectionism. The limited gene flow among populations and its vegetative reproduction method resulted in less genetic mixing over long periods of time.
Under current climatic conditions the number of trees also tends to decrease. This combination of factors leads to the gradual erosion of the genetic diversity which lowers the ability of the Laperrine's olive tree to adapt to environmental changes
and means this subspecies is endangered potentially in the long term. This research into the ecology and evolutionary history of the Laperrine's olive tree helps to better identify the danger facing this tree--endemic to the Sahara desert
Dave Goulson professor of biological science at the University of Sterling UK agrees: there haven't been nearly enough studies of all pesticides or interactions between them.
There are several alternatives to using neonicotinoids and other pesticides according to Simon Potts professor of biodiversity and ecosystem services at Reading University UK.
A lack of information about the virus and its mode of transmission has led to public concerns that H7n9 could be a pandemic waiting to happen.
#Mechanism for how grapes reduce heart failure associated with hypertension identifieda new study appearing in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry demonstrates that grapes are able to reduce heart failure associated with chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) by increasing the activity of several genes responsible for
influencing gene activities and metabolic pathways that improve the levels of glutathione the most abundant cellular antioxidant in the heart.
grape intake turned on antioxidant defense pathways increasing the activity of related genes that boost production of glutathione.
but just how that was accomplished--the mechanism--was known not yet said lead investigator E. Mitchell Seymour Ph d. The insights gained from our NIH study including the ability of grapes to influence several genetic pathways related to antioxidant defense provide further evidence
& Immunology the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) this choice in chalk may cause allergy
The above story is provided based on materials by American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI.
and certain vegetables--combined with anti-aging supplements--improved blood vessel function in a study presented at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2013 Scientific Sessions.
Lincoln Park Zoo Reintroduction Biologist Allison Sacerdote-Velat Ph d. and Northern Illinois University Professor of Biological sciences Richard King have identified European buckthorn as a contributor to amphibian
While we've made a lot of progress in understanding the ecological consequences to animals that are exposed unintentionally to insecticides the evolutionary consequences are understood poorly said study principal investigator Rick Relyea Pitt professor of biological sciences and director of the University's Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology.
and a graduate student in Relyea's lab. In the future Relyea and his team plan to study the genetic mechanisms that underlie increased resistance in amphibians
#Substances in honey increase honey bee detox gene expressionresearch in the wake of Colony Collapse Disorder a mysterious malady afflicting (primarily commercial) honey bees suggests that pests pathogens
Some components of the nectar and pollen grains bees collect to manufacture food to support the hive increase the expression of detoxification genes that help keep honey bees healthy.
However honey bees have relatively few genes dedicated to this detoxification process compared to other insect species she said.
Determining which of the 46 P450 genes in the honey bee genome are used to metabolize constituents of their natural diet and
Research had shown previously that eating honey turns on detoxification genes that metabolize the chemicals in honey
They identified p-coumaric acid as the strongest inducer of the detoxification genes. We found that the perfect signal p-coumaric acid is in everything that bees eat--it's the monomer that goes into the macromolecule called sporopollenin
Her team showed that p-coumaric acid turns on not only P450 genes but representatives of every other type of detoxification gene in the genome.
This signal can also turn on honey bee immunity genes that code for antimicrobial proteins. According to Berenbaum three other honey constituents were effective inducers of these detoxification enzymes.
Propolis turns on immunity genes--it's not just an antimicrobial caulk or glue. It may be medicinal
and inform ongoing discussions about land management and biodiversity conservation. For thousands of years pastoralists in East African savannas have penned their cattle overnight in brush-walled corrals called bomas.
and fuel demandsnew discoveries of the way plants transport important substances across their biological membranes to resist toxic metals
That's the conclusion of 12 leading plant biologists from around the world whose laboratories recently discovered important properties of plant transport proteins that collectively could have a profound impact on global agriculture.
and aluminum said Julian Schroeder a professor of biology at UC San diego who brought together 11 other scientists from Australia Japan Mexico Taiwan the U s
and biofuel production said many of the recent discoveries in his and other laboratories around the world had previously been under the radar--known only to a small group of plant biologists
--but that by disseminating these findings widely the biologists hoped to educate policy makers and speed the eventual application of their discoveries to global agriculture.
Of the present global population of seven billion people almost one billion are undernourished and lack sufficient protein
and carbohydrates in their diets the biologists write in their paper. An additional billion people are malnourished
Increasing food production on limited land resources will rely on innovative agronomic practices coupled to the genetic improvement of crops.
From their recent findings the plant biologists now understand how transport proteins control processes that allow roots to tolerate toxic aluminum.
or low-yielding acidic soils into astonishingly productive farmland to grow crops for food and biofuels.
Other recent transport protein developments described by the biologists have been shown to increase the storage of iron
and zinc deficiencies because their plant-based diets are not a sufficiently rich source of these essential elements the biologists write.
The biologists said crops could be made more efficient in using water through discoveries in plant transport proteins that regulate the stomatal pores in the epidermis of leaves where plants lose more than 90 percent of their water through transpiration.
A recent discovery of protein transporters that move sugar throughout the plant has been used to develop rice plants that confer pest resistance to crops the biologists said providing a novel way to simplify the engineering of crops with high yields and pest resistance
These recent developments in understanding the biology of plant transporters are leading to improved varieties less susceptible to adverse environments and for improving human health.
In a paper to be published in May the joint team will announce a record-breaking simulation speed of 504 billion events per second on LLNL's Sequoia Blue Gene/Q supercomputer dwarfing the previous record set in 2009
The researchers tuned parameters on the CCNI's two-rack Blue Gene/Q system and optimized the experiment to scale up
whether a proposed action is likely to jeopardize the listed species and issues a biological opinion.
Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical center have discovered the biological mechanism involved in this process which could point the way to potential therapies.
In the study the researchers were able to identify the subtypes through genetic and molecular labeling methods.
and Type 2 pericytes may play a critical role in successful muscle regeneration which results from a balance between different cells in the skeletal muscle said Alexander Birbrair a doctoral student in Delbono's lab and first author of the study.
In addition to explaining how fires lead to regeneration of forests and grasslands their findings may aid in the development of plant varieties that help maintain
Biology and Proteomics. Now we know the molecular triggers for how it occurs. Noel's co-senior investigator on the project Joanne Chory professor and director of Salk's Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology laboratory says the team found the molecular wake-up call for burned forests.
and Biochemistry at the University of California who worked on the project. But by the following spring when the rains arrived there was a burst of flowering plants amid the nutrient-rich ash
and plant geneticist Zuyu Zheng says this karrikin-induced shape change may send a new signal to other proteins in the seeds.
While the new findings were made in Arabidopsis a model organism that many plant researchers study the scientists say the same karrikin-KAI2 regeneration strategy is undoubtedly found in many plant species. In plants one member
More research is needed to understand exactly how the change in shape of the KAI2 protein activates a genetic pathway that regulates germination says Chory the Howard H. and Maryam R. Newman Chair in Plant Biology and a Howard Hughes Medical
But this finding is an absolutely critical step in understanding this genetic program and how plant ecosystems forests and grasslands renew themselves.
The above story is provided based on materials by Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Their research could lead to new strategies for self-healing materials or biocompatible materials that mimic human tissues.
Since silicones are biocompatible they can also be used for tissue engineering. Soft tissues in the body like cartilage need to maintain strength under repeated compression
Yousif Shamoo a professor of biochemistry and cell biology; Pulickel Ajayan the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering and a professor of mechanical engineering and materials science chemistry and chemical and biomolecular engineering;
and Walter Chapman the William W. Akers Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular engineering all of Rice; and Prabir Patra an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Bridgeport with a research appointment at Rice.
Verduzco is an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. The research was supported by an IBB Hamill Innovations Grant the Robert A. Welch Foundation the National Science Foundation and the National institutes of health through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases.
Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by Rice university. The original article was written by Mike Williams. Note:
and whether any of the genetic resources found in crop wild relatives are conserved already in gene banks.
and potentially invasive however these plants are still valuable genetic resources for breeding Khoury says;
if they've been safeguarded in gene banks or in protected areas such as national parks; and then identify the priority places for collecting seed from species that haven't yet been secured.
Wheat genome shows resistance genes easy to accessit's hard to go anywhere without a map--especially into the deep and complex world of genetics.
toward sequencing the wheat genome--a complete look at wheat's genetic matter. A physical map of a genome shows the physical locations of genes and other DNA sequences of interest.
Scientists use them to identify and isolate genes that are responsible for different traits such as disease resistance and days to maturity.
The research was published in the April 22 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS.
The wheat chromosome DNA is cloned in bacteria millions of bits of DNA which are sorted by robots
Wheat has the largest genome among crop plants and this is the biggest map as yet assembled for any organism animal
Wheat varieties grown in the Great plains are protected from the leaf rust disease by genes extracted from goatgrass
and from Hessian fly in the eastern U s. The physical map developed by the research team provides a roadmap for the mapping of genes that make wheat resistant to diseases heat
and drought and result in quality bread Gill said adding Most resistance genes seem to lie at the ends of chromosomes
The next step in the process Gill said is to obtain funds to sequence the wheat genome
and blood pressure for individuals with specific genetic polymorphismsyour genetic makeup can help determine how well your body will respond to weight loss efforts aimed at controlling high blood pressure a new study confirms.
Our work describes the variability of blood pressure drop in response to weight loss according to a number of genetic polymorphisms added William J. Kostis Phd MD clinical
or even saliva test that measures genotype Dr. John Kostis said They can compare the patient's genetic background with the polymorphisms that have been identified in the study
For instance the Lisbon Strategy aims to create a knowledge-based bioeconomy and recognizes the potential of GMOS to deliver it
The BBSRC-funded scientists from Rothamsted Research the James Hutton Institute Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University Lancaster University and the University of Nottingham
. I am sure that we shall see a continuing resurgence of interest in root biology which findings such as this are sure to promote.
The above story is provided based on materials by Biotechnology and Biological sciences Research Council. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
The study led by Christopher Neill director of the Ecosystems Center at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is published this week in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. This entire journal issue
Shelby Riskin and Gillian Galford both of whom graduated from the Brown-MBL Graduate Program in Biological and Environmental sciences;
Story Source The above story is provided based on materials by Marine Biological Laboratory. The original article was written by Diana Kenney.
#Recipe for low-cost, biomass-derived catalyst for hydrogen productionin a paper to be published in an upcoming issue of Energy
The team tested a wide variety of sources of biomass--leaves stems flowers seeds and legumes--with particular interest in those with high protein content
These findings thus open up new prospects for combining inexpensive biomass and transition metals#to produce catalysts for electro-catalytic reactions.
The work of creating the clones is part of the Potato Genetic Enhancement Programme drawn up by Neiker-Tecnalia.
The four clones show certain resistance to the pathogens analysed such as the potato virus Y as well as the Pectobacterium atrosepticum bacteria
Researchers from the Center of Plant Genomics and Biotechnology at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) and the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at the U s. Department of energy's Argonne National Laboratory report as an advance
and characterize the key biological proteins responsible for iron transportation. That would give researchers targets to manipulate
David Bowne assistant professor of biology led the study to look at the amount of carbon dioxide being released from residential lawns
As you increase temperature Bowne explains you increase biological activity--be it microbial plant fungal or animal.
In the face of unprecedented deforestation and biodiversity loss policy makers are increasingly using financial incentives to encourage conservation.
Financial incentives for conservation Incentives are being leveraged in dozens of tropical developing countries to conserve forests to protect biodiversity
Said Jacob Phelps a Phd candidate in the Department of Biological sciences at the NUS Faculty of science
The results which were seen in stroke-prone rats were presented April 23 at the Experimental Biology 2013 meeting in Boston.
PPARS regulate genes involved in fat and glucose metabolism and when modified can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In the same way measures of optimism and pessimism can provide indicators for an understanding of animal welfare explains co-author Dr Elodie Briefer from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical sciences.
Dr Alan Mcelligott also from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical sciences said: The study shows that animal rescue centres such as Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats where we collected our data can provide a vital role in reversing long-term neglect once the animals receive excellent care.
These findings will be presented at the American Society for Biochemistry and Microbiology annual meeting in Boston on April 22 and also concurrently appear in Dermato-Endocrinology on line open access.
Vitamin d is crucial for good bone health and muscle strength; adequate amounts help the body maintain bone density reducing the risk of fracture osteomalacia osteoarthritis
#Grape intake may protect against metabolic syndrome-related organ damageconsuming grapes may help protect against organ damage associated with the progression of metabolic syndrome according to research presented Monday at the Experimental Biology conference in Boston.
Professor Liu Wenjun of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Microbiology said: With H7n9 we are already seeing marked falls in demand for poultry
The team conducting studies on the effectiveness of control measures against H5n1 found that there were significant deficiencies in biosecurity practices in most of the farms studied especially but not only small scale farms.
The measures in place on these farms would not be sufficient to prevent an H7n9 influenza virus from gaining entry to farms
This means that for areas where this virus is not yet present farm biosecurity measures need to be strengthened as recommended also by FAO
Studies on wild birds conducted as part of APEIR demonstrated the importance of undertaking surveillance in wild birds to characterise the influenza viruses carried by these birds.
The genetic information obtained so far on the H7n9 virus suggests that the H and N components of this virus were derived probably from wild birds and also possibly from poultry.
It is also evident from the genetic studies that the surveillance systems in place have not detected close relatives of the original host of these viruses
and need to be strengthened. The studies conducted by APEIR did find some additional influenza virus subtypes other than H5n1 viruses
and this information helps in understanding the transmission of other influenza viruses by wild birds.
Although no H7n9 viruses were detected the viruses found were fully characterised and gene sequences uploaded to gene databases adding to the pool of data available for comparison by scientists trying to unravel the origin of novel viruses.
APEIR recommended that all gene sequences of influenza viruses should be shared as soon as they are available
and this has been done by Chinese scientists for H7n9 viruses. APEIR researchers including Professor Lei Fumin of the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences are currently investigating the possible role of wild birds in transmission of H7n9 avian influenza.
Professor Lei Fumin said We have seen already suggestions that this virus could be transmitted widely among migratory birds
and poultry and it is important to assess the likelihood of this through scientific studies on wild birds as they fly north through China to their summer breeding grounds.
Policy makers in China may again be faced with a decision on whether or not to use vaccination to contain this disease so as to reduce the likelihood of exposure of humans to the H7n9 virus. APEIR studies on policy development showed the importance of having sound evidence on the merits
and pitfalls of vaccination so that these can be weighed up scientifically without outside interference. Although there is no evidence so far that this virus will result in a human pandemic this outbreak provides a reminder of the importance for all countries to ensure they have an appropriate stockpile of antiviral medication.
This study on avian influenza policies also found that agriculture sectoral policy should be coherent with public health sectoral policy
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