Monthly Archives: June 2018

Possible link between blind cavefish and Autism

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One of the most important questions in evolutionary biology is whether multiple changes in animal behavior share a genetic basis across species. One particularly interesting species to look at is the blind cavefish which exhibit human Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)-like symptoms. In their paper published in BMC Evolutionary Biology, a group of researchers used this fish as an animal model to study the genetic mechanisms underlying ASD.

Biology
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Gallbladder cancer: a rare, deadly disease with an abnormally high incidence in Native American populations of New Mexico

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Gallbladder Cancer is a rare, yet deadly cancer of the gastrointestinal tract. It has an odd geographical distribution with hotspots across the globe. It is rare in the Western hemisphere and yet, shows an abnormally high incidence among the Native American populations of New Mexico. In a review published in BMC Cancer, lead authors Drs. Rama Gullapalli and Ursa Brown-Glaberman review the literature of this peculiar cancer and highlight the current hurdles faced by clinical oncologists in treating this cancer effectively.

Health Medicine
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Feathered fruit-eater frozen in fossil form

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It is well known amongst birdwatchers that if you want to see many different species of bird, the best places to visit are in the Southern Hemisphere. So why is there so much more bird species diversity here compared to, for example, regions of Europe? Here, Daniel Field and Allison Hsiang describe their research, published in BMC Evolutionary Biology, where they examined a 52-million-year-old fossil bird to find out more.

Biology
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Highlights of the BMC series: May 2018

BMC series highlight

Oxytocin receptor gene methylation in social and emotional functioning • Safe smart phone sound levels •Causes of death among street-connected children and youth in Eldoret, Kenya • The evolution of Apoidea: the sister group of bees • Conscientious objection to participation in abortion by midwives and nurses • Cone beam computed tomography in implant dentistry

Biology Health Medicine

BMC Ecology Image Competition Announcement 2018

Figure 1_Overall winner_Podocnemis expansa_Ana Carolina Lima​

The closing date for entries has been extended to 15th October 2018 We are delighted to announce that the 6th annual BMC Ecology image competition launches today! We are calling for ecologists around the world to submit their images. We created the competition as a chance for ecologists to share their research and photographic skills, and… Biology

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