A remarkable new species of beetle was recently described that disguises itself as the rear-end of the ant it hitchhikes on. This video summarises the discovery, which was recently published in BMC Zoology.
BMC Plant Biology recently published research investigating the role of gut bacteria of Chrysolina herbacea (the mint leaf beetle) in the process of co-adaptation to Mentha aquatica (the watermint). Here, two of the authors of the article tell us more.
The introduction of mitochondrial replacement therapy holds considerable promise for preventing transmission of mitochondrial genetic disease from mother to child. However, evolutionary biologists and animal studies have raised concerns regarding potential incompatibility of mitochondrial and nuclear genomes which have evolved in divergent human populations. A research article recently published in BMC Genomics provides new insight into the implications of human evolution and admixture for mitochondrial replacement therapy.
We are delighted to announce that the 5th 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 celebrate the intersection of art and science. The four previous competitions (the overall… Read more »
Self-injury (aka non-suicidal self-injury) is when somebody intentionally damages or injures their body. Today, March 1st, is Self-injury Awareness Day (SIAD). This annual event is an opportunity to raise awareness about self-injury and self-harm, and to break down the common stereotypes surrounding them. Here we discuss a few of the most common myths surrounding self-injury and self-harm.