On Biology 2017 July

Seeing double in arachnid genomes: new insights into the consequences of whole genome duplication in animals

31/07/2017 Alistair P. McGregor

Research published today in BMC Biology finds that whole genome duplication, a process in which an organism’s entire genome duplicates, occurred in the lineage leading to spiders but not their distant arachnid relatives, ticks and mites. Here to discuss this research and whole genome duplication in the ancestors of vertebrates and other chelicerates is author of the study, Alistair P. McGregor.

Biology

The genesis of MRSA: resistance emerged years before the introduction of methicillin in the clinic

21/07/2017 Catriona Harkins & Matthew Holden

New research published in Genome Biology finds that methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) emerged years before the antibiotic methicillin was used in clinical practice, overturning the conventional wisdom that the widespread use of the methicillin was the driving force behind the evolution of MRSA. Here to tell us about their surprising discovery are authors of the research Catriona Harkins and Mathew Holden.

Biology Medicine

Hearts and Minds of Mice and Men: Mechano Growth Factor a new tool in the battle against age-related neuron loss?

20/07/2017 Alec Walker

Alexander Walker, Editorial Assistant at BioMed Central, explores the findings of a recent study into the neuroprotective effects of Mechano-Growth Factor.

Biology Health Medicine

Vladimir Putin and the empty chair: Can people spot fake pictures?

18/07/2017 Davy Falkner

New research published in Cognitive Research: Principles & Implications finds that people can only detect a fake image of a real word scene 60% of the time and can only identify exactly what has been manipulated in the image 45% of the time. This blog written by Stephan Lewandowsky of the Psychonomic Society explores this research in the context of real word instances where people have been duped by fake images.

Biology Technology

Invasive plant increases malaria transmission

10/07/2017 Srimathy Sriskantharajah

In their article published recently in Malaria Journal, Gunter Muller and colleagues show that the invasive plant, Prosopis juliflora, promotes malaria parasite transmission, which could hamper vector control efforts. We talk to the team in more detail about their research and its implications.

Biology Developing World Health Medicine

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Potential therapy for Parkinson’s disease through llama antibodies

04/07/2017 Dr. Erwin De Genst & Dr. Marija Iljina

A study published today in BMC Biology reports that llama-derived nanobodies – essentially miniature antibodies – might find therapeutic application in Parkinson’s disease, with nanobodies binding to harmful protein clumps called oligomers to neutralize toxicity and help prevent cell death. Here to tell us more are two authors of the paper Erwin De Genst and Marija Iljina.