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Pandas Famously fond of bamboo, these cuddly creatures possess digestive tracts similar to those of animals with a carnivorous diet. Now, Chinese researchers believe they might understand the reason behind this intriguing fact. It is claimed that indulging in the large, rapidly growing vegetation can affect the hidden predators' actions and control the bears' olfactory and gustatory senses. Originating from southwestern China, pandas consume bamboo for as long as 16 hours each day, with studies released Friday in the journal Frontiers indicating that they absorb a type of genetic material known as microRNA (miRNA) into their blood circulation. The molecule can affect how genetic information moves throughout pandas' bodies, thereby influencing their behavior, according to research led by China West Normal University in Sichuan province. Dr. Li Feng, a senior author from the university, stated, "miRNA has a role in regulating the gene expression of giant ...

The notion that organisms adapt when faced with changes in their environment isn't new. However, recent research indicates that the mechanism of this evolutionary adaptation also undergoes its own form of development over time. The "evolvability" of evolution It remains a contentious idea partly due to the challenge of quantifying it. Organisms generally adjust to their surroundings; as an illustration, certain bacteria swiftly develop antibiotic resistance. However, could the evolutionary process itself be evolving, and if yes, what might propel such changes in how evolution occurs? In a recent paper published on December 31, 2024, in the journal PNAS Biologists indicate that evolution may improve with time through “refinement” of a population’s reaction to environmental shifts—provided these alterations do not occur too swiftly, according to the researchers involved in the study. Life is exceptionally skilled at tackling issues, Luis Zaman An evolutio...

While it might not boast as many as some other sciences do, biology still has approximately two dozen "rules." These are broad generalizations that describe the behaviors, characteristics, and evolutionary processes of living organisms. Currently, USC researchers aim to introduce a novel principle known as "selectively advantageous instability (SAI)." This concept examines how instability can confer advantages to both individual cells and entire organisms. On the converse side of this "rule," SAI might also play a crucial role in phenomena such as diseases and aging. Therefore, comprehending this mechanism could help in investigating these biological processes further. Throughout various scientific fields, principles and regulations assist us in understanding the environment surrounding us, regardless of whether they apply to vast cosmic dimensions or tiny subatomic levels. Nevertheless, within biology, matters tend to be somewhat mo...