Yearly Archives: 2018

Discovery of gene of extra chromosome boosts zebra finch biology

In the zebra finch, an extra chromosome exists in the reproductive, or germline, cells. (Songbirds have 40 chromosomes and 41 with the extra chromosome.) Known as the germline-restricted chromosome, its sequence is largely unknown and none of its genes have been identified, until now. Using sophisticated genome-sequencing techniques, American University researchers have identified the first...

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World's rarest ape on the edge of extinction

In a new research article, a team of international researchers argue that the Tapanuli Orangutan -- a species discovered last year in Sumatra, Indonesia, and one of the rarest animals on the planet -- could lose its battle for survival, unless decisive steps are taken to rescue it.

"In forty years of research, I don't think...

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Crocodiles listen to classical music in MRI scanner

What happens in a crocodile's brain when it hears complex sounds? An international research team headed by Dr Felix Ströckens from the Department of Biopsychology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) has provided the answer to this question. In a first, the researchers examined a cold-blooded reptile using functional MRI. They were thus able to determine that...

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