Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alice E. Maher, Gustavo Burin, Philip G. Cox, Thomas W. Maddox, Susannah C. R. Maidment, Natalie Cooper, Emma R. Schachner, Karl T. Bates
Summary: In this article, the authors examine the relationship between body size, shape, and segment proportions and ecology in 410 tetrapod models. They find that body proportions play a pivotal role in the ecological diversity of tetrapods, with variable allometric relationships and differential scaling in different-sized animals.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Orsolya Vincze, Fernando Colchero, Jean-Francois Lemaitre, Dalia A. Conde, Samuel Pavard, Margaux Bieuville, Araxi O. Urrutia, Beata Ujvari, Amy M. Boddy, Carlo C. Maley, Frederic Thomas, Mathieu Giraudeau
Summary: The study analyzed data on adult zoo mammals and found that cancer is prevalent and has a high frequency in mammals, with significant differences in cancer mortality rates across different mammalian orders. The research also showed that diet is associated with cancer mortality, with carnivorous mammals facing the highest cancer-related mortality. Furthermore, the study provided unequivocal evidence that cancer mortality risk is largely independent of body mass and adult life expectancy across species.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Marcello Mezzasalma, Elvira Brunelli, Gaetano Odierna, Fabio Maria Guarino
Summary: This article provides a comprehensive report on the presence of different types of polyploidy in tetrapods, with a particular focus on its genomic, evolutionary, and ecological diversity. It suggests that polyploidy is an important pathway of genomic evolution in tetrapods, occurring in most higher-taxa and displaying a variety of different forms, genomic configurations, and biological implications.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lene Liebe Delsett, Nicholas Pyenson, Feiko Miedema, Oyvind Hammer
Summary: By comparing the hyoid elements of ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs and odontocete cetaceans, the study reveals significant differences in skeletal features, suggesting different feeding adaptations in these species. Ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs show a more conservative hyoid structure, indicating a lack of adaptation to suction feeding, while odontocete cetaceans display skeletal structures that are better suited for suction feeding. These findings suggest that the hyoid played a lesser role in feeding innovation in ichthyosaurs compared to cetaceans, indicating different evolutionary paths in underwater feeding strategies.
Article
Biology
Xiaoxue Wang, Jiaxiang Hu, Linfei Song, Enguang Rong, Chenghuai Yang, Xiaoyun Chen, Juan Pu, Honglei Sun, Chuze Gao, David W. Burt, Jinhua Liu, Ning Li, Yinhua Huang
Summary: The study examines the molecular mechanism underlying the functional divergence of OAS1 genes in Palaeognathae and Primates, revealing a conservative genetic structure but functional differences, possibly due to variations in active sites and in-frame indels.
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biology
Matthew D. Dean
Summary: Scientists have used an approach to identify candidate genetic mechanisms that led to hairlessness in mammals.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Victoria M. Sedwick, Anita E. Autry
Summary: The amygdalohippocampal transition area (AHi) has recently been recognized as a critical nucleus for sociosexual behaviors, playing a potential role in metabolic, cognitive, and social functions. However, due to changing nomenclature and confusion with neighboring nuclei, the interpretation of AHi literature can be challenging.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Pascal Abel, Ingmar Werneburg
Summary: The morphology of the temporal region in the tetrapod skull has been a widely discussed feature, sparking debates on the phylogenetic, developmental, and functional background. The history of research on the temporal region shows the development of the phylogenetic perspective from early recognition of differences to current assessments, highlighting remaining controversies. Different functional and developmental drivers proposed for morphological diversity are compared, along with interpretations of internal and external factors on tetrapod skull structure.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biology
Sophie Pantalacci
Summary: Despite the differences in tooth geometries, sharks and mice have similar signaling centers regulating their tooth shapes.
Article
Biology
Megan R. Whitney, Benjamin K. A. Otoo, Kenneth D. Angielczyk, Stephanie E. Pierce
Summary: This study reveals rapid juvenile growth in the Early Carboniferous stem tetrapod Whatcheeria, indicating that diverse growth patterns existed at the origins of tetrapod diversification. The findings suggest that elevated juvenile growth is not limited to amniotes and may have played a previously unrecognized role in the tetrapod invasion of land.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Daniel B. Stern, Anna Wilke, Cory M. Root
Summary: The intercalated cells of the amygdala (ITCs) are understudied processing structures that play a role in conditioned fear. This study used genetic strategies to reveal the input and output connections of ITCs in mice. The results show that ITCs receive information from various brain structures and project broadly to different areas, suggesting that they may influence a wide range of behaviors.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Genaro A. Coria-Avila, Deissy Herrera-Covarrubias, Luis Garcia, Rebeca Toledo, Maria Elena Hernandez, Pedro Paredes-Ramos, Aleph A. Corona-Morales, Jorge Manzo
Summary: Maternal behavior involves various responses and processes in different species, mediating the willingness to nurse and protect the young. The expression and duration of maternal behavior differ among species. Neural activation in acceptance, social recognition, inhibition of rejection/fear, and increase in care motivation play a role in mediating maternal behavior. Natural stimuli such as hormones, mating, and previous experience can trigger maternal and paternal behavior. Olfactory pathways and the interconnections of brain structures mediate maternal behavior. Activation of hormones and neurotransmitters also play a role in maternal behavior.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Goran Simic, Mladenka Tkalcic, Vana Vukic, Damir Mulc, Ena Spanic, Marina Sagud, Francisco E. Olucha-Bordonau, Mario Vuksic, Patrick R. Hof
Summary: Emotions are generated by activations of specific neuronal populations in the cerebral cortex, while feelings are conscious emotional experiences of these activations that contribute to enhancing neuronal networks mediating thoughts, language, and behavior. Contemporary theories of emotion highlight the central role of the amygdala as a subcortical emotional brain structure.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chiara Pontremoli, Diego Forni, Uberto Pozzoli, Mario Clerici, Rachele Cagliani, Manuela Sironi
Summary: The study found that genes encoding kinetochore proteins and microtubule-destabilizing factors in mammals evolve rapidly, suggesting a genetic conflict fueled by meiotic drive beyond centromere-specific genes. The rapid evolution of these proteins may imply a role in centromere drive at multiple levels or adaptation to lineage-specific centromeric features.
Article
Immunology
Maria Carolina Matos, Ana Pinheiro, Jose Melo-Ferreira, Randall S. Davis, Pedro Jose Esteves
Summary: The FCRLS gene, originally found in mice, rats, and dogs, is actually present across a wide range of mammalian groups but is often incorrectly annotated or overlooked. It is speculated to have originated in a eutherian mammal ancestor and its distribution pattern in mammalian lineages suggests convergent loss in different species across families like carnivores. FCRLS and FCRL2 show similar evolutionary rates and are believed to have crucial, yet separate, functions in the immune system. Positive diversifying selection has been detected for both genes, indicating that FCRLS is older and more widespread than previously thought, functioning and under positive selection across mammalian lineages. Further research is needed to fully understand its physiological role.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
