Article
Clinical Neurology
Jerome M. Siegel
Summary: Prospective epidemiological studies indicate that 7 hours of sleep per night for adults is optimal for a longer lifespan. Hunter-gatherer populations sleep for 6-8 hours per night, with longer durations in winter. Insomnia prevalence is lower in hunter-gatherer groups compared to industrial societies. Sleep deprivation studies are often affected by stress. Consideration of sleep duration across species can provide insights into sleep function without stress. Sleep duration is associated with ecological niche and feeding requirements, rather than brain size or cognitive ability. REM sleep plays a role in regulating brain temperature and metabolism.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katharine C. Simon, Lynn Nadel, Jessica D. Payne
Summary: This special feature explores the purposes served by sleep and describes how the functions of sleep are manifested in neural circuits and cognitive structures. It evaluates the dynamic nature of sleep, the competitive arena for memory systems, the consolidation and integration of new memories, and the origin of lucid dreams. The collection of articles highlights new approaches and insights that will eventually help us understand the full range of functions supported by sleep.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jukka Kekalainen
Summary: The article discusses how in natural fertilisation, the female reproductive tract selects specific sperm subpopulations to interact with unfertilised eggs, leading to biased paternity for certain males. The author suggests that genetic compatibility-based cryptic female choice likely occurs in humans, influenced by a complex network of male and female genes. It is also noted that the interaction effect of genetic compatibility on reproductive success is significant and can outweigh individual male and female effects, potentially leading to reproductive failure due to gamete-level incompatibility.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Jose Jessurun
Summary: This article focuses on the various aspects of infection that challenge the universality of medical implications through the application of evolutionary science to medicine. It discusses the divergent epidemiological and clinical outcomes observed in different populations, as well as the potential beneficial aspects of the infection. The article also reviews Correa's seminal contributions to the understanding of gastric cancer and postinflammatory tumors, along with the renewed interest in intestinal metaplasia and its clinical implications.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Beniamino Palmieri, Maria Vadala, Lucia Palmieri
Summary: The innate immune system responds rapidly and effectively to pathogens, while the adaptive immune system has a slower but more memory-based response. Both immune systems have the potential to resist reinfection and modulate responses to various pathogens.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lexuan Gao, Michael B. Kantar, Dylan Moxley, Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos, Loren H. Rieseberg
Summary: The disciplines of evolutionary biology and plant and animal breeding have been intertwined, with artificial selection yielding insights into natural selection, and evolutionary biology guiding modern breeding. This article offers an evolutionary perspective on the challenge of feeding humanity in the face of climate change. Promising strategies to adapt crops to climate change include matching crop varieties with environments, optimizing breeding goals and practices, and exploring new technologies. Evolutionary approaches can enhance these strategies by reconstructing crop evolution, detecting and mitigating deleterious mutations, and improving adaptation to agricultural environments. Continuing collaboration between evolution and crop biology communities is crucial for adapting crops to climate change.
Review
Cell Biology
Barbara Nicol, Martin A. A. Estermann, Humphrey H-C Yao, Namya Mellouk
Summary: This review aims to highlight the conserved and divergent features of ovarian differentiation through an evolutionary perspective, with a focus on ovarian morphogenesis, the evolution of the role of estrogens on ovarian differentiation, and the molecular pathways involved in granulosa cell determination and maintenance.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jorge Botas, Alvaro Rodriguez del Rio, Joaquin Giner-Lamia, Jaime Huerta-Cepas
Summary: GeCoViz is an online resource that provides fast and interactive visualization of custom genomic regions, allowing for easy investigation of the functional and evolutionary interpretation of prokaryotic genes.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Juan Brines, Claude Billeaud
Summary: Lactation is a critical period for mammal feeding. The debate between natural and artificial lactation continues, with a lack of consensus. Information overload may hinder the acquisition of objective knowledge and decision-making in specific circumstances.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Sidi Zhang, Noboru Mizushima
Summary: This issue addresses a frequently asked question regarding the evolution of the macroautophagy/autophagy pathway.
Review
Cell Biology
Martina La Spina, Pablo S. Contreras, Alberto Rissone, Naresh K. Meena, Eutteum Jeong, Jose A. Martina
Summary: Response and adaptation to stress are crucial for survival, and regulation of the transcriptional machinery by the MiT/TFE family of transcription factors is an important aspect of this process. These proteins, conserved through evolution, play key roles in cellular functions in response to various stresses. Their tissue expression and activities are highly regulated by alternative splicing, promoter usage, and posttranslational modifications. The study of MiT/TFE proteins and their transcriptional regulatory mechanisms is important for potential therapeutic targets in human diseases like lysosomal storage disorders, neurodegeneration, and cancer.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Physiology
Lorenzo Cangiano, Sabrina Asteriti
Summary: This study explores the interactions between different photoreceptors in the vertebrate retina and their physiological effects on visual signal processing and perception. It discusses the impact of coupling on various aspects of vision, such as signal to noise ratio, spatial acuity, and color discrimination, emphasizing data from a range of vertebrate models. The study also highlights gaps in knowledge and unanswered questions in the field, pointing towards limited evidence of ancestral forms of photoreceptor coupling.
PFLUGERS ARCHIV-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Zhitao Liu, Chuanglin Fang, Xia Liao, Rong Fan, Biao Sun, Xufang Mu
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of urban evolutionary resilience. The overall evolutionary resilience of Chinese cities has increased, but the disparities between cities have widened. The trade-off or synergetic relationship between urban adaptation and adaptability varies with the stage of urban development. The spatial distribution of urban agglomerations overlaps significantly with the synergy zones of urban adaptation-adaptability relationships.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVIEW
(2023)
Review
Biology
Juan David Leongomez, Jan Havlicek, S. Craig Roberts
Summary: Studies show that specific vocal modulations, similar to infant-directed speech and music, play a role in communicating intentions and mental states during human social interaction. The proposed model suggests that complex social environments and strong social bonds contribute to the development of musicality-related abilities. This model can be further tested by comparing levels of sociality and complexity of vocal communication in other species. The integration of multiple theories presents a new perspective on musicality, emphasizing its role in parent-infant communication and bonding.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Christopher M. West, Daniel Malzl, Alba Hykollari, Iain B. H. Wilson
Summary: Glycosylation is a diverse modification of proteins with different effects in different organisms and cells. It plays important roles in organisms, including defense against external invaders. Studying the glycomes of invertebrates and protists is crucial for understanding the biochemical basis and evolutionary relationships of these organisms.
MOLECULAR & CELLULAR PROTEOMICS
(2021)