Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yaru Lu, Jiangwen Luo, Erxia An, Bo Lu, Yinqiu Wei, Xiang Chen, Kunpeng Lu, Shubo Liang, Hai Hu, Minjin Han, Songzhen He, Jianghong Shen, Dongyang Guo, Nvping Bu, Ling Yang, Wenya Xu, Cheng Lu, Zhonghuai Xiang, Xiaoling Tong, Fangyin Dai
Summary: This study investigated the molecular mechanism underlying silkworm green cocoon formation and found that five members of a sugar transporter gene cluster were specifically duplicated and evolved new spatial expression patterns in silk glands, facilitating the uptake of flavonoids and determining the green cocoon. The polymorphic cocoon coloring landscape involving multiple loci and the evolution of cocoon color from wild to domestic silkworms were also analyzed, revealing the involvement of epistatic interaction between loci and the role of genetic segregation, recombination, and variation in shaping the multicolored cocoons. This study provides insights into the mechanism of flavonoid-based biological coloration and phenotypic innovation during domestication.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vincenzo Penteriani, Enrique Gonzalez-Bernardo, Alfonso Hartasanchez, Hector Ruiz-Villar, Ana Morales-Gonzalez, Andres Ordiz, Giulia Bombieri, Juan Diaz Garcia, David Canedo, Chiara Bettega, Maria Del Mar Delgado
Summary: The rather limited human ability to understand animal vision and visual signalling has led to misconceptions about the visual abilities of other animals. However, research suggests that visual signalling may be more widely used by animals than previously thought, especially by species living in dark conditions. Evidence has shown that brown bear adult males rely on visual marks during mating, indicating that visual signalling could be a widely overlooked mechanism in mammal communication.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paola Cerrito, Jeffrey K. Spear
Summary: Maternal resource availability and metabolism have a limiting effect on reproductive output. Allomaternal care and domestication increase maternal energy, leading to an increase in reproductive output. Different forms of external energetic supplementation have varying effects on fertility increase.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Laura A. B. Wilson
Summary: This study measured fluctuating asymmetry in the cranium of six domestic mammal species and their wild relatives, finding that most domestic mammals showed greater disparity for asymmetric shape. However, only two forms, Pig and Dog, exhibited significantly higher disparity and asymmetry compared to their wild counterparts, Wild Boar and Wolf. This suggests that new variation in domesticates may retain a general, conserved pattern in the structuring of the cranium while also responding to selection on specific features.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Natasha Howell, Catherine Sheard, Manisha Koneru, Kasey Brockelsby, Konatsu Ono, Tim Caro
Summary: Black-and-white coloration in mammals serves as a multifunctional warning signal to predators, indicating various defenses beyond noxious anal secretions, as well as being involved with sexual signaling and environmental factors linked to crypsis.
Article
Ecology
Shahar Dubiner, Itai Namir, Ron Chen, Eran Levin
Summary: Camouflage, specifically the tabby pattern, is advantageous for feral cats in natural habitats. This pattern allows them to better blend in with their surroundings, increasing their probability of survival.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Takashi Akagi, Katharina Jung, Kanae Masuda, Kentaro K. Shimizu
Summary: Recent advances in genomics have provided answers to the role of polyploidy in crop species. Polyploidy explains the environmental robustness in agroecosystems and contributes to advantageous traits in polyploid crops. The rapid progress in genomics and genetics will aid in functional studies of under-studied polyploid crop species.
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Antonio Benitez-Burraco, Daniela Poertl, Christoph Jung
Summary: Human self-domestication plays a significant role in language evolution through cultural mechanisms, with interaction with dogs potentially contributing to this process. Various forms of evidence support this hypothesis, suggesting a parallel domestication of humans and dogs.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biology
Ben Thomas Gleeson, Laura A. B. Wilson
Summary: Altered neural crest cell (NCC) behavior is often used to explain domestication syndrome in animals, but recent studies have questioned its validity and even the existence of the syndrome itself. In this review, we synthesize published literature and critiques to propose a novel interpretation, suggesting that shared disruption of wild reproductive regimes primarily caused the trait changes observed under ancient domestication. We compare these clear mechanisms with the more speculative genetic associations suggested by the NCC hypothesis.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Liang Zhao, Bchara Sidnawi, Jichao Fan, Ruiyang Chen, Thomas Scully, Scott Dietrich, Weilu Gao, Qianhong Wu, Bo Li
Summary: Self-limiting assembly is an advanced technology in nanomanufacturing processes, which allows assembly to stop at a designated stage for applications requiring precise thickness control. The majority of successful self-limiting assembly cases have been achieved on rigid substrates through surface-interaction mechanisms. However, achieving uniform particle assembly on flexible polymer substrates is challenging due to the complex configurations and conformations of polymer chains. In this study, collision-based self-limiting assembly (CSA) is demonstrated to achieve wafer-scale, full-coverage, close-packed monolayers of hydrophobic particles on hydrophobic polymer substrates in aqueous solutions. The kinetic assembly and self-limiting processes are facilitated and controlled by combined acoustic and shear fields.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tamas Rasko, Amit Pande, Kathrin Radscheit, Annika Zink, Manvendra Singh, Christian Sommer, Gerda Wachtl, Orsolya Kolacsek, Gizem Inak, Attila Szvetnik, Spyros Petrakis, Mario Bunse, Vikas Bansal, Matthias Selbach, Tamas Orban, Alessandro Prigione, Laurence D. Hurst, Zsuzsanna Izsvak
Summary: The study characterizes a new gene PGBD1, specific to nonmonotreme mammals, under purifying selection, retaining original DNA transposon features and capturing additional domains. PGBD1 was found to have important regulatory functions on genes related to neuronal development, with specific binding activity in the core structural RNA NEAT1 of paraspeckles.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Dafni Anastasiadi, Francesc Piferrer, Maren Wellenreuther, Antonio Benitez Burraco
Summary: Modern humans share phenotypic traits and molecular events with other domesticated animals as a result of selection for reduced aggression, which is known as the human self-domestication hypothesis. Epigenetic changes may have played a role in early self-domestication in humans, and fish species that have been recently domesticated can be used as models to study these epigenetic drivers. This study compared genes with epigenetic changes in early domesticated European sea bass with genes exhibiting methylation changes in anatomically modern humans and neurodevelopmental cognitive disorders, and found overlapping genes involved in limb morphogenesis, abnormal jaw morphology, neural crest differentiation, and ectoderm differentiation. These findings suggest that fish species can be used to investigate epigenetic changes in human self-domestication and cognitive disorders.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Sumanta Das, Ishita De Ghosh, Abir Chattopadhyay
Summary: The research focuses on sclera recognition as a biometric modality, utilizing deep learning models and unsupervised vessel extraction methods for sclera recognition. The proposed model outperforms traditional models in terms of speed, accuracy, and efficiency. A novel deep recognition model is also developed to enhance matching efficiency.
SIGNAL PROCESSING-IMAGE COMMUNICATION
(2021)
Review
Ophthalmology
Gabriella Bulloch, Ishith Seth, Sharanya Sukumar, Yanping Chen, Zhuoting Zhu
Summary: This review summarizes the anatomical consideration and causes of scleral thinning, diagnosis, and the various surgical approaches available to treat scleral thinning. Scleral thinning can lead to perforation and worsening visual functioning. Treatment options include pharmacological treatment and surgical treatments such as scleral transplantation and amniotic membrane transplantation.
CONTACT LENS & ANTERIOR EYE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yameng Liang, Feng Tian
Summary: A new study has found that natural variation in the E1La gene contributed to the adaptation of wild soybeans to high latitude regions. This lost early-flowering allele can potentially be reintroduced into cultivated soybeans to develop early-maturing cultivars.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Sandra Malewski, E. Pascal Malkemper, Frantisek Sedlacek, Radim Sumbera, Kai R. Caspar, Hynek Burda, Sabine Begall
BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kai R. Caspar, Larissa Mader, Fabian Pallasdies, Miriam Lindenmeier, Sabine Begall
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Corinna Fleischle, P. Martin Sander, Tanja Wintrich, Kai R. Caspar
Article
Zoology
Kai R. Caspar
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kai R. Caspar, Katrin Moldenhauer, Regina E. Moritz, Pavel Nemec, E. Pascal Malkemper, Sabine Begall
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kai R. Caspar, Marco Biggemann, Thomas Geissmann, Sabine Begall
Summary: Comparative analysis of ocular pigmentation patterns in 15 species of hominoids reveals a continuum of eye pigmentation traits that do not align with the complexity of gaze-mediated communication, with gibbons displaying darker eyes than great apes and exposing less sclera. Contrary to recent discussions, chimpanzee eyes exhibit a coloration scheme resembling gibbons rather than other apes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kai R. Caspar, Jacqueline Mueller, Sabine Begall
Summary: African mole-rats of the genus Fukomys exhibit a unique combination of monogamous mating system and sexual size dimorphism, living in cooperatively breeding groups. Male mole-rats have larger skulls relative to body size and expansion of the facial portion of the cranium, with no effect from reproductive status. Scaling analyses show compliance to Rensch's rule, indicating intense male intrasexual competition in Fukomys species.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Kai R. Caspar, Alexandra Heinrich, Lea Mellinghaus, Patricia Gerhardt, Sabine Begall
Summary: The study compared auditory responses in African and South American subterranean rodents, finding low auditory sensitivity in African mole-rats and similar auditory capabilities to epigeic rodents in coruros. The results suggest a need for open-mindedness regarding interpretations of hearing physiology in subterranean mammals.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Kai R. Caspar, Sabine Begall
Summary: Sexual size dimorphism in toothed whales follows Rensch's rule, indicating the presence of polygynous and polygynandrous mating systems and significant precopulatory intrasexual competition between males in this group. However, female-biased sexual size dimorphism and monomorphism also occur at notable frequencies, suggesting variability in reproductive strategies among these marine mammals.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kai R. Caspar, Pavel Stopka, Daniel Issel, Kristin H. Katschak, Till Zollner, Sina Zupanc, Petr Zacek, Sabine Begall
Summary: This study reveals that the perioral glands of mole-rats are an important source of olfactory social information. Regardless of sex and reproductive status, these glands develop and exhibit higher activity in males, resulting in sexually dimorphic facial pelage patterns. Behavioral assays show a preference for male perioral swabs, similar to the attraction caused by anogenital scent. Volatile compound analysis demonstrates sex-specific signatures and differentiation between intrasexual reproductive status groups. These findings suggest that mole-rat perioral glands provide complex odor signals crucial for social communication.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Kai R. Caspar, Fabian Pallasdies, Larissa Mader, Heitor Sartorelli, Sabine Begall
Summary: The evolution of human handedness has been debated extensively. By investigating non-human primates, the researchers found that human right-handedness is unique among anthropoids. Species-level direction of manual lateralization is consistent among non-human primates. The strength of hand preference shows variability and is influenced by both ecology and phylogeny. Human lateralization patterns do not align with trends found in other anthropoids, suggesting unique selective pressures.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
R. Sumbera, M. Uhrova, S. Begall, K. R. Caspar, D. Jerkovicova, P. Van Daele, W. N. Chitaukali, C. G. Faulkes, N. C. Bennett, C. Johannes, H. Burda, O. Mikula
Summary: This study characterizes the genetic diversity of Fukomys darlingi populations, with a focus on mole-rats from Nsanje, southern Malawi. The Nsanje mole-rats belong to a deeply nested lineage within the F. darlingi clade, and show differences in body mass and appearance compared to other populations. In addition, mitonuclear discordance was observed within the Fukomys phylogenetic tree.
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Kai R. Caspar, Caroline Kammerer, Michal Hradec
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Bernhard A. Huber, Kai R. Caspar, Jonas Eberle
INVERTEBRATE SYSTEMATICS
(2019)