Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elis Newham, Pamela G. Gill, Ian J. Corfe
Summary: By reviewing state-of-the-art fossil and living mammal studies, it is suggested that mammalian endothermy was established amongst Middle Jurassic crown mammals. Physiological evolution was primarily influenced by shifting environmental pressures and ecological opportunities.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Bjarke Jensen, Henrik Lauridsen, Grahame J. W. Webb, Tobias Wang
Summary: Non-crocodylian reptiles have hearts with a single ventricle, but the hearts of monitor lizards and pythons have functional division resembling mammals and birds. The hearts of leatherback turtles may have similar adaptations due to their extensive migrations and elevated body temperatures. This study provides detailed anatomical information on the hearts of leatherback turtles and suggests that their relatively large ventricles may meet exceptional circulation needs.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Carolina A. Hoffmann, P. G. Rodrigues, M. B. Soares, M. B. de Andrade
Summary: Computed tomography is a useful non-destructive method for analyzing the internal structures of fossils. This study analyzed the digital endocasts of two non-mammaliaform cynodonts to assess brain development and found new brain morphology features. The 3D digital endocasts and EQ estimates are relevant for assessing intraspecific variation and ontogenetic changes in these fossil taxa.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Simone Hoffmann
Summary: Newly discovered fossil evidence has prompted a re-evaluation of the transition of bones of the lower jaw into those of the middle ear, shedding new light on the evolution of the middle ear in mammals.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Carla S. dos Santos, Tito Mendes, Agostinho Antunes
Summary: Sex chromosomes have a specific recombination region called PAR1, which exhibits higher recombination rates and important gene functions. This study revealed strong negative selection and a few genes with positive selection in PAR1 across diverse mammalian species. Additionally, there were differences in the PAR1 gene synteny, especially in rodents, which may contribute to their rapid evolution.
Article
Biology
Baosheng Wu, Xueli Gao, Mingling Hu, Jing Hu, Tianming Lan, Tingfeng Xue, Wenjie Xu, Chenglong Zhu, Yuan Yuan, Jiangmin Zheng, Tao Qin, Peidong Xin, Ye Li, Li Gong, Chenguang Feng, Shunping He, Huan Liu, Haimeng Li, Qing Wang, Zhenhua Ma, Qiang Qiu, Kun Wang
Summary: This study investigated the heat producing tissues of mackerel tuna and billfish, and found that the tunas primarily rely on shivering thermogenesis while the billfish mainly rely on non-shivering thermogenesis. Although their thermogenic strategies differ, these species share similar expression patterns in some aspects, highlighting the complexity of convergent evolution.
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Arymatheia Santos Franco, Rodrigo Temp Mueller, Agustin G. Martinelli, Carolina A. Hoffmann, Leonardo Kerber
Summary: Traversodontidae is a group of Triassic herbivorous/omnivorous cynodonts that represents the most diversified lineage within Cynognathia. In this study, the nasal cavity morphology of two abundant and well-documented traversodontids was compared using computed tomography, revealing structural changes related to the origin of mammaliaforms. The absence of ossified turbinals and cribriform plate, presence of lateral ridges, and differences in nasolacrimal duct inclination between species were highlighted in the analysis.
JOURNAL OF PALEONTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mingxing Wang, Jin He, Shanshan Li, Qianwen Cai, Kaiming Zhang, Ji She
Summary: Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters are responsible for the uptake and distribution of vitamin C in mammals. In this study, cryo-EM structures of mouse SVCT1 in both the apo and substrate-bound states were determined, revealing the structural basis for substrate recognition and transport. The core domain and gate domain of SVCT1 form a homodimer, with vitamin C binding at the core domain and potential sodium ions near the binding site, explaining their coupling transport. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanism of SVCT recognition and transport of vitamin C.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Danielle L. Levesque, Ana M. Breit, Eric Brown, Julia Nowack, Shaun Welman
Summary: Variability in body temperature is common among warm-blooded animals, with strict homeothermy being the exception. Various body temperature patterns exist, ranging from strict homeothermy to seasonal hibernation. However, the benefits of temperature variation outside of hibernation are often overlooked. Warm-blooded animals that do not hibernate can still save energy and water through flexible regulation of body temperature. Higher temperature flexibility can save water, while lower temperature flexibility reduces the energetic costs of thermoregulation during rest. We propose a broader use of the term heterothermy to include non-torpid variations in body temperature.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Aidan O. Howenstine, Alexa Sadier, Neal Anthwal, Clive L. F. Lau, Karen E. Sears
Summary: This review highlights the importance of non-model systems in studying limb evo-devo, emphasizing the wide variation present across mammal forelimbs. It discusses the role of gene networks in limb evolution and lays the groundwork for further developmental studies. The field of mammal limb evo-devo is rich with potential and key findings from recent works.
CURRENT OPINION IN GENETICS & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Biology
Amanda Kowalczyk, Maria Chikina, Nathan Clark
Summary: This study identifies the genetic basis of reduced body hair in mammals and discovers hundreds of putative hair-related regulatory elements. It reveals the different evolutionary patterns and influences of genes and noncoding regions on hair growth and development.
Article
Biology
Evgeny Fraimovitch, Tzachi Hagai
Summary: This study analyzed the promoters of gene duplicates and their differences. It was found that the promoters of recent duplications showed higher sequence similarity, while the sequence similarity rapidly declined between promoters of older paralogs. Additionally, cis-regulation of promoters was related to promoter architecture, with paralogs containing CpG Islands sharing a greater fraction of transcription factors. The study also revealed asymmetry in cis-regulation and promoter properties associated with duplication mechanism and the retention or loss of duplicates.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chandni Das, Nibedita Sinha, Poulomi Roy
Summary: The identification of hydrogen as a green fuel has sparked interest in sustainable development and research in water electrolysis. Transition metal non-oxides (TMNOs) have emerged as efficient electrocatalysts, outperforming transition metal oxides (TMOs). TMNOs can effectively catalyze the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), making them potential replacements for conventional noble metal electrocatalysts. This review discusses the crystal structure, synthesis strategies, and properties of nanostructured TMNOs, as well as the challenges and future prospects of energy conversion and storage materials in advancing the hydrogen economy.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gabriel M. Hauswirth, Victoria C. Garside, Lisa S. F. Wong, Heidi Bildsoe, Jan Manent, Yi-Cheng Chang, Christian M. Nefzger, Jaber Firas, Joseph Chen, Fernando J. Rossello, Jose M. Polo, Edwina McGlinn
Summary: Vertebral column length and shape are highly conserved within a species, but show diversity across species. This study reveals the molecular mechanisms that constrain vertebral number in mice and highlights a novel role for posterior Hox genes in this process.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Qing He, Chen Cheng, Xinsha Zhang, Qinghua Guo, Lu Ding, Abdul Raheem, Guangsuo Yu
Summary: In this study, the pyrolysis process of low-ash coal and high-ash coal was investigated, revealing the pyrolysis mechanism of coal, non-isothermal kinetics, and the interaction between minerals and organics. The findings showed that coal pyrolysis occurs in two steps, and high-temperature inner minerals can promote graphitization. After demineralization, the distribution of pyrolysis activation energy becomes more concentrated.
Article
Biology
A. W. Crompton, Catherine Musinsky
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar, Armita R. Manafzadeh, Juri A. Miyamae, Eva A. Hoffman, Elizabeth L. Brainerd, Catherine Musinsky, Alfred W. Crompton
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar, Armita R. Manafzadeh, Juri A. Miyamae, Eva A. Hoffman, Elizabeth L. Brainerd, Catherine Musinsky, Alfred W. Crompton