RESUMO
As the UN International Day for Biological Diversity enters its twentieth year, we take stock of recent developments and trends in biodiversity research and renew the call to build a better shared future for all life.
Assuntos
Biodiversidade , Conservação dos Recursos NaturaisRESUMO
Meta-research involves the interrogation of every stage of the research lifecycle, from conception to publication and dissemination. Looking back over the first six years of PLOS Biology Meta-Research Articles highlights the important insights that can be obtained from such "research on research".
Assuntos
Pesquisa Biomédica/métodos , Projetos de Pesquisa/tendências , Bibliometria , Pesquisa Biomédica/tendências , HumanosRESUMO
Why do some amyloids cause serious neurodegenerative diseases, while others have important biological functions? A new study of the functional amyloid Orb2 suggests that it's all about speed. Read the Research Article.
Assuntos
Proteínas Amiloidogênicas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Drosophila/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Fatores de Poliadenilação e Clivagem de mRNA/metabolismo , AnimaisRESUMO
A new study reveals that an exotic lipid, phosphatidylthreonine, makes up a substantial proportion of the membrane of a widespread human parasite and is essential for its virulence. Read the Research Article.
Assuntos
Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Glicerofosfolipídeos/metabolismo , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos , Modelos Biológicos , Proteínas de Protozoários/metabolismo , Treonina/análogos & derivados , Toxoplasma/metabolismo , Transferases (Outros Grupos de Fosfato Substituídos)/metabolismo , Animais , Humanos , Bicamadas Lipídicas/metabolismo , Especificidade da Espécie , Treonina/metabolismo , Toxoplasma/enzimologia , Toxoplasma/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Toxoplasma/patogenicidade , VirulênciaRESUMO
A study of zebra finches reveals the potential advantages of idiosyncratic mate choice in monogamous animal species. Read the Research Article.
Assuntos
Tentilhões/genética , Aptidão Genética , Preferência de Acasalamento Animal/fisiologia , Comportamento de Nidação , Reprodução , Animais , Feminino , MasculinoRESUMO
This synopsis examines the implications of a new study that imposes primate-like expression of the transcription factor Pax6 on the developing mouse cortex and finds evidence of primate-like proliferation of neuronal progenitors.
Assuntos
Proteínas do Olho/metabolismo , Proteínas de Homeodomínio/metabolismo , Neocórtex/citologia , Células-Tronco Neurais/metabolismo , Neuroglia/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Box Pareados/metabolismo , Proteínas Repressoras/metabolismo , Animais , Feminino , MasculinoRESUMO
Rapid sequential speciation events can outpace the fixation of genetic variants, resulting in a family tree that lacks clear branching patterns. A new study of bird genomes reveals such an explosive super-radiation that may coincide with the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.
Assuntos
Aves/genética , Evolução Molecular , Especiação Genética , Variação Genética , Filogenia , AnimaisRESUMO
A new study uses a massive comparative population genetics dataset to explore why the neutral genetic diversity of a species does not have a simple relationship to its population size.
Assuntos
Biodiversidade , Seleção Genética , AnimaisRESUMO
Fatty acids made in chloroplasts must be exported into the rest of the cell to be converted into commercially important plant oils. A new study identifies FAX1 as a protein that mediates this crucial transport step. Read the Research Article.
