Plants, and all other multi-cellular organisms, develop through the coordinated action of many sets of genes. The authors here investigate the genes, in a class named KNOX, potentially responsible for organizing a certain part of Aquilegia (columbine) flowers called petal spurs. Through the technique Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), they find that certain KNOX genes are expressed non-uniformly in petal spurs, suggesting that they may be involved, perhaps in a cell-specific manner. This research will help guide future efforts toward understanding how many beautiful flowers develop their unique shapes.
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Effectiveness of Biodegradable Plastic in Preventing Food Spoilage
Most people put little thought into the type of plastic wrap they use to store their leftovers. This study investigates the differences between biodegradable plastic wrap and non-biodegradable plastic wrap in their ability to prevent food spoilage. Does one work better than the other? Read more to find out!
Read More...The effect of music on teenagers in combatting stress and improving performance
Here, the researchers investigated how exposure to active versus passive music affects a teenager's ability to perform a challenging task, namely a Sudoku puzzle, under stressful conditions. Following testing 75 high school teenagers split into two group, the researchers found that singing in a choir (active music) yielded a greater improvement in performance compared to passive listening for brief time periods.
Read More...Mendelian randomization reveals shared genetic landscape in autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer's disease
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are distinct conditions, but research suggests a link, as individuals with ASD are 2.5 times more likely to develop AD. A study employing genome-wide association studies and Mendelian randomization revealed shared genetic factors, particularly in synaptic regulation pathways, that may increase the risk of AD in those with ASD. These findings provide insights into the genetic underpinnings connecting the two disorders.
Read More...Upward social comparison on standardized test performance in adolescents and adults
The authors test the effect of test score comparison on the self-efficacy of adolescents versus adults.
Read More...Digestion products of bread and cheese cause addictive behavior in a planaria model
The authors looked at two peptides, gluteomorphin and casomorphin, that are present after the digestion of bread and cheese. As these peptides can bind opioid receptors the authors want to know if they could be addictive in the same way as conventional opioids (i.e., morphine) are known to be. Their results in a planaria model suggest that both of these peptides are addictive.
Read More...Examining the prevalence of depression in coronary artery disease patients: a cross-sectional analysis
The authors surveyed individuals diagnosed with coronary artery disease about their mental health to study a potential connection between coronary artery disease and depression.
Read More...Evaluating the predicted eruption times of geysers in Yellowstone National Park
The authors compare the predicted versus actual geyser eruption times for the Old Faithful and Beehive Geysers at Yellowstone National Park.
Read More...Predictions of neural control deficits in elders with subjective memory complaints and Alzheimer’s disease
The authors compare neuroimaging datasets to identify potential new biomarkers for earlier detection of Alzheimer's disease.
Read More...Mitigating microplastic exposure from water consumption in junior high students and teachers
Microplastics (MPs) are inorganic material that have been observed within items destined for human consumption, including water, and may pose a potential health hazard. Here we estimated the average amount of MPs junior high students and teachers consumed from different water sources and determined whether promoting awareness of microplastic (MP) exposure influenced choice of water source and potential MPs consumed.
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