Monthly Archives: July 2017

Seeing double in arachnid genomes: new insights into the consequences of whole genome duplication in animals

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Research published today in BMC Biology finds that whole genome duplication, a process in which an organism’s entire genome duplicates, occurred in the lineage leading to spiders but not their distant arachnid relatives, ticks and mites. Here to discuss this research and whole genome duplication in the ancestors of vertebrates and other chelicerates is author of the study, Alistair P. McGregor.

Biology

The genesis of MRSA: resistance emerged years before the introduction of methicillin in the clinic

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New research published in Genome Biology finds that methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) emerged years before the antibiotic methicillin was used in clinical practice, overturning the conventional wisdom that the widespread use of the methicillin was the driving force behind the evolution of MRSA. Here to tell us about their surprising discovery are authors of the research Catriona Harkins and Mathew Holden.

Biology Medicine

Vladimir Putin and the empty chair: Can people spot fake pictures?

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New research published in Cognitive Research: Principles & Implications finds that people can only detect a fake image of a real word scene 60% of the time and can only identify exactly what has been manipulated in the image 45% of the time. This blog written by Stephan Lewandowsky of the Psychonomic Society explores this research in the context of real word instances where people have been duped by fake images.

Biology Technology

Potential therapy for Parkinson’s disease through llama antibodies

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A study published today in BMC Biology reports that llama-derived nanobodies – essentially miniature antibodies – might find therapeutic application in Parkinson’s disease, with nanobodies binding to harmful protein clumps called oligomers to neutralize toxicity and help prevent cell death. Here to tell us more are two authors of the paper Erwin De Genst and Marija Iljina.

Biology