Research Progress

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  mTOR masters monocyte/macrophage development

  Monocyte/macrophage plays a critical role in innate immunity against invading pathogens and tissue repair during the period of inflammation resolution.

  Feb 26, 2018
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  Scientists Reveal Divergent and Parallel Routes in Convergence of High-altitude Passerine Birds

  Adaptive evolution in high-altitude vertebrates has been focused by scientists from medicine to evolutionary biologists for a century. Because of a different cardiorespiratory system and physiological regulation, the molecular mechanisms under adaptation in high-altitude environment evolved distinctively in birds from that in mammals.

  Feb 06, 2018
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  Panda tongues evolved to protect them from toxins, study suggests

  With their sharp canine teeth and a gut built to break down meat, pandas have kept many features of their carnivorous ancestors. But these bamboo-munching vegetarians sport one piece of anatomy that may be evolving at a more rapid clip: their tongue. As ancient pandas switched to a plant-based diet, their bitter taste perception got better, according to a new study, helping them detect the dangerous toxins in bamboo.

  Feb 01, 2018
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  Two new snout moth genera and three new species discovered in southern China

  New members have joined the ranks of the snout moths -- one of the largest groups within the insect order known formally as Lepidoptera, comprising all moths and butterflies.

  Jan 29, 2018
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  Novel Body Structure Likely Tied to Mating in New Extinct Insect Species

  Insects, widely distributed worldwide, are the most diverse group of animals on earth (more than one million species) and account for more than 50% of all living species (including bacteria, fungi, and viruses). Insects are divided into more than 30 insect orders, such as Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, etc.

  Jan 24, 2018
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  Endothelial-specific m6A modulates mouse hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development via Notch signaling

  Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can give rise to all blood lineages, including erythrocyte, myelocyte and lymphocyte, and maintain lifelong hematopoiesis in vertebrates. However, the limited source of matched donor-derived HSCs has greatly hindered their application in treatment of malignant blood diseases, therefore how to induce and expand HSCs in vitro has become one of the most desired approaches in clinic.However, to fulfill this end, a complete understanding of molecular mechanisms of HSC development in vivo is a prerequisite in this field.

  Nov 20, 2017
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  Uncovering the molecular bases of chemical communications of Helicoverpa moth species

  To recognize the sex pheromones emitted by their conspecific partners and the odors released by their host plants, moths have evolved highly sensitive olfactory systems. Two closely related species, Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa assulta are both major agricultural pests in China.

  Nov 06, 2017
• The biological consequences of climate change on epidemics may be scale-dependent

  Nov 06, 2017
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  PNAS: UCP 1 Gene-edited pigs are healthy and lean

  There are two distinct types of fat in most eutherian animals: white adipose tissue (WAT) for energy storage and brown adipose tissue (BAT) for energy expenditure. BAT plays an critical role in thermoregulation and combating obesity through burning fat, which relies on the function of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). It has been reported that pigs lack functional UCP1 and brown fat, which makes them susceptible to cold and prone to fat deposition and results in neonatal mortality and decreased production efficiency.

  Oct 26, 2017
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  Tethyan changes shaped aquatic diversification

  The Tethys Ocean existed between the continents of Gondwana and Laurasia, and the Tibetan Plateau was covered by the Tethys 65 million years ago (Ma). The Eocene collision of Eurasia and Africa/India led to the westward retreat of the Tethys.

  Oct 25, 2017