Biology

Study: Giraffe Calves Inherit Spot Patterns from Mothers

According to a new study, published in the journal PeerJ, some features of a giraffe’s spot pattern are passed on from mother to baby. Newborn giraffes with large and irregularly shaped spots survive better during their first few months of life. Image credit: Derek Lee, Wild Nature Institute / Pennsylvania …

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Biologists Find Twenty Seven New Bee Viruses

A team of scientists has identified 27 new viruses that infect European honeybees (Apis mellifera) and other bee species. Galbraith et al identified 27 novel viruses in bees. Image credit: Joanna Jankowski. “Populations of bees around the world are declining, and viruses are known to contribute to these declines. Despite …

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Researchers Create Most Detailed 3D Model of Zika Virus to Date

A research team led by Purdue University structural biologist Michael Rossmann was the first to discover the structure of Zika virus — emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to dengue virus — in 2016. Using cryo-electron microscopy, the scientists created an image of the virus at a resolution of 3.8Å (Ångstrom). …

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New Species of Parasitic Wasp Has Alien-Like Lifecycle

A bizarre new species of wasp, named Dolichogenidea xenomorph, has been discovered in Australia. Dolichogenidea xenomorph. Image credit: Erinn Fagan-Jeffries. Dolichogenidea xenomorph measures less than 5 mm and is a parasitoid, meaning that its larvae feed on live host insects. The species has a very long ovipositor, a needle-like structure …

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Swamp Sparrows Have Time-Honored Song Traditions, Study Shows

By faithfully copying the most popular songs, swamp sparrows (Melospiza georgiana) create time-honored song traditions that can be just as long-lasting as human traditions, according to a new study, published in the journal Nature Communications. In fact, song traditions in swamp sparrows often last hundreds of years, with some songs …

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