EurekAlert! News by Subject: Biology - News by Subject: Biology

Biology

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 2-Jan-2026 04:11 ET (2-Jan-2026 09:11 GMT/UTC)

19-Sep-2025

Underwater acrobatics of world's smallest marine dolphin: watch and listen

University of Auckland
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists observing from boats knew little of the underwater behaviour of the world’s smallest marine dolphin, New Zealand's Hector’s dolphin. Now, a scientific paper reveals a hidden world.

Journal: Conservation Letters

18-Sep-2025

SHAT2 gene positively regulates shattering and quality traits in rice

KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The AP2/ERF transcription factor SHAT2 positively regulates seed shattering and quality. SHAT2 mutation affects the expression of seed-shattering and quality-related genes. SHAT2 regulates the expression of seed development-related genes through interaction with the GCC-box.

Journal: Journal of Integrative Agriculture
Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Specific Research Fund of the Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Province, China, Nanfan Special Project, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Talent Plan-Outstanding Young Talent, Zhejiang Province’s High-level Talent Special Support Plan-Young Talent, China.

18-Sep-2025

AI model offers accurate and explainable insights to support autism assessment

University of Plymouth
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers from the University of Plymouth (UK) have developed and tested a deep learning model which, in a newly-published research study, has been shown to achieve up to 98% accuracy in distinguishing autistic from neurotypical participants. The researchers hope that, with further validation, their model could benefit autistic people - and the clinicians who assess and support them - by providing accurate, explainable insights to inform decisions.

Journal: EClinicalMedicine

18-Sep-2025

So what should we call this – a grue jay?

University of Texas at Austin
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Biologists, who have reported discovering a bird that’s the natural result of a green jay and a blue jay’s mating, say it may be among the first examples of a hybrid animal that exists because of recent changing patterns in the climate.

Journal: Ecology and Evolution

18-Sep-2025

Better messaging can fight cancer, save lives

University of Texas at Austin
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, according to the World Health Organization. It accounted for 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths in 2022.

Screening, along with early detection and treatment, can greatly improve a patient’s chances of survival. But in low- to middle-income countries, many women are not being screened, and they’re disproportionately dying from the disease.

In new research from Texas McCombs, Anima Nivsarkar, a doctoral student in marketing, uncovers a powerful tool to boost screening: trust. When messages are delivered by trusted and credible sources such as doctors and peers, they increase the likelihood that women will seek potentially life-saving exams.

Journal: Journal of Marketing

18-Sep-2025

Decoding the selfish gene, from evolutionary cheaters to disease control

University of Sheffield
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research is shining a light on one of genetics’ enduring puzzles - how the workings of the so-called “selfish gene” could be harnessed to control harmful insect populations.

Journal: PLOS Genetics

18-Sep-2025

Partnership with Kenya's Turkana community helps scientists discover genes involved in adaptation to desert living

University of California - Berkeley
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In collaboration with Turkana communities, U.S. and Kenyan researchers analyzed Turkana genomes to uncover key genetic adaptations underlying survival in hot and dry environments, revealing how natural selection has enabled this pastoralist population to thrive in the desert. One strongly selected gene is expressed in the kidneys and helps the body conserve water by concentrating urine. It may also play a role in protecting the kidneys from waste generated by purine-rich foods like red meat.

Journal: Science