When the Atlantic herring colonised the Baltic Sea thousands of years ago, it needed to adapt to the low salinity. Genes with a vital role in the functioning of sperm, eggs and embryos were crucial to this adaptation. In this new study, the researchers sequenced the whole genome of a large number of herring, Atlantic as well as Baltic, and show that genetic changes in genes expressed in sperm, eggs and early embryos were crucial for adaptation to the Baltic Sea. The results make perfect sense given that in species with external fertilisation, sperm, eggs and embryos are directly exposed to the environment and must therefore adapt to the local conditions. Four specific genes were highlighted as particularly important (listed below)

For decades, the search for life beyond Earth has revolved around a key question: What molecules should scientists be looking for on other planets or moons? A new study suggests the more revealing clue may not be the molecules themselves, but the hidden order connecting them.

Scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and Helmholtz Munich have developed RegVelo, a new AI framework that predicts how cells acquire their identities and identifies the genetic regulators guiding those changes. Published in Cell, the study used zebrafish neural crest development to show RegVelo can uncover early drivers of cell fate, including regulators of pigment cell formation, and then support those predictions experimentally. The researchers also applied the framework across multiple biological systems, suggesting its value extends beyond neural crest cells as a broadly useful tool for studying how cells change over time. The team says the new model could pave the way for future cell therapy treatments.

Researchers develop light-induced Asp(D)-to-Ala(A) protein editors (LIDAPEs) which enable site-specific residue editing of endogenous protein in living cells, and lay the foundation for a new class of chemical biology tools.

Harbour porpoises were once found across a much wider area of the Baltic Sea than they are today, including regions where they are now rare or absent. This is shown in a new study that uses centuries-old Swedish newspapers to reconstruct past distribution patterns.

Biologists have long puzzled over why organisms with similar numbers of protein-coding genes can differ so dramatically in nervous system complexity. New research points to a potential link between the expanding diversity of RNA-binding proteins, which shape how genetic instructions are processed, and greater brain sophistication.

Bitter-tasting herbal extracts have traditionally been used to support digestion, yet the molecular basis of their effects has remained largely unclear. The Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich has now gained new insights into this mechanism. Using a cellular model, its researchers demonstrated that herbal extracts can stimulate proton secretion in human gastric cells as key mechanism of gastric acid production, with combinations of extracts showing particularly strong effects. Extracts rich in polyphenols proved especially potent. The study further identified three human bitter taste receptor subtypes as key mediators of this response.

Population aging challenges not only longevity but also maintenance of independence. Muscle power declines earlier and faster than strength and is crucial for daily movements. It can be easily assessed using the 30-second sit-to-stand test and a simple equation. In 1876, older adults, low muscle power was linked to a higher likelihood of previous falls and fractures, and higher risk of hospitalization and mortality. This simple test provides a powerful, accessible biomarker of healthy aging.