Year: 2022

PARASITES EDITING. "Importantly, functional fragments of Group II introns can splice out inactive versions in a trans-splicing reaction." (Group II introns are parasitic DNA fragments). https://lnkd.in/eT5V5Xc View in LinkedIn

ACTIVE AND INACTIVE DNA PARASITES. "It is likely that Group II introns proliferated and evolved into two populations: inactivated copies that could be nonetheless spliced out in trans, and active fragments that promoted splicing of the former group." (Group II introns are parasitic DNA fragments). http://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1004351 View in LinkedIn

"TRANS-SPLICING is a special form of RNA processing in eukaryotes where exons from two different primary RNA transcripts are joined end to end and ligated. Whereas "normal" (cis-)splicing processes a single molecule, trans-splicing generates a single RNA transcript from multiple separate pre-mRNAs." https://lnkd.in/ewCxG2B View in LinkedIn

"MANY OPERONS contain genes whose products are known to function together. This presumably provides co-regulation of these proteins by producing a single RNA that encodes both." (An operon is a functioning unit of genomic DNA containing a cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter). https://lnkd.in/eAE72Gm View in LinkedIn

TWO SPACES. "It is likely that the proliferation of trans-splicing triggered the spatial segregation of RNA processing (the nucleoplasm) from the translation machinery (the cytoplasm). This subdivision ensured that mRNAs were properly spliced before they encountered the translation machinery." http://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1004351 View in LinkedIn

Antarctic sea becomes world's largest marine protected area View in LinkedIn

"The Living Planet Index reveals that global populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles declined by 58 per cent between 1970 and 2012" View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE continues for the second weekend on the subject of insect metamorphosis. Genetic triggers launch a series of biochemical methods to digest the cells in the chrysalis and then remodel the ingredients without waste into new cells with new forms and functions, all the while permitting this soup of a creature to continue to breathe and stay alive. The how does not exceed the why in this iconic and mysterious transition. View in LinkedIn

SONG OF DARWIN. "The more I study nature, the more I become impressed […] that the contrivances and beautiful adaptations [acquired through natural selection] transcend in an incomparable degree [those] which the most fertile imagination of the most imaginative man could suggest with unlimited time at his disposal." https://lnkd.in/eykUy37 View in LinkedIn

COMPLETE DEGENERATION. "Metamorphosis represents a critical phase in the development of holometabolous insects, during which the larval body is completely reorganized: in fact, most of the larval organs undergo remodeling or completely degenerate before the final structure of the adult insect is rebuilt." https://lnkd.in/eED2fPx View in LinkedIn