Category: Uncategorized

BAT VISION. "Parallel and Convergent Evolution of the Dim-Light Vision Gene RH1 in Bats (Order: Chiroptera)." An impressive study of the rhodopsin gene in numerous bat clades, showing convergent evolution of this important visual molecule. https://lnkd.in/eEJwPzg View in LinkedIn

TOXIC TOAD FEEDING REPTILES. "Importantly, resistance in all taxa is mediated by replacements of 2 of the 12 amino acids comprising the Na+/K+-ATPase H1–H2 extracellular domain that constitutes a core part of the cardiac glycoside binding site." Exquisite sensitivity. https://lnkd.in/e8bgnWm View in LinkedIn

SIMPLEST RESISTANCE. "In toad-feeding reptiles, resistance is conferred by two point mutations that have evolved convergently on four occasions, whereas evidence of a molecular reversal back to the susceptible state in varanid lizards migrating to toad-free areas suggests that toxin resistance is maladaptive in the absence of selection." https://lnkd.in/e8bgnWm View in LinkedIn

TOXICITY RESISTANCE. "We demonstrate that several lineages of insects, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals have utilized the same molecular solution, via the process of convergence, to evolve resistance to toxic cardiac glycosides produced defensively by plants and bufonid toads." https://lnkd.in/e8bgnWm View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE continues from last weekend with selected examples of convergent evolution in nature, ranging from snake venom toxicity resistance to bat and whale echolocation, and fish antifreeze molecules. There are many more well documented examples. View in LinkedIn

Family kicked off flight over peanut allergy. View in LinkedIn

THE QUESTION. "It has to be considered that the biological activity of microRNAs does not necessarily correlate with their abundance but rather with their presence in exosomes. However before comprehensive food microRNA data bases are released, it needs to be assured if and to what extent microRNAs are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract." https://lnkd.in/erkHGt5 View in LinkedIn

OPEN QUESTION. "Foods provide fats, carbohydrates, and proteins as well as vitamins, minerals and trace elements. These dietary factors may influence cellular processes by regulating endogenous microRNA expression. It has been shown that plant and animal derived foods also contain microRNA. Yet, it is unclear if and to what extent plant and animal food derived microRNAs are absorbed by mammals." https://lnkd.in/erkHGt5 View in LinkedIn

FETAL TRANSFER. "The presence of plant miRNAs in fetal umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid suggests that exogenous miRNAs could transfer through the placenta to the fetal side. Plant miRNAs were also found in the mouse fetuses by quantitative RT-PCR." https://lnkd.in/eA6-J-S View in LinkedIn

miRNA PLACENTAL TRANSFER. "Small non-coding RNAs transfer through mammalian placenta and directly regulate fetal gene expression...we were surprised to find exogenous plant miRNAs in human umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid. In conclusion, the present study provides the first evidence that small non-coding RNA can be transplacentally transmitted from the mother to the fetus." https://lnkd.in/eA6-J-S View in LinkedIn