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Regulatory changes in the fatty acid elongase eloF underlie the evolution of sex-specific pheromone profiles in Drosophila prolongataThis link opens in a new window Pheromones play a key role in regulating sexual behavior throughout the animal kingdom. In Drosophila and other insects, many cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are sexually dimorphic, and some are known to perform ph... Apr 29, 2025

Experimental short-term heatwaves negatively impact body weight gain and survival during larval development in Bombus terrestris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)This link opens in a new window ABSTRACTClimate change-induced heatwaves threaten global biodiversity, including crucial pollinators like bumblebees. In particular, the increasing frequency, duration and intensity of heatwaves is alarming. Despite these projections, little is known about the effects of short-term heatwaves on insect larval development. Hence, we investigated the impact of simulated heatwaves on the development of 4th instar larvae (L4) of Bombus terrestris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) using an in vitro rearing method. Individual larvae were incubated at 37°C and 38°C for a period of 4 days, with a constant rearing temperature of 34°C as the control. We examined body weight gain, developmental duration, survival to adult stage, and adult body size (i.e. dry mass, intertegular distance, and head width). A simulated heatwave of 37°C did not significantly affect larval development, but 38°C impaired larval body mass gain. While developmental duration and adult body size were unaffected, an acute heat stress of 38°C during the L4 stage reduced the probability of pupae reaching adulthood. These findings highlight the potential for heatwaves to negatively affect bee populations by impairing larval growth and reducing survival to the adult stage, which may have severe implications for colony fitness. Apr 24, 2025

Extracellular and intracellular digestion in bivalves, studied by magnetic resonance imaging with a contrast reagentThis link opens in a new window ABSTRACTWe investigated extracellular and intracellular digestion in bivalves, employing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ruditapes philippinarum clams and Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels were incubated in seawater containing a contrast reagent [gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (GdDTPA)] at 20°C. The digestive systems, from the esophagus to the rectum, were visualized at a high signal intensity by the T1-weighted MRI. The crystalline style of the clam was also identified, which turned counterclockwise when viewed from a ventral–posterior position at a rate of 16 revolutions min−1. Determined using the T1 relaxation rate, the uptake and excretion rates of the GdDTPA in the mussel's digestive glands were 2.9 and 0.25 day−1, respectively, indicating that intracellular digestion in the gland acinar cells is slower than extracellular digestion. These results demonstrate that MRI with contrast reagents is useful to study the activity of the digestive system in bivalves, and that this technique could be applied to study other invertebrates. Apr 15, 2025

How cellular quality control contributes to insulin resistance related to type 2 diabetesThis link opens in a new window Researchers have revealed critical insights into how impaired mitochondrial dynamics and quality control mechanisms in skeletal muscle influence insulin sensitivity in patients with Type 2 Diabetes, or T2D. The research team focused on the significance of deubiquitinating enzymes, or DUBs, in regulating mitochondrial dynamics within skeletal muscle. Findings suggest that mitochondrial fragmentation can bypass defects in mitophagy, the process by which cells remove damaged mitochondria, to sustain skeletal muscle quality control in patients with T2D. This adaptation may help maintain mitochondrial function despite impaired mitophagy. May 2, 2025

Why whale urine is so important to life in the seaThis link opens in a new window Even biologists only capture a glimpse of the lives of whales. There are still many species whose lives are largely a mystery, particularly the deep diving whales. May 3, 2025

A gas cloud 5,500 times as massive as the sun lurks nearbyThis link opens in a new window At 300 light-years away, the interstellar cloud is the closest of its kind ever found to Earth and the largest apparent single structure in the sky. May 2, 2025

American Association for the Advancement of Science A leading international body promoting science and serving as an advocate for all scientific disciplines.
American Institute for Biological Sciences Aims to advance biological research and education for the welfare of society.
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Focused on advancing the scientific understanding of biology at a molecular level.
American Society for Cell Biology Dedicated to cellular biology, this society promotes research, education, and professional development.
Society for Conservation Biology Works towards the scientific study of the maintenance, loss, and restoration of biological diversity.
Society for Developmental Biology Focused on the study of development in all organisms and at all levels, encouraging research and education.

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