Anna-Liisa Laine
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R222-R223. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.075.ABSTRACTInterview with Anna-Liisa Laine, who studies the ecology and evolution of plant-microbe interactions at the University of Helsinki.PMID:38531307 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.075 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Anna-Liisa Laine Source Type: research

Meiofauna
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R223-R225. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.017.ABSTRACTChristopher Laumer introduces meiofauna - a community of microscopic animals and microbial eukaryotes that occur in aquatic habitats, often in the sediment.PMID:38531308 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.017 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Christopher Laumer Source Type: research

Ecological niche modelling
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R225-R229. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.018.ABSTRACTOne of the central research questions in ecology and biogeography revolves around understanding the spatial distribution patterns of organisms, the factors influencing species abundance, and why in certain areas there are more species or individuals than in others. Addressing these questions not only forms the bedrock of scientific research in ecology and evolution but also has critical implications for biodiversity conservation and management. To safeguard species, restore habitats, prevent invasions and anticipate future impacts, it is imperat...
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Wilfried Thuiller Source Type: research

The overlooked role of unisensory precision in multisensory research
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R229-R231. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.057.ABSTRACTZhu et al. present an alternative explanation for the weaker multisensory illusions in football goalkeepers compared with outfielders and non-athletes, showing that better unisensory precision in goalkeepers can also account for this effect.PMID:38531310 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.057 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Haocheng Zhu Ulrik Beierholm Ladan Shams Source Type: research

The 'after you' gesture in a bird
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R231-R232. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.030.ABSTRACTGestures are ubiquitous in human communication, involving movements of body parts produced for a variety of purposes, such as pointing out objects (deictic gestures) or conveying messages (symbolic gestures)1. While displays of body parts have been described in many animals2, their functional similarity to human gestures has primarily been explored in great apes3,4, with little research attention given to other animal groups. To date, only a few studies have provided evidence for deictic gestures in birds and fish5,6,7, but it is unclear whether...
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Toshitaka N Suzuki Norimasa Sugita Source Type: research

Notes from Beethoven's genome
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R233-R234. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.025.ABSTRACTRapid advances over the last decade in DNA sequencing and statistical genetics enable us to investigate the genomic makeup of individuals throughout history. In a recent notable study, Begg et al.1 used Ludwig van Beethoven's hair strands for genome sequencing and explored genetic predispositions for some of his documented medical issues. Given that it was arguably Beethoven's skills as a musician and composer that made him an iconic figure in Western culture, we here extend the approach and apply it to musicality. We use this as an example to i...
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Laura W Wesseldijk Tara L Henechowicz David J Baker Giacomo Bignardi Robert Karlsson Reyna L Gordon Miriam A Mosing Fredrik Ull én Simon E Fisher Source Type: research

Disambiguating vision with sound
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R235-R236. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.043.ABSTRACTAn important task for the visual system is to identify and segregate objects from background. Figure-ground illusions, such as Edgar Rubin's bistable 'vase-faces illusion'1, make the point clearly: we see either a central vase or lateral faces, alternating spontaneously, but never both images simultaneously. The border is perceptually assigned to either faces or vase, which become figure, the other shapeless background2. The stochastic alternation between figure and ground probably reflects mutual inhibitory processes that ensure a single percep...
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Monica Gori David Burr Claudio Campus Source Type: research

Dendrochronology: Large datasets help explain when and how trees grow but not why
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R237-R239. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.051.ABSTRACTA meta-analysis of a large dataset of wood cell formation observations from several tree species in the Northern Hemisphere suggests that the 5th of June is favorable for cell division and enlargement, while the summer solstice promotes cell wall thickening.PMID:38531314 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.051 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Paolo Cherubini Source Type: research

Self-recognition: From touching the body to knowing the self
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R239-R241. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.007.ABSTRACTRecognizing oneself in a mirror is a classic test of self-concept. A new study has revealed the perceptual-motor foundations of conceptual self-knowledge: infants' success in the mirror test was accelerated after touching a tactile stimulus while viewing themselves in a mirror.PMID:38531315 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.007 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Karen E Adolph Catherine S Tamis-LeMonda Source Type: research

Sexual reproduction: Is the genetic pathway for female germ cell specification conserved in land plants?
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R241-R244. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.062.ABSTRACTLand plants share several core factors responsible for female gametophyte development, despite their differing structures and developmental programs. New work providing molecular dissection of reproductive phases in non-angiosperm plants is a powerful tool for elucidating the underlying genetic network.PMID:38531316 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.062 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Emiko Yoro Keiko Sakakibara Source Type: research

Cancer cell invasion: Caveolae and invadosomes are  partners in crime
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R244-R246. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.006.ABSTRACTDuring cancer progression, tumor cells need to disseminate by remodeling the extracellular tumor matrix. A recent study sheds light on the intricate cooperation between caveolae and invadosomes that facilitates the spread of cancer cells.PMID:38531317 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.006 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Laura Sotodosos-Alonso Miguel A Del Pozo Source Type: research

Pathogen evolution: Protective microbes act as  a double-edged sword
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R247-R249. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.013.ABSTRACTVaccines and infection can sometimes cause incomplete immunity, which allows for pathogen re-infection with decreased disease severity but also contributes to the evolution of pathogen virulence. A new study demonstrates that incomplete immunity from resident protective microbes results in similar evolutionary trajectories.PMID:38531318 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.013 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Hala Tamim El Jarkass Aaron W Reinke Source Type: research

Sensory ecology: Uncovering the neural basis of  settlement in a marine larva
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R249-R251. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.019.ABSTRACTMarine larvae must sense various environmental cues to find a suitable spot where they can settle and metamorphose. New work identifies the specific neurons that transduce these cues in the larva of Ciona, a non-vertebrate chordate.PMID:38531319 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.019 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Alberto Stolfi Source Type: research

Ecology: A few species dominate forest tree abundance pan-tropically
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R251-R254. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.016.ABSTRACTAn analysis of over 1 million old-growth tropical forest trees reveals that ∼2.2% of species comprise 50% of the individuals in Africa, Amazonia, and Southeast Asia, suggesting that the ecological mechanisms underpinning tree community assembly are ubiquitous across the tropics.PMID:38531320 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.016 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: David P Edwards Robert W Davies Mike R Massam Source Type: research

Ecosystem restoration: Healing blasts from the past
Curr Biol. 2024 Mar 25;34(6):R254-R256. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.012.ABSTRACTBlast fishing reduces coral reefs to fields of rubble. A new study of a project to restore blast-fished reefs reveals rapid recovery of reef carbonate budgets and reef health but highlights that further work is needed to restore coral biodiversity.PMID:38531321 | DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.012 (Source: Current Biology)
Source: Current Biology - March 26, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Liam Lachs Source Type: research