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Newswise: Using Gene Scissors to Specifically Eliminate Individual Cell Types
Released: 4-Apr-2022 2:05 AM EDT
Using Gene Scissors to Specifically Eliminate Individual Cell Types
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

With the help of the CRISPR/Cas molecular scissors, genetic information in a plant can be modified to make the latter more robust to pests, diseases, or extreme climatic conditions. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have now developed this method further to eliminate the complete DNA of specific cell types and, thus, prevent their formation during plant development. This will also help to better understand development mechanisms in plants. The findings are presented in Nature Communications. (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29130-w)

25-Mar-2022 9:00 AM EDT
Cardamonin Shows Promise for Treating Aggressive Breast Cancer
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)

Cardamonin — a natural compound found in the spice cardamom and other plants — could have therapeutic potential for triple-negative breast cancer, according to a new study using human cancer cells. The findings also show that the compound targets a gene that helps cancer cells elude the immune system.

25-Mar-2022 9:00 AM EDT
Plant Compound Shows Promise for Alleviating Food Allergies
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)

Researchers combined advanced computational methods with experimental studies to gain new insight, at the cell level, into how the plant compound formononetin might be used to treat food allergies. With nearly 10% of the world population affected by food allergies — which are sometimes life-threatening — new treatments are critically needed.

30-Mar-2022 5:05 PM EDT
Estimates of the carbon cycle - vital to predicting climate change - are incorrect, Virginia Tech researchers show
Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech researchers, in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, have discovered that key parts of the global carbon cycle used to track movement of carbon dioxide in the environment are not correct, which could significantly alter conventional carbon cycle models. This finding has the potential to change predictions for climate change, though it is unclear at this juncture if the mismatch will result in more or less carbon dioxide being accounted for in the environment.

Newswise: Molecular ‘blueprint’ illuminates how plants perceive light
Released: 31-Mar-2022 10:40 AM EDT
Molecular ‘blueprint’ illuminates how plants perceive light
Van Andel Institute

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (March 30, 2022) — Plants rely on their ability to sense light for survival. But unlike animals, plants don’t have eyes full of photoreceptors to capture and convey messages from visual stimuli. Instead, plants are coated with a network of light-sensing photoreceptors that detect different wavelengths of light, allowing them to regulate their lifecycles and adjust to environmental conditions.

Newswise: New ‘crime scene investigation’ may save endangered carnivorous plants
Released: 30-Mar-2022 12:35 PM EDT
New ‘crime scene investigation’ may save endangered carnivorous plants
Curtin University

Researchers have combined macro photography with DNA metabarcoding to create a new botanical “CSI” tool that may hold the key to safeguarding the future of Australia’s critically endangered carnivorous plants.

Released: 29-Mar-2022 4:10 PM EDT
Developing design criteria for active green wall bioremediation performance
NYU Tandon School of Engineering

In research led by Elizabeth Hénaff, with collaborators from Yale University In this new study explore how active plant-based systems may address air pollutions. The researchers investigated relationships between plant species choice, growth media design (hydroponic versus organic), and factors of design-related performance such as weight, water content, and air flow rate through growth media.

Newswise: Spero Renewables ‘TAPs’ Idaho National Laboratory
Released: 29-Mar-2022 12:00 PM EDT
Spero Renewables ‘TAPs’ Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

Recently, researchers at Spero Renewables, a California-based green technology company, tapped into Idaho National Laboratory's (INL) Technical Assistance Program to work with researchers at the Biomass Feedstocks National User Facility. The program provides U.S.-based small businesses with access to INL experts and unique capabilities at no cost. Spero is using environmentally friendly practices to manufacture renewable chemicals from plant-based materials.

Newswise: Bioenergy scientists discover genetic pathway for better biofuel processing
Released: 28-Mar-2022 12:15 PM EDT
Bioenergy scientists discover genetic pathway for better biofuel processing
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

A team of researchers working with the Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has discovered a pathway to encourage a type of lignin formation in plants that could make the processing of crops grown for products such as sustainable jet fuels easier and less costly.

Newswise: The hardy wild grass that could save our bread
Released: 25-Mar-2022 12:05 PM EDT
The hardy wild grass that could save our bread
John Innes Centre

An obscure species of wild grass contains “blockbuster” disease resistance that can be cross bred into wheat to give immunity against one of the deadliest crop pathogens.

Released: 23-Mar-2022 12:05 PM EDT
Neighbourhoods feeling the heat as medium density housing robs suburbs of street and garden trees
University of South Australia

University of South Australia researchers are calling for new national planning policies to mandate the inclusion of trees in any future housing developments and architectural designs.

Newswise: Value-Added Eucalyptus Pulp as Plastic Substitutes to Reduce Pollution
Released: 23-Mar-2022 8:55 AM EDT
Value-Added Eucalyptus Pulp as Plastic Substitutes to Reduce Pollution
Chulalongkorn University

Chula Master in Engineering student’s research on turning the cellulose in eucalyptus pulp into plastic substitutes with added antiseptic property hopes to help lower cost, and branch out into various environmental and human-friendly products.

Newswise:Video Embedded salt-marsh-grass-on-georgia-s-coast-gets-nutrients-for-growth-from-helpful-bacteria-in-its-roots
VIDEO
Released: 22-Mar-2022 11:40 AM EDT
Salt Marsh Grass On Georgia’s Coast Gets Nutrients for Growth From Helpful Bacteria in Its Roots
Georgia Institute of Technology

A new study led by Georgia Tech points to possible help for restoring marine ecosystems — and provides more data on the role microbes play in marsh plant health and productivity.

15-Mar-2022 8:00 AM EDT
Cooking up a way to remove microplastics from wastewater — with okra, aloe
American Chemical Society (ACS)

The goo from okra is known to thicken stews, but it can also clean water of some types of pollutants. Now, researchers report that combinations of okra and other food-grade plant extracts can remove microplastics from wastewater. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2022.

Newswise: Two new grape varieties offer tropical flavors, grower-friendly features
Released: 21-Mar-2022 5:00 PM EDT
Two new grape varieties offer tropical flavors, grower-friendly features
Cornell University

Two newly released grape varieties, developed collaboratively between Cornell AgriTech and Sun World International, a global fruit genetics and licensing company, offer new flavors for consumers and better growing characteristics for farmers.

Released: 21-Mar-2022 10:10 AM EDT
COVID-19 pandemic fueled massive growth in green industry
University of Georgia

Most people would say the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been a great couple of years. But for the green industry, like plant nurseries and greenhouses, it’s been a boon. But will the uptick in gardening last once the last coronavirus restrictions are lifted? Probably not to the same extreme levels, according to new research from the University of Georgia. But for some, the introduction to gardening may have been just what they needed to dive into a new hobby.

Newswise: Evolution in Chicago’s clover: DePaul University researchers help chart global human impact on nature
Released: 18-Mar-2022 1:35 PM EDT
Evolution in Chicago’s clover: DePaul University researchers help chart global human impact on nature
DePaul University

Jalene LaMontagne, associate professor of ecology, and Windsor Aguirre, associate professor of evolutionary biology, are among hundreds of researchers who collected clover in 160 cities all over the world. The research, published this week in the journal “Science,” offers insight into how urbanization is transforming the genetic properties of plants and animals around us.

Newswise: Monarch butterflies increasingly plagued by parasites, study shows
Released: 18-Mar-2022 12:45 PM EDT
Monarch butterflies increasingly plagued by parasites, study shows
Emory University

Monarch butterflies, one of the most iconic insects of North America, are increasingly plagued by a debilitating parasite, a major new analysis shows.

Newswise: New, clearest evidence yet that humans are a dominant force driving evolution
Released: 18-Mar-2022 12:30 PM EDT
New, clearest evidence yet that humans are a dominant force driving evolution
University of Toronto

Humans reshape the environments where they live, with cities being among the most profoundly transformed environments on Earth. New research now shows that these urban environments are altering the way life evolves.



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