CalTechNews - Biology http://www.caltechnews.com Tue, 22 May 2012 21:08:50 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 Chemical Exposure Raises Descendants' Sensitivity to Stress http://www.caltechnews.com/article/chemical_exposure_raises_descendants_sensitivity_to_stress Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and Washington State University have seen an increased reaction to stress in animals whose ancestors were exposed to an environmental compound generations earlier. CalTechNews Mon, 21 May 2012 20:27:59 +0100 How Birds Learn Songs: Motor Control Insights http://www.caltechnews.com/article/how_birds_learn_songs_motor_control_insights To learn its signature melody, the male songbird uses a trial-and-error process to mimic the song of its father, singing the tune over and over again CalTechNews Sun, 20 May 2012 22:53:12 +0100 Ancient Giant Turtle Fossil Was Size of Smart Car http://www.caltechnews.com/article/ancient_giant_turtle_fossil_was_size_of_smart_car Picture a turtle the size of a Smart car, with a shell large enough to double as a kiddie pool CalTechNews Thu, 17 May 2012 23:49:50 +0100 32,000-Year-Old Plant Reborn From Ancient Fruit http://www.caltechnews.com/article/32,000-year-old_plant_reborn_from_ancient_fruit Researchers in Russia have revived a fertile plant from the remains of 32,000-year-old fruit that was found buried within the fossilized burrows of ancient squirrels deep in the Siberian ice CalTechNews Thu, 17 May 2012 11:14:11 +0100 Ancient Sea Reptile With Gammy Jaw Suggests Dinosaurs Got Arthritis Too http://www.caltechnews.com/article/ancient_sea_reptile_with_gammy_jaw_suggests_dinosaurs_got_arthritis_too Imagine having arthritis in your jaw bones ... if they're over 2 meters long! A study by scientists has found signs of a degenerative condition similar to human arthritis in the jaw of a pliosaur, an ancient sea reptile that lived 150 million years ago CalTechNews Tue, 15 May 2012 23:13:33 +0100 Plant Protein Discovery Could Boost Bioeconomy http://www.caltechnews.com/article/plant_protein_discovery_could_boost_bioeconomy Research groups from Iowa State University and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have uncovered the function of three plant proteins, a discovery that could help plant scientists boost seed oil production in crops CalTechNews Mon, 14 May 2012 17:19:34 +0100 Pythons Swallow Whole Deer in Florida http://www.caltechnews.com/article/pythons_swallow_whole_deer_in_florida The meandering trail in the Everglades marshlands was made by alligators, I’m told, so be careful. There’s also poisonwood, fire ants and the recently added Burmese python CalTechNews Sat, 12 May 2012 09:08:17 +0100 The Spider's Venomous Fang http://www.caltechnews.com/article/the_spider_s_venomous_fang Among the factors that make spiders successful predators is the ingeniously composed and structured material of their fangs CalTechNews Sat, 12 May 2012 08:40:09 +0100 Growing Fingers Like Birds Grow Feathers? http://www.caltechnews.com/article/growing_fingers_like_birds_grow_feathers_ This summer's action film, "The Amazing Spider-Man™," is another match-up between the superhero and his nemesis the Lizard. Moviegoers and comic book fans alike will recall that the villain CalTechNews Thu, 10 May 2012 22:31:17 +0100 Rare Glimpse of World's Rarest Gorilla http://www.caltechnews.com/article/rare_glimpse_of_world_s_rarest_gorilla Conservationists working in Cameroon's Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary have collected the first camera trap video footage of the Cross River gorilla CalTechNews Tue, 08 May 2012 18:56:29 +0100