In the rugged cliffs of West Africa, a humble plant named Virectaria stellata has sparked a scientific puzzle. This plant, found in Guinea, has unique star-shaped hairs that don't belong to its family. This discovery is shaking up what we thought we knew about how plants evolve and pass on traits.
Waterborne bacteria are a big deal for public health. They can cause infections, and some of them are resistant to antibiotics. This makes them even more dangerous. Scientists have created a model to understand how these bacteria spread in recreational water and how they can cause urinary tract infe
Ever wondered why leaf beetle larvae prefer to munch on old leaves while their parents enjoy fresh ones? Scientists found that these tiny creatures have a secret weapon: bacteria-borrowed genes. These genes help the larvae break down cellulose, a tough fiber found in mature leaves. Without these gen
Mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, have their own genome. This genome works closely with the nucleus to manage crucial genes for energy production. One key process is splicing, where plant mitochondria cut and reconnect pieces of genetic material. This study looked at 25 of these splicing event
