Life Lines
Dr. Dolittle
Painted Turtle Genome
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on April 7, 2013 Now we can add Western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) to the list of species to have their genome sequenced. The goal of sequencing their genome was to try to find genes that control the ability of these animals to survive freezing solid during the winter. Because they are not able to breathe while frozen,…
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on April 4, 2013 Last year we talked about how rats can apparently laugh. This year, new research published in PLoS ONE suggests that mice can cough. It actually surprised me to learn this was a controversial topic, since no one has reportedly attempted to tease apart the barely audible sound of a cough from the other sounds mice make. Researchers…
Fluorescent millipedes on Alcatraz
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on March 29, 2013 Alcatraz is even more exciting that I had previously thought! Early last year the National Park Service had baited rats on the island with a non-toxic fluorescent food dye so they could track the animals as they left behind fluorescent droppings. Volunteers from the UC Davis entomology club along with workers then searched the island using black lights to find evidence of the…
Experimental Biology 2013
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on March 28, 2013 I am so excited! The Experimental Biology meeting is only 23 days away and is already reportedly on track to be one of the largest meetings yet. I can’t wait to catch up on what’s new in comparative physiology at the meeting (along with many other topics). I will be sure to share the highlights.
Innovative pest control
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on March 23, 2013 Entomologist Dr. Coby Schal at North Carolina State University studies the chemicals involved in insect communication in an effort to more effectively manage pests. His big interest is in chemical communication using pheromones and how they impact mating and other behaviors. His research has aided the control of cockroaches, bed bugs, mosquitoes and other nuisance…
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on March 16, 2013 Here’s to the physiology of drinking beer on St. Patrick’s Day: Cheers!!
Equine digestive physiology
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on March 11, 2013 Apparently I have too much free time on my hands today. I came across this cute video describing how the digestive system of a horse differs from that of humans. The video was created by Jill Johnston, a student at University of New Hampshire, Manchester.
The American Physiological Society…125 years later
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on March 11, 2013 In honor of the 125th anniversary of The American Physiological Society, a history of its founding was just published in Advances in Physiology Education. It reads like a Who’s Who list of some of the most important contributors to our understanding of modern physiology. Where would physiology research be in this country without this important…
Jellies, jellies everywhere!
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on March 11, 2013 I just came across two blogs dedicated to all things jellyfish: JellyBiologist Jellyfish Aquarist Who knew there were so many people interested in jellyfish to warrant such wonderful blogs! I admit spending a lot of my free time this weekend on these blogs reading about these fascinating creatures. I found the JellyBiologist blog on Beroe…
Caffeine buzzzzz
Posted by Dr. Dolittle on March 8, 2013 Apparently humans and honeybees share something in common when it comes to caffeine. Dr. Geraldine Wright (Newcastle University, England) discovered that bees are more likely to return to flowers that produce nectar containing caffeine. Their data suggest caffeine improves memory in bees. Caffeine is present in higher concentrations in the leaves and other tissues of the plant where…