Tag

Reproduction

All articles tagged with #reproduction

science12 days ago•1 min saved

Pea Crab Males Risk Life to Mate Inside Mussel Shells

The pea crab, a tiny parasite living inside mussels, exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism where females remain permanently inside the host while males exit to mate. Males possess specialized swimming adaptations and hardened exoskeletons to navigate the open water, despite facing significant risks of injury or death during these excursions. This behavior is driven by the high reproductive payoff, as a single female can produce over 9,000 eggs, with larval stages eventually returning to settle in new mussel hosts.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|

#crustaceans #marine-biology #mussels

science27 days ago•7 min saved

Long-Term Breeding of Hyper-Active Mice Defies Evolutionary Trade-Offs

A 30-year study bred mice for extraordinary activity and found no penalties in lifespan or offspring compared with controls, challenging the idea that high energy use must trade off with longevity or reproduction; results may reflect abundant energy in lab conditions or undiscovered metabolic adaptations, and should not be stretched to humans.

via scitechdaily.com|

#energy-trade-offs #evolutionary-biology #longevity

science1 month ago•12 min saved

Three generations inside one cell: Scotland’s Caledochytrium aldermaii redefines microbial reproduction

Caledochytrium aldermaii, a newly described Scottish protist, grows offspring inside a large internal chamber and can nest a granddaughter inside its daughter before the mother cell ruptures to release them. Documented with electron microscopy, this three‑generation internal reproduction is a novel strategy within thraustochytrids. The discovery, from a Heriot‑Watt–CEFAS–Scottish consortium, highlights the value of morphology and culture work alongside sequencing and hints at potential aquaculture relevance due to omega‑3 fatty acids produced by these organisms.

via Space Daily|

#biology #microbiology #protists

science1 month ago•4 min saved

The Ovary as Engine of Longevity: A New Reproductive Resilience Theory

A Cell-published theory argues that reproductive tissues, especially the ovary, help drive systemic resilience and aging, suggesting women’s reproductive history may shape health span and that aging research should center female physiology; early mouse data show rapamycin can delay ovarian aging, with human trials anticipated, signaling a shift toward sex-specific approaches in longevity medicine.

via medscape.com|

#aging #longevity #ovary

science1 month ago•15 min saved

Tiny Whale Shark Sighting in Indonesia Hints at Birth Nurseries

A four-month-old neonate whale shark was spotted in Saleh Bay, Indonesia—the first such newborn seen there—which could indicate the bay as a birth or nursery site and offers clues to whale shark reproduction and habitat needs amid conservation challenges.

via BBC|

#conservation #indonesia #neonate

science2 months ago•12 min saved

Sharks go solo: first confirmed parthenogenesis in cartilaginous fish

Scientists confirm parthenogenesis in sharks, showing females can produce offspring without mates. In a zoo tank, a bonnethead gave birth to a pup with DNA identical to its mother, a hallmark of unfertilised egg development, challenging assumptions about cartilaginous fish reproduction. Additional cases in bamboo sharks and sawfish suggest this may be an emergency strategy when mates are scarce, though such offspring often have reduced genetic diversity and viability. The phenomenon is mainly documented in captivity, with unknown implications for wild populations and breeding programs.

via Space Daily|

#conservation #genetics #parthenogenesis

science2 months ago•3 min saved

Queen Mole-Rat’s Scent Maintains Reproductive Monopoly

A Nature study shows naked mole-rat queens release isopropyl myristate, a scent that suppresses reproduction in other females, allowing the queen to monopolize breeding; the chemical fluctuates with the queen’s cycle, and blocking the smell can enable non-queens to reproduce, sometimes triggering colony upheaval until a new queen is crowned.

via Gizmodo|

#chemical-communication #eusociality #naked-mole-rats

science2 months ago•4 min saved

Low-dose pesticide exposure triggers genetic changes in bumblebees linked to reproduction

Georgia Tech researchers found that exposing worker bumblebees to low doses of the insecticide sulfoxaflor caused significant changes in gene expression, especially in ovarian tissues, suggesting potential reproductive impairment and possible impacts on colony health and pollination-dependent crops; the study highlights the need for pest management that protects pollinators amid ongoing pesticide use.

via The Times of India|

#bumblebees #gene-expression #pesticides

science3 months ago•7 min saved

Lab-grown human sperm advances in mice, but full maturity remains elusive

Researchers transplanted human iPS-derived immature cells into a mouse kidney pouch, where they self-organized into early sperm-supporting structures and developed into spermatogonia after six months. While this marks progress toward lab-made sperm, the cells did not mature yet, signaling further hurdles. The work offers a new avenue to study early human sperm development and infertility, though clinical applications are far off and raise ethical questions about future reproductive technologies.

via Nature|

#bioethics #infertility #lab-grown-sperm

science4 months ago•6 min saved

Bird Masturbation Across Species Points to Evolutionary Role

A study of 120 bird species finds masturbation is widespread in both wild and captive birds, more common in males and linked to a species’ mating system; wild birds showed higher rates than captive ones. The researchers suggest it may serve as a sexual outlet, help clear sperm, or reflect an evolutionary pattern across lineages, challenging the idea that captivity causes stress-related acts. The work, published in Ecology and Evolution, indicates masturbation has an evolutionary basis across birds.

via ScienceAlert|

#animal-behavior #birds #ecology

sciencespace4 months ago•2 min saved

China Tests Stem-Cell Embryos in Orbit to Assess Space Reproduction Feasibility

China conducted an on-orbit study aboard the Tiangong station using artificial embryos made from human stem cells to examine early development in microgravity. The two embryo models (one simulating uterine attachment and another using a microfluidic chip to mimic tissue formation) were cultured for about five days on the Tianzhou-10 supply ship, then frozen and returned to Earth for analysis, with Earth-based controls for comparison. The goal is to understand potential risks to human reproduction during long-term space habitation, not to create real babies in space.

via Gizmodo|

#biology #china #reproduction

science4 months ago•36 min saved

Melon-sized dinosaur eggs dating 72 million years reveal new clues about ancient reproduction

Paleontologists have unearthed clusters of dinosaur eggs dating to about 72 million years ago, roughly the size of small melons. The discovery at a fossil site provides new insights into nesting behavior and reproduction in dinosaurs, enriching our understanding of late Cretaceous life.

via Yahoo|

#dinosaurs #eggs #fossils

plants4 months ago•37 min saved

Garlic halts insect reproduction by taste, study finds

A Yale-led study shows garlic does more than repel pests: when fruit flies and two mosquito species taste the garlic compound diallyl disulfide, it activates the TrpA1 receptor and triggers bitter/ fullness signals that stop feeding and, crucially, reproduction. The effect is taste-based (not smell) and wasps lacking TrpA1 are unaffected. This points to garlic-derived compounds as targeted, safer pest-control tools, and the researchers also introduce phytoscreen as a simple method to screen plant substances for behavioral effects on insects.

via Earth.com|

#diallyl-disulfide #garlic #insects

science5 months ago•7 min saved

Reversible Nonhormonal Male Contraception Edges Toward Reality

Cornell researchers demonstrated a proof-of-principle for nonhormonal, reversible male contraception by transiently halting sperm production in mice through disruption of meiosis with the small molecule JQ1. Fertility recovered after treatment ended, with most normal meiosis and healthy offspring upon breeding, suggesting a potential injectable or patch-based method for humans—though JQ1 itself isn’t suitable for human use due to side effects.

via SciTechDaily|

#male-birth-control #meiosis #nonhormonal

animals5 months ago•63 min saved

Peaceful queen succession observed in naked mole rats, challenging the species' bloody reputation

In a Science Advances study, researchers at the Salk Institute observed a rare peaceful transfer of power in a naked mole rat colony: after relocating the Amigos colony, the reigning queen Teré paused reproduction for almost a year, two of her daughters began reproducing in sequence, and Arwen ultimately became the new breeding queen by the end of 2025, showing that even highly eusocial mammals can exhibit flexible, nonviolent queen succession.

via Live Science|

#animals #eusocial #naked-mole-rat