Babies born in Canada from immigrant mothers, especially from East and South Asian mothers, are often of lower weight than babies from Canadian’s mothers, but it’s not worrisome a new study shows. It’s usually thought that smaller infants are more likely to die or suffer adverse events than heavier infants. Research now shows that clinicians […]
Tag: reproduction
The poisonous singing frog
Poisonous and colourful frogs have more diversified mating calls than their non-poisonous counterparts, a new study shows. Researchers explain that when frogs evolve these kind of anti-predator strategies (bright colours and poison), they decrease the risk of being eaten by predators and are rewarded for more showy mating signals. Original research paper published in Proceedings of […]
Do STIs influence the evolution of monogamy?
One might think that the rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could have an impact on whether an organism evolves monogamous behaviour, but a new study shows that it’s likely not as important as other factors. Researchers built a mathematical model to assess whether the benefit of reducing infection risk via monogamous behaviour outweighs the […]
DNA signature in ice storm babies
A new study has detected a distinctive ‘signature’ in the DNA of children born in the aftermath of the 1998 Quebec ice storm. Five months after the 1998 Quebec ice storm, researchers recruited women who had been pregnant during the disaster and assessed their degrees of distress in a study called Project Ice Storm. Fifteen […]
How to have sex without hurting your back
Contrary to popular belief, spooning is not always the best sex position for those with a bad back. Using infrared and electromagnetic motion capture systems – like those used in the creation of video games – scientists tracked how 10 couples’ spines moved when attempting five common sex positions. They found that sex positions that are […]
Antidepressants during pregnancy may be linked to ADHD in kids
A new study finds that exposure to antidepressants in the womb may be linked to an increased risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the researchers caution that the risks of depressed mothers-to-be stopping their medication may be greater for the unborn child than the increased risk of developing ADHD associated with continuing […]
New DNA technique could speed up genetic screening before birth
A new technique makes it easier for single molecules of DNA to be stretched out and imaged, which could lead to faster detection of genetic abnormalities in human embryos. The technique involves putting single DNA molecules in a liquid on top a bed of nano-sized grooves, then gently lowering a curved ‘lid’ on top. As […]
Deep-sea octopus broods eggs for over 4 years
A new study documents the case of a deep-sea octopus who tended her eggs for nearly 4.5 years, by far the longest egg-brooding period ever reported for any animal species. The octopus was first spotted a remote controlled underwater in a submarine canyon of the coast of California in 2007. Researchers returned regularly until the eggs […]
‘Killer sperm’ prevents mating between worm species
In Caenorhabditis worms, sperm from a foreign species can attack the organs of a female, rendering her sterile or even killing her according to new research. Researchers believe the ‘killer sperm’ may be the result of a divergence in the evolution of worm species’ sexual organs. For example, hermaphrodite worms—which produce their own sperm and fertilize […]
Common blood thinner ineffective for pregnant women
A new study indicates that daily injections of a blood thinner does not effectively decrease the risk of pregnancy complications in women with a tendency to develop blood clots. A large-scale, randomized trial was never conducted and until now it’s effectiveness has been unknown. The new study followed 292 women over 12 years and […]
Small populations have more diversity than previously thought
Populations of trout living in streams with a small number of breeding adults still have enough genetic variation to be able to adapt to environmental changes according to a new study. Researchers found that streams with as few as 70 adults had more genetic variation than expected. Such variation provides a greater ability to adapt to environmental changes. […]
Captive population of giant pandas is healthy
The population of captive giant pandas in China is genetically healthy, a new study shows. Researchers have observed high levels of genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding in pandas living in four Chinese breeding centres. The researchers came to their conclusion after analayzing 240 pandas out of 341 that are kept in captivity. The authors hope […]
How salmon evolve to beat the heat
Researchers have discovered a link between egg size of chinook salmon and their ability to deal with warmer temperatures. The team captured spawning salmon and measured examined the genetic and maternal effects acting on the ability of offspring to tolerate heat; they found that mothers with larger eggs have more thermally tolerant offspring. As egg […]
Hawks and owls have trouble as single dads
Some male hawks and owls have trouble adapting their behaviour in order to raise chicks on their own, a new study finds. In breeding pairs, the male is the primary provider of prey for their young while females tear the prey into right-sized chunks and also brood the chicks. (i.e. use their bodies to shield […]
Milkweed needed to save monarchs
A new study bolsters the notion that a lack of milkweed in summer breeding grounds is contributing to the decline of the monarch butterfly. Previous research indicated that the decline of monarchs may be due to catastrophic die-offs in overwintering grounds in Mexico, caused by loss of forest habitat or extreme weather events linked to […]
Singing in the drain
Researcher from Taiwan have shown that the mientien tree frog uses concrete drains to amplify its mating calls. They used field studies to show that far more males call from inside the drains than outside them, and acoustic analysis to show that the structures do indeed increase call volume and duration. Original research paper published in […]
