Navigation Links
Ptooey!
Date:6/15/2012

SALT LAKE CITY, June 14, 2012 In Israel's Negev Desert, a plant called sweet mignonette or taily weed uses a toxic "mustard oil bomb" to make the spiny mouse spit out the plant's seeds when eating the fruit. Thus, the plant has turned a seed-eating rodent into a seed spreader that helps the plant reproduce, says a new study by Utah and Israeli scientists.

"It's fascinating that these little mice are doing analytical chemistry, assaying the fruit for toxic compounds" and learning not to bite into the seed, says Denise Dearing, a coauthor of the study and professor of biology at the University of Utah.

"It adds a new dimension to our understanding of the ongoing battle between plants and animals," she adds. "In this case, the plants have twisted the animals to do their bidding, to spread their progeny."

The study was set for online publication June 14 in the journal Current Biology.

The study illustrates the first known case within a single species of what is known as the "directed deterrence" hypothesis, namely, "the fruit is trying have itself eaten by the right consumer one that will spread its seeds," Dearing says. "The plant produces a fruit to deter a class of consumers that would destroy its seeds."

The best known example before the new study involved chili peppers and two different classes of animals. Chili peppers deter mammals from eating their seeds because mammals can register pain from the ingredient capsaicin. Birds "don't feel the heat at all," says Dearing. "They tend not to crush the seeds while they are feeding, so they are good dispersers of chili pepper seeds."

The researchers observed two other species another spiny mouse species and a rodent named the bushy tailed jird also spitting out sweet mignonette seeds while eating the fruit. They say the new study is the first to find seed-spitting in rodents, although it has been documented previously in several primate species.


'/>"/>
Contact: Lee Siegel
lee.siegel@utah.edu
801-581-8993
University of Utah
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Ptooey!
(Date:5/24/2013)... conference of 500 leading water scientists from around the ... reforms, "in the short span of one or two ... Earth will be living under the handicap of severe ... for which there is no substitute. This handicap will ... The scientists bluntly pointed to chronic underlying problems led ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... Investigators at Rollins School of Public Health at ... Institute of Technology, have received a $4 million ... Center at Emory University (Health and Exposome Research ... first exposome-based center grant awarded in the United ... by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... A new report from the Institute of Medicine ... in at least 60 minutes of vigorous or moderate ... than half of American youth meet current evidence-based guidelines ... intensity physical activity daily, according to the report, which ... school for nearly half of their waking hours, the ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):A majority on Earth face severe self-inflicted water woes within 2 generations: Scientists 2A majority on Earth face severe self-inflicted water woes within 2 generations: Scientists 3A majority on Earth face severe self-inflicted water woes within 2 generations: Scientists 4Emory, Georgia Tech receive first human exposome center grant in US 2Emory, Georgia Tech receive first human exposome center grant in US 3Schools should provide students with daily physical activity, IOM recommends 2
... The onset of inflammation and infection in a person recovering ... burns can be as deadly as the incident itself. New ... trauma victims may help to predict and better treat such ... issue of the journal PLoS Medicine shows for ...
... Alaska Natives in the Yukon River Basin provide unique ... adaptation strategies for these local communities. The ... the villages of St. Mary,s and Pitka,s Point, Alaska, ... concerns ranging from safety, such as unpredictable weather patterns ...
... at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at the ... the first global camera trap study of mammals, which ... of protected areas to ensure the diversity and survival ... study, led by Jorge Ahumada, an ecologist with the ...
Cached Biology News:Gene flux can foretell survival for trauma patients, Princeton study finds 2Gene flux can foretell survival for trauma patients, Princeton study finds 3Gene flux can foretell survival for trauma patients, Princeton study finds 4Gene flux can foretell survival for trauma patients, Princeton study finds 5Gene flux can foretell survival for trauma patients, Princeton study finds 6Gene flux can foretell survival for trauma patients, Princeton study finds 7Observations of climate change from indigenous Alaskans 2Observations of climate change from indigenous Alaskans 3SDSC-developed software used in first global camera trap mammal study 2SDSC-developed software used in first global camera trap mammal study 3
(Date:5/23/2013)... Pa. , May 23, 2013 ... research and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, ... hepatologists, and infectious disease specialists reported that in ... patients (e.g., intentionally delaying treatment) in anticipation of ... than six months ago, when only 6 percent ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 2013 Northwest Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: NWBO ... personalized immune therapies for solid tumor cancers, announced ... year,s American Society Of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in ... role in immune therapy.  (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110329/SF73084LOGO ... the pre-eminent conference focused on clinical treatment of cancer, ...
(Date:5/23/2013)...  Verenium Corporation (Nasdaq: VRNM ), a ... commercialization of high-performance enzymes, today announced that ... at two upcoming conferences. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120924/MM79973LOGO ... Second Annual Marcum LLP Microcap Conference on Thursday, May ... York City.  The presentation is scheduled to begin at ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... Tucson, Ariz. (PRWEB) May 23, 2013 ... world’s first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE ... Glasgow Science Centre in Scotland, which boasts more than ... Total Artificial Heart powered by the Freedom® portable ... one of the most advanced exhibitions of its kind. ...
Breaking Biology Technology:The Majority of Physicians that Treat Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Have Begun "Warehousing" and Preparing Their HCV Patients for the Next Generation of HCV Treatments 2The Majority of Physicians that Treat Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Have Begun "Warehousing" and Preparing Their HCV Patients for the Next Generation of HCV Treatments 3NW Bio Exhibit at the Upcoming ASCO Meeting to Highlight its Leadership Role in Immune Therapy for Cancer 2NW Bio Exhibit at the Upcoming ASCO Meeting to Highlight its Leadership Role in Immune Therapy for Cancer 3Verenium To Present At Two Upcoming Conferences 2Verenium To Present At Two Upcoming Conferences 3SynCardia Total Artificial Heart Featured in $3 Million Exhibition at Glasgow Science Centre 2SynCardia Total Artificial Heart Featured in $3 Million Exhibition at Glasgow Science Centre 3
... Genesis Biopharma, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ... therapies, today announced the company,s support of the ... Two or More Unmarketed Investigational Drugs for Use ... companies to collaborate and seek approval for successfully ...
... Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GHDX) today announced presentation of three ... (1) Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Symposium, including one finding that ... recurrence risk in stage II colon cancer, suggesting that ... Recurrence Score® (RS) test as well as T-stage and ...
... 21, 2011 NewLink Genetics Corporation today announced that ... the company,s investigational HyperAcute® Pancreas cancer immunotherapy will be ... of Clinical Oncology 2011 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San ... Title: Effect of the addition of ...
Cached Biology Technology:Genesis Biopharma Expresses Support for FDA Codevelopment Guidelines 2Genomic Health Announces Multiple Colon Cancer Studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2Genomic Health Announces Multiple Colon Cancer Studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 3Genomic Health Announces Multiple Colon Cancer Studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 4Genomic Health Announces Multiple Colon Cancer Studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 5Genomic Health Announces Multiple Colon Cancer Studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 6NewLink Genetics to Present Phase 2 Data of Its HyperAcute® Pancreas Immunotherapy at ASCO 2011 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2NewLink Genetics to Present Phase 2 Data of Its HyperAcute® Pancreas Immunotherapy at ASCO 2011 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 3NewLink Genetics to Present Phase 2 Data of Its HyperAcute® Pancreas Immunotherapy at ASCO 2011 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 4
AVOID FREEZE/THAW CYCLES. Recognizes the ~32 kDa DNase IIα chain and the ~40 kDa proenzyme. DNase II causes both DNA condensation and DNA fragmentation. ...
BD BioCoat Poly-D-Lysine 60 mm Culture Dishes, tissue-culture treated polystyrene with a uniform application of poly-D-lysine....
... BD BioCoat Collagen I 60 mm Culture Dishes ... Dishes, tissue-culture treated polystyrene with a uniform application ... Coating : Collagen I ,Surface : ... 21.3 cm2 ,Dim nominal : 60 ...
... This CLS number is a new product ... number. If showing no availability yet, please ... or contact customer service for assistance. ... Comp Dim: D H 100 ...
Biology Products: