Kidney stones are a painful and common health issue. They can affect anyone, but some people are more likely to get them. Recent research has looked into how the body's energy use might be linked to kidney stones. The body's basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy it burns at rest. This energy is needed for basic functions like breathing and keeping wa...
Chickens are big business. In the world of intensive poultry farming, the time it takes for hens to lay eggs can make a big difference. This is especially true for large-scale farms. The variation in egg-laying times can increase the workload for egg collection. This, in turn, raises labor and power costs and reduces overall efficiency. So, what if farmers could...
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is a serious condition that can lead to significant health issues and even death. This condition is influenced by both single-gene and multiple-gene factors. Researchers recently conducted a massive study involving thousands of people with HCM, along with a large control group and participants from the UK Biobank. They used advanc...
Drought in sub-Saharan Africa is a huge problem that impacts how maize grows and reduces the harvest. Dealing with drought is complex because many different genes are involved. That's why scientists tried something new. Researchers took 236 different types of corn and tested them in multiple environments. By using seven different GWAS models, they wanted to un...
Everyone knows that maize, or corn, is a big deal in the world of agriculture and biofuel. But did you know that hidden inside its stalks, or stover, are special compounds called hydroxycinnamates? These compounds, ferulate and p-coumarate, play a crucial role in how maize plants resist pests and how efficiently they can be turned into biofuel. The challenge lies in ...
You know that quitting smoking is tough, right? But there's a drug called varenicline that's been helping people kick the habit. It works like a charm, with about 26% of people still smoke-free after a year. Scientists believe your genes might play a role in how well varenicline works for you. Surprisingly, no one has done a big study to check this out yet. Let's div...