Scientists Discover Organism That Act Like Living Electrical Wires

Scientists have discovered a new species of electricity-conducting bacteria, Candidatus Electrothrix yaqonensis, in mudflats along Oregon’s Yaquina Bay. This finding has significant implications for environmental cleanup and the development of bioelectronic technologies. The bacterium is part of the cable bacteria group, which form long, filamentous chains capable of conducting electricity through their shared outer membrane.

What makes the new bacteria especially noteworthy is its hybrid genetic makeup. It appears to bridge the gap between two known cable bacteria genera, Ca. Electrothrix and Ca. Electronema, offering potential insights into bacterial evolution. Structurally, it stands out for its pronounced surface ridges and unique nickel-based conductive fibers, which let it transport electrons over long distances. This ability allows the bacterium to participate in redox reactions that are critical for nutrient cycling and pollution breakdown.

Because these bacteria can thrive in diverse environments and conduct electricity without the need for external power, they hold promise for cleaning up contaminated sediments and inspiring new types of bioelectronic devices. The bacterium’s name honors the Indigenous Yaqona people, representing a collaboration between scientists and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

Cuttlefish Ink: The Secret to Outsmarting Sharks

         Cuttlefish have an escape plan when they are approached by predators, they release a cloud of dark ink. While the ink does help hide them, it also has a strong odor that drives sharks away. The chemicals that give blood a strong scent to sharks is weaker than the ink.  One of the main elements that make up the ink is melanin, it sticks really well to the smell receptors in sharks. Researchers looked deeper into the genetics behind how sharks sense of smell works. They gathered genetic data on three shark species - the cloudy catshark, small-spotted catshark, and great white shark, this would model the shapes of 146 different odor receptors. Sharks have 45 smell receptor genes which is not a lot compared to mammals who have somewhere around 850. What that means for the sharks is that they can detect fewer types of odors but are very sensitive to the ones they actually can smell. When scientists modeled how melanin interacts with these smell receptors, they found that it binds really tightly to the receptor. Because sharks are already sensitive to scents the ink is very overwhelming for them driving them away. The melanin's ability to bind so tightly to the receptors is why the sharks react more to the ink than the metallic smell of blood. 

    I think this article is a very interesting example of how evolution can improve the survival skills of animals. Its amazing that a fish that is on the smaller side can get sharks to leave an area because of the ink's odor. I never realized scientist could just make models of smell receptors using the genetic information from different types of sharks to demonstrate how certain component impact the sharks behavior. In this case it was melanin which i also learned gives the black color to the ink. This article kept me very engaged because of the way they connected animal behavior with genetics. It made me realize that something as simple as ink can be a product of natural selection. 

"No Pain, No Gain". Scientists Discover Gene Mutation Behind Rare Insensitivity

     A new study published in Current Biology has revealed a rare genetic mutation that allows some individuals to feel almost no physical pain. The research, led by scientists at University College London, focuses on a woman named Jo Cameron, who has lived her whole life with painless injuries, rapid healing, and unusually low anxiety levels. The study showed that the effects were all due to a mutation in a previously unstudied region of DNA. This mutation affects a gene now known as FAAH-OUT, which regulates another gene, FAAH, involved in the body's endocannabinoid system, the same system influenced by cannabis. FAAH normally breaks down molecules related to pain sensation and mood. But with the FAAH-OUT mutation essentially turning this gene down, Cameron’s body naturally produces more of these pain reducing molecules. Because of this, she feels an almost complete insensitivity to pain, no fear before surgery, and accelerated wound healing.

    Researchers believe this discovery could lead to a whole new class of painkillers that mimic this genetic effect, especially as traditional opioids continue to cause widespread addiction and overdose deaths. “This unique patient has opened a door to new pain management strategies,” said Dr. Andrei Okorokov, one of the study’s lead authors. “If we can replicate the FAAH-OUT pathway, we may eventually help patients living with chronic pain conditions.” 

    Interestingly, the same mutation may also be linked to lower anxiety and faster healing, though more research is needed to confirm these effects in the broader population. Scientists have already begun developing synthetic molecules that mimic this mechanism, potentially offering hope to people with neuropathic pain or PTSD.


LINK:
https://www.cell.com/article/S1074-5521(09)00080-5/fulltext

Don’t need much sleep? Mutation linked to thriving with little rest

 A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has identified a genetic mutation linked to people who naturally require very little sleep without suffering negative effects. These “naturally short sleepers” function well on just three to six hours of sleep per night, compared to the typical eight. Led by neuroscientist Ying-Hui Fu at the University of California, San Francisco, the research highlights a mutation in the gene SIK3, which may play a role in reducing sleep needs by supporting brain homeostasis—a process thought to help reset the brain during sleep.

Fu’s team first began studying short sleepers in the 2000s, identifying a mutation in the circadian rhythm gene of a mother and daughter. Since then, they’ve discovered five mutations across four genes associated with this trait. In the most recent study, they introduced the SIK3 mutation into mice, which then required about 31 minutes less sleep per day and showed heightened enzyme activity at brain synapses.

Although this mutation alone doesn’t cause drastic reductions in sleep need, it adds to a growing understanding of the genetic basis of sleep. Researchers hope these findings could eventually lead to treatments for sleep disorders or new insights into how sleep is regulated in the human brain.

Who Owns Your DNA?

In recent years, DNA testing kits have been becoming increasingly popular. Companies like 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage have made it very easy to learn about your ancestry, health risks, and even quirky genetic traits. But while mailing off your saliva might seem harmless, the big question that a lot of people forget to ask is what actually happens to your DNA after the test is done? When you agree to these tests, you're often agreeing to let these companies store your genetic data and potentially even sell it.

 

Unlike a password or a credit card number, you can’t change your genetic code if it’s leaked or stolen. In the wrong hands, this information could potentially be used by insurance companies, employers, or even law enforcement in ways you didn’t expect. While laws like the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act protect against some misuse, those laws don’t cover everything, and they don’t stop private companies from doing questionable things with your genetic information. 

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/16/5-biggest-risks-of-sharing-dna-with-consumer-genetic-testing-companies.html

https://www.ashg.org/advocacy/gina/

Ancient Jellies, Modern Tricks: How Sea Blobs Beat Us to DNA Mastery

     Scientists recently discovered that even super simple sea creatures called comb jellies have a surprisingly advanced way of controlling their genes. This method, known as distal gene regulation, lets parts of DNA that are far apart loop around and interact, like sending messages across long distances. These loops help control which genes turn on or off, and when. What’s really surprising is that comb jellies don’t use the same proteins humans and other animals use for this process—they’ve got their own unique way of doing it. This means that this complex gene control system evolved way earlier than scientists thought—like over 650 million years ago.

    This discovery is a huge deal because it shows that the ability to tightly control gene activity isn’t just something that showed up in more modern or complex animals. It was already happening way back in early animals, helping them grow different types of cells and body structures. Understanding how these ancient systems work could even help us learn more about our own DNA and how it affects health, development, and disease today.

Plants Need First Aid Too

         Plants get injured just like humans, but don't have the ability to heal themselves as efficiently as we do, that was until recent discoveries. Researchers discovered a way to help plants recover from damage by using a pure form of cellulose that acts like a band aid. Bacterial cellulose is commonly used in human medicine to help treat wounds and burns. Núria Sánchez Coll, a plant biologists and her team started testing patches that were made up of not only bacterial cellulose but also silver nanoparticles, which served as a antimicrobial agent while helping the plants heal. As they observed the healing process, they noticed that the plants treated with the cellulose and silver nanoparticles were healing faster and more efficiently than expected. The researchers wanted to better understand molecular process of this so they made small cuts on the leaves of  Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana, placing cellulose bandages on half of them. The results after a week were that 80% of wounds were almost fully healed while the untreated wounds were still clearly damaged. The patches not only healed the plants wounds but also kept the plants more hydrated. Plant hormones that were likely produced by bacteria were found in the bacterial cellulose, this could be why the plants responded so well to the treatment even after patches were sterilized. Scientists think that the bacterial cellulose activated a new set of genes - it shut down some of the genes that are normally used for healing and switched on other genes that help the plant fight infections. 

    I thought this article was very interesting because it showed how scientists were able to use bacteria cellulose -  something thats already used in human medicine - to help plants heal more efficiently. I never thought about how when plants get damaged it usually takes a very long time for them to heal compared to animals and humans, mostly because plants don't have specialized cells that move as quickly to repair wounds. It's amazing that the researchers basically created a band aid for plants out of natural materials. I also learned that bacterial cellulose contains plant hormones that affect which genes are activated in the healing process. I think these plant band-aids would be very helpful in the agriculture industry, especially if they work well outside of lab conditions. This article just shows how scientific ideas that are used in one industry could be applied in another. 

AI-designed DNA Controls Genes in Mammalian Cells For the First Time

    A study carried out at the Centre for Genomic Regulation(CGR) in Barcelona, had recently discovered the first reported instance of generative AI designing synthetic molecules that can successfully control gene expression in healthy mammalian cells. The model can be told to create synthetic fragments of DNA with custom criteria, and then predict which combination of nucleotides (A, T, C, G) are needed for the gene expression patterns required in specific types of cells. Researchers then chemically synthesized roughly 250 nucleotide DNA fragments and then add them to a virus, which will then carry the modified DNA into a desired cell. 

    For proof that the AI modification was successful, researchers asked the AI to design synthetic fragments that activate a gene coding for a fluorescent protein in certain cells while leaving other gene expression patterns untouched. They created the desired fragments from scratch and transferred them into a mouse's genome, where the modified sequence fused with the mouse's genome in random places. The results of this study could be used to find new ways for gene therapy developers to boost or weaken the activity of genes in certain cells or tissues. This use of AI can also be used to find alter a person's genes and make treatments more effective and reduce side effects. This concept hasn't been tested yet, but researchers intend to start investigating this soon. AI-generated enhancers can help engineer ultra-selective switches that can be designed to have specific on/off patterns required in specific types of cells. A level of accuracy which is crucial for creating therapies that avoid unintended effects in healthy cells.