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POPSBig-brained Animals Evolve Faster a substantial body of evidence has confirmed that animals with larger brains, relative to their body size, have more developed skills for changing their behavior through learning and innovation, facilitating the invasion of novel environments and the use of novel resources. Despite the progress, the role of the brain in the adaptive diversification of animals has remained controversial, mostly due to the difficulties to demonstrate that big-brained animals evolve faster. Now, ecologist Daniel Sol of CREAF-Autonomous University of Barcelona and evolutionary biologist Trevor Price of the University of Chicago, provide evidence for such a role in birds in an article in The American Naturalist. Analyzing body size measures of 7,209 species (representing 75% of all avian species), they found that avian families that have experienced the greatest diversification in body size tend to be those with brains larger than expected for their body size.
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POPSNewly described 'dragon' protein could be key to bird flu cure This unexpected relationship between the two subunits could inspire a number of different therapies or vaccines for H5N1 that rely on muzzling the "dragon's" jaws with another molecule or chemical compound that would block the PB1 subunit's access to the PA site, according to Joachimiak. "If we can put a bit in the dragon's mouth, we can slow or even potentially someday stop the spread of avian flu," he said. "Since we are talking about a relatively small protein surface area, finding a way to inhibit RNA replication in H5N1 seems very feasible."
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POPSCassowaries still feeling cyclone pain 2 years ago, all of the dependent chicks were blown away, presumed dead, They are suffering tuberculosis, and are being hit by cars, dog attacks, after a lack of food in the rainforests has sent them onto the roads, and weakened their immune systems. Moore also says .that around 90% of the flying fox populations have also disappeared
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POPSNew evidence on how birds took flight Their research suggests that flight evolved with critical changes seen in fossilized shoulder bones, among late theropod dinosaurs, and early avians, and describe the fundamental wing stroke as plesiomormhic - meaning an ancestral characteristic. The researchers attached points on ten points on the bird's bodies and digitized the results. They found that the wing stroke fell within a narrow arc of 19 degrees, and the bird shifted it's body to perform it's aerobatics. They draw an analogy with the helicopter, where the agility does not depend on the angle of the rotor blades, but through modifying engine power, and shifting the body using the tail rotor. Reminds me of the helicopter designed by Leonardo da Vinci. then, until the Wright Bros, it seemed people just tried to make 'flying machines' too complicated.
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POPSAhem, uh, should we tell them? Honestly, I don't even know what to think of it. Part of me wants to laugh, but there's some little child deep inside me, and I think he may be crying. ;)
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POPSCulling 4 million chickens won't stop bird flu in Arabia Very vigorous response by the Saudi's unfortunately, it will not guarantee keeping commercial poultry flocks free of avian flu. Vaccination will help but more novel or innovative means are called for. For example - they could stop raising chickens and other poultry for a year or so.
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POPSNeed for Cash and Protein from Poultry Drives Bird Flu The desire for cheap protein, as well as extra cash in cash strapped areas illustrates why "culling" or killing thousands of birds does not suppress re-emergence of avian influenza. If you need the cash, you hide some birds or you re-import roosters and hens with no or few questions asked. Another solution is needed to break the cycle.
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POPSOpps! We have bird flu, now we don't, now we do again! Opps! Now we have bird flu, now we don't now we have it, now we don't! Need a new version of "Ring Round the Rosie" for when bird flu jumps to people in a form that foster pandemic - since government officials seem more concerned with sales of poultry, than health of people or birds.
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POPSUK confirms lethal H5N1 bird flu outbreak Closely related to the strain found in The Czech republic, and Germany in July and August, Britain's Chief Veterinary Officer said while they have some information on the lineage it it to early to speculate on the source.
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