EurekAlert! News by Subject: Biology

Biology

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 18-Jun-2026 18:16 ET (18-Jun-2026 22:16 GMT/UTC)

2-Apr-2026

Nipah virus hijacks host protein NSUN2 to fuel replication

Higher Education Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology have decoded a critical survival strategy of the deadly Nipah virus (NiV), identifying a key host protein hijacked by the pathogen and translating this discovery into a promising new treatment approach. The work, published in Protein & Cell, addresses the urgent need for therapies against this high-mortality virus, for which no specific drugs currently exist.

Journal: Protein & Cell

2-Apr-2026

Cell lineage tracing reveals early‑segregated germline in plants

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters
Peer-Reviewed Publication

To determine whether Weismann's germ plasm theory is applicable to plants, researchers from Dr. QIAN Wenfeng's lab at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences tested the theory in Arabidopsis.

Journal: Current Biology

2-Apr-2026

How can science support and enable the High Seas Treaty?

University of Plymouth
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study published in the journal npj Ocean Sustainability says while there has been considerable research into the international policy implications of implementing the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, often known as the High Seas Treaty there has until now been a lack of information on how science can play its role in delivering the objectives.

Journal: npj Ocean Sustainability
Funder: Natural Environment Research Council

2-Apr-2026

The tumor microbiota: A new frontier in cancer biology

CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Recent research shows that tumors in different organs host microbial communities capable of influencing cancer biology, immune responses, and the effectiveness of therapies, highlighting the need to standardize methods for studying intratumoral microbes.

Journal: Cancer Cell

1-Apr-2026

International team takes first steps in mapping wheat biology at single-cell resolution

Murdoch University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An international consortium of more than 80 researchers from over 30 institutions across nine countries is calling for a coordinated, worldwide effort to map gene expression across every cell type and developmental stage of wheat.

Journal: Nature Genetics
Funder: Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province, Australian Research Council, Grains Research and Development Corporation, WA Agricultural Research Collaboration, Biological Breeding National Science and Technology Major Project, National Key Research and Development Program of China

1-Apr-2026

Newly identified chronic pain circuit offers pathways to new treatments

Stanford University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The research showed that chronic pain is controlled by an entirely separate system than acute pain

Journal: Nature

1-Apr-2026

DNA steps out of the "blueprint" role to become an active "field agent"

Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

POSTECH develops a platform for precise cellular control using "non-genetic DNA" decoupled from genetic information.

Journal: Nature Chemistry

1-Apr-2026

Extreme heat from climate change linked to smaller babies

Adelaide University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Exposure to extreme heat conditions is resulting in more babies being born with low birth weight, according to a new study involving Adelaide University researchers.

Journal: BMC Medicine

1-Apr-2026

Dog owners might struggle to recognize subtle signs of pain in their pets, with barely half of owners identifying symptoms such as nighttime restlessness and clinginess as likely indicating pain, in survey study

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Dog owners might struggle to recognize subtle signs of pain in their pets, with barely half of owners identifying symptoms such as nighttime restlessness and clinginess as likely indicating pain, in survey study

Journal: PLOS One