Evolutionary plant biologists at the University of Toronto have identified a protein that evolved approximately 500 million years ago, enabling plants to convert light into energy through photosynthesis as they moved from aquatic environments to land. The discovery provides a target for sustainable herbicides against parasitic plants and other weeds and may help boost food security by increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in crops.

Researchers have developed a compact, noninvasive imaging system that combines high-resolution structural imaging with chemical analysis to improve skin cancer diagnosis. The system integrates line-field confocal optical coherence tomography and confocal Raman microspectroscopy, allowing clinicians to examine both the cellular structure and molecular composition of skin tissues. In a year-long clinical study involving over 330 nonmelanoma skin cancer samples, the system enabled targeted chemical analysis of suspicious structures. An AI model trained on the spectral data achieved high accuracy in identifying cancerous tissues, with classification scores of 0.95 for basal cell carcinoma and 0.92 when including squamous cell carcinoma. This dual-modality approach promises to enhance diagnostic precision and deepen understanding of skin cancer biology.

Which genetic factors can break the symmetry of an animal's body? To answer this question, a Konstanz research team led by evolutionary biologist Axel Meyer studied a cichlid fish whose head is bent either to the left or right. The results show how closely behavioural preferences and genes are linked.

Could detecting static electricity be a factor in explaining why treehopper insects have evolved such bizarre body shapes?

That is the hypothesis put forward in a new research paper published in PNAS by Dr Sam England, who completed his PhD at Bristol in 2023, and Professor Daniel Robert, Professor of Bionanoscience at the University of Bristol.