New Delhi: A new research paper found that fish exposed to artificial light at night exhibited anxious behaviour, which included restricted movement, hanging near the walls of the aquarium, and sticking closer together.
The study, published in Science of The Total Environment, examined how female zebrafish responded to light at various wavelengths (365- 660 nm) and white light, all at an intensity of 20 Lux over nine consecutive nights. This intensity is comparable to streetlights seen from a distance, reflecting the exposure animals experience in outdoor environments.
The authors noted that anxiety-related behaviour in the zebrafish was more pronounced when exposed to blue light at 470 nm, consistent with how it affects humans. The response among zebrafish showed altered patterns within 5 days of exposure, compared to 8 days for other types of night light exposure. Additionally, these behavioural patterns were inherited by the offspring of mothers who were exposed to nightlight consistently for 15 days, even if the progeny had never experienced night-time light themselves.
This study demonstrated how sustained light exposure at night impacts the mental well-being of animals and can affect subsequent generations. The authors speculated that sleep deprivation is the major driver of these altered behaviour patterns. Read more here.
Transforming agriculture from carbon source to sink.
A group of researchers from Austria have projected, using an economic land-use model, that adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, particularly in the global south, can help transform agriculture from a carbon source to a sink.
Published in Nature Food on 23 September, the research highlights that these methods could reduce emissions at $160 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) removed.
The study identified techniques such as soil conservation, improved fertilizer use, tillage and residue management, cover cropping, biochar application, and agroforestry as sustainable agricultural practices for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Scientists proposed this could also help achieve net-zero emissions in agriculture, forestry, and land use sectors by 2050, with costs around $80-120 per tCO2e.
Additionally, the findings suggest that using agricultural methods for carbon capture could generate up to $375 billion in additional income for farmers worldwide. Read more here.
Solution for gene-related cholesterol issues
A team of researchers from Zurich has designed more efficient molecular scissors capable of cutting DNA—the blueprint of most life—with greater precision.
In a study published in Nature Methods on 23 September, scientists used protein engineering and an advanced artificial intelligence model to enhance the gene-editing abilities (ability to cut and fix a DNA segment) of the TnpB protein. This protein—smaller than CRISPR-Cas, a more popular and widely used gene-editing tool—is naturally found in a bacterial cousin that thrives in extreme environments with high temperatures, moisture, and acidity.
According to the study, originally, the TnpB protein had low efficiency and struggled to target specific DNA sites because of its strict requirements for recognising where to cut. To solve this, the researchers tested TnpB on over 10,000 different DNA sites and identified areas that were easier to edit. This strategy, combined with AI modelling, helped them refine the protein to work better across various types of DNA.
As a result, the scientists increased the gene-editing efficiency of the modified TnpB protein by 4.4 times. Using this improved tool, researchers achieved editing efficiencies of 75.3 percent in mouse livers and 65.9 percent in mouse brains. The study’s authors also used the engineered TnpB protein to edit a gene that regulates cholesterol levels successfully, reducing cholesterol in treated mice by nearly 80 percent. Read more here.
Together, healthy gut microbes enhance their chances of survival.
In a first-of-a-kind study, a team of researchers from Europe has found that healthy bacteria in the human gut have a better chance of survival when present in communities.
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell on 24 September, the study examined the effect of 30 different drugs on 21 different bacterial species (resident of the normal human gut), at three different concentration levels. The study looked at the survival of the species both in groups and in isolation.
The researchers observed increased protection in drug-sensitive species when grown in communities in 47 percent of all cases attributed to cross-protection offered by the neighbouring bacteria. Scientists also identified that the bacteria species help each other by breaking down the drugs.
However, this protective effect was only observed at lower drug concentrations. At higher doses, the study revealed a reverse phenomenon called “community sensitisation” where bacteria growing in community became more suspectible to drugs. It accounted for 8 percent of previously resistant cases.
This research provides an important foundation for understanding how medications impact the gut microbiome. In the future, this knowledge could help customise prescriptions to minimise drug-related side effects. Read more here.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
Also Read: Earth will have a ‘mini-Moon’ from September to November & the world’s on thin ice, literally