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Homo sapiens' civilization is a complex adaptive system. Although it is similar to the population of genetic systems, it more closely resembles the network of ecosystems forming the biosphere or a global computer network with its multitude of sub-networks. The author proposed a conceptual model of shaping the culture following the pattern of evolution and succession in biological ecosystems. Using a simulation implementation, he verified its consistency and adequacy both for the process of shaping culture in various environmental conditions and for the "vertical" process of transferring culture between generations

Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are characterized by trinucleotide repeat amplifications within genes, thus resulting in the formation of polyQ peptides, selective neuronal degeneration and possibly death due to neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which exceed 200 nucleotides in length, have been shown to play important roles in several pathological processes of NDDs, including polyQ diseases. Some lncRNAs have been consistently identified to be specific to polyQ diseases, and circulating lncRNAs are among the most promising novel candidates in the search for non‐invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of polyQ diseases. In this review, we describe the emerging roles of lncRNAs in polyQ diseases and provide an overview of the general biology of lncRNAs, their implications in pathophysiology and their potential roles as future biomarkers and applications for therapy.

Students often struggle to identify correlations among various concepts in STEM courses, such as energy, mechanics, and cellular communication. Integrative learning incorporates numerous concepts and subjects to aid understanding and enhance critical thinking. This research describes an integrative learning approach in a General Biology I course where key physics-based concepts that are connected to biological topics were emphasized. In addition, students’ knowledge and their beliefs towards biology in all General Biology I classes were assessed using American Association of Colleges and Universities’ Integrative Learning VALUE Rubric and the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS). It was found that correlations existed between students’ attitudes towards biology and their overall content knowledge. The results of this study support that integrative learning is a powerful approach to aid in the understanding of physical and biological concepts, leading to improved student success.

The Add-my-Pet collection of data on energetics and Dynamic Energy Budget parameters currently contains 92 species of turtles and 23 species of crocodiles. We discuss patterns of eco-physiological traits of turtles and crocodiles, as functions of parameter values, and compare them with other taxa. Turtles and crocodiles accurately match the general rule that the life-time cumulated neonate mass production equals ultimate weight. The weight at birth for reptiles scales with ultimate weight to the power 0.6. The scaling exponent is between that of amphibians and birds, while that for mammals is close to 1. We explain why this points to limitations imposed by embryonic respiration, the role of water stress and the accumulation of nitrogen waste during the embryo stage. Weight at puberty is proportional to ultimate weight, and is the largest for crocodiles, followed by that of turtles. These facts explain why the precociality coefficient, (Formula presented.) —approximated by the ratio of weight at birth and weight at puberty at abundant food—decreases with ultimate weight. It is the smallest for crocodiles because of their large size and is smaller for turtles than for lizards and snakes. The sea turtles have a smaller (Formula presented.) than the rest of the turtles, linked to their large size and small offspring size. We link their small weight and age at birth to reducing risks on the beach. The maximum reserve capacity in both turtles and crocodiles clearly decreases with the precociality coefficient. This relationship has not been found that clearly in other taxa, not even in other reptiles, with the exception of the chondrichthyans. Among reptiles, crocodiles and sea turtles have a relatively large assimilation rate and a large reserve capacity.

The crocodile shark Pseudocarcharias kamoharai (Matsubara, 1936) is a species caught incidentally off the coast of Ecuador with no commercial importance in the country. As with many elasmobranch species, very little is known about its general biology. The aim of this study was to provide baseline information to enhance the knowledge on various aspects of the biology of this species. During the years 2003–2009, a total of 59 individuals of P. kamoharai were landed by commercial fishing in Ecuadorian waters. The total length (TL) ranged 50–113 cm. On average, the females were larger than males (91.8 ± 2.2 and 84.1 ± 4.1, respectively) and the number of females captured was higher (sex ratio = 1.9F:1M). Based on the morphology of the claspers, males were considered mature at 80 cm TL and at a clasper length of 6 cm, and 70% of the males caught were mature. The squid Ancistrocheirus lesueuri was the only prey observed in two shark stomachs with food from 59 shark stomachs analyzed. This study provides biological information of P. kamoharai in Ecuador and will help as a baseline to generate data and increase our knowledge of the biology of this shark species in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The aim of this study was to investigate pre-service science teachers’ development of the quality of written arguments using science writing heuristic approach and pre-service science teachers’ vie...

The determination of the carnosine level in fish muscle tissues is helpful for the purposes of general biology and comparative muscle physiology of various fish species; it may be also useful for estimation of the nutritional value of fish products. The mass-spectrometric method of the determination of carnosine in muscle tissues has been improved and tested in this work. The carnosine levels in the muscles of the Russian sturgeon, Siberian sturgeon, sterlet, hybrid of sterlet and kaluga, hybrid of Siberian sturgeon and kaluga have been determined for the first time with this method. The starlet-and-kaluga hybrid, regardless of sex, contains 3.33 times more carnosine than the sterlet (p < 0.01). The female hybrid of Siberian sturgeon and kaluga contains 1.50 times less carnosine than the female Siberian sturgeon (p < 0.1). Since carnosine consumption is important for carnosine biosynthesis in human muscles, the hybridization of sterlet with kaluga is more efficient in terms of nutrition value than pure sterlet breeding, and the hybridization of Siberian sturgeon with kaluga is less effective than sturgeon breeding.

One way to evaluate general biology practicum is to know the students' perceptions of general biology practicum. This study aims to determine student perceptions of general biology practicum, general biology practicum planning, facilities and infrastructure of general biology practicum, and also to determine the perceptions of students towards the implementation of general biology practicum majoring in biology IAIN Kerinci. This research belongs to the category of qualitative research. To get the data the researcher used the study (1) Observation, observed the general Biology practicum, (2) Interview, semester 1 student lecturer and department head, (3) Documents, data about vision and mission department, and general Biology practicum guide. The results obtained based on the results of data analysis and discussion can be concluded (1) Perception of the General Biology practicum planning Department of Biology Tadris IAIN Kerinci is quite good. (2) Perception of the first semester biology student of IAIN Kerinci regarding the facilities and infrastructure of general biology practicum namely practicum guide is still incomplete and inadequate. (3) The first semester biology student IAIN Kerinci's perceptions regarding the implementation of general boiology practicum, firstly in each practicum the teaching assistant is still not right to use the strategy properly. Second, the media displayed is good, and also for the practicum schedule it has been said on schedule.

The study aims to produce feasible a contemplation-based learning model based on the aspect of validity and practicality for Biology prospective teachers. Research and development (RD) using ADDIE model was used where the participants in this study were three Biology Education lecturers, three experts, and 35 students who enroll at first semester at Biology Education department in Batusangkar State Islamic Institute (IAIN) as experimental subjects. The instruments used is observation, interview and questionnaire. Means and standard deviations were calculated for finding the level of validity and practicality of the prototype. The results showed that contemplation-based biology learning model meet the characteristics of the learning model and characteristic of contemplation. The contemplative approaches used through deep reading essays and paid attention to figures related to the subject matter of General Biology courses. The values cultivated are values contained in the subject matter. The values that contained in the material are islamic values, it is alasma’ ul husna. The contemplation-based learning model developed is feasible to be applied in the biology classroom with the most valid and very practical category. Thus, the contemplation-based learning model is a solution for overcoming the gap of serving science with self-knowledge and is an alternative learning model to integrate science and religion at Biology Education Department.

The study investigated how the new four year Bachelor of Education degree students performed in their first ever quizzes organised by the University of Cape Coast (UCC). The student teachers were quizzed on some concepts in General Biology (EBS 103), a general course for all the forty-six (46) Colleges of Education in Ghana except students offering General Science as elective subject in the Colleges. The study involved the whole level hundred (L100) students of Abetifi Presbyterian College of Education who were selected through purposive and convenience sampling technique, totalling 435 students (195 female and 240 male). The test items used for the quizzes (Quiz 1 and 2) were constructed by Senior Lecturers of UCC with it reliability of 0.7 and its content and construct validity determined. Data was collected from the scores in both quizzes and were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. An independent sample t-test conducted showed that there was a significant difference between the performance of the male student teachers and the female student teachers in both quizzes ( p = 0.000, p>0.05). The findings further revealed that there was a higher mean score in the quiz one compared to quiz 2; however, the mean difference was statistically insignificant (P=0.623, p>0.05).

Teaching evolution in high school and in entry-level college courses can be challenging due to the inherent misinformation, misunderstanding, and biases with which students approach the topic. In this setting, it is critical to both teach the basic concepts and address common student misconceptions about evolution. We present two paired activities that allow students to (1) explore the processes of natural selection in a direct and experiential way and (2) address common misconceptions in evolutionary theory. The first activity, the “Natural Selection Game,” has students simulate a bird population and experience shifts in phenotype frequency as a result of selective pressures. Following the end of the game, students discuss the outcomes and connect them to real-life examples. The second activity encourages students to actively research common misconceptions with the use of personal technology in order to distinguish between scientifically supported data and poor information online. Both activities can be incorporated in high school and university-level general biology curricula. They will allow students to connect their firsthand experiences to lecture-based instruction and, as a result, develop a stronger understanding of the mechanisms of evolution.

Abstract Remains of a cave bear were studied from a new locality in the Prokoshev Cave in the Middle Urals (58°13´ N, 58°12´ E). Bones from all regions of the skeleton are present, bones are intact and without traces of human or animal activity. They all belong to the cave bear (Ursus kanivetz Vereshchagin, 1973). An AMS radiocarbon date of 53 375 ± 765 BP, IGANAMS–8632, was obtained from an adult mandible. The bones belonged to at least 18 individuals, including 4 individuals aged about one year, 1 aged about two years, 1 aged about three years, and 12 individuals over four years of age. Three skulls belonged to males and seven skulls belonged to females. The analysis has shown that the taphonomic type of this locality is a “mass burial.” This is the first “mass burial” of the cave bear in the Urals, found in situ, untouched by humans.

The article describes the life path of Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902), an outstanding German pathologist, one of the founders of scientific medicine, the creator of the scientific system known as cellular pathology, the author of numerous works on general biology, anthropology, ethnography, and archaeology. It assesses the contribution of the scientist to the development of science and culture in the nineteenth century. A relationship is shown between the formation of a modern scientific approach in medical sciences and the multifaceted activities of Rudolf Virchow.В статье описан жизненный путь Рудольфа Вирхова (1821—1902) — выдающегося немецкого ученого-патолога, одного из основоположников научной медицины, создателя научной системы, известной под названием «целлюлярная патология», автора многочисленных трудов по общей биологии, антропологии, этнографии и археологии. Дается оценка вклада ученого в развитие науки и культуры XIX века. Показана связь между формированием современного научного подхода в медицинских науках и многогранной деятельностью Рудольфа Вирхова.

Here, we describe a new open-access digital textbook for microbiology, The Atlas of Bacterial & Archaeal Cell Structure (available at cellstructureatlas.org). The book addresses a fundamental gap in existing textbooks, namely, what bacterial and archaeal cells look like and how the macromolecular structures they contain give rise to their diverse and complex functions. The interactive, multimedia resource features real data from more than 150 cells belonging to approximately 70 different species, imaged by cutting-edge cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Complementary animations show the cellular machinery in action. Only a basic familiarity with fundamental biology concepts is required to understand the material, which targets a wide range of students in courses from general biology for nonmajors to specialized graduate-level microbiology. The content can be digested in several hours, making it well suited to be assigned as a supplemental resource for a course covering either more diverse topics in cell biology or a more specialized topic such as medical microbiology. By making this resource freely available online, we hope it will serve students in diverse educational settings, including self-directed learners.

The Science Motivation Questionnaire II (SMQ II) was developed to measure aspects of student motivation in college-level science courses. Items on the SMQ II are structured such that the word ‘science’ can be replaced with any discipline title (e.g., chemistry) to produce a discipline-specific measure of student motivation. Since its original development as the Science Motivation Questionnaire and subsequent refinement, the SMQ II and its discipline-specific variants have been used in a number of science education studies. However, many studies have failed to produce acceptable validity evidence for their data based on the proposed internal structure of the instrument. This study investigated if modifications could be made to the SMQ II such that it produces consistent structural evidence across its use in various forms. A modified SMQ II (mSMQ II) was tested with wording variants (‘science’ and ‘biology’ or ‘chemistry’) in general biology and in preparatory and general chemistry courses at several institutions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used to cull problematic items and evaluate the structure of the data based on the relations posited by the SMQ II developers. While extensive revisions resulted in acceptable data model fit for the five-factor structural models in most course and wording conditions, significant issues arose for the single-factor scales. Therefore, potential users are cautioned about the utility of the SMQ II or its variants to support the evaluation of classroom practices. A reflective review of the theoretical underpinnings of the SMQ II scales call into question the original framing of the scales and suggests potential alternatives for consideration.

The formation of a competent specialist of the agrarian direction, rationally using natural resources, at first incorporated in the school course of general biology. The article reflects a critical understanding of existing and existing domestic programs and textbooks of this course from the standpoint of a systematic approach, synergetics and dialectical logic. The content and structure of the course of general biology, based on this approach, are proposed.

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a non-coding single-stranded small molecule of approximately 21 nucleotides. It degrades or inhibits the translation of RNA by targeting the 3′-UTR. The miRNA plays an important role in the growth, development, differentiation, and functional execution of the nervous system. Dysregulated miRNA expression has been associated with several pathological processes of neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington’s disease (HD). Recent studies have suggested promising roles of miRNAs as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for HD. Here, we review the emerging role of dysregulated miRNAs in HD and describe general biology of miRNAs, their pathophysiological implications, and their potential roles as biomarkers and therapeutic agents.

Student learning in undergraduate science courses is well known to benefit from the use of active learning methods (1, 2) and the incorporation of multimedia techniques (3–5). Here, I describe a multifaceted, multimedia teaching technique that familiarizes students with key aspects of major human parasitic diseases while also giving the students opportunities to increase their (i) ability to read and analyze primary literature, (ii) oral presentation skills and ability to articulate and discuss scientific concepts, (iii) laboratory skills in microscopy and organism identification, and (iv) cultural awareness. I teach an upper-division undergraduate course in Medical Parasitology that typically enrolls 15 to 20 students majoring in zoology, health science, or general biology. While this course is relatively small and specialized, the teaching approach described here could be easily used or adapted for most courses that involve eukaryotic parasites, including lecture-only courses. Each “Parasite of the Week” module is essentially stand-alone and could be used in less specialized courses that feature an in-depth look at only one or a few parasites.

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) help fulfill the recommendation of Vision and Change for biology curricula to focus on key concepts and skills to better prepare students for careers in the sciences. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many schools to move instruction online, highlighting the dearth of resources available for offering a CURE for introductory biology outside of the traditional laboratory-based setting. Here, we present a revision of our first-semester General Biology laboratory for a synchronous online setting where students perform a research-based wet lab component at home using an affordable preassembled kit while still meeting the CURE learning objectives. This template can be utilized by other colleges and universities that are looking to offer a safe, reliable, and affordable CURE in their introductory biology courses whether in a virtual or face-to-face environment.

Active learning has been shown to improve student learning and engagement in many 4-year institutions; however, large-scale studies on the efficacy of active learning in community colleges are lacking. In this study, we investigate the effects of active learning in a first semester majors’ general biology course at a large, suburban community college by designing and implementing a flipped active-learning model in the course. Our study included 33 sections of general biology class, 16 instructors, and ∼800 students. Students in active-learning sections performed significantly higher on common exam questions than their peers in traditional sections with primarily didactic pedagogy. Although students from the active-learning sections had similar pass rates and grade distributions, they passed subsequent biology courses with significantly higher grades. The 3-year graduation rate for students from active-learning sections was also significantly higher. These findings suggest that a flipped active-learning pedagogy is more effective than traditional didactic methods for teaching general biology concepts and that the improvement in student learning may lead to higher graduation rates.

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed circular noncoding RNAs that are expressed in various life forms. CircRNAs have many characteristics, such as structural stability and tissue-specific expression that contribute to their role as a microRNA (sponge in gene regulation. Summary: Recent evidence suggests that circRNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs); however, the exact mechanism remains controversial. CircRNAs that are related to CVDs have great clinical significance. Key Messages: The present review provides an overview of the general biology of circRNAs, their relevant regulatory mechanisms, and their role in the pathophysiology of CVDs.

Microcystins (MCs) are the most studied cyanotoxins. The uptake of MCs in cells and tissues of mammals and fish species is mostly mediated by organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATPs in humans and rodents; Oatps in other species), and the Oatp1d1 appears to be a major transporter for MCs in fish. In this study, six MC congeners of varying physicochemical properties (MC-LR, -RR, -YR, -LW, -LF, -LA) were tested by measuring their effect on the uptake of model Oatp1d1 fluorescent substrate Lucifer yellow (LY) in HEK293T cells transiently or stably overexpressing zebrafish Oatp1d1. MC-LW and -LF showed the strongest interaction resulting in an almost complete inhibition of LY transport with IC50 values of 0.21 and 0.26 μM, while congeners -LR, -YR and -LA showed lower inhibitory effects. To discern between Oatp1d1 substrates and inhibitors, results were complemented by Michaelis–Menten kinetics and chemical analytical determinations of MCs uptake, along with molecular docking studies performed using the developed zebrafish Oatp1d1 homology model. Our study showed that Oatp1d1-mediated transport of MCs could be largely dependent on their basic physicochemical properties, with log POW being the most obvious determinant. Finally, apart from determination of the chemical composition of cynobacterial blooms, a reliable risk assessment should take into account the interaction of identified MC congeners with Oatp1d1 as their primary transporter, and herewith we demonstrated that such a comprehensive approach could be based on the use of highly specific in vitro models, accompanied by chemical assessment and in silico molecular docking studies.