Hoxful Monsters

Drosophila embryo development:

Time Lapse Of The Embryonic Development Of Drosophila Melanogast - video powered by Metacafe

The dream of watching a single cell getting transformed into embryo is finally possible ,thanks to the latest technique, called Digital Scanned Laser Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy.Previously researchers were successful in capturing first few hours of development in invertebrates like Nematodes but performing the same feat in vertebrates was always a difficult task. Joachim Wittbrod tand others from EMBL ,Germany has made it possible to visualize a Zebra fish embryo grow from a single cell to 20,000 cells with a beating heart.

Yale molecular and evolutionary biologists in collaboration with Department of Energy scientists produced the full genome sequence of Trichoplax, one of nature’s most primitive multicellular organisms, providing a new insight into the evolution of all higher animals.
The findings reported in the online edition of the journal Nature show that while Trichoplax has one of the smallest nuclear genomes found in a multi-cellular creature, it contains signature sequences for gene regulation found in more complex animals and humans. Further, it defines Trichoplax as a branching point of animal evolution.

To keep pace with the newest developments across the globe, any scientist will tell you, is the key to their work. Unfortunately, many scientific institutions have limited information to ongoing research in leading laboratories and little access to the work of top scientists. Now, lectures by some of the world’s leading scientists will be at your fingertips.
iBioSeminars, a free online “library of seminars (akin to iTunes) from the world leaders in biological research” was launched in June, and Bangalore’s National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) will act as a host …

This anemone literally packs up and leaves in under a second.

Amazing Anemone Defense Mechanism
Quite amazing isn’t it ?

I should say that i have never seen something like this before. This is video clip available on youtube showing a group of Lions hunting some buffaloes.A truly amazing clip of about eight minutes involving great drama and excitement like Movie sequence(real one here though). See yourself to believe as i dont want to disclose the contents.

A short series called Walking with monsters is available on youtube in three parts.Its an excellently shot film with some great graphics displaying early life on earth. Movie starts with great cambrian predator Anomalocaris ruling the oceans and mere sight of this created terror in other sea creatures.