Table of contents : Nature

Patients and politicians anxiously await and increasingly demand a 'cure' for cancer. But trying to control the disease may prove a better plan than striving to cure it, says Robert A. Gatenby.

Robert A. Gatenby

doi:10.1038/459508a

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Books and Arts

An Italian vision of a scientific Utopia p510

A century ago, artists and writers from Italy imagined a world governed by science and technology. But their vision of modernity also glorified violence and misogyny, finds Ziauddin Sardar.

Ziauddin Sardar

doi:10.1038/459510a

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A limited view of the future p511

Michael A. Goldman reviews What's Next? Dispatches On the Future of Science Edited by Max Brockman

doi:10.1038/459511a

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Galileo and the Pope p512

Jay M. Pasachoff & Naomi Pasachoff review Two Men of Florence by Richard N. Goodwin

doi:10.1038/459512a

Full Text | PDF (906K)

Smells like green spirit p513

Roxanne Khamsi reviews Green Aria: A ScentOpera

doi:10.1038/459513a

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News and Views

Developmental biology: Transgenic primate offspring p515

Genetically engineered monkeys carrying a foreign gene that is passed on to their offspring provide a potentially valuable bridge between mouse models of disease and treatment for human disorders.

Gerald Schatten & Shoukhrat Mitalipov

doi:10.1038/459515a

Full Text | PDF (759K)

See also: Editor's summary

Quantum physics: Tailor-made quantum states p516

The ability to produce arbitrarily superposed quantum states is a prerequisite for creating a workable quantum computer. Such highly complex states can now be generated on demand in superconducting electronic circuitry.

Yasunobu Nakamura

doi:10.1038/459516a

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Diabetes: A virus–gene collaboration p518

Viral infection has long been implicated in the development of type 1 diabetes. Fresh evidence shows how some rare genetic variations might mediate a viral contribution to this autoimmune disorder.

Matthias von Herrath

doi:10.1038/459518a

Full Text | PDF (1,080K)

Animal behaviour: Birdsong normalized by culture p519

Both birdsong and human language are learned, requiring complex social input. New findings show, however, that bird populations 'seeded' with aberrant song input transform it to normal song in a few generations.

W. Tecumseh Fitch

doi:10.1038/459519a

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Earth science: Restoration of the noble gases p520

The noble gases emitted from deep inside the Earth have been sending mixed messages to those intent on deciphering them. A model that promises to help clear up the confusion is now on offer.

Tim Elliott

doi:10.1038/459520a

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Olfaction: Noses within noses p521

The mammalian olfactory system does more than just detect food odours and pheromones. The discovery of a novel class of olfactory receptor provides evidence that mammals can also sniff out cell damage and disease.

Steven D. Munger

doi:10.1038/459521a

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Brief Communications Arising

Asteroids and andesites pE1

Richard Arculus, Ian H. Campbell, Scott M. McLennan & Stuart Ross Taylor

doi:10.1038/nature08077

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (57K)

Day et al. reply pE2

J. M. D. Day, R. D. Ash, Y. Liu, J. J. Bellucci, D. Rumble III, W. F. McDonough, R. J. Walker & L. A. Taylor

doi:10.1038/nature08078

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (57K)

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Articles

Generation of transgenic non-human primates with germline transmission p523

The common marmoset is an attractive candidate for transgenic modification, and has potential as a non-human primate animal model in biomedical research. Here, for the first time in non-human primates, an integrated transgene is transmitted through the germ line to the offspring, in which it continues to be expressed.

Erika Sasaki, Hiroshi Suemizu, Akiko Shimada, Kisaburo Hanazawa, Ryo Oiwa, Michiko Kamioka, Ikuo Tomioka, Yusuke Sotomaru, Reiko Hirakawa, Tomoo Eto, Seiji Shiozawa, Takuji Maeda, Mamoru Ito, Ryoji Ito, Chika Kito, Chie Yagihashi, Kenji Kawai, Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Yoshikuni Tanioka, Norikazu Tamaoki, Sonoko Habu, Hideyuki Okano & Tatsuji Nomura

doi:10.1038/nature08090

Abstract | Full Text | PDF (850K) | Supplementary information

Common genetic variants on 5p14.1 associate with autism spectrum disorders p528

Although structural variation has been previously associated with autism spectrum disorders, this study reports a genome-wide significant association of common variants with susceptibility to this disorder group. The results implicate neuronal cell-adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of this group of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Kai Wang, Haitao Zhang, Deqiong Ma, Maja Bucan, Joseph T. Glessner, Brett S. Abrahams, Daria Salyakina, Marcin Imielinski, Jonathan P. Bradfield, Patrick M. A. Sleiman, Cecilia E. Kim, Cuiping Hou, Edward Frackelton, Rosetta Chiavacci, Nagahide Takahashi, Takeshi Sakurai, Eric Rappaport, Clara M. Lajonchere, Jeffrey Munson, Annette Estes, Olena Korvatska, Joseph Piven, Lisa I. Sonnenblick, Ana I. Alvarez Retuerto, Edward I. Herman, Hongmei Dong, Ted Hutman, Marian Sigman, Sally Ozonoff, Ami Klin, Thomas Owley, John A. Sweeney, Camille W. Brune, Rita M. Cantor, Raphael Bernier, John R. Gilbert, Michael L. Cuccaro, William M. McMahon, Judith Miller, Matthew W. State, Thomas H. Wassink, Hilary Coon, Susan E. Levy, Robert T. Schultz, John I. Nurnberger, Jonathan L. Haines, James S. Sutcliffe, Edwin H. Cook, Nancy J. Minshew, Joseph D. Buxbaum, Geraldine Dawson, Struan F. A. Grant, Daniel H. Geschwind, Margaret A. Pericak-Vance, Gerard D. Schellenberg & Hakon Hakonarson

doi:10.1038/nature07999

Abstract | Full Text | PDF (432K) | Supplementary information

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Hippocampal theta oscillations are travelling waves p534

Theta oscillations are essential to temporal encoding in the hippocampus; they clock hippocampal activity during awake behaviour and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Although these 4–10-Hz oscillations are widely believed to be synchronized throughout the hippocampus, they are now demonstrated to form waves that travel across the hippocampal circuit, making the organization of time in the hippocampus similar to that on Earth—a progression of local time zones.

Evgueniy V. Lubenov & Athanassios G. Siapas

doi:10.1038/nature08010

Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,340K) | Supplementary information

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Letters

Broad line emission from iron K- and L-shell transitions in the active galaxy 1H 0707-495 p540

Emission arising from a transition of an electron from the iron K shell to the ground state (the K line) is prominent in the reflection spectrum created by the hard X-ray continuum irradiating the dense accreting matter around a black hole. Here the presence of both iron K and L emission is reported in the spectrum of the active galaxy 1H 0707-495. There is a 'reverberation lag' with a timescale comparable to the light-crossing time of the innermost radii around a supermassive black hole.

A. C. Fabian, A. Zoghbi, R. R. Ross, P. Uttley, L. C. Gallo, W. N. Brandt, A. J. Blustin, T. Boller, M. D. Caballero-Garcia, J. Larsson, J. M. Miller, G. Miniutti, G. Ponti, R. C. Reis, C. S. Reynolds, Y. Tanaka & A. J. Young

doi:10.1038/nature08007

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (282K) | Supplementary information

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The changing phases of extrasolar planet CoRoT-1b p543

Hot Jupiters are a class of extrasolar planet that orbit their parent stars at very short distances and are expected to be tidally locked, which can lead to a large temperature difference between the dayside and the nightside. Here, optical photometric data obtained over 36 planetary orbits of the transitory hot Jupiter CoRoT-1b are analyzed; the data are consistent with the nightside hemisphere being entirely black, with the dayside flux dominating the optical phase curve.

Ignas A. G. Snellen, Ernst J. W. de Mooij & Simon Albrecht

doi:10.1038/nature08045

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (279K) | Supplementary information

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Synthesizing arbitrary quantum states in a superconducting resonator p546

The superposition principle is a fundamental tenet of quantum mechanics, allowing a quantum system to be 'in two places at the same time'. Here, the preparation and measurement of arbitrary quantum states in an electromagnetic resonator is demonstrated; states with different numbers of photons are superposed in a completely controlled and deterministic manner.

Max Hofheinz, H. Wang, M. Ansmann, Radoslaw C. Bialczak, Erik Lucero, M. Neeley, A. D. O'Connell, D. Sank, J. Wenner, John M. Martinis & A. N. Cleland

doi:10.1038/nature08005

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (1,002K) | Supplementary information

A picogram- and nanometre-scale photonic-crystal optomechanical cavity p550

The fact that photons of light carry momentum and can therefore exert mechanical force is not just an academic curiosity; such forces have already been harnessed for a variety of applications. Here, an extreme optomechanical regime is created using a system of simple photonic structures engineered in such a way that light and mechanical energy are localized in a tiny volume on a silicon chip, so that the mechanical rigidity of the resulting structure is dominated by the optical forces.

Matt Eichenfield, Ryan Camacho, Jasper Chan, Kerry J. Vahala & Oskar Painter

doi:10.1038/nature08061

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (1,965K) | Supplementary information

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The effect of permafrost thaw on old carbon release and net carbon exchange from tundra p556

Permafrost thaw and microbial decomposition is considered one of the most likely positive climate feedbacks from terrestrial ecosystems to the atmosphere in a warmer world, but the rate of carbon release from permafrost soil remains highly uncertain. Here, net ecosystem carbon exchange is measured in a tundra landscape undergoing permafrost thaw to determine the influence of old carbon loss on ecosystem carbon balance. The results reveal significant losses of soil carbon over decadal time scales, overwhelming the increased carbon uptake from plants.

Edward A. G. Schuur, Jason G. Vogel, Kathryn G. Crummer, Hanna Lee, James O. Sickman & T. E. Osterkamp

doi:10.1038/nature08031

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (210K) | Supplementary information

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Preserving noble gases in a convecting mantle p560

An essentially undegassed mantle reservoir is thought to be required to balance the Earth's ⁴⁰Ar budget and an undegassed lower mantle reservoir is traditionally believed to be responsible for the high ³He/⁴He ratios sampled at many ocean islands. On the other hand, geophysical and geochemical observations suggest slab subduction into the lower mantle; the subsequent process of partial melting over the history of the Earth would leave noble gases in both upper and lower mantle extensively outgassed. A simple solution to this contradiction is now proposed, which lies in the recycling and mixing of noble-gas-depleted slabs.

Helge M. Gonnermann & Sujoy Mukhopadhyay

doi:10.1038/nature08018

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (361K) | Supplementary information

De novo establishment of wild-type song culture in the zebra finch p564

Although culture is often considered to be passed on through social learning, there are species-typical constraints to cultural diversity that could have genetic origins. By studying the establishment of socially learned birdsong in an island colony of naive zebra finches with a song much different from wild type, it is now revealed that over as few as 3–4 generations the tutored song approaches that of the wild type. Thus, species-typical song culture can develop de novo, giving insight into language change and evolution in humans.

Olga Fehér, Haibin Wang, Sigal Saar, Partha P. Mitra & Ofer Tchernichovski

doi:10.1038/nature07994

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (755K) | Supplementary information

Autism genome-wide copy number variation reveals ubiquitin and neuronal genes p569

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in social and communication skills. Accumulating evidence suggests a genetic component to ASDs, and here a two-stage, genome-wide approach is used to identify candidate genomic loci enriched in ASD cases. The majority of these loci are found to be involved in neuronal adhesion and ubiquitin degradation, suggesting novel susceptibility mechanisms.

Joseph T. Glessner, Kai Wang, Guiqing Cai, Olena Korvatska, Cecilia E. Kim, Shawn Wood, Haitao Zhang, Annette Estes, Camille W. Brune, Jonathan P. Bradfield, Marcin Imielinski, Edward C. Frackelton, Jennifer Reichert, Emily L. Crawford, Jeffrey Munson, Patrick M. A. Sleiman, Rosetta Chiavacci, Kiran Annaiah, Kelly Thomas, Cuiping Hou, Wendy Glaberson, James Flory, Frederick Otieno, Maria Garris, Latha Soorya, Lambertus Klei, Joseph Piven, Kacie J. Meyer, Evdokia Anagnostou, Takeshi Sakurai, Rachel M. Game, Danielle S. Rudd, Danielle Zurawiecki, Christopher J. McDougle, Lea K. Davis, Judith Miller, David J. Posey, Shana Michaels, Alexander Kolevzon, Jeremy M. Silverman, Raphael Bernier, Susan E. Levy, Robert T. Schultz, Geraldine Dawson, Thomas Owley, William M. McMahon, Thomas H. Wassink, John A. Sweeney, John I. Nurnberger, Hilary Coon, James S. Sutcliffe, Nancy J. Minshew, Struan F. A. Grant, Maja Bucan, Edwin H. Cook, Joseph D. Buxbaum, Bernie Devlin, Gerard D. Schellenberg & Hakon Hakonarson

doi:10.1038/nature07953

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (251K) | Supplementary information

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Formyl peptide receptor-like proteins are a novel family of vomeronasal chemosensors p574

Two different G-protein-coupled receptor families are known to mediate pheromonal cues in the mammalian vomeronasal organ. Here, members of a third family of receptors, the formyl peptide receptor-related gene family (FPRs), are shown to be expressed in the vomeronasal epithelium, with those cells expressing FPRs responding to ligands associated with disease and inflammation. This raises the possibility that FPRs detect the health status of individuals.

Stéphane Rivière, Ludivine Challet, Daniela Fluegge, Marc Spehr & Ivan Rodriguez

doi:10.1038/nature08029

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (863K) | Supplementary information

Bacteria hijack integrin-linked kinase to stabilize focal adhesions and block cell detachment p578

The rapid turnover and exfoliation of mucosal epithelial cells provides an innate defence system against bacterial infection. The Shigella virulence factor OspE, which is highly conserved among some other enteropathogenic bacteria, is now shown to target host intergrin-linked kinase, enhancing host cell adherence and thereby preventing the detachment of infected cells.

Minsoo Kim, Michinaga Ogawa, Yukihiro Fujita, Yuko Yoshikawa, Takeshi Nagai, Tomohiro Koyama, Shinya Nagai, Anika Lange, Reinhard Fässler & Chihiro Sasakawa

doi:10.1038/nature07952

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (1,221K) | Supplementary information

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A regulated auxin minimum is required for seed dispersal in Arabidopsis p583

The fruits of Arabidopsis thaliana split open (dehisce) along the valve margins, leading to seed dispersal. A transcription factor called INDEHISCENT (IND) is known to be important for differentiation of valve margin cells by an unknown mechanism. IND is now shown to be responsible for the formation of a local auxin minimum, necessary for specification of cells in the dehiscence zone.

Karim Sorefan, Thomas Girin, Sarah J. Liljegren, Karin Ljung, Pedro Robles, Carlos S. Galván-Ampudia, Remko Offringa, Ji r caron í Friml, Martin F. Yanofsky & Lars Østergaard

doi:10.1038/nature07875

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (1,099K) | Supplementary information

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Genetic analysis of radiation-induced changes in human gene expression p587

Humans are exposed to cell-damaging radiation from environmental and medical sources, causing cells to mount complex responses that rely on modifying gene expression. The regulators responsible for this are now mapped through genetic linkage and association studies, using radiation-induced changes in gene expression as quantitative traits and providing new insight into the architecture of gene expression regulation in response to stress.

Denis A. Smirnov, Michael Morley, Eunice Shin, Richard S. Spielman & Vivian G. Cheung

doi:10.1038/nature07940

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (353K) | Supplementary information

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Irreversibility of mitotic exit is the consequence of systems-level feedback p592

The eukaryotic cell cycle comprises an ordered series of events orchestrated by cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), with unidirectional cell-cycle transitions being required for its successful completion. Proteolytic degradation of cyclins has been assumed to be responsible for the irreversible transitions, but here it is shown that, although forced cyclin degradation can drive mitotic exit, the re-synthesis of cyclin means that this is not sufficient for irreversibility. Rather, mitotic exit only become irreversible after activation of a double-negative feedback loop.

Sandra López-Avilés, Orsolya Kapuy, Béla Novák & Frank Uhlmann

doi:10.1038/nature07984

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (762K) | Supplementary information

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NAADP mobilizes calcium from acidic organelles through two-pore channels p596

Ca²⁺ mobilization from intracellular stores represents an important cell signalling process that is regulated, in mammalian cells, by inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP₃), cyclic ADP ribose and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP). While the nature of the receptors for InsP₃ and cyclic ADP ribose are known, here the lysosomal two-pore channel, TPC2, is shown to be the molecular target of NAADP.

Peter J. Calcraft, Margarida Ruas, Zui Pan, Xiaotong Cheng, Abdelilah Arredouani, Xuemei Hao, Jisen Tang, Katja Rietdorf, Lydia Teboul, Kai-Ting Chuang, Peihui Lin, Rui Xiao, Chunbo Wang, Yingmin Zhu, Yakang Lin, Christopher N. Wyatt, John Parrington, Jianjie Ma, A. Mark Evans, Antony Galione & Michael X. Zhu

doi:10.1038/nature08030

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (795K) | Supplementary information

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