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Mice deficient in the EDA protein lack normal tooth features. Restoring EDA in embryonic teeth at increasing doses has now been found to recover these dental features in a stepwise pattern that mimics evolution. See Article p.44
Single-cell DNA sequencing of two breast-cancer types has shown extensive mutational variation in individual tumours, confirming that generation of genetic diversity may be inherent in how tumours evolve. See Article p.155
Ageing is accompanied by deterioration in the haematopoietic stem cells that are responsible for regenerating the blood system. Cellular stress in the aged stem cells could be a cause of this decline. See Letter p.198
Some 34 million years ago, there was a rapid growth of ice on Antarctica. A modelling study indicates that the ultimate cause of this glaciation was a decrease in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. See Letter p.574
Continuous tracking of the random trajectories of a superconducting quantum system as it evolves between two selected initial and final states has allowed researchers to determine the most probable path of the system. See Letter p.570
A comparison of colorectal cancer and normal cells from 103 patients identifies dozens of genes that are differently expressed in tumour cells as a result of altered regulation of transcription. See Letter p.87
An analysis of landforms in the Bolivian Andes suggests that surface uplift has shaped the climate and landscape. This contrasts with previous work suggesting that climate controls topography and deformation along the mountain range.
Data on three generations of Antarctic fur seals suggest that climate change is reducing the survival of less-fit individuals with low genetic variation, but that overall seal numbers are falling. See Letter p.462
Two analyses of human eggs, sperm and early-stage embryos reveal a pronounced loss of DNA methylation — a molecular modification that affects gene transcription — after fertilization. See Letters p.606 & p.611
Topological insulators are materials known for their remarkable electron-transport properties. They now emerge as excellent sources of electron spins for manipulating tiny magnets. See Letter p.449
The largest genome-wide analysis of schizophrenia performed so far has identified more than 100 genetic regions that contribute to disease risk, establishing new leads for understanding this form of mental illness. See Article p.421
Giving monkeys antiretroviral therapy from just three days after exposure to simian immunodeficiency virus does not prevent a subsequent rebound of viral replication, suggesting that viral reservoirs are established early. See Letter p.74
Lakes that form in thawing permafrost emit substantial amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. It emerges that large quantities of carbon can also be stored in sediments at the lake bottoms. See Letter p.452
The machine that houses the world's largest laser, and which stands in for the starship Enterprise's warp core in the film Star Trek Into Darkness, has compressed diamond to the density of lead. See Letter p.330
The crystal structure of the COP9 signalosome, a large protein complex that regulates intracellular protein degradation, reveals how the complex achieves exquisite specificity for its substrates. See Article p.161
Two studies provide evidence that the protein complex PTEX is needed for export of malaria-parasite proteins into the cytoplasm of infected cells, and that such export is essential for parasite survival. See Letters p.587 & p.592
Superelasticity — a form of elasticity that involves a phase transition — has been observed for the first time in a pure organic crystal. The material could find applications in microfluidics.
