Summary: Krane et al. (2003)

The Indonesian prosimian, the slow loris Nycticebus coucang are known to inflict painful (occasionally fatal) bites that elicit anaphylaxis. The "venom" originates in the brachial organ. This organ is located in a naked area of skin on the inner arm surface. Krane et al. (2003) isolated a 18kDA protein (two 70-90 amino-acid chains with linking disulphide bonds) from the brachial organ. The N-termini of the protein chains were similar to an allergen from common house cats Felis catus, Fel d 1, suggesting the they exhibit inorganic cross- reactivity. This, together with the display of anaphylaxis and increased sensitivity to slow loris bites indicates that this slow loris protein is an allergen.

Summary: Maia & Volpato (2013)

The colour of environmental light can influence the stress-induced cortisol response observed in fish. Maia & Volpato (2013) investigated the effects of three (blue, yellow, white) environmental light colours on the stress response (changes in ventilatory frequency) of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus to confinement. They found that, after 7 days, fish ventilatory frequency was similar under each environmental colour. Similarly, after a 15 minute period of confinement, ventilatory frequency increased, regardless of environmental colour, in the first period (0-4 minutes). Interestingly, Maia & Volpato (2013) found that, irrespective of time, fish kept under white light showed a higher post-confinement ventilatory frequency compared to fish kept under blue light. They suggest that Nile tilapia should be maintained under blue light to minimize stress.

Summary: Brown & Brown (2013)

Erickson et al. (2005) estimate that 80 million birds in the U.S. are killed annually by vehicles. Over a 30 year period, Brown & Brown (2013) found that there was a sharp decline in the incidence of road-kill in cliff swallows Petrochelidon pyrrhonota. Individuals cliff swallows that were killed on roads had longer wings than the average seen in the overall population. Longer wings could mean lower wing loading and inhibition of vertical take-off, resulting in these birds experiencing increased mortality. Alternatively, birds could be learning to avoid vehicles. Brown & Brown (2013) suggest that road mortality could be driving species response to change and could also exert selection for traits minimising collision.

Summary: Franz & Goldstein (2013)

Recently, Deans et al. (2012) proposed that philosophical descriptions of phenotypes can be used to pave the way in systematics and taxonomy. Franz & Goldstein (2013), while welcoming their contribution, question their approach.

Summary: Szyf (2013)

Szyf (2013) highlights the widely recognized, but poorly understood, concept of gene-environment interaction. Gene-environment interactions were first identified by epidemiologists who noted that a risk allele for increased lifetime risk of suffering from a disease is influenced by the particular environment an individual occurs in. The question still remains: How do genes and environments interact? Szyf (2013) provides a commentary on the report of Klengel et al. (2013) identifying the molecular mechanism of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Klengel et al. (2013) identified demethylation in the stress response regulator FKBP5 of a glucocorticoid response element that depends on both childhood trauma and the underlying allele.

Summary: Zaher & Riad (2012)

 Zaher & Riad (2012) noted that there is a unique median transitory cartilaginous precarotid plate in Pterocles alchata caudacutus that forms a floor to the hypophyseal fenestra in the posterior orbital region of the intermediate developmental embryo. The anterior pater is homologous to the precarotid commisure of some birds, however, its homology to the taenia intertrabecularis of some reptiles and birds is questioned.

Summary: Cresswell & Thompson (2012)

Cresswell & Thompson (2012) provide a technical comment to Henry et al's (2012) report "A Common Pesticide Decreases Foraging Success and Survival in Honey Bees". In this report, Henry et al. (2012) designed a model to predict that pesticide-induced intoxication by thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid systemic pesticide, disrupts navigation, resulting in colony collapse (although it must be noted here that Henry et al. 2012 do not state explicitly in their article that a colony will collapse, but rather that it may be at risk of collapse). Cresswell & Thompson (2012) show that collapse disappears under a recalculated model where parameter values are set appropriate to the season during which most flowering crops, that are treated with pesticide, bloom.