Mastodawn

Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs) are the fossilized genetic remnants of ancient infectious viruses that successfully invaded the mammalian germline tens of millions of years ago. Comprising roughly five to eight percent of the human genome, these elements exist as a latent virome that provides critical evolutionary functions while posing significant pathological risks if reactivated.
#WhatIs #EvolutionaryBiology #MolecularGenetics #Virology #Epigenetics #Oncology #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/06/wi06242601.html

What Is: Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs)

Discover how ancient endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) make up 8% of human DNA, driving mammalian evolution, placental development, and modern diseases.

Scientific Frontline 6d ago

Welcome to another comprehensive edition of the "What Is" series on the Scientific Frontline. In this rigorous, deep-dive exploration, the focus shifts to the microscopic architectures that dominate almost every ecological niche on the planet, challenging historical conceptions of microbial life: biofilms.
#WhatIs #Microbiology #EvolutionaryBiology #Bioengineering #EnvironmentalScience #InfectiousDiseasePathology #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/06/wi06212601.html

What Is: A Biofilm

Biofilms are the dominant mode of microbial life on Earth, responsible for catastrophic industrial biofouling and untreatable clinical infections.

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cacheweaselwantsacookie Jun 18

@aeva @[email protected] @TodePond

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_development_environment

Also here is a list of Intigrated Development Environments for you and a link to the definition for everyone OP refuses to explain their wants to.

Byeeee

#encyclopedia #source #whatis

Integrated development environment - Wikipedia

Scientific Frontline Jun 16

The Enteric Nervous System is a highly sophisticated, autonomous network of approximately 500 million neurons and supportive glial cells embedded within the human gastrointestinal tract. Often referred to as the body's "second brain".
#Neurogastroenterology #Neuroscience #Gastroenterology #Immunology #DevelopmentalBiology #Microbiology #WhatIs #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/06/wi06162601.html

What Is: Enteric Nervous System: The Second Brain

Discover the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), the gut's independent second brain that controls digestion, immunity, and even mental health.

Paul Healey Jun 9

‘What are the most basic kinds of things that exist?’ https://philosophy.institute/metaphysics/aristotles-categories-western-metaphysics/

That is a bias question, as it presupposes existence which changes from what is to what is not, is its foundation. Is not a better question: What are the categories of causality, if it is the foundation of existence? It at least is not an ouroboros, but transcends such an absolute being by constituting the manifold of its dialectic principle. #philosophy #categories
#BiasQuestions #BetterQuestions #Aristotle #Socrates #DialecticPrinciple #existence #WhatIs #WhatIsNot #change

Scientific Frontline Jun 9

Cochliomyia hominivorax (the New World screwworm) is an obligate parasitic blowfly whose larvae require living tissue from a warm-blooded host to complete their developmental cycle, resulting in a severe, rapidly destructive condition known as myiasis.
#WhatIs #Entomology #Epidemiology #EvolutionaryBiology #Veterinary #Screwworm #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/06/wi06102601.html

What Is: New World Screwworm—A Scientific Frontline Special Report

Explore the evolutionary biology, eradication history, and the devastating 2026 resurgence of the New World screwworm in the United States.

Scientific Frontline Jun 7

Exosomes are highly specific, nanoscale extracellular vesicles (30 to 150 nm in diameter) that function as a biological "molecular internet," transporting targeted payloads of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids (such as mRNA and miRNA) to facilitate complex, systemic intercellular communication.
#WhatIs #Bioinformatics #CellBiology #MolecularBiology #Oncology #Pharmacology #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/06/wi06072601.html

What Is: Extracellular Vesicles (Exosomes)

Discover how exosomes act as the body's molecular internet, revolutionizing cellular biology, targeted drug delivery, and liquid biopsy diagnostics.

Scientific Frontline May 31

Ebola (Orthoebolavirus zairense) is a highly sophisticated filovirus that relies on complex molecular evasion, the exploitation of immune-privileged sanctuaries, and the induction of societal disruption to ensure its survival and propagation, challenging its traditional, simplified classification as merely an agent of acute hemorrhagic fever.
#Ebola #Epidemiology #EvolutionaryBiology #Immunology #Virology #WhatIs #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/05/wi05312601.html

What Is: Ebola (Orthoebolavirus zairense)

Learn how Orthoebolavirus zairense (Ebola) uses molecular evasion, immune sanctuaries, and psychological contagion to survive and propagate.

Scientific Frontline May 24

Allostasis is the sophisticated, anticipatory biological process wherein the brain dynamically alters internal physiological parameters to meet predicted environmental demands, while allostatic load is the cumulative cellular and systemic wear-and-tear resulting from the chronic overactivation of this predictive regulatory system.
#WhatIs #Neuroendocrinology #EvolutionaryBiology #Physiology #Psychoneuroimmunology #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/05/wi05242601.html

What Is: Allostasis and Allostatic Load

Discover how the brain's predictive regulation (allostasis) and chronic stress wear-and-tear (allostatic load) drive modern systemic diseases.

Scientific Frontline May 17

Xenobots are microscopic, programmable biological machines constructed entirely from living cells without any genetic modification. Measuring less than a millimeter, they lack traditional mechanical parts and are entirely organic, biodegradable, and derived primarily from embryonic stem cells of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis).
#WhatIs #EvolutionaryBiology #DevelopmentalBiology #SyntheticBiology #ComputationalBiology #SoftRobotics
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/05/wi05172601.html

What Is: Xenobots

What Is Xenobots, microscopic programmable machines built from living cells. Learn how they revolutionize regenerative medicine and synthetic biology.