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Galapagos Tomatoes Show Signs of "Devolution"
No Safe Level of Processed Meat Consumption
Coffee Table Science
July 17, 2025
Welcome to this edition of Over a Cup of Coffee!
Galapagos Tomatoes Show Signs of "Devolution"
Researchers have recently discovered an intriguing case of wild tomatoes growing on the black volcanic rocks of the Galapagos Islands. A recent study analyzed 56 tomato samples from the Galapagos Islands, encompassing both Solanum cheesmaniae and Solanum galapagense species. The research team focused on the plants' production of alkaloids, which are toxic chemicals serving as a natural defense against predators. Their findings suggest a fascinating "devolutionary" trend in these tomatoes' defense mechanisms.
Researchers, using lab tests and modeling, have pinpointed a specific enzyme responsible for alkaloid production in Galapagos tomatoes, confirming its ancient origins. They determined that altering just a few amino acids in this enzyme can switch alkaloid production on or off. Genetic atavisms, or evolutionary "backflips," occur when mutations cause a species to revert to ancestral traits. A notable example involves chickens genetically engineered to regrow teeth, mirroring their ancient lineage.
The western Galapagos Islands, being younger and more barren, present an intriguing backdrop for this evolutionary shift. It appears environmental pressures may be driving these tomatoes to revert to ancestral traits. This research not only offers a captivating example of "evolutionary backflips" but also hints at advanced genetic engineering possibilities, enabling precise alterations to plant chemistry for various benefits.
The insights are published in Nature Communications.
No Safe Level of Processed Meat Consumption
Nutrition experts, responding to a new study linking diet to major diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, assert there's strong evidence indicating "no safe amount" of processed meat consumption. The research also highlighted elevated risks from sugar-sweetened beverages and trans fatty acids. Researchers reviewed over 60 studies, analyzing the link between processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, and trans fatty acids in diets and the risk of type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, and ischemic heart disease.
Eating just one hot dog daily was linked to an 11% higher risk of type 2 diabetes and a 7% increased risk of colorectal cancer. Similarly, consuming the equivalent of one 12-ounce soda per day was associated with an 8% rise in type 2 diabetes risk and a 2% increased risk of ischemic heart disease. Processed meats (sausages, bacon, salami, burgers) and sugar-sweetened beverages can cause inflammation, contributing to chronic diseases.
People consuming processed meats, sugary drinks, and trans-fats often face higher disease risks due to lifestyle (smoking, inactivity) and social factors (education, income, stress, limited healthcare access).
While this data doesn't definitively prove that reducing these foods and drinks causes lower disease risk, it strongly suggests it's a beneficial step. A healthy diet isn't just about avoiding certain foods; it's also crucial to focus on getting enough beneficial nutrients. Extensive research indicates that dietary patterns rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fermented dairy products like yogurt contribute to good health and a longer life.
The insights were published in the journal Nature Medicine.
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Lab-grown sperm and eggs in just a few years
A leading scientist in the field says viable lab-grown human sex cells are just years away, potentially unlocking biology-defying reproductive possibilities. Scientists are making rapid strides in transforming adult skin or blood cells into viable eggs and sperm. This groundbreaking technique is called in-vitro gametogenesis (IVG), and it's essentially a form of genetic alchemy.
IVG involves reprogramming adult cells (skin/blood) into stem cells, which are then coaxed into primordial germ cells. These germ cells are subsequently placed in a lab-grown organoid that provides the necessary signals to guide their development into mature eggs or sperm. The team grew spermatocytes, precursors to sperm, in artificial mouse testes (1mm). The cells died, but they hope an improved testicle organoid with better oxygen supply will yield mature sperm.
Scientists predict viable lab-grown human sperm is roughly seven years away. However, cultivating sperm from female cells would pose significant technical challenges. Though labs have created mouse pups from lab-grown eggs, viable human eggs remain a greater challenge. However, a recent breakthrough in understanding how human eggs remain dormant in the ovary for decades could be key.
Extensive testing is needed to ensure lab-grown cells are free of dangerous genetic mutations before use in embryos, though some lab-grown mice have shown normal lifespans and fertility.
The report was published in The Guardian.
Aging brain retains ability to create new neurons
A subset of neuroscientists suggests new neurons may continue to form throughout life in the hippocampus (important for learning and memory) and the ventral striatum. Notably, new cells appear in the hippocampus of some individuals into late adulthood. Some scientists argue that humans lack lifelong neurogenesis, citing unique brain differences and the potential for new neurons to disrupt complex functions. Pinpointing new brain cells in living humans is challenging; researchers primarily rely on scarce surgical or donated brain tissue.
This new study appears to fill a crucial gap in our understanding of neurogenesis. To pinpoint the "missing link" in hippocampal neurogenesis, the team first identified relevant genes from existing literature, then validated these in brain samples from young donors. They then analyzed mitochondrial RNA from 19 individuals (aged 13-78) using three machine learning algorithms to find forming neural cells, validating their results with a low 0.37% false positive rate.
Out of hundreds of thousands of cells across 19 samples, the analysis identified 354 precursors to new neurons, including dozens of stem cells and neuroblasts in adults. These cells weren't uniformly distributed, appearing in half of the adolescent samples and five of 14 adult samples. Their presence didn't directly correlate with age or disease; notably, a healthy 58-year-old had one of the highest counts. It's most likely that the cells they're seeking are rare or absent in most people. Alternatively, the supposed adult neural stem cells might be linked to a disease or are a different cell type entirely.
The research was published in the journal Science.
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Adya
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