Roughly 10 million years ago, a major genetic change occurred in a common ancestor of gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. Segments of DNA in its genome began to form duplicate copies at a greater rate than in the past, creating an instability that persists in the genome of modern humans and contributes to diseases like autism and schizophrenia. But that gene duplication also may be responsible for a genetic flexibility that has resulted in some uniquely human characteristics.

What does uncovering the true authorship of plays attributed to Shakespeare have to do with identifying our genetic ancestors or classifying new life forms? All involve the comparative analysis of long sets of data and all will benefit from a unique new analytical tool developed by researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Hollywood stars of a certain age take note: Research at Berkeley Lab suggests that a protein linked to the spread of several major human cancers may also hold great potential for the elimination of wrinkles and the rejuvenation of the skin. If this promise bears fruit, the protein, called RHAMM, could one day replace injections with neurotoxins that carry such unpleasant side-effects as muscle paralysis and loss of facial expressions.

A net with large holes won't catch small fish. Likewise, the microscopic fibers in the protective mucus coatings of the eyes, lungs, stomach or reproductive system naturally bundle together and allow the tiniest disease-causing bugs, allergens or pollutants to slip by. But Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered a way to chemically shrink the holes in the mucus layer's netting so that it will keep out more of the unwanted particles. 

LONDON, February 10 /PRNewswire/ --

The 12 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pumped an average 28.97 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil in January, according to a Platts survey of OPEC, oil industry officials and analysts just released. This is a decline of 930,000 b/d from the December level of 29.9 million b/d.

Excluding Iraq, production from the 11 members bound by output agreements fell by 970,000 b/d to 26.54 million b/d from the December estimate of 27.51 million b/d, the survey showed.

This leaves the OPEC-11 some 1.695 million b/d above its 24.845 million b/d target, agreed to at OPEC's December 17 meeting in Oran, Algeria, and which came into effect at the beginning of January.

With pressures hundreds of times that at sea level and temperatures nearly freezing, it's amazing that anything can survive in the deep ocean. The vast amount of space and correspondingly sparse distribution of living organisms simply adds to the seeming impossibility that anything could survive in such an environment. However, many spots in the deep ocean contain life highly adapted to the specific harsh environment, and manage to find food and reproduce despite the odds against it.

NEW YORK and BERLIN, February 10 /PRNewswire/ --

artnet Online Auctions (http://www.artnetonlineauctions.com) launches sale of Marilyn Monroe Photographs featuring 60 works by renowned photographers including nine limited edition Bert Stern prints from The Lost Sitting.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090210/NY68450 )

-- 60 works by 15 photographers -- Price estimates range between US $500 and US $30,000 -- February 10-24 -- Highlights include nine limited edition Bert Stern prints from The Lost Sitting

PHILADELPHIA, February 10 /PRNewswire/ --

- Strong Growth Attributed to Market Demand for Shunra's Award-Winning Network Emulation and Application Performance Testing Solutions and New Product Releases

Shunra Software (www.shunra.com), the market leading provider of network emulation and application development testing solutions, today announced that it closed 2008 with its ninth record quarter of year over year growth. Shunra's success was fueled by unmatched market demand for its network emulation and application testing and analysis suite of products, a 103% revenue increase in Managed Services engagements, six major product releases, a number of industry awards, and praise from prestigious industry analysts and journalists.

PARIS, February 10 /PRNewswire/ -- eServGlobal Limited (LSE: ESG ASX: ESV), a worldwide supplier of independent and flexible telecommunications Value Added Services for Messaging and Charging solutions, today announces the launch of its revolutionary Social Relationship Manager (SRM) software that joins mobile telephone networks with popular internet social networking sites.

AMMAN, February 10 /PRNewswire/ --

- Application deadline is February 28th, 2009

The King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD) announced that until today over 950 youth from 19 Arab nations have applied for the King Abdullah II Award for Youth Innovation and Achievement (KAAYIA). Prospective applicants from across the Arab region have less than 20 days left to apply for the King Abdullah II Award for Youth Innovation and Achievement (KAAYIA) by visiting the website at http://www.KAAYIA.org.