Archaea, from obscurity to superhero microbes: 40 years of surprises and critical biological insights

This issue of Emerging Topics in the Life Sciences highlights current areas of research in the field of archaeal biology and the following introductory editorial sets the stage by considering some of the key developments over the last four decades since the initial identification of the archaea as a unique form of life. Emerging topics from this vibrant and rapidly expanding field of research are considered and detailed further in the articles within this issue.

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Exploring emerging topics

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20160006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. e1-e2

Author(s):

Colin Kleanthous

Keyword(s):

Life Science ◽

Life Sciences ◽

Science Research ◽

Life Science Research ◽

Aims And Scope ◽

Emerging Topics

Life science research is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary in nature, and therefore there is a need for a journal that will support researchers, covering the latest thinking and newest concepts. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences is a new journal that fulfils this need, covering rapidly-moving areas of life science research, and providing a link between the established record and the latest research. Here, Colin Kleanthous, the Editor-in-Chief, provides an introduction to the journal, its aims and scope, and highlights the first featured topics.

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Generating process of emerging topics in the life sciences

Scientometrics ◽

10.1007/s11192-019-03248-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 121 (3) ◽

pp. 1549-1561

Author(s):

Ryosuke L. Ohniwa ◽

Aiko Hibino

Keyword(s):

Life Sciences ◽

Emerging Topics

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Of what is “minimal cognition” the half-baked version?

Adaptive Behavior ◽

10.1177/1059712319871360 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 407-424 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pamela Lyon

Keyword(s):

Biological Sciences ◽

Cognitive Science ◽

Biological Function ◽

Life Sciences ◽

Cognitive Sciences ◽

Central Object ◽

Form Of Life ◽

Ontological Claim ◽

Definition Of ◽

Blue Whales

“Minimal cognition” is used in certain sectors of the cognitive sciences to make a kind of ontological claim that may be unique in the biological sciences: that a function operating in organisms living today is not a fully fledged version of that function (the nature of which remains unspecified), but, rather, exhibits the minimal requirements for whatever it is, properly conceived. Evidence suggests that elsewhere in the life sciences, deployment of minimizing qualifiers relative to a biological function appears largely restricted to two scenarios: first, attenuated functioning and, second, evolution of the function, real or synthetic. The article argues that “minimal cognition” and “proto-cognitive” were introduced at the turn of this century by cognitive researchers seeking to learn directly from evolved behavior, ecology and physiology. A terminological straitjacket imposed on the central object of cognitive science at its beginning necessitated the move. An alternative terminology is proposed, based on a phyletically neutral definition of cognition as a biological function; a candidate mechanism is explored; and a bacterial example presented. On this story, cognition is like respiration: ubiquitously present, from unicellular life to blue whales and every form of life in between, and for similar reasons: staying alive requires it.

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The breadth of climate change impacts on biological systems

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20180114 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 107-113

Author(s):

Dan Osborn

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Human Activity ◽

Early Warning ◽

Natural Capital ◽

Public Support ◽

Life Sciences ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Human Animal ◽

Life On Earth ◽

Emerging Topics

Abstract Human activity is driving climate change. This is affecting and will affect many aspects of life on earth. The breadth of its impacts is very wide and covers human, animal and plant health, and also the planet's biodiversity and the services that deliver benefits to people from natural capital. Finding solutions to the challenge of climate change will require multidisciplinary action in which the life sciences have a major role to play as this issue of Emerging Topics in Life Sciences indicates. More process and mechanistic knowledge could underpin solutions or even provide early warning of impacts. Any solutions will need to be developed and deployed in ways that gain and maintain public support.

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Publishing highlights

The Biochemist ◽

10.1042/bio20200083 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (6) ◽

pp. 44-45

Keyword(s):

Life Sciences ◽

Cardiovascular Research ◽

Pubmed Central ◽

Neuronal Signaling ◽

Health And Disease ◽

Research Meeting ◽

Oral Presentations ◽

Emerging Topics

As the year winds to a close, we take a moment to look at some of the recent news from the publishing arm of the Biochemical Society, Portland Press. We have created several interesting collections for our journals, grouping articles together in one place for easy reading, which are available online now. There is also a brief look at the award winners of the oral presentations from the 2020 European Council for Cardiovascular Research Meeting. We are pleased to announce that our two new journals (both launched in 2017) achieved significant milestones in 2020. Neuronal Signaling is now indexed in PubMed Central, and Emerging Topics in Life Sciences (published on behalf of the Biochemical Society and the Royal Society of Biology) is now indexed in PubMed. Neuronal Signaling provides an interdisciplinary home for neuroscience covering all aspects of in vitro and in vivo signalling from cell to brain in health and disease. Why not consider submitting your research for consideration? We welcome pre-submission enquiries (email [email protected]).

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