Interdisciplinary Research

These papers were selected from multiple disciplines from the Faculty of 1000, a Web-based literature awareness tool http://www.facultyof1000.com.

H.D. Bradshaw, D.W. Schemske, "Allele substitution at a flower colour locus produces a pollinator shift in monkeyflowers," Nature, 426:176–8, Nov. 13, 2003.

This deceptively simple and elegant set of experiments does what few have done before: They show how natural selection, working through phenotype, can potentially cause speciation with minor genetic change. A single allele difference (YUP versus yup, controlling carotenoid presence) in sister species of Mil-mulus ... caused a complete shift in pollinator assemblage, from bees to humming birds and vice versa (in reciprocal experiments).

- Sandra Knapp, The Natural History Museum, London

D. Lu et al., "Crystal structure of a zinc-finger-RNA complex reveals two modes of molecular recognition," Nature, 426:96–100, Nov. 6, 2003.

The first crystal structure of a zinc-finger-RNA complex further demonstrates the seemingly endless versatility of this widespread ...