A transposon inserted into HELD1 repressed maize husk leaf blade extension during maize domestication.

October 20, 2026| Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Husk leaves are the closest photosynthetic organs to the ear, which contribute directly to grain filling and have potential for yield improvement in maize. Teosinte has a long husk extended leaf blade, whereas maize exhibits a reduced or even no husk leaf blade. However, the genetic basis of this transition in the husk leaf during domestication remains unknown. In this study, we identified a major quantitative trait locus (QTL), Husk Extended Leaf Blade 1 ( HELD1 ), corresponding to the tassels replace upper ears1 ( tru1 ) gene. A 133-base pair (bp) Harbinger transposon inserted into the tru1 intron introduces two TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1 (TB1) binding motifs, thereby recruiting TB1 to directly enhance tru1 transcription. Further analyses revealed that TRU1 interacts with the transcription factor ALOG1, which in turn enhances the expression of liguleless2 ( lg2 ), a key regulator of ligule development. Together with brassinosteroid-deficient dwarf1 ( brd1 ) and GA2ox1 , these genes set up a regulatory network that defines the ligular-auricular position, controls the leaf blade-to-husk (sheath) ratio in husk and stem leaves, and regulates husk leaf blade length. Population genetic analyses indicate that HELD1 experienced significant human selection, resulting in the transposon insertion becoming the dominant allele in domesticated maize. Additionally, the teosinte HELD1 allele with extended husk leaf blades significantly enhances yield in maize. Our results demonstrate HELD1 is an important regulator of husk and stem leaf architectures, contributing to the ligular-auricular position to adjust the ratio of leaf blade to husk or sheath.

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Ancient DNA challenges to admixture narratives: Insights from Notre-Dame Cemetery (1683-1796) in Colonial Montreal, Canada.

Historical narratives of early colonization in Quebec frequently portray French-Indigenous relations as cooperative and characterized by admixture; which are often mobilized in modern debates on false-indigeneity. These narratives have been studied through genealogical, genetic, and bioarchaeological analyses, yet individuals of African descent remain mostly absent from them, while Indigenous peoples are framed largely in relation to colonists. Notre-Dame Cemetery (1683-1796) in Tiohtià:ke-

EconomicsOctober 20, 2026

Understanding consciousness (biological and artificial) as a society of self-schemas.

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EconomicsOctober 14, 2026

Educational intervention can rewire village social networks.

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Hyperfunction of PSD-95 leads to hyperexcitability and cognitive abnormalities in MEF2C haploinsufficiency.

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EconomicsOctober 13, 2026

Interventions to mitigate post-infection morbidity: Management insights from simple models.

A variety of pathogens that cause acute disease can also affect their host long after recovery. These post-infection effects lead to elevated costs for individuals and societies, which can be mitigated by large-scale interventions. Here, we examine the management of post-infection morbidity with mathematical models. First, we show that long-term usage of nonpharmaceutical interventions can reduce post-acute burden. Second, to investigate how post-infection effects affect optimal vaccination cove