BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) — The following is a summary of published science and technology news of China.

ANDROGENS’ ROLE

Chinese researchers have explored the role of androgens in shaping sex differences at the molecular and cellular levels, according to a research article published in journal Nature on Wednesday.

A team of researchers from the Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University and the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, constructed a detailed single-cell transcriptomic map of 17 different tissues from a mouse.

Using this dataset, they analyzed sex differences in depth and investigated how androgens influence these differences through specific molecules and cell types. They also explored the implications of their findings on sex-biased diseases.

PREGNANCY MICROBIOME

Researchers recently unveiled the evolving patterns of pregnancy microbiome, aiming to analyze the impact of the microbial ecosystem on the health of both mothers and their offspring.

The study, jointly conducted by a team consisting of researchers from the Beijing Institutes of Life Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, has been published in the journal Science Bulletin.

Researchers found that as pregnancy advances, the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota undergo significant changes, adapting to fluctuations in hormone levels during pregnancy, which may affect maternal metabolism and immune system.

EARLY EVOLUTION OF MAMMALS

A study led by Chinese scientists on Jurassic mammals has shed light on the early evolution of mammals, according to the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

An international research team led by the IVPP studied Jurassic mammal fossils from north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and southwest China’s Yunnan Province, had revealed the earliest evolution of tooth, middle ear and jaw joint in mammals.