This week it is your turn to find a current event related to our current unit - DNA, genetics, protein synthesis, and transformation. Find a news article related DNA. Write the name of the article and the author in your post. Paste the link into your comment. And then describe the article and how it relates to what you have learned in this unit.
Here are some sources that you can use to find articles:
SF Gate: http://www.sfgate.com/science/
Science News: http://www.sciencenews.org/
NY Times Science News: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/
Popular Science: http://www.popsci.com/
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TITLE: Ancient DNA suggests polar bears evolved recently
ReplyDeleteAUTHOR: Sid Perkins
ADDRESSS:http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/56825/title/Ancient_DNA_suggests_polar_bears_evolved_recently
This article describes how polar bears evolved more recently than previous
studies, About 150,000 years ago. At first the time scientists studied the
polar bears they assumed that they evolved appox. 70,000 to 1 million years
ago. But recent studies on a fossil, jawbone was found in Svalbard, Norway,
waas estimated to be between 110,000 and 130,000 years old. This was one of the
oldest polar bear fossils yet. This relates to our subject of DNA because when
evolving from a brown bear to a polar bear, the genetics and DNA change and evolve overtime.
Title: Natural Selection Cuts Broad Swath Through Fruit Fly Genome
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Nicholas Wade
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/21gene.htm
The author of the article, Nicholas Wade, wrote about an report, which explored the way evolution works in terms of genes. The most common theory about evolution is that a very beneficial mutation in one gene occurs, which then 'washes' through a population, referred to as a hard sweep. The alternative to this view is called a soft sweep, where favorable versions of many genes become more common in the population. Evolution carried out in this way lets populations evolve without waiting for a novel mutation. The scientists that experimented on this did so with fruit fly populations. They found that a soft sweep was responsible for the flies' increased maturation speed. This finding suggests that, while hard sweeps do occur in sexually reproducing organisms such as humans, soft sweeps may be much more common.
This article relates to what we learned in class because it has to do with DNA and genetics. The genome of the fruit flies was changed, not swept by one gene, but by many genes that were beneficial increasing in commonness. Thus, our study of DNA, genetics, mutations, and other changes in genes are closely related to the information found in this article.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/61524/title/Genetics__redraws_marsupial_family_tree
ReplyDeleteThe blog, Genetics Redraws Marsupial family Tree, by Gwyneth Dickey tells about the origin of the ancestors of kangaroos and their marisupial family tree. Also, the South American opossums were the earliest to branch off from the other marsupial clans. Kangaroos genes are traced back with the help of jumping genes. These genes showed that kangaroos were from a South American that came from Australian marisupial. Jumping genes are useless pieces of DNA that make copies of themselves to reinsert randomly in a genome. These genes are rare and is unlikely to happen twice. Many scientists can find a common ancestor if two species share a jumping gene. After all the research, scientist, Maria Nilsson, and her colleagues found out that all Australian marsupials came from one South American ancestor. Their data also tells that the South American opossum were the earliest branch from the marsupial tree.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/56825/title/Ancient_DNA_suggests_polar_bears_evolved_recently
ReplyDeleteAccording to the research on Polar bears the article suggest that they have evolved recently. Scientist figured this out due to an experiment on a rare fossil that was found . That is , recently being 150,000 years ago.It is believed that they are related to brown bears but evolved later . They found this out by finding a fossil that resemble the jaw of a polar bear , analyzed and tested it with six other bears around the region and found that its dna was close to a polar bears and a brown bears.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64761/title/1000_Genomes_pilot_a_hit_with_geneticists
ReplyDelete1000 Genomes pilot a hit with geneticists By Tina Hesman Saey
The article is about a study that people have 250-300 defective genes. This also connects to the DNA variation and disease. That depletes chromosomes. This relates to DNA and our unit because we are looking at mutations. Mutations are usually different affects caused by genes and DNA problems. Like the gene problems with the chromosomes and deflects.
Title: Blue-Eyed Humans Have A Single, Common Ancestor
ReplyDeleteAuthor: University of Copenhagen
Editor: ScienceDaily staff
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130170343.htm
In Biology class, we have been learning about genes and DNA. Specific areas include GMOs (genetically modified organisms). In the article, scientists at the University of Copenhagen determined that all individuals with blue eyes (such as myself), all can be traced back to a single ancestor. They say that the cause for blue eyes is a genetic mutation that occurred in DNA long ago that causes less melanin to be produced by the body. The lack of melanin causes eye colour, hair colour, and skin tone to change.
Title: Mind over Machine
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Laura Sanders
Web address: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64748/title/Mind_over_machine
Mind over Machine is an article pertaining to the rather farfetched idea of the human mind controlling computers. However this idea might not be as out of reach as it first appears. Moran Cerf had conducted research on the idea. He gather test subjects who had neurons already implanted with electrodes (mainly for medical reasons) and sat back and watched amazed. These Neurons would fire when faces with images they particularly I suppose the word would be liked. Then the researchers set up an experiment with two neurons. They linked cell recordings to a computer and saw the neurons hash it out over two images. The people involved could normally get the weaker neuron to overpower simply by concentrating on the specific image, other times they would chant out the images name. In light of this new information, Scientists are ready to get started on work for mind controlled machines. However Cerf puts a slight damper on their Enthusiasm by pointing out that neurons are way too unstable for the kind of research the scientists would have to conduct. Even so, knowing scientists, they will most likely find a way around or over this obstacle.
http://topnews.co.uk/214737-discovery-genes-opens-new-avenues-fight-against-depression
ReplyDeleteScientists at Yale University have recently discovered a new gene that may be a contributor to psychological disorder. The gene, named MKP-1, turns off the brain chemical MAPK, which is important for the functioning of neurons. This conclusion was supported by a second test conducted on mice. The mice that did not have the gene handled stress well compared to the mice that had the gene. This relates to what we have been studying in class because this gene was probably caused by a mutation, possibly addition or duplcation. That would have explained the negative effect o people with that gene. Also, some mutations have harmful effects, like MKP-1, and some are harmless and unnnoticeable.
Ted A. 7°
Title: Environmental DNA modifications tied to obesity
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Tina Hesman Saey
This article talks about studies that are trying to see if chemicals modifications in a persons DNA are linked to their weight and/or weight regulation. The scientists studied a group of 74 people from Iceland. The study took place over the course of eleven years and looked at millions of spots on each persons genome. The scientists could not come up with a full conclusion, but did say that it looked as if epigenetic marks affected a persons weight/weight regulation. More studies are being launched to look into this further. This relates to what we are/have learned about DNA, mutations in DNA, and how different DNA affects a person in various ways.
Title: New Drug Shows Promise Against Certain Lung Cancers
ReplyDeleteAuthor:Jenifer Goodwin
URL:http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20101028/hl_hsn/newdrugshowspromiseagainstcertainlungcancers
This article is about how a new drug was made in order to treat people with a certain type of lung cancer. This type of cancer involves a tumor containing a genetic mutation, which also accurs in other types of cancer. Many patients have this non-small-cell lung cancer and the drug proved to be very effective on them. 46 patients who took the drug had their tumor shrink 30 percent after taking it for 6 months. Although this drug is only effective to a small number of people that have this genetic mutation, this study may lead to new learning of ways to prevent other cancers.
This article relates to what we are learning in class because it talks about genetic mutations. In this case, the mutation was a tumor that was caused by a protein, which the drug targeted. It did this by blocking the tumor from growing any bigger.
When cells grow too big, they must divide under control of genes. Cancer is a mutation in which cell division is run by malfunctioning genes, causing uncontrolled cell growth. Nicholas Wade's "New DNA Tests Aimed at Reducing Colon Cancer" (found at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/health/29cancer.html?_r=1&ref=science) relates to this concept. One test, which was created by "Exact Sciences", involved the examining of stool samples to find four genes that indicate the existence of colon cancer. Another test examines blood in order to find whether a gene called Septin 9 is altered. The change in Septin 9 also indicates cancer existence, and this test was created by "Epigenomics AG". These tests would be favorable by people, since they are cheaper, not invasive to the body, and could be most effective in finding cancer. It would be awesome if these tests are put to huge use!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64769/title/Neutron_star_breaks_mass_record
ReplyDeleteWeighing a neutron star may be nearly impossible on human pounds and tons--but some how astronomers have figured that there is a neutron star twice our own Sun, breaking a new record of heavyweight Neutron stars. Our sun is not average size, it is actually ten times larger than the regular star. But in this star, Ergo, such dense conditions lead astrophysicists to believe that the star is actually a pool bath of liquid atoms--to the quark level. With these dense hot gases, quarks would form together, making protons and other hadrons, along with exotic matter types. Under Ergo, Coleman Miller of the University of Maryland says, this is one of few spots in the known universe to test if matter is the same under such pressure. He predicts that neutrons would still be neutrons. It is indeed quite interesting to see what would happen at the sub-molecular level, and how our subatomics are made in such conditions.
Zhenya F. 7
Gene therapy for depression
ReplyDeleteLaura Sanders
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64442/title/Gene_therapy_for_depression
This article was about a certain protein, p11, that is found in the brain. Michael Kaplitt discovered that out of 34 people, the 17 of them with major depression had less p11 than the 17 without depression. He believes he can cure some types of depression by gene therapy, making a exon produce more of the protein. When tested on mice, the mice showed evidence confirming that an increase of p11 in the brain could cure depression-like behavior. This relates to what we are learning because it's about genes and protein. Kaplitt wants to test a gene causing more of the protein p11 on humans. We are learning about how genes make proteins.
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-05/researchers-find-evidence-horizontal-dna-swapping-between-insects-and-mammals
ReplyDeleteTitle: Researchers Find First Evidence of DNA Swapping Between Insects and Mammals
Author: Clay Dillow
This article explains how researchers have found that horizontal DNA transfer, the swapping of genetic material between non-mating species, has been tied between parasitic bugs and their hosts, most likely humans. Biologists found that the genes that caused that caused this transfer are called transposons, segments of DNA that are constantly moving. Transposons can cause mutations. With DNA transfer between humans and bugs, this will most definitely affect our evolution throughout time, and may cause some mutations. Based on experiments, mammals had genomes that were very similar to that of the parasitic bug, so there's a large possibility this is the same with humans.
This article relates to what we're learning about in class, because it's main focus is on DNA, genes, and its effects. We have been learning about mutations/evolution and how DNA altercations can affect them. This article explains how horizontal DNA transfer between bugs and humans can affect the evolution of the species. Mutations may also occur, as the genes are being inserted. The genes from the bug can alter a human's DNA, creating different proteins and mutations within the body.
Researches have discovered that chemical modifications to DNA can affect the activity of key genes to regulating your body weight. These chemical modifications are unique to us and can lead to a higher risk of developing diseases. This may help scientists learn the causes of some diseases. Recently, scientists have done research on a group of Icelandic people. They looked at about 4.5 million spots on a genome of a person and determined how much methylation in a DNA. They discovered that DNA with more methylation were the ones who had more body mass. Scientists don't know if epigenetic marks help cause obesity, but it can help show them how genes and the environment interact to determine disease risk.
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63405/title/Environmental_DNA_modifications_tied_to_obesity
-Sabrina L., 7th period
In my article :http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64442/title/Gene_therapy_for_depression
ReplyDeleteScientists have found that some depression symptoms are caused by a lack of the protein p11. Scientists have tested this on mice. They believe that for some patients suffering from depression, they can be cured with gene therapy.Scientists beleive that p11 helps the brain cells recognize serotin, a mood regulator. Scientists hope for a clinical study using gene therapy to be available for humans in the next 1 to 2 years. As a possible cure for depression symtoms.
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-10/new-nanospheres-are-stiffest-organic-materials-ever-created-surpassing-kevlar
ReplyDeleteThis article talks of how scientists have created a material similar to the beta-amyloid proteins that make up the plaques found in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. This substance is stronger then steel and only is 30
Nanometers wide.
This relates to our unit as they are creating artificial proteins without the use of ribosomes found in our cells, although they might use a similar technique.