This week it is your turn to find a current event related to our current unit - cells. Find a news article related cells, organelles, or 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:Study Of Genes, Toxic Metals In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders Launched By UT Houston, Jamaica Researchers
ReplyDeleteAuthor:Deborah Lake
URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165747.php
Description of article:
This article describes the study of autism going on in Jamaica. Trained Jamaican health professionals will take a sample from children ages 3 through 8 who are diagnosed with an autism disorder. Also, they will test the kids for certain genes that "may interact with exposure to toxins that could affect their neurodevelopment." The purpose of this study is to see if autism is "related to gene-environment interaction". The researchers chose Jamaica because, first, there is very little differentiation in genes because 90% of the pop. is of African descent. Second, Jamaica has a stable population so it is easier to see if there is a correlation between the prevalence of autism and environmental causes. Finally, the study will use a group of 150 Jamaican children diagnosed with various autistic spectrum disorders and compare them to 150 age- and sex-matched children that will act as a control group to compared to the ASD kids.
How the article relates to what we have learned in class:
This article talks about genes and DNA which are two things we have covered in detail this unit. The study they are conducting about autism ties into genes because genes could affect whether or not someone has autism and also the different aspects of their autism. DNA is tied to genes because genes are the specific sequence of DNA's code and therefore also ties into the study on autism.
Title: Geron Starts First Human Embryonic Stem-Cell Study
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Donna Alvarado
Link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/10/11/bloomberg1376-LA4XZQ07SXKX01-1MFOLA6IEO7MH3SN88TLFEFA8U.DTL
This article is about the new use of stem cells in Geron Corporation. This new cell was made from human embryos in order to try to treat a patient who had a spinal-cord injury. It proved to be very effective. Geron isn't the only company working with stem cells. Three other companies are as well, trying to discover treatments for diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
This article has to do with what we are learning in our class unit because it involves working with cells. Scientists were able to take human embryos and create a remedy for patients with certain kinds of injuries. This method could prove to be even more effective in the future.
In this article,
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64096/title/Siblings_of_autistic_children_may_share_some_symptoms
It discusses siblings of autistic children showing mild signs of autism. The genes of autism stimulate symptoms varying in intensity among members of families that aren’t diagnosed with autism. A gene is a region of DNA that a control a hereditary characteristic (carried from mother to child) this relates to what we are learning because we are studying DNA and genes. The ratio is that one in every five siblings with autism who don’t meet the criteria for the disorder display mild or “subclinical” traits. Including language delays, unusual speech qualities, and difficulty interacting with others. Psychiatrist John Constantino of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis recommends clinicians “measure the intensity of autism symptoms over time in individual children and determine points at which interventions become necessary”.
My infinite campus portal says that I am missing several blog entries even though I have done them. the two blog entries missing are I think last weeks and the one before that. did you update the page? and also, I can't find the score to my exam last month on my IF, do you know where to look for it?
ReplyDeleteZhenya Farrington
Title: Zombie DNA Long Thought Dormant Can Rise to Cause Health Problems
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Clay Dillow
Website: Popular Science
URL: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-08/thought-be-dead-zombie-dna-can-rise-cause-health-problems
In the article, the author described how "zombie DNA," also known as non-coding genes or introns, can become active. The gene for FSHD, or facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, is genetic and inheritable. However, in some cases it can be disabled because of a lack of a specific section of sequence. Researchers have discovered that this sequence can be added back in by a mutation, causing the gene to "rise from the dead" and affect muscles of the arms, shoulders, and face. This finding is disturbing, as there are many introns in our genetic code, and any of those may be activated and trigger some type of illness. On the other hand, scientists should be able to target the intron that causes FSHD and make sure it doesn't activate. This technique also be applied to other as-yet untreatable ailments that are caused in a similar way.
This article relates to what we learned in class because it deals with DNA, and more specifically, introns. DNA is our genetic code. It codes for proteins, which govern almost every part of the human body. Introns are parts of the genetic code that do not code for any proteins or characteristics/traits. Therefore, they were considered to be "dead." Recently though, researchers have found that, via a mutation, some introns may be activated and cause problems within cells and the human body.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63405/title/Environmental_DNA_modifications_tied_to_obesity
ReplyDeleteIn the article, Enviromental DNA Modifications tied to obesity, DNA can affect the routine of genes that involve the body weight. Scientists found that calorie intake and excerices influences a bodys size. An epigenetic change is a chemical modification to DNA that is unique but can affect a persons health and causing diseases. The epigenetic changes can change the DNA sequence and they way genes are turned on and off. Epigenetic marks can help find a cause of a disease. Researchers from John Hopkins University found one type of epigenetic change known as methylation. A team did a test for methylation, by diagnosing it into Icelandic people. The test showed that the people who had methylation did not change. Obese people had a higher percentage of methylation than people with a normal body weight. Methylation can easily turn off nearby genes. Researchers are unsure if epigenetic marks help cause obesity or are side effects of weight.
This Article is called When Procreation is a Matter of Real Estate by Sindya N Bhanoo. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/science/19obrotifer.html?_r=1&ref=science
ReplyDeleteThe Article is about fresh water creatures Rotifers. Scientists have discovered that Rotifers can breed asexually or sexually depending on the environment's location. The different types of foods or amounts of foods did not change reproduction, but different regions did. The Scientists also believed that many genes are useful survival tools.
This article relates to the Unit we are studying because it has to do with genes and how genes are useful and are used in life.
Title:Penguin DNA evolving faster than thought
ReplyDeleteauthor:Tina Hesman Saey
link:http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/49671/title/Penguin_DNA_evolving_faster_than_thought
This article is on the change in penguin DNA. it is amazing how fast the penguin DNA can change. They change up to 6 times faster than human DNA. To test the speed in which the DNA changed they took the DNA from a 12 modern penguins, and 8 ancient penguins who were more than 44,000 years old. The penguins mitochondrial genome chhanged faster also than scientests had predicted. Though the protien coated DNA changed slower than norman DNA.
The article called "More than a chicken, less than a grape" written by Tina Hesman Saey, may be found at this site: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64286/title/More_than_a_chicken%2C_less_than_a_grape. The title refers to how the amount of genes in a human is between the amount of genes in a chicken(16,736 genes) and a grape(30,434 genes). The exact number of human genes is not actually defined, though many studies show that the gene count is around 22,000. A gene is a stretch of DNA that codes for proteins. It is difficult to find the exact number since genes are not displayed as a lasting strand of genetic code, but the genes are interrupted by introns, that do not code for any proteins. Each gene codes for a portion of a protein, so different genes mix together in cells in order to make different varieties of proteins. To find the genes, scientists either use computer programs or they find them by hand. What a drag!
ReplyDeleteThere's first dimensional lines, second dimensional planes, third dimensional prisms--then what? Metamaterials. Metamaterials can be engineered to have different properties of everyday matter, some that can bend, twist and manipulate light. Scientists simply alter the magnetic and electric properties. This power to manipulate light allowed the idea of super-lenses, which could focus with unprecedented power. "In metamaterials, we have a situation in which we have optical space-time", said Igor Smolyaninov at the University of Maryland. He says that these metamaterials can mimic the multi-verse. And that these can be focused into smaller parts of mass and studied like different universes such that no light can escape from them. Because of the advancement in technology, the metamaterials are becoming more and more speculated.
ReplyDeletehttp://sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/64085/title/Cosmic_dioramas
By Elizabeth Quill
Zhenya F 7
Article: "New genetic blueprint for bloodsuckers"
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Gwyneth Dickey
Site:http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63894/title/New_genetic_blueprint_for_bloodsuckers
In biology, we have been studying cells and DNA. In the article, scientist have mapped out a complete genetic blueprint for the Southern House Mosquito. The Southern House Mosquito is on of the the leading disease spreaders in the mosquito family. With the genetic blueprint, scientists are one step closer to solving the problem of disease infested mosquitoes. The group of mosquito that the SHM falls under (the Culex group) has extra genes in their DNA which allows it to change to it's environments. The mosquito is then able to bring it's diseases in different locations and be able to adapt to the environment.
I looked into the story titled:
ReplyDeleteThe unusual suspects
by Susan Gaidos.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/64069/title/The_unusual_suspects
Above is the site that I found it at using one of the websites given to choose from from Ms. Hero.
Autism is a genetic disease that scientist-detectives have been looking into for a long time. Recently, they have found a few rare mutations in some of the victims' genes that may have contributed to their disorder, but they are not certain. They have also found many common disorders that may have contributed to this disorder. Scientists have started using new DNA sequencing technology to try to find out what is behind this virus and where it is happening, so they can put a stop to it as quickly as they can. Scientists have known for quite a while now, that genes were the culprit of the disorder, marked by an impaired social and communication. Unfortunately, some of the mutations that are found in kids with autism are found in kids without autism as well. Researchers have been using genetic findings as their starting point, and hopefully, along with their studies, they will be able to track down the source of it soon, and put a stop to it permanently.
This article relates to what we have been learning because we have been working to understand what genes are and what they contribute to a person and their life.
This article stood out to me because one of my uncles on my mother's side of the family, Uncle Mikey, had autism. He passed away just a little while ago, and even though he was autistic doesn't mean that he wasn't able to communicate. It wasn't easy to understand him some of the time, but he was still one of the greatest people I think that I will ever know.
Title: Bacteria go electric
ReplyDeleteMicrobes that wire themselves up could turn waste into power
Author: Marissa Cevallos
URL:http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64203/title/Bacteria_go_electric
This article is about bacteria that can conduct electricity along tiny wire-like appendages. Biologists first noticed that the bacteria grew these wires in areas of less oxygen. The bacteria also seem to be able to share the gas with each other. out.“That these old organisms seem to develop their own electrical distribution system is really amazing,” said Gorby. Colonies of the creatures could use cellular respiration to make electricity. These bacteria could help use clean out decompose ocean sediments. They could also be a way of alternate energy. This is related to what we learned because we are learning about prokaryote and eukaryote cells. Bacteria is a type of prokaryote cell. Also, the bacteria use cellular respiration to generate electricity. We are also learning about cellular respiration.
Title: "Bornavirus Genes Found in Human DNA
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Tina Hesman Saey
Link: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/52925/title/Bornavirus_genes_found_in_human_DNA_
This article is about how bornavirus genes were discovered in human DNA. Scientists believe bornaviruses, an RNA virus that causes disease in horses and sheep, first brought their genetic material into human DNA 40 million years ago. This shows that RNA viruses can deposit their genes into host DNA, and also into certain types of cells around the body. Researchers have discovered traces of the viral genes in different parts of human DNA, and that these viruses have spread their genes to other mammals in the past millions of years. Today's modern bornaviruses still affect the genes of certain mammals. Though retroviruses, the type of virus a bornavirus is, can have bad affects on a host, it can also help fight disease along with other retroviruses. This article relates to what we're learning because we learned about DNA, genes, and cells. We also learned how DNA is genetic material, through the use of viral studies, and how viruses insert their genetic material into cells, DNA, etc. This also relates because we learned about how genes and DNA affects one's life, since retroviruses has affects of disease-fighting in the human body.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64203/title/Bacteria_go_electric
ReplyDeleteBacteria Go Electric
Marissa Cevallos
This article is about how a certain bacteria, Shewanella, can naturally produce electricity. These bacteria, when oxygen deprived, extend out wires which others latch on to, forming a chain. These chains were used to transport oxygen from one prokaryote to another. Scientists recently discovered that these bacteria also produce electricity which they send along these wires. This phenomenon is related to both cell respiration and prokatyotes. This bacteria energy is a good natural source of clean energy and can be the hydroelectric power of the future.
Title: Scientists Reach Milestone On Way To Artificial Life
ReplyDeleteAuthor:Joe Palca
Link: www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127010591
Scientists have recently been successful in making a living cell from DNA that created in a lab. Craig Venter had the idea to use thymine, cytosine, guanine, and adenine to assemble a genome. He and his team then constructed the DNA and put it into a cell, which divided to produce a cell with synthesized DNA. This success is an important step towards creating life in the lab. This relates to what we have been learning because they are using the parts of DNA to reconstruct their own version. Adenine pairs with thymine, cytosine pairs with guanine, making the rungs of the ladder. The sides of the DNA ladder are made of dextrose and phoshpate.
-Ted A. 7°
Title: New Genetic Blueprint for Bloodsuckers
ReplyDeleteAuthour: By Gwyneth Dickey
Link: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63894/title/New_genetic_blueprint_for_bloodsuckers
The article is about the 3rd mosquito genome that has been fully sequenced which could help scientists create a pesticide that attacks a particular gene of the mosquito instead of all mosquitos since the mosquitos appear at different places according to climate and species. The specially made pesticide could kill southern house mosquitos more effectively than general pesticides since they are especially made to kill a particular gene. This relates to our lessons because we have been learning about cells and genes.
Title: Ancient DNA suggests polar bears evolved recently
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Sid Perkins
Link: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/56825/title/Ancient_DNA_suggests_polar_bears_evolved_recently
This article relates to what we are learning because it is about polar bear DNA. Recently, scientists have taken DNA from a jawbone fossil of the polar bear and studied its mitochondrion genome. They then compared this to other bears and found that polar bears have only evolved recently. Specifically, 150,000 years ago. Scientists believe they travelled, following the ice, because they evolved when the ice age was ending and therefore had to keep following the ice to stay alive. We now wonder if these patterns of following ice will continue as global warming melts our iced masses on Earth.
Article: The unusual suspects
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/64069/title/The_unusual_suspects
In recent studies, scientists have found hundreds of rare genetic mutations that may contribute to autism. They are using new DNA sequencing technologies and other methods within the brain to learn and understand the cause of autism. No one knows what he cause for autism is, and researches are trying to find out a mutation in most autism cases. Some studies have found mutations to genes in biological pathways and networks which helps control the way the brain develops and functions. Autism is a spectrum of disorders, which makes it difficult to find the cause. In other studies, scientists have found some variants in DNA to be duplicated or missing. Genes can affect the person's character or behavior. This relates to what we are learning because it talks about genes and DNA. We learned that we inherit half of our parent's DNA. One different gene can affect the whole DNA. Scientists predict that differences or mutations in DNa can lead to autism. I thought this article was very interesting because my brother has autism, I would love to have scientists discover the cause, or the cure for it.
-Sabrina Leung
Article: Stem Cell Experiment on Paralyzed Patient
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Rob Stein (Washington Post)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/12/MN8Q1FR612.DTL&type=science
Scientists have been trying to invent a working (human) embryonic stem cell therapy. For example, one goal was to treat the patient who was paralyzed and make the body move again. Because the test was successful, it made other scientists want to enhance the therapy and learn more about it so they tested it on animals. Some people were against embryonic stem cell therapy because they thought it wrong. Scientists are worried that if the patients are damaged, it could ruin every single experiment and stop what they have going for them. This relates to what I have learned in this unit because we learned about genes/cells and how genes/cells are useful and used in life.