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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THE NEW GENETICS By Melinda Wenner Moyer
ReplyDeleteIn our unit of genetics, we have been studying how our genes are what make us up. However in the article, The New Genetics, it is proven that our past family’s genes can make us up too. This process is called epigenetic. Scientist found out that chemicals and environmental influences changes to your genes are just as important as the ordinary gene code. This article basically adds up to what we had been learning in our genetics unit.
Rare mutations key to brain disorders By Tina Hesman Saey
ReplyDeleteThis article explains how some mental “retards” or disorders come from modified genes. By modified genes it means mutations. A study taken in November 14, researchers took gnomes from 10 people with mental disorder. They found out that if big chunks of DNA in a sperm is lost or modified, then the offspring of that man is born with a disease. Their research also claimed that each of the person tested had nine mutations, three which did not cause the mental disorder. This article is similar to the cookie mutations in one of our Bio-labs that differed cookies with other ingredients than the ordinary chocolate chip cookies.
The sandman gene By Tina Hesman Saey
ReplyDeleteGenetics tested about 4,200 Europeans to see if any genes could be found that are related to sleeping. They found that the gene SUR2 was found in people that sleep 28 more minutes than the others. To see if it was just a coincidence or not finding that gene, the genetics placed that gene in fruit flies. It turned out that fruit flies with SUR2 slept more than the ordinary fruit fly. Others tests showed that people that contained the gene DEC2 slept 2 hours less than the ordinary human being. This genetic article relates to the genes unit in our biology when we first learned what genes were and what their function was. This article also shows a mutation in fruit flies which was also a unit we covered in biology.
Engineered bacteria can fill cracks in aging concrete By Clay Dillow
ReplyDeleteSome researchers in the University of Newcastle in UK have found a way to cover the cracks in cements. They a kind of bacterial glue to cover the cracks, this glue is called BacillaFilla. Researchers have modified the glue so that it reacts only when it comes to contact to the pH of concrete. Once they come into contact, the glue germinates and goes deep into the crack. After it is deep it spreads and hardens to cover the crack. This article says that the researchers modified the glue’s genetic properties in order to cover the cracks in concrete builds, therefore they basically used genetic engineering. Genetic Engineering is something we learned in our biotech unit.
U.S. Says Genes Should Not Be Eligible for Patents by Andrew Pollackhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/business/30drug.html?_r=1&ref=dna_deoxyribonucleic_acid
ReplyDeleteThis article is focusing on the debate surrounding patenting genes. For a while now, scientists have been aloud to patent genes. Now however, the federal government is reconsidering their position. They are saying that simply isolating a gene isn't enough to deserve a patent, and that the scientist would then need to do something unique to the gene for it to be patented. Changing their thoughts on this issue could change the way biotechnology industry works, because it is obvious that patenting genes is popular, considering that 20% of human genes are patented.
We are right in the middle of doing a project on GMO's, and there is a large debate centered around patenting. Personally, I am opposed to the idea. If the gene occurs naturally, I don't see why they should get credit for "inventing" it. I also think that because you would need to pay to use patented genes, it will slow down the rate of scientific discovery.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/56825/title/Ancient_DNA_suggests_polar_bears_evolved_recently
ReplyDeleteAncient DNA suggests polar bears evolved recently
By Sid Perkins
March 27th, 2010
In my biology class I am learning about DNA and genetics. The article that I have chosen is about a polar bear fossil and how it relates to that of a brown bear. Scientists estimate that the polar bear evolved no more than 150000 years ago. Scientists have discovered a fossil of a jaw bone of a polar bear. This fossil was the oldest polar bear fossil found yet. Scientists reconstructed some of the fossils genome and compared it to that of the Alaskan brown bear. The tests showed that the polar bear is the closely related to the Alaskan brown bear.
Changing the Language of DNA: Altered Cells Taught to Read 4-Base-Pair Codons by Stuart Fox
ReplyDeletehttp://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-02/altered-cell-taught-read-4-base-pair-codons
This article talks about how a cell has been altered to read 4-base-pair codons instead of three. In altering this cell, scientists have now been able to go from 64 codons to 320. This also enables scientists to possibly be able to find artificial amino acids. Currently, only two of the new codons have been identified. Scientists have not only discovered new codons, but they have also increased the range of how many different compounds a cell could make.
This article relates to what we are learning about in our current unit for two reasons. The first would be that we started off this unit by studying DNA, mRNA, and protein synthesis, and this article talks about codons in amino acids which compose a protein. Another reason this article relates to our current unit is that now scientists can possibly find new amino acids with the new codons that they have discovered; and we have been talking about GMO's and transforming proteins. When you transform something or create a GMO, new things can potentially be found and made... relating back to the article.
The people of Kiribati live from the sea. The coral reefs of this Pacific island nation are not just museums for divers and snorkelers, but sources of food. Essentially, every family in Kiribati depends on the near-shore fishes to top their plates and fill their stomachs. Reef fisheries worldwide, in fact, provide upwards of one-half of the protein for the tens of millions of people who live in the coastal tropics.
ReplyDeleteIt is not surprising, therefore, that the people of Kiribati really know how to fish. On each of the inhabited islands that we have visited, we have worked with fishermen to help us to collect the fish needed for our study. While we dedicate our efforts to collecting smaller species that are of less interest for the fish-eating public, the fishermen provide invaluable help in collecting the larger species that are more commonly eaten.
DNA-damaging disinfection by-products found in pool water By: Janet Raloff. http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63358/title/DNA-damaging_disinfection_by-products_found_in_pool_water
ReplyDeleteThis article talks about how chlorine and other disinfectants are damaging DNA. The way they discovered this is by checking 49 swimmers. This relates with our class because we are learning about DNA. Also on how it can be infected. Finally it spoke that it got in through the ears.
Amgen bone drug OK'd for use in cancer patients by The Associated Press
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/18/national/w180915S03.DTL#ixzz15h9Ubcyahttp://
This article explains how Amgen, a biotech drug maker, has produced a drug to improve bone strength in cancer patients. The drug prevent fractures and other skeletal problems in people that have advanced cancer. This drug prevents the cancer cells from producing the protein that breaks down bone cells. This has to do with protein synthesis.
F.D.A. Says Food From Cloned Animals Is Safe
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/business/16clone.html?_r=1&ref=cloning
This article is about the safety of cloning food. A lot of the foods today is somehow genetically modified, like seedless grapes and very juicy fruits. Although this may seem like no harm, we can't be 100% that this always going to be safe for our bodies.
This relates to what we've been learning about genetics and genetically modified products. Cloning is an example of using genetics.
This article relates to what we learned this week on genetics. In this article, a woman named Katherine Miller. At age 24 she experienced many symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. At age 25 when she went in again for another check up, she was diagnosed to be at the peak of fitness. But at the age of 26 she died. Just before she died she had a CT scan and it showed that her colon cancer had spread to her liver and at that late of the cancer, it is very deadly. many people today believe that if you get cancer at an early age that you would survive it. Around 70,000 americans per year between the ages of 20 to 40 are diagnosed with cancer each year. Most of the people that are diagnosed with cancer are in the late-stage cancer giving them less chances of survival. we learned that cancer is a result from cells dividing and growing without a command to. They then grow into tumors. Sometimes some cells can leave the tumors resulting in hurting other organs. They then if not treated in time would be fatal.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/65682/title/Genes_jump_more_in_one_type_of_autism
ReplyDeleteGenes Jump More In One type of autism by Tina Hesman Saey .
In this article, Tina,explains that a gene leads a type syndrome called Rett syndrome. Rett syndrome is a type of autism and it targets girls more than boys. It relates to what we are learning because it relates to DNA and mutation in the gene. The Rett Syndrome tells the genes when to go and when to stop. So, when they are going, it makes noise damaging the brain, making a disorder. Alysson MuotriIt is also more active to active people than non active people.
Rare mutations key to brain disorders
ReplyDeleteBy Tina Hesman Saey
The new research being done on the genetics of mental retardation suggest that the brain disorders are not inherited. Instead, the are rare DNA variants that appear for the first time in the affected person. 10 people's genomes were studied that all had a form of mental retardation. It was then determined that during the production of sperm, DNA pieces can get lost or duplicated, which then leads to a problem with the offspring. This all leads to the possible conclusion that many diseases, like mental retardation are from new mutations and are not passed down or inherited.
Environmental DNA modifications tied to obesity by Tina Hesman Saey. The article is about specific genes increasing the risk of developing certain deseases. it shows that chemical modifications to DNA can affect a persons risk of developing common diseases. Studies show that an epigenetic called methylation can have the affect of turning off nearby genes.This article relates to our topic of DNA and DNA modifications.
ReplyDeleteGMOs and Mother Nature? Closer Than You Think
ReplyDeleteBy JAMES MCWILLIAMS
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/gmos-and-mother-nature-closer-than-you-think/?src=twrhp
This article relates to what we have been doing because it shows how GMOs are said to be called "frankenfood" yet there has been discovery that nature, itslef, has created a GMO in Sweden. "Swedish researchers discovered an enzyme-producing gene in a meadow grass that naturally crossed into sheep’s fescue about 700,000 years ago." This relates because people were told mother nature disagrees with GMOs so its a bad idea to do it because it is wrong yet nature has created its own GMO. It was predicted it was made like this: Gene was tranmitted by a parasite or pathogen, like a virus and then trasnported by a sap-sucking insect. Unbleivably rare yet doable. Professor Bengt O. Bengtsson said "...,something we’ve been doing with heroic results since the dawn of agriculture." Well said.
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-11/how-science-changing-your-thanksgiving-menu
ReplyDeleteHow science changing your thanksgiving menu by Rebecca Boyle
GMOs were made about fifhteen years ago. So, when you have turkey, it tastes and looks like what your grandma use to make about 20 years ago, but now it is much more different. It might taste and look the same, but in the genetic level, it is much higher than back then. Genetically Modified crops contains genes from other plants to make a new feature. GMOs are mostly used in pests and disease resistance. The companies like Monsanto and Bayer uses this genetically modified weed killers and spray it on their foods. Now, thanks to modern technology, there is an Iphone app that helps people find out if their foods are gentically modified or not. This relates to what we learn because the whole article is about GMOs and genetic modified crops.