Velocity of Climate Change Varies from Mountain to Marsh

As global temperatures change, not all shifts will be equal. A new global analysis pinpoints the fast pace some species may have to move to remain in a suitable climate. Much of Earth's life forms are fine-tuned for specific ecosystems and their associated climates. Plunk a tree frog down in a harsh habitat it is not well adapted for, and it will fail to thrive—or even survive. Now, with regional climates shifting as a result of global warming, it is unclear just how far—and how fast—organisms will need to travel to keep up with moving climates.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=velocity-climate-change

With trees being cut down in the Rain Forest among other things there is more and more carbon dioxide entering the Earth’s atmosphere. This is causing the oceans to become more acidic. This acidification if killing coral, helping algae flourish, and causing fish ear bones to grow bigger than normal. The carbon dioxide puts large amounts of magnesium sulphate and boric acid into the ocean. These are sound absorbers and are becoming more concentrated in the water. This is why it is getting harder for water animals to hear. Many of the animals use sonar to navigate at these depths and with a reduced scense of hearing it will make this difficult. Researchers suggest that the sound absorption could fall about 60 percent in high latitudes and deep waters within the next couple of centuries. This was very interesting to hear that the carbon dioxide is affecting ocean life as well as the many other things it does on land. This article gives a more scientific explanation for what is happening.

Global Warming?

There are many mixed opinions about global warming and if it is really occurring. Scientific tests have been made about the affects it is having on the Earth. At first scientists believed that the sea level would grow only a small amount compared to new research. They now believe that the sea level will rise up and submerge one third of Florida, southern Manhattan and even the entire countries of Bangladesh and the Netherlands. It seems like with these projections we will have most of the New Jersey coast which is well populated covered in water. Although this is not going to happen in our lifetime it seems that it is something to be worried about if you are a believer. The warmth is melting ice caps which is putting more water into the oceans. Through research scientists also concurred that the sea level during the Eemian stage which was about 125,000 years ago was about 13 to 20 feet higher then it is today. Many might not know that the Earth had anther period of global warming which was called the Eemian stage. This makes me believe that global warming if it is occurring has little to do with the human population on Earth. Unless the Neanderthals were driving cars and polluting the air I do not think humans have much to do with this occurring. It is the Earths natural cycle that is making it happen. To read more on this topic visit here.

‘Extreme’ genes sheds light on origins of photosynthesis

Scientist Jeffrey Touchman has been working on filling the gaps in evolution to find out where photosynthesis first took place. With more research, he may be able to find the link between anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthetic organisms.

http://asunews.asu.edu/20091211_extremegene

Should Flowers Be Banned in Hospitals?

The most common gift to bring someone that happens to be stuck in a hospital is usually a bouquet of flowers or a get well soon card. Some people are concerned that flowers might actually be a risk for patients in hospitals. The United Kingdom has already banned flowers from hospitals grounds. Reasons to ban flowers was due to the bacterial growth in vase water and for the fact that patients and flowers compete for oxygen supply. In 1973 scientist found that the flower water in a vase contain a high percentage of bacteria, but have yet to cause infection to patients at hospitals. Also in the 1900's, nurses would take flowers out of patients rooms at night because they believed that the plants would take-in oxygen instead of producing it. This theory was later dismissed as a myth. The nurses are more worried about maintaining the flower instead of infections.

Many people may argue that flowers have beneficial effects for patients. When patients are giving flowers their emotions, mood, social interaction, and memory increases for the good. Flowers, plant and other herds have been used in the medical field for over 200 years now. Other studies show that patients with flowers had a decrease in blood rate and pressure and also less pain, anxiety and fatigue. Patients that have flowers in their rooms may have little risk but the beneficial effects of the flowers out-weight the risks. The power of the flower should not be banned for hospitals.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091216203449.htm

New Orleans and much of South Florida expected to be completely submerged

In recent studies by scientists at both Princeton University and Harvard University have come up with the statistics to suggest that even an extra two degrees of moderate global warming can be responsible for 20-30 feet of long term sea level rise. This would effect some parts of the United States east coast, most of Netherlands, nearly all of Bangledesh and the most problematic of areas, South Florida and New Orleans which can be lost forever. If precautionary measures are not taken and we do not begin to monitor and prevent the emissions of greenhouse gasses we could see this type of rise in global warming of this magnitude sometime during this next year.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091216131747.htm

http://http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/12/14/scientists_isolate_new_antifreeze_molecule_in_alaska_beetle.html

Scientists have identified a novel antifreeze molecule in a freeze-tolerant Alaska beetle able to survive temperatures below minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Unlike all previously described biological antifreezes that contain protein, this new molecule, called xylomannan, has little or no protein. It is composed of a sugar and a fatty acid and may exist in new places within the cells of organisms.

The need for the anti freeze is because the cold can cause cells to die on insects. Just like when something in the freezer has been ther too long and ice forms on it. The same thing happens to insects.

UAF graduate student and project collaborator Todd Sformo found that the Alaska Upis beetle, which has no common name, first freezes at about minus 18.5 degrees Fahrenheit in the lab and survives temperatures down to about 104 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.

A possible advantage of this novel molecule comes from it having the same fatty acid that cells membranes do. This similarity, says Barnes, may allow the molecule to become part of a cell wall and protect the cell from internal ice crystal formation. Antifreeze molecules made of proteins may not fit into cell membranes.

http://http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/12/15/first_immunological_clue_to_why_some_h1n1_patients_get_very_ill_or_die.html

An International team of Canadian and Spanish scientists have found the first potential immunological clue of why some people develop severe pneumonia when infected by the pandemic H1N1 virus.

Researchers from the Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valladolid in Spain and the University Health Network found high levels of a molecule called interleukin 17 in the blood of severe H1N1 patients, and low levels in patients with the mild form of the disease.

Interleukin 17 is typically produced by the body to fight disease, however ther are times when it becomes "out of control" and is more harmful than helpful. interleukin 17 can cause paitients to have inflamation of the lungs which leads them to have to be hospitalized. Researchers believe that they can decrease the number of hospitalizations if the can control the interleukin 17.

"A diagnostic test could let us know early who is at risk for the severe form of this illness quickly," he said, adding that high levels would indicate a failure of the immune system to eliminate the virus, similar to what happened during the 1918 Spanish flu when huge numbers of deaths occurred due to a deadly influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1.

How Do salamanders Grow a New Leg? Protein Mechanisms Behind Limb Regeneration

Many salamanders have a very unique natural ability to regenerate limbs that has been amputated from a predator. The School of Science at Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis have been studying over 300 different proteins which the salamander specie axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) produce within its body. Limb regeneration has been study for over 30 years now. Specialized proteins accumulate under where the limb has be amputated, this is also known as the establishment of a blastema. The proteins and resident stem cells begin to manipulate each other and begin to regenerate a new limb. Researcher have notice three significant traits in the cells of regenerated limbs.

These traits are:
1. Quantities of enzymes involved in metabolism decreased significantly during the regeneration process.
2. There were many proteins that helped cells avoid cell death, because amputation is traumatic. This is critical.
3.A protein which appears to keep cells from dividing until they are fully differentiated and reprogrammed to begin forming a new limb was expresses at high levels throughout blastema formation.

Studies with these special proteins found in the axolotl salamanders have been placed in frog appendages that have been amputated and yet to successfully make a frog limb. New developments in the future for this study will hopefully lead to regeneration for humans who lost a limb. Sounds like a long shot but these new protein discoveries give scientist new look at limb regeneration.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214121434.htm

Decoded Corn Genome Promises Higher Yields, Better Biofuels, New Plastics

With its annual output of over 330 million tons a year feeding animals, running cars, and decorating South Dakota tourist attractions, maize is clearly Americas most important crop. That's why the newly published complete corn genome could drastically change the food, automotive and plastic industries. Already, scientists have identified genes that could boost yield, change the cell wall to make more biofuel, or raise the nutritional value of this vital cereal.

The fully decoded corn genome culminates a four-year, $31 million collaboration between a number of different universities. The project published a working draft of the genome in early 2008, but, like with other genome projects, decoding some of the final, more complex, genes took a little longer. While some The primary paper relating to the project will appear in the journal Science, with ancillary papers appearing in the Public Library of Science and Plant Physiology.

"What we have here is a crucial part of the instruction manual for how you breed a better corn plant," Richard Wilson, director of the Genome Center at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, and leader of the maize genome project, told Nature News.

In the Plant Physiology paper, professors from Purdue University note they they have already identified 750 cell wall genes. The cell wall of corn contains the materials that eventually become biofuel and bioplastics, so any ability to increase the thickness of the cell wall would also increase the efficiency of biofuel production.

Maize actually underwent significant genetic alteration during the domestication process thousands of years ago, with the early settlers of the Americas increasing the yield, altering ear geometry, and augmenting the stalk strength through years of selective breeding. Now, with the genome laid bare, scientists can accomplish the same level of engineering in fractions of the time.

And maybe, god willing, someone will finally create microwavable popcorn that tastes the same as movie popcorn. Please?!

Josh Petty

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2009-11/decoded-corn-genome-promises-higher-yields-better-bio-fuels-new-plastics

Glowing Prairie Rodents Teach Us the Genetics Of Monogamy

Man, those scientists just love their glowing lab subjects. First came mice, and then recently the first primates got some jellyfish genes implanted into their DNA. Now, scientists at Emory University have implanted the gene for jellyfish fluorescent protein in prairie voles.

But why prairie voles? They're not a model system like a mouse or zebrafish, and they don't cure any diseases like naked mole rats. So why them? Because voles rarely step out on their mates. In fact, voles show a lot of human-like social behaviors such as mating for life, shared child raising for couples, and even cuddling. But, like humans, some voles do have a wandering eye.

The scientists are studying the genetic of monogamy, and voles serve as a model of human behaviors like cheating or mate competition. In this experiment, they've linked the glowing gene to a gene suspected to control their impulse to cheat on their mate. If you glow, you're not going to stray. But if you can't be seen in the dark, then the Ms. Vole might have reason to worry.

Implanting the glowing gene only forms the first step in the genetic study of cheating, and even if they locate the appropriate gene, figuring out how and why it regulates complex social behavior is a different matter entirely.

Or, alternatively, they could just hire a private investigator to follow the vole around. Nah, what am I saying. I'm sure he's just working late.

Josh Petty

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-12/glowing-prairie-rodents-teach-genetics-monogomy

Bacteria-Busting Genetic Bombs Make Biofuel Processing a Blast

Generating biofuels from bacteria would be easier and potentially more efficient than producing it from plant matter -- if it weren't for the energy-intensive chemical reactions needed to extract the fuel from the bacteria after they've manufactured it. But the most promising sources of bacterial fuel, like cyanobacteria, are wrapped in multiple layers of protective membranes that make it difficult to get at the fatty material. So a team of Arizona State University researchers got an idea: why not blow the bacteria wide open from the inside with a genetically engineered bomb?

Bacteriophages are the sworn enemy of bacteria, latching onto them and pumping them full of foreign genetic information that eventually causes the bacteria to burst. So the ASU team inserted into the bacteria bacteriophage genes that are triggered by the presence of nickel. Then they waited for their cyanobacteria to fatten up.

At harvest time, the researchers simply added nickel to the bacteria's growth media. The nickel was consumed, triggering the genes which in turn kick-started the production of membrane-eating enzymes inside the bacteria. In time: a very tiny boom. The bacteria are blown open, attacked from the inside out, their fatty cargo now easily harvestable.

The bacteriophage genes act as a kind of Trojan horse, waiting inside the membrane for the signal to attack. Since the process of blowing open cyanobacteria from the inside is completely natural, it doesn't require the high costs or energy expenditure associated with existing chemical or physical methods. Not to mention it's far cooler.

Josh Petty

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-12/processing-biofuels-bacteria-busting-genetic-bombs

World's First Osmotic Power Plant Goes Live in Norway

When it comes to harnessing the energy potential of the oceans, the Norwegians have no problem starting small. The world's first osmotic power plant opened today in Tofte, Norway, utilizing the properties of salty seawater to generate a whopping 4 kilowatts of electricity for the grid, or about enough to power a coffee maker. But the Norwegian company running the project, Statkraft, is a glass-half-full kind of company, claiming that eventually osmotic plants could draw half of Europe's electricity from the saltiness of the sea.

Osmotic power works by separating saltwater and seawater in two chambers separated by a polymer membrane that will only allow freshwater to pass through. The salinity of the seawater draws the freshwater through the membrane, creating a great deal of pressure on the seawater side. That pressure can be used to turn a turbine to create power.

Of course, the Norwegians have no problem going big on their maritime energy projects either. Norwegian energy giant StatiolHydro recently erected Hywind, the world's first floating full-scale offshore wind turbine, and Statiol's Snohvit field in the Barents sea is the world's most environmentally friendly liquid natural gas plant and boasts the world's longest undersea pipeline system.

Just as technological innovations made Hywind and Snovhit possible, advancements in membrane technology have vastly increased the efficiency, as well as lowered the cost, of osmotic power. The Tofte plant cost between $7 million and $8 million, not too shabby for a power plant if, of course, it can offer more than just a pot of coffee. One quick solution: implement osmotic plants near desalination facilities, which produce a briny water twice as salty as seawater as a byproduct.

Double the osmotic pressure potential, and suddenly we're up to two coffee makers. Slowly but surely, progress is made.

This is a really interesting topic, especially with the copenhagen conferences that are currently underway at the moment. I think the biggest thing is to start small. Just like this course, most important changes that are made usually never occur all at once, and it is my own opinion that the human race as a whole expects end results, or at least big results out of something like this immediately, and we need to allow things like this power-plant time to develop, after all, where would we be without osmosis!

Josh Petty

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-11/worlds-first-osmotic-power-plant-goes-live-norway

Underwater Gas May Hold Clues on Turkey Quake Risk

Some 12 miles off the coast of Istanbul in Turkeys Marmara Sea lies natural gas coming through the North Anatolia fault. These researchers are there to study the link between these gases and the earthquake risk for their largest city Istanbul. Monitering these gases could result in earlier warning for the 15 million residents and save many lives.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091215/sc_afp/sciencequaketurkeyfrance

Aussie Scientist Find Coconut-Carrying Octopus

In Australia scientist's have been observing, after numberous dives, octopus that obtain coconut shells from the ocean floor. They carry halved coconut shells to their desired destination and reassemble the two halves to form a protective barrier around them.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091215/ap_on_sc/as_australia_coconut_octopus

Hollywood gives biologists a helping hand

Computer programs, such as those from Pixar, that are used for animated movies are now also being used to portray molecules and how they interact. This program has allowed scientists to created movies or animations used to explain their hypotheses of what they think is happening inside cells. It is with this, that they might even be able to find new discoveries. It is easy for scientists to created three-dimensional cells, however, getting them to interact is the hard part. For this they rely on the same program that Pixar uses called Maya. The problem with this program is inputting the scientific data into it. They created a Maya toolkit program for free that allows scientists or anybody really to download it to use for protein structures. They believe that with more research and higher ability to use programs like this, that it will lead to some possible discoveries.

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091211/full/news.2009.1132.html

Researchers find hidden sensory system in the skin

Researchers found a separate sensory system in blood vessels and sweat glands that also allows abilities such as touch and feel. This lead scientists to understand that the sensory system of humans is far more complex. The story begins with two patients who lead normal lives went to a doctor to find out about their excessive sweating. It was then that the doctors found out that their responses to certain tests were off and that their senses were impaired. When they looked at their skin, they found that they had no typical nerve endings but the two patients were still able to sense things. This lead them to find that the nerve endings on the blood vessels and the sweat glands allowed them to feel. So in the end, besides the nerves that are on our skin, their are also nerve endings on blood vessels and sweat glands embedded in the skin that give humans the ability sense different things.

http://www.physorg.com/news179482563.html

The Biology of Music: Why we like what we like

Humans tend to focus on certain scales that include so many tones. Even in music that sounds completely different, it is found that they typically use the same type of scales. The tonal sounds of the vocalization of humans are often the most important because it is from them that we gain information. This is because it gives us information about our competitors and potential mates which could lead to being successful. Two scientists took an approach comparing scales to the frequencies in speech. They were then able to determine what scales were most popular depending on how similar they were to the frequency in human vocalization. The more similar the scale was, the more popular it was.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/14/the-biology-of-music.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29

Why are Europeans White?

This articles focuses on the regions of Europe and why people native to those areas are dipigmented. They portray a map of the solar UV at the surface and talk about how it matches with skin tone everywhere but Europe. They believe that it is the oceans and in particular the Baltic Sea that plays a part on why European skin tone is so pale. This dipigmentation is also seen in hair and eye color of Europeans. The baltic sea along with the growth of agriculture has lead to the depigmentation. The Baltic is the only place where the current is able to keep the area warm enough for grains to keep growing. Because of this, most Europeans stopped eating fish and meat and instead turned to grains. This caused a lack of Vitamin D in their body, with this and dim sunlight, it lead to a pale skin tone.

http://knol.google.com/k/frank-w-sweet/why-are-europeans-white-e1/k16kl3c2f2au/14#

The death and resurrection of IRGM - the "Jesus gene"

More than 50 million years ago the IRGM was a gene that played a vital role in the immune system of most mammals. It was then destroyed by a chunk of DNA called Alu which lead to the death of IRGM as it made the original gene worthless. 25 million years after Alu had infected the IRGM, it was then revived by a virus that inserted itself into the gene, which now is useful in both humans and great apes. Bekpen started researching this gene because of Chrohn's disease. He found that its active in several tissues including the heart, brain, kidneys, and testicles. He also found that it might again play a role in the immune system, and there is good reason to believe that this gene is now able to produce a protein again.

http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/the_death_and_resurrection_of_irgm_-_the_jesus_gene.php

H1N1 influenza adopted novel strategy to move from birds to humans

The H1N1 influenza virus has found a new strategy to jump from birds into humans. researchers from Berkley in California show that the swine flu virus adopted a new mutation in one of its genes, one thta is distinct from the mutations found in other previous flu viruses. Some of these included the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918, the Asian flu pandemic in 1957 and the Hong Kong pandemic of 1968. It now has a second mutation that is suppressing the ability of human cells to prevent the bird polymerase from working. "This is an extremely rare mutation and a rare combination, which suggests that there may be other ways that haven't emerged yet that these viruses are going to continue to evolve," said Jennifer Doudna, UC Berkeley professor of molecular and cell biology and an investigator in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

link:http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/12/09/h1n1_influenza_adopted_novel_strategy_to_move_from_birds_to_humans.html

Ancient Manuscripts' Origins Revealed by DNA

Many scholars wonder when and where thousands of manuscripts from medieval times came into being. North Carolina State University professor Timothy Stinson has announced that the origins of these mauscripts can be revealed through DNA. The parchment that many of these documents were written on came from animal skin, and this professor is working on techniques to extract and analyze the DNA which is inside of these skins which will create a database that determines when and where a particular document was written. Stinson stated that this "will also allow us to trace the trade route of parchments" throughout the medieval world. This is a great achievement that will provide tons of data on the evolution of the book industry throughout the middle ages.

link:http://www.macroevolution.net/manuscripts.html

How safe is the Water?

How safe is the water?
With many towns now bringing city water to its residence one has to wonder how much better it is than well water. People do not know what is being added to the water in the pumps that are supplying it. How safe do you feel with chemicals being added to the water instead of receiving it the natural way through the ground? Research has been done since 2004 by The Environmental Working Group that answers some of these questions. They conducted their research and found that in 48,000 communities across 45 states were contaminated. Not every community was tested which makes these numbers seem very large. There were over 316 contaminants found in the tap water with over half of them not regulated by the EPA. This makes you wonder what is in the water you are drinking and should we start drinking bottled water. Click on the water to see how your town ranks. We should take better precautions and have stricter guidelines to stop this from happening. City water seems very unhealthy for us not only do we have to pay for it instead of just getting it out of your personal well but it has many chemicals in it. This is why we should just stick to regular wells with filters for areas of stable water supply.

Venomous Catfish?

Venomous Catfish?
Think twice before eating that southern delicacy. Research done by a University of Michigan graduate says that there are a possible 1,600 species of venomous catfish. The catfish here in the United States are not lethal to humans. Their venom is used to defend themselves from other predatory fish. In other parts of the world the people are not so lucky. Their venom is said to be extremely toxic and deadly.
To be injected by catfish venom it does not occur through a bite. They have venom glands on their spines that get hard when they feel threatened. For symptoms of the venom you can see on the website here .
Although very poisonous in the United States the venom is not a threat. If jabbed by one of these glands a human in the US is more likely to experience problems with bacteria and infection in the wound and not the venom itself. One would never see catfish as being venomous but would rather think of reptiles like snakes and frogs to be more worried about. It is interesting to see that something that people in the southern US fry up to eat is very venomous.

Fossilized Bird Changes History

In New Zealand a DNA extracted from a fossil of a moa suggests a different geological history of the country. This extraction suggests that New Zealand was geologically much different than they thought. They now believe that it had marine barriers, mountains and glacial cycles that scientists at first did not recognize. The moa were among hundreds of birds that inhabited the island over a million years ago. Most birds of the time were flightless weighing 250kg and over.
There were nine species of moa on the islands which were all relatively the same. With the DNA scientists were able to create the evolutionary patterns which in return told more about the environment of New Zealand. Changes in the bone structure of the moa and other body parts they drew clues about the habitat they lived in. It is remarkable how scientists can draw clues from over a million year old fossils that suggest differences in the geology. This type of research I believe shows that anything is possible in science. To see more go on this web page http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/11/18/extinct_moa_rewrites_new_zealands_history.html

Unwanted Reproduction

A study among male water striders found that it does not pay to be aggressive. The study was conducted at the University of Arizona found that low-key male water striders mated more with their female counterparts compared to the more aggressive insects. This is interesting because who would think that insects would have capabilities like this. Instincts like humans the females would reject the more aggressive males and go for the easy going ones. The females when they feel harassed would flee the males and not return. It is interesting to see how it does pay to be the nice guy when being an insect such as the water strider as it does in humans. This website will show you all the tricks on how to fend off unwanted, aggressive males like the water striders http://www.macroevolution.net/water-striders.html.

Are These Green Gadgets Useful?

With everyone so focused on going green companies have now put a lot of thought into their products. Since it is around Christmas time this article seemed very interesting to me. People are trying to save energy these days as well as trying to put fewer pollutants into the atmosphere. Some of these gadgets can help with this. Even though they can be used to help go green with the rest of the world their functions are not very practical. For example mode premium all in one recycling bin. This bin is designed to separate your recyclables from one another such as the papers from the cans and plastics. This may sound like a good idea but with a cost of $270 it is more efficient to recycle in the more traditional way. Another green gadget is the energy curtains that during the day charge from the sun’s rays and at night they illuminate your house which will give you free lighting. In order to be charged they must be off the windows which also make these inefficient. With everyone wanting to go green this is proof that companies will try anything for people to buy their product. These are just a few of the many pointless green gadgets that are being made. While it is good to be green today and help out our planet these types of gadgets are unreasonable to buy to do your part. To check out all of these unuseful gadgets click here

The Biology of Music: Why we like what we like

Humans tend to be drawn to the same tones of a certain scale. Regardless of the sound, most music typically uses the same scale. The vocalization of tones from other humans are the most important because it is from them that we gain information. They approached this by comparing the scales to the frequencies in speech. It was then possible to predict which scales were most popular if they were more similar to the frequency of speech in humans.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/14/the-biology-of-music.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29

Antipsychotic Drugs & the Brain

For years, atypical neuroleptic drugs have been treating schizophrenia- an illness characterized by delusions and hallucinations. Scientists are just now beginning to understand just why this popular class of drugs works. By using biosensors, they can see chemical communication taking place in the brain. Atypical neuroleptics submit large releases of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. However, they have also been shown to barricade a certain type of receptor cell, which would block this message. To find out which action prevailed when scientists put it to the test, click here

The Man Hugh Hefner has a Species of bunny named after him

The man the myth the legend Hugh Herner will live on through a small species of rabbits known as Hefneri. Herneri rabbit is a sub species of the common marsh rabbit, named after the coolest man on the plantet in 1984 after he contributed large amounts of money to benefits the research of rabbits. but recently the Hefeni has been classified as endangered an is estimated that thier is only 300 left in exisistence. But have no fear Hef a researcher by the name of Rosanna tursi is going to make sure your legacy lives on through population genetics.

Playing tetris increases brain efficiency

Researchers from Mind Research Network in Albuquerque conduct an experiment of of 26 girls to prove that playing the video game tetris improve brain efficency and a bigger cortex. The scientist studied the brain activity of the 26 girls for a period of 90 days against that of girls who did not play the video game tetris. through MRI scanner the scientists proved that the game helped increase brain activty in areas such as critical thinking, reasoning and language processing. So afer all this time are parents were wrong video games don't rot our brains.

Poaching of Rhinos on in an increase

The poaching of Rhinos is currently on the rise accoring to the International Union of the Conservstion of Nature(INCN). Illegal poaching is a constant problem of the African countries of Zimbabwe and South Africa. Rhino Horns are in high demand and hunters are killing more and more rhinos for just that reason. The INCN is propsoing that these countries increase law enforcement efforts so that the poaching is put to an end. Currently only 3 percent of all hunter who poach these result are actually caught and convicted

Catfish Venom surpisingly Dangerous

A study has recently been conducted my University of Michigan graduate student Jeremy Wright. Wright had found that there is an extimated 1250 to 1600 species of catfish that produce various forms of poisionous venom. The venom from the catish is released when an individual cause a potential threat. It is than released through its bony edges around the dorsal and pectoral fin area. Most fisherman who have been stung by these types of catfish often experience mild pain but nothing serious initially. But the true problem is later on after the initial sting. The posion from the catfish stike some time causes a bacterial or fungal infection of which is left untreated could lead to death.

Depression as Deadly as Smoking, Study Finds

Studies have been conducted by researchers from the University of Bergen, Norway and the Institute of Psychiatry (IOP) at King's College, London, that show the deadly effects of depression. After surveying 60,000 people, and using a comprehensive mortality database, depression has shown to have a risk level of death close in comparison to people who smoke.

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Syntax in our Primate Cousins

A study on the Ivory Coast of Africa was focused on a species of forest dwelling primates known as Cambell's Monkey's. The monkeys, which live in small groups of ten or so individuals including one adult male and several adult females with their progeny, emit six types of alert calls. They combine the calls into different sequences to convey information to the pack such as social cohesion, predation, and other various dangers. This vocal communication is a crucial survival requirement for this tree dwelling primate which lives in an environment with limited visibility.

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For as long as I can remember, it has been common knowledge that a dog has a much superior sense of smell than we do. However, to my surprise, a dog's scent sensitivity is several thousand times greater than that of a human. Scientists have recently uncovered the secret behind our furry friends extraordinary ability. Canine's have, as do other keen-scented mammals such as rats and rabbits, a specialized anatomical structure in their nasal cavity known as the Olfactory Recess. It is located beneath their eyes and takes up half of their interior nose. The Olfactory Recess is a large maze of twisted and coiled airways that are not found in humans and similar primates. Scientist have created a computer model of a canine nose to truly understand why they have such superior smells. In order for the nose to breath in the same manner as a dog, the scientists used data collected from special muzzles which they attached to several dogs. The discovery has lead to breakthroughs in the advancement of scientific invention and understanding.

Centuries-Old Planetary Mystery Solved With Data From Cassini

One of Saturn's moons, named Iapetus, pictured on the right, is the center of what is being called "The oldest mystery in planetary science," (Fountain). On the right side of the moon you can see an area that is black in color. Among the many theories as to why the moon has two different shades of color, recent studies have allowed one to emerge as truthful. Through their recent work, scientists have been able to conclude, that the black area is actually dust from another one of Saturn's moons. While the moon orbits around the planet, the moon catches all the dust on its leading (black) side, causing the discoloration that has left us baffled until the scientists received images and data from instruments aboard the spacecraft name for Cassini, whom first discovered the discoloration in 1671.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/science/15obmoon.html?_r=2&ref=science

Successful Stem Cell Therapy for Treatment of Eye Disease

The sense of sight is one of the most key adaptation that humans have adapted to the environment throughout time. People who have lost there vision or were born blind have a great disadvantage in living in our world. People who have great vision and fall ill to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) will suffer from a painful eye disease that could lead to complete blindness. Mostly young people are effected by LSCD which need much more moral support by friends and families for the impact on the patients life. Dr. Francisco Figueiredo at North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) estimates that cloudiness has been causing blindness in 8 million people world wide (10% of total blindness) was due to a large percentage of partial or complete LSCD. The NESCI has been studying stem cell and how stem cells can cure blindness in LSCD patients. They have recently had their first successful treatments with 8 different patients suffering from LSCD. By using stem cells extracted from bone marrow from each individual patient was use to reconstructed the corneal and repair the retina which helps restore most of vision lost. If this method become more reliable and less costly then there might be a new treatment to tackle blindness.

Many people dealing with vision problems can benefit from this new method of stem cell studies. Without our sight we cant see object, vibrant colors or possible be limited to daily activities such as driving. Using stem cells from one's own body to restore their sight is one of the biggest breakthroughs in stem cell research. No lives are lost in the process which makes these new treatment humane. The further the study goes with stem cells being used to fix vision will eventually lead to common eye correction treatment for people wearing glasses.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091210125930.htm

The Science Behind Foldit

A revolutionary new game called Foldit allows humans to use their puzzle-solving skills to fold proteins. Scientists are using this game to test to see if that human abilities are more efficient than computer programs that are used for protein folding. If humans are more efficient, they can take their strategies and apply it to these programs to make protein folding more efficient. The game is designed for protein structure prediction, possible new protein designs, and possibly even lead to finding cures for diseases.

http://fold.it/portal/info/science

Bacteria offer insights into human decision making

Scientists recently published a journal in which they used mathematical techniques to show how certain genes and proteins in bacteria interact with one another under times of environmental stress. They believe that this bacteria living in a stressful environment not only proves how complex it is, but also provides insight to scientists who apply mathematical techniques to human decision making. The scientists used the popular 'game theory' method to describe how the bacteria cells interact, even comparing it to what we know as 'prisoner's dilemma.' The bacteria's level of decision making can be compared to humans decision to receive certain vaccinations.

http://www.physorg.com/news179521562.html

Bacteria engineered to turn Carbon Dioxide into a fuel source.

Global climate change has kick started the effort of reducing the emission of Carbon Dioxide, a greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels. Researchers from UCLA have genetically modified a cyanobacterium to consume carbon dioxide and produce a liquid fuel source called Isobutanol. This new discovery may have opened the door to a clean and green fuel source, hopes are high because the product of this discovery may hold great potential as an alternative fuel source to run our nations automobiles on. If we were able to run our automobiles off of a fuel derived from carbon dioxide it may help bring global warming to a halt.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091210162222.htm

Is Garbage The Solution To Tackling Climate Change

Our world and the environment is being greatly effected by high concentration of carbon emission which are causing global warming. The burning of fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases that capture sunlight and warm up Earths atmosphere. Warming the atmosphere by the slightest amount can warm and raise sea levels, intensify hurricanes, and change the environment. A solution to deplete the carbon emission levels would to burn alternative bio-fuels such as ethanol or vegetable oil. A new study from Singapore and Switzerland have found that it is possible to convert the trash in over-flowing landfills into a reliable bio-fuel source. Producing other bio-fuels can be costly but converting garbage into cellulosic ethanol could be less costly and can burn cleaner than other alternative bio-fuels. There is an estimated 83 billions liters of cellulosic ethanol could be proceed in all the landfills across the globe. If the switch was made to bio-fuels then a dramatic drop in carbon emissions would occur, about 80% of carbon emissions would be eliminated from the atmosphere. The environment would greatly appreciate our switch.

The environment is in desperate need of an alternative bio-fuel source. We drive our cars and trucks without a care yet we all should be doing our part to preserve the environment. It begins with little steps and gradually grow into leaps. Finding a reliable bio-fuel in the garbage that sits and decays in the landfill is huge accomplishment for the fuel industry. Converting a bi-produce of everyday life of humans and converting the rubbish, litter, and trash into a carbon free fuel should decrease the dependency of carbon emission fossil fuels across the world. The environment can not wait anymore, cellulosic ethanol produce from garbage must be developed as soon as possible.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090929100654.htm

Digging In Beach Sand Increases Risk Of Gastrointestinal Illness

Next time you want to build a sand castle think again. Recent studies show that children, as well as adults, who build castles and dig in the sand at the beach are at greater risk of developing gastrointestinal diseases and getting sick than people who only walk on the shore or swim in the surf. Doctor Chris Heaney states that beach sand can contain indicators of fecal contamination, but we haven’t understood what that means for people playing in the sand. Researchers found evidence of gastrointestinal illnesses, upper respiratory illnesses, rash, eye ailments, earache and infected cuts.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090709204841.htm

Skull Of Crocodile 100 Million Years Old Unearthed

The disassembled skull of a crocodile with two and a half inch long teeth that lived nearly 100 million years ago has been unearthed found in a prolific fossil site in North Arlington, Texas. Derek Main announces that they had over 50 bones exposed and that they are truly impressive, the teeth measuring 6.5 centimeters, larger than a human thumb. The site lies within Cretaceous rocks, formed 95 million years ago when Arlington was the beachhead for a giant sea that divided the continent.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090715102305.htm

America's Increasing Food Waste Is Laying Waste to the Environment

The researchers found that US per capita food waste has progressively increased by about 50% since 1974 reaching more than 1400 Calories per person per day or 150 trillion Calories per year. Global climate change is being impacted by this as food waste contributes to excess consumption of freshwater and fossil fuels which, along with methane and carbon dioxide emissions from decomposing food.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091124204314.htm

Sea Level Is Rising Along US Atlantic Coast, Say Environmental Scientists

University of Pennsylvania international team of environmental scientists has concluded that sea-level rise along the Atlantic Coast of the United States was 2 millimeters faster in the 20th century than at any time in the past 4,000 years. This is happening more so in current years as sand is being lost to subsidence as the earth continues to rise in response to the removal of the huge weight of ice sheets during the last glacial period. Most likely this will be increasing year by year. This is not something to look forward to as it leads to shoreline erosion, loss of wetlands, and threatens coastal populations.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091210111156.htm

Children Who Survive Cancer More Likely to Suffer from Heart Disease

According to the largest study on this issue published on the British Medical Journal website, children and adolescents who survive cancer have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease as young adults are at risk for a variety of cardiovascular complications related to their cancer therapy, such as heart failure, heart attacks, inflammation of the heart and heart valve abnormalities. Sadly, this can last as late as 30 years after therapy.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091208192003.htm

Why Cancer Cells Just Won't Die: Researcher Identifies Protein Which Regulates Cell Suicide

Scientists have discovered that the impact of tobacco smoke is especially detrimental during gestation in children. Studies have found that children who are exposed to second hand smoke can develop abnormal behavioral symptoms by the age of ten years. Not only is tobacco harmful to children before birth but after as well. Everyone is more concerned about smoking while their pregnant when they really should be concerned both before and after.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091209114146.htm

Fatty Food Can Weaken the Immune System

Through an experiment where mice were fed a lard-based diet over a long period of time scientists concluded that fatty food is bad for our health. Obesity is usually associated with inflammation that does not result from an infection, which simply means that the immune defences are activated unnecessarily. Ironically, the mice on the high-fat diet seem to have a less active immune system when they really need it. Fat people are at a greater risk of acquiring infection, for example in connection with an operation.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091208132526.htm

Treating Cluster Headaches With High-Flow Oxygen Appears Effective

ScienceDaily (Dec. 10, 2009) — Patients with a cluster headache, which is characterized by bouts of excruciating pain usually near the eye or temple, were more likely to report being pain-free within 15 minutes of treatment with high-flow oxygen than patients who received a placebo treatment, according to a study in the December 9 issue of JAMA.

Cluster headache attacks typically last for 15 minutes to 3 hours untreated and have a frequency of 1 every other day for up to 8 attacks a day. Attacks usually occur in bouts, or clusters, lasting for weeks or months, separated by remissions lasting months or years, according to background information in the article. The current treatment for acute attacks of cluster headache is injection with the drug sumatriptan, but frequent dosing is not recommended because of adverse effects. Another treatment option is the inhalation of high-dose, high-flow oxygen, but its use may be limited because of the lack of a good quality controlled trial.

Anna S. Cohen, Ph.D., M.R.C.P., of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, and colleagues conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of high-flow oxygen for the treatment of acute attacks of cluster headache. The study included 109 adults (ages 18-70 years). Patients treated four cluster headache episodes alternately with high-flow oxygen (inhaled oxygen at 100 percent, 12 L/min, delivered by face mask, for 15 minutes at the start of an attack) or placebo (high-flow air). Patients were recruited and followed up between 2002 and 2007. The final analysis included 57 patients with episodic cluster headache and 19 with chronic cluster headache.

The researchers found that 78 percent of the patients who received oxygen reported being pain-free or to have adequate relief within 15 minutes of treatment, compared to 20 percent of patients who received air. For other outcomes, such as being pain-free at 30 minutes or a reduction in pain up to 60 minutes, treatment with oxygen was superior to air. There were no serious adverse events related to the treatments.

"To our knowledge, this is the first adequately powered trial of high-flow oxygen compared with placebo, and it confirms clinical experience and current guidelines that inhaled oxygen can be used as an acute attack therapy for episodic and chronic cluster headache," the authors write.

"This work paves the way for further studies to optimize the administration of oxygen and its more widespread use as an acute attack treatment in cluster headache, offering an evidence-based alternative to those who cannot take triptan agents."

-----I find it really amazing that they may be able to treat clusters with oxygen, and they are talking about being able to treat migraines the same way, which would be wonderful. It would be nice to have one less thing that we need to take medicine for.

Saturn's Mysterious Hexagon Emerges from Winter Darkness

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091209151244.htm%22%3E%3C/a%3E

After waiting years for the sun to illuminate Saturn's north pole again, cameras aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft have captured the most detailed images yet of the intriguing hexagon shape crowning the planet.The last visible-light images of the entire hexagon were captured by NASA's Voyager spacecraft nearly 30 years ago, the last time spring began on Saturn.It encircles Saturn at about 77 degrees north latitude and has been estimated to have a diameter wider than two Earths. The jet stream is believed to whip along the hexagon at around 100 meters per second (220 miles per hour).

Of course scietists are curious as to how and why the hexagon appears. The plan on doing more research to discover the answers to all thier questions. They have been studying images of the hexagon for years. They have also discovered a dark spot within the hexagon that changes its position everytime they look at it. Currently it is at thr two-oclock postion. Now that they can see sharper images of the hexagon, instead of just blobs of it, scientists know that they will have the answers to their questions sooner rather than later.

First Evidence of Brain Rewiring in Children: Reading Remediation Positively Alters Brain Tissue

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091209121200.htm


Scientists are discovering that is is very possible to rewire a childs brain in order to help with reading skills. "Showing that it's possible to rewire a brain's white matter has important implications for treating reading disabilities and other developmental disorders, including autism," said Just, the D.O. Hebb Professor of Psychology and director of Carnegie Mellon's Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging (CCBI). the rewiring is caused naturally by the brain. after intense instruction, brain scans show that the brain actually ends up rewiring itself.
Keller and Just's study was designed to discover what physically changes in the brains of poor readers who make the transition to good reading. They scanned the brains of 72 children before and after they went through a six-month remedial instruction program. They seperated the children in to a control group and an experimental group. They broke it down as such; out of the 72 children, 47 were poor readers and 25 were reading at a normal level. The good readers and a group of 12 poor readers did not receive the remedial instruction, and their brain scans did not show any changes. "The lack of change in the control groups demonstrates that the change in the treated group cannot be attributed to naturally occurring maturation during the study," Keller said.
This is a phenomenal breakthrough in brain studies. Now that scientists and researchers know that they can alter and improve the cognitive performance of achilds brain, they are gaining a better advantage in understanding problems.

Potential Cancer drug may provide relief for those suffering from Asthma...

At the University of Edinburgh Professor Adriano Rossi lead the study which he and his team discovered that the drug now being used to help treat cancer patients also can help patients who are suffering from Asthma. The drug which is called R-roscovitine helps to kill certain immune cells (eosinophils) which lead to Asthma attack symptoms. Eosinophils are found in the lungs and airways and they are there to prevent bacterial and parasitic infections in the lungs. Though these immune cells are not just doing the body good, if there are too many uncontrolled Eosinophil immune cells in the lung it can damage other cells causing inflammatory infections such as Asthma. This new drug could be the factor that gets Asthma under control as it effects so many people on a daily basis. As further tests are run the new findings could prove beneficial for those being treated for asthma whose body's reject the steroid treatment, which is the main way to treat Asthma. Steroid treatment can leave unwanted side effects and the use of this drug could be the way around those unwanted steriod treatments.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091209113846.htm

New Fossils shed light on the Evolution of Dinosaurs

Dinosaur fossils were recently discovered in New Mexico. These fossils are helping scientists understand the early development of these ancient creatures. These fossils were identified as the Tawa Hallae a 6 to 12 foot meat eater. Dinosaurs were developed over 230 million years ago, the Tawa Hallae skeleton is dated back from over 213 million years ago. According to Sterling J. Nesbitt the research leader from the University of Texas at Austin. Nesbitt explained "discovering the Tawa fossils opened up the door to understanding the evolution, the relationship, how they spread across the globe, and insights into their evolutionary characteristics."

The new discovery of the Tawa fossils changes our understanding of the relationships of early dinosaurs. These fossils are the first carnivores remains found and gives insight into the evolution of the first carnivorous dinosaur. There were about five to seven skeletons. The Tawa dinosaur contains many different characteristics of several lineages that will help us understand the evolution of different dinosaurs. The Tawa dinosaur was developed on the super continent Pangea, which allowed these dinosaurs to travel from region to region before Pangea broke off and broke apart to the current continent.

Nesbitt said that this reinforces the idea that dinosaurs originated in what is now known as South America and then relocated to different regions. T. Hallae is known as an early form of theropod, which the T. Rex later developed as did modern birds. The fossils had hollow bones, but had more lizard like characteristics than bird characteristics. The fossils are currently located at the Ruth Hall museum at Ghost Ranch. The research was published in the science journal.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091210/ARTICLES/912109879/1002/NEWS01?Title=New-fossils-shed-light-on-evolution-of-dinosaurs&tc=autorefresh

Parents being told to ease up on the anti-bacterial soap

Recent studies at Northwestern University show that parents should ease up on all of the anti-bacterial soap. It is actually encouraged to allow your children the occasional dive in the mud because it gets them acquainted with everyday germs. The study has shown that those who have had microbial exposures early in life are less likely to develop a cardiovascular disease during old age. Ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments are what contribute to higher levels of inflammation as an adult. In the U.S. we have this idea that we must protect infants and children from germs at all costs but we really should just let nature take its course sometimes.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091208192005.htm

H1N1 influenza adopted novel strategy to move from birds to humans

Berkley researches in california say that the the H1N1 virus has shown a new mutation in one of its genes that has been seen in any of the previous samples. A gene that it closely related to the spanish infulenza of 1918. The 2009 swine flue virus retain the bird version of polymerase, but has a second mutation that seems to surpess the the abiltly of human cells to prevent the bird polymerase from working.

New drug aims to 'seek and destroy' many types of cancer

A new drug designed to "seek and destroy" common cancers such as breast, prostate, endometrial, pancreatic, ovarian, skin and testicular cancers is being tested at TGen Clinical Research Services (TCRS) at Scottsdale Healthcare. The Phase 1 clinical trial will help determine if EP-100 is safe and effective for use among patients with solid cancer tumors, with fewer side effects than chemotherapy or radiation treatment. According to Ramesh K. Ramanathan, MD, principal investigator for the trial in Scottsdale, the drug is a membrane-disrupting peptide (tMDP) designed to "seek and destroy" cancer cells by targeting those with excessive luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) receptors. Excessive LHRH receptors are found in a wide range of cancers, including breast, prostate, endometrial, pancreatic, ovarian, skin and testicular cancers. EP-100 will be administered intravenously for three out of four weeks. Once the maximum tolerated dose has been established, additional subjects with specific diagnoses of either breast, ovarian, endometrial, pancreatic or prostate cancer will be enrolled. EP-100 is produced by Esperance Pharmaceuticals of Baton Rouge, La., and was culled from a range of drugs tested at TGen Drug Development Services (TD2) in Scottsdale.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/10/05/new_drug_aims_to_seek_and_destroy_many_types_of_cancer.html

New cancer gene discovered

A new cancer gene has been discovered by a research group at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The gene causes an insidious form of glandular cancer usually in the head and neck and in women also in the breast. The discovery could lead to quicker and better diagnosis and more effective treatment. The cancer caused by this new cancer gene is called adenoid cystic carcinoma and is a slow-growing but deadly form of cancer. The research group can now show that the gene is found in 100% of these tumours, which means that a genetic test can easily be used to make a correct diagnosis. The newly discovered cancer gene is what is known as a fusion gene, created when two healthy genes join together as a result of a chromosome change.

Brain's Fear Center: Equipped with Suffocation Sensor

The section of the human brain responsible for registering fear and panic has a built-in chemical sensor that is triggered by the terror of suffocation. Cell journal reported that studies in mice showed that the rise in acid levels in the brain when breathing carbon dioxide triggers acid-sensing channels which evoke fear behavior. Scientists are hopeful that this research will eventually help correct what goes wrong in the brain during panic attacks. The amygdala, the structure that stimulates the sympathetic nervous system for fight-or-flight.

Using the Internet can increase brain funcution

A group of researchers from UCLA conducted an experiment on 24 middle aged adults ranging in ages from 55 ro 78. Thier experiment was shown to orive that people who have never used the interent before or who had very minimal use of the internet benefited from browsing the web. The experiment showed how using the internet triggered the test subjects to use parts of thier brain that they had not used for quite some time.

By Feeding the Birds, You Could Change Their Evolutionary Fate

Martin Schaefer from the University of Freiburg believes the actions of humans putting seed or fruits out for the birds is effecting the evolutionary future of some species. An example of a species which is being effect is the central European Blackcap. The Blackcap population has began to develop a division of two reproductively isolated groups. The group of Blackcap birds can be considered an ecotype. These birds breed in the same forest yet the birds still undergo certain evolutionary changes to body structures. The cause for the changes is due to the two different migration routes which the birds follow in the winter and the food they eat. The Blackcaps which follow the northwest migration route to Spain mainly survive off the food provided by human; the wings are rounder for better maneuverability and longer, narrower bills. The southwest migration Blackcap birds are suited with longer wings for long distance travel and stronger beaks. The geographic separation and the different source of food supplies have caused the evolution changes. The changes can be due to the act of humans feeding the birds.

"This is a nice example of the speed of evolution... It is something that we can see with our own eyes if we only look closely enough. It doesn't have to take millions of years," said Schaefer.

Having the ability to adapt the environment which an individual or animal lives in is a major advantage. Our world is constantly changing and whom best adapts to the environment will reproduce, passing on the strongest genes to the next generation and so on. In this case, the Blackcap bird population has began to evolve into different birds. The wing and bill structure are better suit to the two different migrations and different food sources. The changes are slow but have gradually grown into visible characteristics. The rate which these evolutionary characteristic change was actually rather quick, within 30 generations.This could probably happen to other species within the animal kingdom. Helping animals when food is scarce may feel satisfying but human should try to limit the amount of food given to the birds.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091203132144.htm

Children with asthma are more vulnerable to H1N1 virus

Kathleen Sebelius, 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services, met with students and their parents at Thurgood Marshall Elementary to discuss the importance of education and creating healthy habits to avoid missing school. It is one of 16 schools in Philadelphia that partners with the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. Staying healthy can be a challenge for students with asthma. It is a factor that is even further complicated with the possibility of being exposed to the H1N1 virus. N1H1 can increase the severity of asthma symptoms, whcih can possibly lead to hospitalization. She has basically gone out of her way to ensure that young asthma students in her pennsylvania school will not be at a severe risk of contracting H1N1 . "The Philadelphia MCAN program shows that children can be taught to manage their asthma. This means an improved quality of life, significantly fewer trips to the ER, and more days in school," said Dr. Tyra Bryant-Stephens from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and co-lead investigator of the Philadelphia MCAN project.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/09/08/children_with_asthma_more_vulnerable_to_h1n1_virus.html

Commercial Ships release half the amount of pollution than all cars worldwide

Commercial ships around the world account for half the amount of pollution that cars omit, The pollution by these commercial ships to a big toll on the environment they account for 30 percent of all nitrogen based smog pollution and their traffic routes often come within 25o miles of the coast line which creates many worries for people who live near towns that neighbor the shore



http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/02/26/commercial_ships_spew_half_as_much_particulate_pollution_as_worlds_cars.html

Tropical lizards cant deal wwith rising temperature

Researchers from the University of Washington have came to the conclusion that the rising temperatures In Central and South America might have a great affect on lizards. They believe that the tropical lizards will not be capable to handle the increase any more than they already have and that if the temperatures continue to increases anymore the lizards might not make it. I say If you can't beat the heat than get out of the tropics and catch a flight to somewhere cooler.

Some monkey spieces don't get AIDS

Two studies were published this month in the Journal of Clinical Investigation explaining a significant understanding of reasons why some monkey species including the Sooty Mangabeys and African Green Monkeys avoid being infected with AIDS when they were injected with SIV, the simian equivalent of HIV.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, and the University of Toronto examined Sooty Mangabey, while the Pasteur Institute in France studied African Green Monkeys to identify possible genes related to disease progression and resistance. "Sooty Mangabey's are capable to shut down the immune response after they were injected with SIV and remained healthy. Sooty Mangabeys respond to the SIV in a similar manner to Rhesus Macaques (another monkey species) , which get sick, and like humans that are infected with HIV, but Sooty Mangabeys do not get sick." According to Dr. Steven Bosinger.

The Pennsylvania study compared the changes that were induced by the SIV infection on the gene profiles of two different monkey spieces. The Rhesus Macaques undergo an AIDS like disease when they were infected with the SIV. The Soot Mangabey remain AIDS- free when they are infected with SIV. The Sooty Mangabey are natives to Western Africa and are known to become infected with SIV from the wild.

This study has changed the way AIDS researchers look at the human versus simian AIDS infections. With the Sooty Mangabeys having a high antiviral immune system and interferon genes and the production of type one interferon's. The injected SIV includes a large activation of immune molecules in both Sooty Mangabeys and African Green monkeys, but only the Sooty Mangabeys are capable of bringing the response under control, keeping them from producing the AIDS disease. These genes that the Mangabeys carry are keeping them disease resistant. This knowledge will open up many different varieties of AIDS therapy for humans.

This study may be the gateway to helping reduce AIDS. Researchers are already aware that some Humans have a gene mutation that keep them AIDS resistant they cannot produce the CCR5 protein that HIV attach and infects. I find these studies very important to the research and am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for AIDS research.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091205110306.htm

Rhino Poachng surges in Asia, Africa

according to a report by TRAFFIC and the International Union Conservation of Nature a trade is happening in Asia for a demand of Rhino Horns. Poachers are using drugs, poison, cross bows, and weapons to kill rhinos. Most of the rhino horns that are leaving Africa are being sent to medical markets in southeast and east asia and also China. since 2006 roughly around 95% of the poaching of Rhinos has occurred Zimbabwe and South Africa. investigations have taken place but no drastic measures have seemed to decrease rhino poaching.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/12/02/rhino_poaching_surges_in_asia_africa.html

Lizards change their diet to avoid predators!

A scientist from the university of Salamanca and Yale University has discovered that the presence of predators affects a lizard species from the Negev Desert called Acanthodactylus beershebensis,

A study has shown these lizards move less and catch different prey if they are near predators. "When there is greater pressure from predators, the individuals tend to move less and catch more mobile prey from somewhat different groups. The lizards' diet and food-seeking behaviour changed significantly when we experimentally increased the predation pressure on them", Pérez-Mellado tells SINC. Scientists have researched the lizards and their diets and have found that lizards mostly consume ants, termites, and they barely consumed seeds when they were pressured by predators.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/12/02/lizards_change_their_diet_to_avoid_predators.html

An Asparagus Beetle

Although the asparagus plant is covered with wax crystals, which make the branches practically unwettable and keep things from sticking, somehow the asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi) manages to glue its eggs to these branches. Recently, scientists in Germany have figured out how the beetle does it. Dagmar Voigt of the Max-Planck Institute for Metals Research in Stuttgart and Stanislav Gorb of the University of Kiel say it secretes a compound, probably containing proteins, that has surfactant qualities - it spreads out rather than beading up. The compound forms a composite with the wax crystals, and as it dries it forms a glue that keeps the egg stuck. That is pretty amazing how these little beetles work their way to survive.
Link: www.nytimes.com /science

Cholera Epidemic Infects Thousands in Kenya

I was very suprised to see the word cholera in this article. I thought that cholera would not be connected to this century, but the truth is the opposite! A cholera epidemic is sweeping across Kenya, with 4,700 cases reported in the past month and 119 deaths in what Kenyan officials are calling "one of the worst outbreaks in a decade." Health workers say that cholera is spreading rapidly in northern Kenya in part because many people there are nomadic. Animals that have recently died from hunger and thirst have also become fly-infested breeding grounds for other killer germs. This is very scary news and I feel deeply sorry for people who are exposed to such an epidemic.
Link: www.nytimes.com /science

Two scientists, one from the University of Salamanca and the other from Yale, have discovered that the presence of predators affects behavior patterns of a species of lizzard called acanthodactylus beershebensis from the Negev Desert in the Near East. These lizzards move less and catch less mobile and different prey while under pressure from predators. These two scientists basically discovered that this particular species of lizzard can diet to avoid being eaten. The scientist from the University of Salamanca stated," The lizards' diet and food-seeking behaviour changed significantly when we experimentally increased the predation pressure on them"

link:

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/12/02/lizards_change_their_diet_to_avoid_predators.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+biologynews%2Fheadlines+%28Biology+News+Net%29

Cure for aids

It has always been a major challenge for medical science researchers to find a cure for AIDS. SOme things scientists are trying to do it replace the normal immune cells of someone HIV positive with HIV-resistant ones. It seems researchers have succeeded in solving the mystery of curing AIDS. Recently, German doctors cured a HIV patient by conducting a bone marrow transplant (natural gene-therapy). Along with AIDS, the patient was suffering from leukemia. For treatment of both the diseases, the doctors used a bone marrow transplant from a healthy person, having natural immunity to HIV. Genetic engineering research, especially on gene therapy, is ongoing to find the cure for AIDS.

Why females have a tendancy to live longer than males: May be due to the father's sperm

Researchers in Japan have uncovered that female mice produced by using genetic material from two mothers but no father live significantly longer than mice with the normal mix of maternal and paternal genes. Their findings provide the first evidence that sperm genes may have a detrimental effect on lifespan in mammals.Mice created from two female genomes lived an average of 186 days longer than control mice created from the normal combination of a male and female genome. The average lifespan for the type of mice used in the study is between about 600-700 days, meaning that the BM mice lived approximately a third longer than normal. The study may give an answer to the fundamental questions, such as whether longevity in mammals is controlled by the genome composition of only one or both parents, and just maybe, why women are at an advantage over men with regard to the lifespan.

By Feeding the Birds, You Could Change Their Evolutionary Fate

A common human activity in winter is to feed the birds, but doing this can have profound effects for the evolutionary future of the species. This is shown through a population of birds known as the blackcaps, which use to be a single speciess and has now been split into two reproductively isolated groups, despite the fact that they breed side by side in the same forest. The isolation between these two groups even though they live together for part of the year is stronger than that of two groups that live 800 kilometers or more apart. Birds that migrate northwest feed off the food humans give them unlike the birds that fly southwest which feed off of fruits as a consequence the northwest birds have rounder wings which provides better maneuverability but makes them less suitable for long distance flying. And they have longer, narrower bills that aren't are less equipped for eatting fruits and olives.
www.sciencedaily.com/release/2009/12/0912
B. Kohler

Why Humans Outlive Apes: Human Genes Have Adapted to Inflammation, but We Are More Susceptible to Diseases of Aging

Although Chimps and Apes genetics is similar to ours, they rarely live past 50. The difference is because human genes evolved so it enables us to better adjust to levels of infection and inflammation and to high cholesetrol levels of their meat. In the December issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science these differences in DNA sequencing and improvements makes us susceptible to diseases of aging like cancer, heart disease and dementia. This was caused by the fact that before cooking, the ingestion of red meat, in particular raw meat infected with a parasite stimulated chronic inflammation that leads to these aging diseases. Besides differences in diet, it is also caused because humans have unique variants in a cholesterol transporting gene, apoliprotein E, which regulates inflammation and aspects of aging in the brain and arteries.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/
B. Kohler

Elevated Carbon Dioxide Levels May Mitigate Losses of Biodiversity from Nitrogen Pollution

The levels of carbon dioxide are rising causing enviromental problems and over heating the planet, however according to a new study it believed that the rising CO2 levels may be counteracting losses of diversity from another enviromental issue, global rain of nitrogen from fertilizers and exhaust fumes. A ten year experiment involving open air and 48 plotted plants, 16 different species of plants. They tested the plants using ambient and elevated levels nitrogen and carbon dioxide. They measureed many things, plant biomass above and below ground and the number of species in each plot. Over time the diversity changed significantly depending on the amount of nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009
B kohler

Village of the Cloned

A story in the November 29th issue of the New York Post, located on page 17, was both fascinating and scary. It sounds like something out of a Stephen King novel. The National Geographic Channel aired a documentary on a remote Brazilian village, Candido Godoi, where some believe Nazi Joseph Mengele may have, once again, been experimenting and treating pregnant women. The documentary entitled “Nazi Mystery: Twins from Brazil,” features work by an Argentine historian and journalist Jorge Camarasa. Camarasa believes Mengele traveled to Candido Godoi in the 1960’s, and, posing as a doctor, treated pregnant women. Mengele performed lab experiments on Auschwitz victims where he sent over 350,000 men, women and children to the gas chambers, and was obsessed with finding out what triggers twin births in an attempt to assist Adolf Hitler in fulfilling his dream for a fertile Aryan race. Candido Godoi, with a population of 6,000, or about 80 families, has 44 sets of twins. The village twin rate is 100% above the global average for twin births, with many of the twins having blonde hair and blue eyes, which is unusual for Brazilians. The fact that a man as twisted and sick as Mengele may have continued his experiments years following his crimes against humanity in Nazi Germany makes this story all the more frightening if true.

Biology of Emergent Salmonella Exposed: Deadly Bug Targets Vulnerable Children and Adults of Africa

A new strain of Salmonella has been introduced to many regions in Africa. This new virus is called Salmonella Typhimurium or ST313. This virus has built a block of genes that are immune to antibiotics and are multi-drug resistant, which makes the virus more difficult to destroy. The ST313 strain has become a life threatening invasive disease in Africa. The new strain has a high mortality rate; one out four people infected will die. The disease prefers to infect children and adults with immune problems such as anemia, malnutrition, or malaria (common throughout Africa). Two health facilities are studying the ST313 strain. Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme and the Kemri-Wellcome Trust Programme, have been studying the genetic changes that the virus undergoes. The strain of ST313 has evolve to be better suited in the host's body and the drugs which are taken to become well. Dr. Robert Kingsley from Sanger Institute says that the ST313 is "a new form of pathogen," which causes other diseases or illnesses to infect the host. The ST313 can also be passed from human to human and rapidly infect the the body.

A major concern for all mankind is the threat of bacteria and viruses becoming a plaque. It has happened before and it can happen again, but this time our drugs and antibiotics will be useless. The H1N1 and the ST313 are threatening people across the globe. The ST313 may become the virus which many scientist will begin to study more thoroughly. This new drug resistant virus is killing hundreds of people in Africa. The African societies are already fighting immune deficiency problems and with this new disease introduced to the populations the mortality rate will surely increase. More health care help must attend the suffering people in the African societies.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091130192919.htm

Special Ultrasound Accurately Identifies Skin Cancer

High-frequency ultrasound with elastography can help differentiate between cancerous and benign skin conditions, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Elastography was found to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions not by their visible appearance but by measuring their elasticity or stiffness. Since malignancies are stiffer than benign growths, elastography, when added to high-frequency ultrasound imaging of the skin, has potential to improve the accuracy of traditional clinical diagnosis of skin cancers and, in some cases, eliminate unnecessary biopsies of benign skin lesions. The procedure is noninvasive, convenient and inexpensive. High-frequency ultrasound with elastography allows for accurate characterization of the extent and depth of the lesion below the surface, which can aid physicians in treatment. This article is relevant to my life because I have pale skin which makes the chances of skin cancer higher. Also, my mom has had cancer spots removed and this ultrasound could possibly be used on her and other patients.

Mammography May Increase Breast Cancer Risk in Some High-Risk Women

Low-dose radiation from annual mammography screening may increase breast cancer risk in women with genetic or familial predisposition to breast cancer, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Results showed that among all high-risk women in the study, average increased risk of breast cancer due to low-dose radiation exposure was 1.5 times greater than that of high-risk women not exposed to low-dose radiation. High-risk women exposed before age 20 or with five or more exposures were 2.5 times more likely to develop breast cancer than high-risk women not exposed to low-dose radiation. I found this article interesting because they thought my mom had breast cancer and knowing this may help other women not get it.

Jefferson researchers identify new mechanism of blocking HIV-1 from entering cells

Researchers at from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson have found a novel mechanism by which drugs block HIV-1 from entering host cells. Cellular invasion by HIV-1 requires the concerted action of two proteins on the viral surface: gp120 and gp41. The function of gp41 is to get the viral contents into the interior of the host cells. This requires the association of two distinct regions of gp41 called N-HR and C-HR. Anti-HIV-1 agents known as fusion inhibitors target the N-HR or C-HR and disrupt their association, which prevents the virus from entering into the host cell. When the inhibitors bind to the gp41 C-HR, the protein rapidly deactivates before inhibitors have time to dissociate. But when the inhibitors bind to the gp41 N-HR, deactivation takes a very long time, and many inhibitors can readily unbind. To potently inhibit HIV-1 entry, a C-HR targeting fusion inhibitor can have a relatively low affinity, but an N-HR targeting fusion inhibitor must bind extremely tightly.

Do Physically Fit Children Do Better In The Classroom?

Does being physically fit affect you mentally? According, to a recent study published in the Journal of School Health it does. Children who are physically fit scored higher on standardized Math and English than children who were less fit. Researchers examined the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement in a racily and economically diverse public school system. Students between the grades of 4 -8 during the 2004-2005 school year were examined during the study.

The study found that there is a significant relationship between student's academic achievement and physical fitness. The odds of passing both of the Math and English standardized tests increased as physical fitness test passed increased, even when they are controlling for gender, race/ethnicity and social economical status. During school hours children have recess and a physical education class, this study showed that children who do well on physical fitness tests also do well on standardized Math and English tests. This study showed that a student doing sports in school could improve their academic achievement and is beneficial with success in a core subject.

I believe in this study I played sports throughout High School and did well on physical fitness tests and did well on Math and English standardized tests. Being healthy and fit is beneficial when coming to academic achievement and physical education classes should be longer and mandatory.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128113246.htm

Research Sheds Light on Workings of Anti-Cancer Drug

A copper drug called tetrathiomolybdate (TM) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Wilson Disease. Wilson disease is caused by an overload of copper and mestastic cancers which spread through the body. a study at Northwestern University. The structure consists of TM combined with copper chaperone proteins. "Based on the structure and additional experiments, the scientists propose that the drug inhibits the traffic of copper within the cell because of its ability to sequester copper chaperones and their cargo in clusters, rendering the copper inactive." The inorganic elements such as zine, copper, and iron are benficial to the function of cells but too much can be harmful for the body, the bodies inability to dispose of the extra copper can lead to liver problems, which is a mjor cause of Wilson Disease.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091126173033.htm