No Place Like Foam for Tropical Frogs

The tungara frog which is found in the Carribean and Central America. The frog builds a nest out of a mixture of fluids collected from the female and mixing it with the pond water to make raft for the eggs or larvae. The mixture turns out to be foam like substance that not only creates a float but also serves as protection. The hole concept of the male frog taking fluids from the female and mixing them with pond water is very intellegent. The males have to fertalizze the eggs and place them in specific orders for more protection. The male frog plays more a part in keeping his species alive then the female does, all the female does is lay the eggs, which are not yet fertalized.


No Place Like Foam for Tropical Frogs

Experimental Stem Cell Research Arrests Lung Disease in Rats

Stem cell researchers exploring a new approach for the care of respiratory diseases report that an experimental treatment involving transplantable lung cells was associated with improved outcomes in tests on mice with acute lung injury. The lung cells were derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Findings by investigators at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston are scheduled to appear in the March issue of Molecular Therapy. See full article at http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/02/03/experimental_stem_cell_treatment_arrests_acute_lung_injury_in_mice_study_shows.html

This is an encouraging find as it shows just how effective the application of stem cell technology can be for the fight against drug resistant and chronic diseases. While many people argue about the moral and ethical issues surrounding stem cell research, what you can't argue with is results. The more positive results researchers publish, the less people will resist these medical breakthroughs and the closer we'll come to discovering cures for diabetes, muscular distrophy and other diseases once though incurable.

First female sex hormone

Scientists found out that the female sex hormone (progesterone) first came in the plant. They thought that this could only be found in animals but they were wrong. They saw that it was like the female sex cell in plants but they weren't 100 percent sure so they didn't think anything of it at all. They later did an examination and found out that this is originally where the female sex cell was found. Pauli and colleagues were the first to find this out. They used nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy. Recently they have found 5 more progesterone steroids in plants in which they belonged to the buttercup family.



www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/02/04/first_discovery_of_the_female_sex_hormone_progesterone_in_a_plant.html

Ancient Dinosaurs had stripes, Researchers say

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100204/ap_on_sc/us_sci_striped_dino;_ylt=ApoIDV.sWx7qspf0xRTlyecPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJrbTVtdDNjBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMjA0L3VzX3NjaV9zdHJpcGVkX2Rpbm8EY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcnkEc2xrA2FuY2llbnRkaW5vcw--
Researchers are saying that some of the Dinosaurs have had stripes. This is based on a study conducted by scientists who have found melanosomes which causes the color pigment in the dinosaurs body. They have found and inspected the fossil of a dinosaur called Anchironis huxleyi. this dinosaur is a ancient bird. It had striped feathers, and was found in China. Its size is in comparison with the robin in grams. Scientists predict its color was present to attract future mating partners.

Gene Linked To Anxious Behavior In Mice

To say that anxiety in a mouse is similar to anxiety in a person seems hard to believe. But researchers at the Rockefeller University show that mice missing a particular gene (Lynx2) have a big increase in symptomatic behaviors. This gene alters the way brain cells communicate and is the similar process in humans with anxiety disorder.

In the experiment the mice (lacking Lynx2) spent less time in bright spaces, were jittery, were slow to explore new places and would isolate themselves in a empty cage; rather then socialize wit a companion next door. The researchers show mice lacking the Lynx2 gene that causes anixous behavior, which humans share, may play a role in human anxiety.

I enjoyed this articile very much. It delites me to think that mice and humans brains aren't so different from another. Lacking the gene that causes anxiety is one similarty between us. It just shows me that we are all in a way alike.

Gene Linked to Anxious Behavior in Mice

HIV Researchers Solve Key Puzzle After 20 Years of Training

Here is a link to the full article!

The mystery of HIV may soon be coming to a close. After 20 years, researchers have grown a crystal that reveals the structure of the integrase enzyme. This enzyme is found in retroviruses like HIV. In an infected person, HIV uses integrase to paste a copy of its genetic information into the person's DNA. Now that researchers know the structure of the retroviral integrase, they have also found out that it is quite different than what they had predicted. This new discovery allows researchers to fully understand how current drugs that inhibit integrase are working and how they can be improved to stop HIV from developing a resistance to them.

This new piece of the puzzle can lead to so many possibilites. HIV has been infecting this country for so many years, it will be nice to finally beat it. New treatments for HIV could elongate, or possibly save so many lives. Of course, it may take ten, or even more, years to figure out a better treatment, but it now appears to be a surmountable obstacle. The end may be near!

Type II Diabetes cure in site!

Professors at the University of North Carolina may have found a way to understand and ultimately solve the mystery of type II diabetes and other illnesses genetically. According to Jason Lieb of UNC, the majority of the DNA sequences associated with disease found thus far resides in the middle of nowhere. Lieb has supposedly discovered a map that can guide scientists to regions of the genome that do appear to be relevant. The human genome project has gained steam, but with the thousands of genetic sequences discovered it has been difficult to pinpoint the sequence that is the diabetes gene. Lieb says his map will help others in the diabetic research community with their search for a cure.
www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/02/02/scientists_map_out_regulatory_regions_of_genome_hot_spots_for_diabetes_genes.html