- Researchers Find New Translocation; Weak Spots in DNA Cause Genetic Disease
[NEWS] PHILADELPHIA, July 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ —A genetics research team based at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia continues to discover recurrent translocations—places in which two chromosomes exchange pieces of themselves. As many as 1 in 600 persons carry balanced chromosome translocations, which involve no loss or gain of DNA. Most such people appear healthy, but may have a child wit… - 'Linc-ing' a noncoding RNA to a central cellular pathway
[NEWS] Contact: Bonnie Prescott bprescot@bidmc.harvard.edu 617-667-7306 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Critical role described for lincRNA in mediating cellular response to DNA damage BOSTON — The recent discovery of more than a thousand genes known as large intergenic non-coding RNAs (or “lincRNAs&q… - 'White graphene' to the rescue
[NEWS] Contact: David Ruth druth@rice.edu 713-348-6327 Rice University Hexagonal boron nitride sheets may help graphene supplant silicon What researchers might call “white graphene” may be the perfect sidekick for the real thing as a new era unfolds in nanoscale electronics. But single-atom-thick layers of hexagon… - Carnegie Mellon researchers create fluorescent biosensor to aid in drug development
[NEWS] Contact: Jocelyn Duffy jhduffy@andrew.cmu.edu 412-268-9982 Carnegie Mellon University Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new fluorescent biosensor that could aid in the development of an important class of drugs that target a crucial class of proteins called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). “Drugs that t… - The thunderstone mystery
[NEWS] Contact: Siri Pedersen siri.pedersen@uis.no 475-183-2632 University of Stavanger What's a Stone Age axe doing in an Iron Age tomb? The archaeologists Olle Hemdorff at the University of Stavanger's Museum of Archaeology and Eva Thate are researching older objects in younger graves; they have found a pattern “I…
- Spider Silk Producing Bacteria
Spider's Web
Image: Lisa McDonald / FreeDigitalPhotos.netScientists have created genetically engineered E. coli bacteria that produce spider dragline silk. Spider's silk has many amazing properties that make it an ideal material that could be used for a number of industrial and biomedical applications. In order to create this artificial silk, the researchers synthesized the spider gene that produces silk and inserted it into the E. coli bacteria.
The researchers genetically altered the bacteria in order to help them produce spider silk protein. The artificial silk protein was then purified and spun into silk fiber. The strength, extensibility and stiffness of the artificial silk fiber was tested and found to be comparable to that of genuine spider silk. The researchers are confident that their method for mass producing spider dragline silk can also be used to produce other biomaterials such as elastin and collagen.
Learn more about this study:
Spider Silk Producing Bacteria originally appeared on About.com Biology on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 14:47:25.
- What Are Genes?
Image: Genome Management Information System, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Genes are segments of DNA located on chromosomes. Genes exist in alternative forms called alleles. Alleles determine distinct traits that can be passed on from parents to offspring. Genes are inherited through gene transmission that occurs during reproduction.
Genes contain the codes for the production of specific proteins. The information contained within DNA is not directly converted to proteins, but must first be transcribed in a process called DNA transcription. While transcription takes place within the nucleus of our cells, actual protein production takes place in the cytoplasm.
More Genetics Information:
What Are Genes? originally appeared on About.com Biology on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 20:44:44.
- Chili Peppers and Obesity
Photo courtesy PDPhoto.org Can chili peppers help in the fight against obesity? Scientists have found that capsaicin, the constituent of chili peppers that causes a burning sensation in tissue that it comes into contact with, suppresses fat buildup. Studies suggest that capsaicin may help to lower calorie intake, reduce fat tissue and decrease blood-fat levels.
Capsaicin in chili peppers reduces fat buildup by causing changes in fat proteins. These changes promote fat breakdown by the altered proteins. The researchers are hopeful that information gained from the study of the effects of capsaicin on fat will result in the development of new treatments for obesity. Obesity is a serious health concern as it is linked to other health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.
Learn more about this study:
- New Evidence That Chili Pepper Ingredient Fights Fat Science Daily
Chili Peppers and Obesity originally appeared on About.com Biology on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 11:12:43.
- Antibacterial Paper
Graphene Sheet Scientists have developed a new kind of paper with antibacterial properties. The material, called graphene, was discovered six years ago and consists of super-thin sheets of carbon. The ability of this material to inhibit the growth of bacteria was discovered when scientists created sheets of paper from graphene oxide and attempted to grow both bacterial cells and human cells on the paper. While human cell growth was unaffected by graphene, bacterial cells were unable to grow on the paper.
The findings of this study published in ACS Nano also show that graphene paper fights airborne bacteria as well. Due to the low cost involved in the mass production of this paper, coupled with its antibacterial properties, scientists believe that this material will have a number of commercial and clinical applications. Some of these applications could include its use in food packaging, the production of antibacterial bandages and even the development of anti-odor shoes.
Learn more about this study:
- Graphene-Based Antibacterial Paper EurekAlert
Antibacterial Paper originally appeared on About.com Biology on Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 at 14:39:34.
- Larger Brain Means Longer Life
Chimpanzee
Image: Michael Elliott / FreeDigitalPhotos.netScientists have discovered a link between brain size and life span in mammals. It appears that mammals with larger brain to body size ratios tend to live longer. After studying approximately 500 mammal species, it was discovered that some mammals including chimpanzees, gorillas, whales and elephants have larger brains in relation to body size than would be expected. When compared to other mammals with smaller brain to body size ratios such as rodents, bats, felines and marsupials, mammals with larger brains in proportion to body size live longer.
The researchers believe that larger brain size means greater flexibility in behavior and an increased ability to learn and adapt to changing environments. In the case of some mammals, the environment favors genetic variations that tend toward the development of larger brains. For mammals, a larger brain equals a better chance for survival and more opportunities to reproduce.
Learn more about this study:
- Brain Size Associated With Longevity in Mammals Science Daily
Larger Brain Means Longer Life originally appeared on About.com Biology on Saturday, July 17th, 2010 at 05:00:34.
- First study hints at insights to come from genes unique to humans
- Depressed women have more sex
- Mitochondrial 'bottleneck' cracked: new hope for disease prediction
- Research at the University of Navarra discovers new compounds active against tuberculosis and malaria
- Engineering chimeric polypeptides to illuminate cellular redox states
