Our April blog is an open forum, to participate please make a post on something you would like to share with the group about something regarding biology. Please make sure you go back and read the other students contributions.
Medical researchers and health professionals have designed specific films that, when they come in contact with infected bodily fluids, turn the dangerous cells blue. They're designing an app that will allow people in remote places to take a picture of the film and send it to doctors for diagnosis. This way, people who live far away can still be tested for diseases and viruses without having to make a long trek into the city (this will be especially useful if they can get smartphones in remote towns of developing countries). The article refers to them as "cell-fies," and it just seems like a really cool idea that could be helpful in the future!
I am very interested in prosthesis, not that I'm missing a limb or anything, but the challenge of creating a bionic part of the body, integrating it, and making it easily usable is intriguing. This video talks about a recent solution to control of a bionic limb.
I recently heard about this relatively new field in biology known as epigenetics. The first link that I posted is a more concrete definition of what the field is, and the second deals more with the applications and implications of epigenetics. I find it a fascinating new way of looking at genetics because it refutes the idea that your genetic traits are set in stone. It can almost be seen as a more scientific study of nature versus nurture and how it may be possible to counteract negative affects on the "nurture" side.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/02/6156330/stem-cells-the-next-frontier-in.html This article opens the eyes of any medically-interested student. For years, stem cell research has been a part of the human medical field in a lot of different ways, but Veterinarians are starting to branch into using stem cells for cures or treatments as well. Why should animals be treated any differently from humans if we have the technological abilities to treat them the same?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrfwOUOyuWU Above is a link to my sisters undergraduate research she has been working on in college. She is studying Cyanobacteria and its link to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer's. Basically the cyanobacteria, that is found in many lakes around the New England area, is releasing a toxin (cyanotoxin) known as Bmaa. This toxin is a noncoding amino acid. Meaning that is acts like an amino acid but cannot actually do anything. The bmaa replaces a coding amino acid called cystine. This is a problem because once the bmaa has replaced the cyctine in the coding process it causes the protein to fold wrong which in return causes these diseases. They are studying how these toxins are being released whether it be through aresolization or through ingesting foods that have the cyanotoxin within it, for example fish. I find her research to be very interesting, and hopefully you guys do too!
http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2015/04/did-natural-selection-make-dutch-tallest-people-planet A recent study showed that the average height of dutch people has risen 20 centimeters over the last 150 years. While scientist mostly believe this is a result of diet they also think that natural selection was at play. They believe that this is a good example of human evolution.
The article above describes a new theory for the formation of primitive life and continues to beg the question that is the origin of life on planet earth. A new study at the University of Colorado at Boulder states that the “self-organization properties” of DNA-like molecules roughly four billion years ago may have been what lead to primitive life. Scientists believe that these molecules may have formed, on their own, into chemical chains long enough to act as the essentials for primitive life. These claims, not only supported by the 1980’s discovery of self altering RNA, were proven with a new study showing the self-assembly of DNA fragments a few nanometers long into “liquid crystal phases” without the help of biological mechanisms. This ability to put the pieces of molecules back together is believed to be successful with the chemical bonds connecting DNA.
Recently, discoveries in nanotechnologies (the manipulation of matter at a molecular and atomic scale to penetrate cells) bring hope to the medical field when searching for improved treatments on fatal diseases such as cancer and Ebola. Nanotechnology is unique because scientists have found a way to attach certain drugs and minerals to the virus that would ultimately rid of the disease itself.
In one experiment that is being conducted at Northeastern University called “Star Technology”, Dr. Thomas Webster is developing methods to bind gold particles to cancerous cells. These nanoparticles would be struck by heat radiated from infrared light which would cause complete virus death. These nanoparticles are shaped like a star in order to increase the surface area where the virus would attach. This would facilitate the process of binding to the virus and destroying it. However amazing this new advancement may sound, exposing the human body to metal nanoparticles could be highly dangerous and may be toxic.
An alternate experiment has been conducted by Dr. Webster in addition to using metal nanoparticles. This time, he used selenium nanoparticles. Selenium is a natural mineral in the human diet. Selenium is easily absorbed and by nano-scaling it, it will be able to attach to the virus and interfere with it’s process of affecting the host cell. Although this method has not been tested on humans, results from animal experimentation have been very promising to those working in the medical field.
Even though these two experiments have not been cleared to treat humans yet, nanotechnology is making a rapid appearance into patient care. For example, nano-features have been implanted on catheters. By doing so, a virus can be detected and eliminated more quickly. Once bigger developments in the field of technology have been discovered, even more progress will be made in the fight to cure diseases such as cancer and Ebola.
This article is about chernobyl and how forest fires are spreading more radioactive solution around. Basically the forest fires are carrying the cesium 137 to the wildlife like wild pigs and mushrooms, for instance, and now this organisms and spreading it around as well. The university of South Carolina has a computer to track forest fires and they predict that if this path continues there could be some trouble. Already 8% of the material has been redistributed and the original test site is over 70% forest now. Nerve racking stuff but also the basis for a great sic-fi movie.
This article discusses recent discoveries that confirm the generally preconceived idea that large dinosaurs battled with one another; the idea of large dinosaurs fighting with one another brings back a feeling of nostalgia that reminds me of watching jurassic park as a child, fantasizing about these giant ancient beasts.
The article I chose discusses new research that proves that the Permian-Triassic mass extinction was caused by ocean acidification. Scientists have long suspected that acidic oceans were the cause of the extinction, but now there is actual evidence to support the claim. The study conducted showed that huge amounts of carbon dioxide were absorbed into the ancient oceans after a slew of volcanic eruptions. These rising carbon dioxide levels eventually changed the chemistry of the oceans, and caused the deaths of many marine and terrestrial species. The article interested me, because we recently did a short chapter on mass extinctions in class. It seemed very relevant to our studies. It was also very interesting, because researchers found out that the carbon from the ancient volcanoes was released at a rate similar to modern carbon emissions. This could spell trouble in the future for our oceans. If the rates for then and now are similar, I wonder if our oceans will become too acidic to sustain life. Perhaps we should look towards more sustainable methods, so that the rate of carbon getting absorbed by the oceans decreases.
Okay this one seems pretty cool to me. Scientists believe that there could be life on Europa, one of Jupiter’s Icy moons. Essentially, the entire moon is covered in a thick layer of ice covering an ocean that may be 10 times as deep as anywhere on earth. However, there are some signs that there may be other minerals besides water on the planet and even possibly underground vents. The European Space Agency is planning on launching a probe to investigate the moon further in 2022. In the mean time, many groups have been working with Arctic ice as a potentially similar environment to that of Europa. There have been many lakes found deep underneath arctic ice. Some projects have drilled into these deep, isolated lakes and found shocking results; life can exist. Many bacteria have been found in these deep lakes. It is hypothesized that they may get their energy from vents and eating sediments. It certainly isn’t the ideal environment for life to thrive but it may be possible. The turning of shifting of ice could also add new oxygen to the water. Europa has all of these necessary ingredients, now it is just a matter of closer investigation. So yeah, maybe there is other life out there? Pretty cool stuff.
This article explains that there is a correlation between the 180 hight determining variants in the genome and the risk of getting coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the United States. The risk of developing this rose 13.5% for every 2.5 inches below average. This caught my attention while I was scrolling through the news articles because I happen to be much shorter than the average person.
http://io9.com/5864019/breakthrough-gene-therapy-provides-full-protection-from-hiv-transmission-in-mice This article was posted a few years ago about extremely promising HIV research. A David Baltimore, HIV researcher at Cal Tech, lead team has discovered an extremely effective way to prevent HIV in mice. Although tests on mice don't often have the same effects on humans, the results were much better than expected. Instead of using the normal vaccine method, which has not been able to succeed yet, they tried something called VIP. They basically insert a strand of DNA that maps out how to produce antibodies that effectively neutralize HIV. The reason they had to do that was because our body couldn't figure out how to produce those antibodies when given a dead form of the disease like most vaccines. The results were amazing because it continually produced enough of the antibodies to fight a much more concentrated form of the disease than would be possible to get through a normal act of transmission. I don't know how they could make this possible to be cheap and easy enough to use on everyone in the US, like vaccines are able to do, but nonetheless they are still making exciting progress.
My article is about the research that is being done at Duke University. Basically they are taking the poliovirus and are modifying its genetics. The new version of the virus is called PVS-RIPO. This modification allows it to grow when it’s on or near the biochemical abnormalities found on tumor cells. The virus is no longer able to affect humans the way it did, but because the body is able to recognize the virus it attacks, thus killing the virus alongside the tumor.
This is a huge breakthrough in cases where patients had glioblastomas. The patients experienced some swelling at first, but then their tumors stopped growing and eventually shrank, leaving only some minor scar tissues left. Duke plans to try to use this on other cancers, but to be successful on some of the hardest ones leaves a lot of hope to come in this new breakthrough treatment.
Because I am a major TED talk lover, I decided to share a talk with the group. This talk is called “Demo: A needle-free vaccine patch that's safer and way cheaper.” I chose to do this particular TED talk because we recently learned about the immune system in class. While we were doing the chapter, I thought about how much I hate shots, so I think its rather perfect that I found this talk shortly after having this thought! In the talk, Mark Kendall demonstrates the Nanopatch, a vaccine which can easily and painlessly be placed on the skin. I really recommend that everyone watch the video and check out other TED talks because they are sick!
DNA and genetics is the coolest thing I think we've learned about this year. It's crazy how precise and intricate processes like translation and transcription are and how they dictate the creation of different proteins. In this article, written by a doctor, he talks about the price and advantages of sequencing a genome. When the first human's genome was sequenced, the cost was about $1 billion, now the cost is around $5,000 and the doctor claims that the price will dwindle to $1,000 in the next couple of years. With the price getting lower and lower, more people are getting their genomes sequenced and the tests are providing doctors much more information than ever before. The advantages to genome sequencing are endless: they can predict which medications work best for a particular person, and how ineffective they'll be. For cancer patients, doctors can see how they'll respond to specific chemotherapies. One of the best advantages to this is that doctors can now test infants, searching for numerous diseases and how to aid and treat each one. One day, the doctor claims, everyone would be able to have their DNA on a computer right in front of us.
The engineering of tissue an biomaterials is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting and useful current areas of research. This article discusses the development of a synthetic muscle responsive to electric signals that not only holds promise in the field of prosthetics, but currently has a ticket on the next shuttle to the ISS with the hopes of being successful in a space environment, enabling exploratory robots to be highly mobile and damage resistant. If that isn't ground-breaking technology useful on all fronts, I don't know what is.
Hey clever points.. now why did not i consider those? Off topic slightly, is that this web page sample merely from an bizarre installation or else do you use a custom-made template. I use a webpage i'm seeking to improve and effectively the visuals is likely one of many key issues to complete on my list. Having just been searching forwell written blog posts for the research project Ive been working on when I happened to find yours. Thanks for this useful content! Glucose Testing Strips obst und gemüsereiniger
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150402161751.htm
ReplyDeleteThis article does a good job explaining how genes are activated
Okay so I'm really excited about this!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.popsci.com/new-smartphone-platform-can-detect-infectious-diseases-anywhere
Medical researchers and health professionals have designed specific films that, when they come in contact with infected bodily fluids, turn the dangerous cells blue. They're designing an app that will allow people in remote places to take a picture of the film and send it to doctors for diagnosis. This way, people who live far away can still be tested for diseases and viruses without having to make a long trek into the city (this will be especially useful if they can get smartphones in remote towns of developing countries). The article refers to them as "cell-fies," and it just seems like a really cool idea that could be helpful in the future!
http://www.ted.com/talks/todd_kuiken_a_prosthetic_arm_that_feels?language=en
ReplyDeleteI am very interested in prosthesis, not that I'm missing a limb or anything, but the challenge of creating a bionic part of the body, integrating it, and making it easily usable is intriguing. This video talks about a recent solution to control of a bionic limb.
http://thebrainbank.scienceblog.com/2015/04/07/epigenetics-putting-the-epi-in-epic/
ReplyDeletehttp://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/epigenetics-not-revolutionizing-biology
I recently heard about this relatively new field in biology known as epigenetics. The first link that I posted is a more concrete definition of what the field is, and the second deals more with the applications and implications of epigenetics. I find it a fascinating new way of looking at genetics because it refutes the idea that your genetic traits are set in stone. It can almost be seen as a more scientific study of nature versus nurture and how it may be possible to counteract negative affects on the "nurture" side.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/02/6156330/stem-cells-the-next-frontier-in.html This article opens the eyes of any medically-interested student. For years, stem cell research has been a part of the human medical field in a lot of different ways, but Veterinarians are starting to branch into using stem cells for cures or treatments as well. Why should animals be treated any differently from humans if we have the technological abilities to treat them the same?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrfwOUOyuWU
ReplyDeleteAbove is a link to my sisters undergraduate research she has been working on in college. She is studying Cyanobacteria and its link to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer's. Basically the cyanobacteria, that is found in many lakes around the New England area, is releasing a toxin (cyanotoxin) known as Bmaa. This toxin is a noncoding amino acid. Meaning that is acts like an amino acid but cannot actually do anything. The bmaa replaces a coding amino acid called cystine. This is a problem because once the bmaa has replaced the cyctine in the coding process it causes the protein to fold wrong which in return causes these diseases. They are studying how these toxins are being released whether it be through aresolization or through ingesting foods that have the cyanotoxin within it, for example fish. I find her research to be very interesting, and hopefully you guys do too!
http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2015/04/did-natural-selection-make-dutch-tallest-people-planet
ReplyDeleteA recent study showed that the average height of dutch people has risen 20 centimeters over the last 150 years. While scientist mostly believe this is a result of diet they also think that natural selection was at play. They believe that this is a good example of human evolution.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150407095635.htm
ReplyDeleteThe article above describes a new theory for the formation of primitive life and continues to beg the question that is the origin of life on planet earth. A new study at the University of Colorado at Boulder states that the “self-organization properties” of DNA-like molecules roughly four billion years ago may have been what lead to primitive life. Scientists believe that these molecules may have formed, on their own, into chemical chains long enough to act as the essentials for primitive life. These claims, not only supported by the 1980’s discovery of self altering RNA, were proven with a new study showing the self-assembly of DNA fragments a few nanometers long into “liquid crystal phases” without the help of biological mechanisms. This ability to put the pieces of molecules back together is believed to be successful with the chemical bonds connecting DNA.
Recently, discoveries in nanotechnologies (the manipulation of matter at a molecular and atomic scale to penetrate cells) bring hope to the medical field when searching for improved treatments on fatal diseases such as cancer and Ebola. Nanotechnology is unique because scientists have found a way to attach certain drugs and minerals to the virus that would ultimately rid of the disease itself.
ReplyDeleteIn one experiment that is being conducted at Northeastern University called “Star Technology”, Dr. Thomas Webster is developing methods to bind gold particles to cancerous cells. These nanoparticles would be struck by heat radiated from infrared light which would cause complete virus death. These nanoparticles are shaped like a star in order to increase the surface area where the virus would attach. This would facilitate the process of binding to the virus and destroying it. However amazing this new advancement may sound, exposing the human body to metal nanoparticles could be highly dangerous and may be toxic.
An alternate experiment has been conducted by Dr. Webster in addition to using metal nanoparticles. This time, he used selenium nanoparticles. Selenium is a natural mineral in the human diet. Selenium is easily absorbed and by nano-scaling it, it will be able to attach to the virus and interfere with it’s process of affecting the host cell. Although this method has not been tested on humans, results from animal experimentation have been very promising to those working in the medical field.
Even though these two experiments have not been cleared to treat humans yet, nanotechnology is making a rapid appearance into patient care. For example, nano-features have been implanted on catheters. By doing so, a virus can be detected and eliminated more quickly. Once bigger developments in the field of technology have been discovered, even more progress will be made in the fight to cure diseases such as cancer and Ebola.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/25/tech/webster-nanoparticles-cancer-mci/index.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/07/science/forest-fires-threaten-new-fallout-from-chernobyl.html?ref=science&_r=0
ReplyDeleteThis article is about chernobyl and how forest fires are spreading more radioactive solution around. Basically the forest fires are carrying the cesium 137 to the wildlife like wild pigs and mushrooms, for instance, and now this organisms and spreading it around as well. The university of South Carolina has a computer to track forest fires and they predict that if this path continues there could be some trouble. Already 8% of the material has been redistributed and the original test site is over 70% forest now. Nerve racking stuff but also the basis for a great sic-fi movie.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150409083201.htm
ReplyDeleteThis article discusses recent discoveries that confirm the generally preconceived idea that large dinosaurs battled with one another; the idea of large dinosaurs fighting with one another brings back a feeling of nostalgia that reminds me of watching jurassic park as a child, fantasizing about these giant ancient beasts.
http://phys.org/news/2015-04-greatest-mass-extinction-driven-acidic.html
ReplyDeleteThe article I chose discusses new research that proves that the Permian-Triassic mass extinction was caused by ocean acidification. Scientists have long suspected that acidic oceans were the cause of the extinction, but now there is actual evidence to support the claim. The study conducted showed that huge amounts of carbon dioxide were absorbed into the ancient oceans after a slew of volcanic eruptions. These rising carbon dioxide levels eventually changed the chemistry of the oceans, and caused the deaths of many marine and terrestrial species. The article interested me, because we recently did a short chapter on mass extinctions in class. It seemed very relevant to our studies. It was also very interesting, because researchers found out that the carbon from the ancient volcanoes was released at a rate similar to modern carbon emissions. This could spell trouble in the future for our oceans. If the rates for then and now are similar, I wonder if our oceans will become too acidic to sustain life. Perhaps we should look towards more sustainable methods, so that the rate of carbon getting absorbed by the oceans decreases.
Okay this one seems pretty cool to me. Scientists believe that there could be life on Europa, one of Jupiter’s Icy moons. Essentially, the entire moon is covered in a thick layer of ice covering an ocean that may be 10 times as deep as anywhere on earth. However, there are some signs that there may be other minerals besides water on the planet and even possibly underground vents. The European Space Agency is planning on launching a probe to investigate the moon further in 2022. In the mean time, many groups have been working with Arctic ice as a potentially similar environment to that of Europa. There have been many lakes found deep underneath arctic ice. Some projects have drilled into these deep, isolated lakes and found shocking results; life can exist. Many bacteria have been found in these deep lakes. It is hypothesized that they may get their energy from vents and eating sediments. It certainly isn’t the ideal environment for life to thrive but it may be possible. The turning of shifting of ice could also add new oxygen to the water. Europa has all of these necessary ingredients, now it is just a matter of closer investigation. So yeah, maybe there is other life out there? Pretty cool stuff.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150326-europa-may-be-home-to-alien-life
Deletehttp://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-height-coronary-artery-disease-risk-20150409-story.html
ReplyDeleteThis article explains that there is a correlation between the 180 hight determining variants in the genome and the risk of getting coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the United States. The risk of developing this rose 13.5% for every 2.5 inches below average. This caught my attention while I was scrolling through the news articles because I happen to be much shorter than the average person.
http://io9.com/5864019/breakthrough-gene-therapy-provides-full-protection-from-hiv-transmission-in-mice
ReplyDeleteThis article was posted a few years ago about extremely promising HIV research. A David Baltimore, HIV researcher at Cal Tech, lead team has discovered an extremely effective way to prevent HIV in mice. Although tests on mice don't often have the same effects on humans, the results were much better than expected. Instead of using the normal vaccine method, which has not been able to succeed yet, they tried something called VIP. They basically insert a strand of DNA that maps out how to produce antibodies that effectively neutralize HIV. The reason they had to do that was because our body couldn't figure out how to produce those antibodies when given a dead form of the disease like most vaccines. The results were amazing because it continually produced enough of the antibodies to fight a much more concentrated form of the disease than would be possible to get through a normal act of transmission. I don't know how they could make this possible to be cheap and easy enough to use on everyone in the US, like vaccines are able to do, but nonetheless they are still making exciting progress.
http://www.cancer.duke.edu/btc/modules/Research3/index.php?id=41
ReplyDeleteMy article is about the research that is being done at Duke University. Basically they are taking the poliovirus and are modifying its genetics. The new version of the virus is called PVS-RIPO. This modification allows it to grow when it’s on or near the biochemical abnormalities found on tumor cells. The virus is no longer able to affect humans the way it did, but because the body is able to recognize the virus it attacks, thus killing the virus alongside the tumor.
This is a huge breakthrough in cases where patients had glioblastomas. The patients experienced some swelling at first, but then their tumors stopped growing and eventually shrank, leaving only some minor scar tissues left. Duke plans to try to use this on other cancers, but to be successful on some of the hardest ones leaves a lot of hope to come in this new breakthrough treatment.
http://www.ted.com/talks/mark_kendall_demo_a_needle_free_vaccine_patch_that_s_safer_and_way_cheaper
ReplyDeleteBecause I am a major TED talk lover, I decided to share a talk with the group. This talk is called “Demo: A needle-free vaccine patch that's safer and way cheaper.” I chose to do this particular TED talk because we recently learned about the immune system in class. While we were doing the chapter, I thought about how much I hate shots, so I think its rather perfect that I found this talk shortly after having this thought! In the talk, Mark Kendall demonstrates the Nanopatch, a vaccine which can easily and painlessly be placed on the skin. I really recommend that everyone watch the video and check out other TED talks because they are sick!
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/doctor-have-you-had-your-dna-tested/?_r=0
ReplyDeleteDNA and genetics is the coolest thing I think we've learned about this year. It's crazy how precise and intricate processes like translation and transcription are and how they dictate the creation of different proteins. In this article, written by a doctor, he talks about the price and advantages of sequencing a genome. When the first human's genome was sequenced, the cost was about $1 billion, now the cost is around $5,000 and the doctor claims that the price will dwindle to $1,000 in the next couple of years. With the price getting lower and lower, more people are getting their genomes sequenced and the tests are providing doctors much more information than ever before. The advantages to genome sequencing are endless: they can predict which medications work best for a particular person, and how ineffective they'll be. For cancer patients, doctors can see how they'll respond to specific chemotherapies. One of the best advantages to this is that doctors can now test infants, searching for numerous diseases and how to aid and treat each one. One day, the doctor claims, everyone would be able to have their DNA on a computer right in front of us.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150409162234.htm
ReplyDeleteThe engineering of tissue an biomaterials is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting and useful current areas of research. This article discusses the development of a synthetic muscle responsive to electric signals that not only holds promise in the field of prosthetics, but currently has a ticket on the next shuttle to the ISS with the hopes of being successful in a space environment, enabling exploratory robots to be highly mobile and damage resistant. If that isn't ground-breaking technology useful on all fronts, I don't know what is.
Hey clever points.. now why did not i consider those? Off topic slightly, is that this web page sample merely from an bizarre installation or else do you use a custom-made template. I use a webpage i'm seeking to improve and effectively the visuals is likely one of many key issues to complete on my list.
ReplyDeleteHaving just been searching forwell written blog posts for the research project Ive been working on when I happened to find yours. Thanks for this useful content! Glucose Testing Strips
obst und gemüsereiniger