A reaction essential for the biosynthesis of hemoglobin and chlorophyll, when catalyzed by the enzyme uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, causes production in cells to be "increased by a staggering factor, one that's equivalent to the difference between the diameter of a bacterial cell and the distance from the Earth to the sun."
Without the enzyme? 2.3 billion years.
All biological reactions within human cells depend on enzymes. Their power as catalysts enables biological reactions to occur usually in milliseconds. But how slowly would these reactions proceed spontaneously, in the absence of enzymes – minutes, hours, days? And why even pose the question?
Small skink lizards, Lerista, demonstrate extensive changes in body shape over geologically brief periods. Research published in the open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology shows that several species of these skinks have rapidly evolved an elongate, limbless body form.
Skinks are a common sight in Australia and many species have limbs that are either reduced or missing entirely. According to the lead author of this study, Adam Skinner of The University of Adelaide, "It is believed that skinks are losing their limbs because they spend most of their lives swimming through sand or soil; limbs are not only unnecessary for this, but may actually be a hindrance".
A team of researchers led by North Carolina State University has made a breakthrough that could lead to new dialysis devices and a host of other revolutionary medical implants. The researchers have found that the unique properties of a new material can be used to create new devices that can be implanted into the human body – including blood glucose sensors for diabetics and artificial hemo-dialysis membranes that can scrub impurities from the blood.
Working out on a stationary bicycle or walking on a treadmill just 25 to 30 minutes most days of the week is enough to modestly lower risk of hospitalization or death for patients with heart failure, say researchers from Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI).
DONGYING, Shandong, China, November 11 /PRNewswire/ --
TARRYTOWN, New York, November 11 /PRNewswire/ --
- Flexible, Ultra-power-efficient platform to cut costs and time to market for 4th generation multi-mode mobile devices
Sandbridge Technologies announced today the release of their SB3500 flexible baseband processor which facilitates the implementation of 4G mobile handsets entirely in software. Capable of operating any radio protocol required for a common (universal) multi-mode, multi-function mobile platform, the SB3500 meets critical power consumption specifications of wireless carriers and significantly reduces time-to-market and overall development costs for OEMs.
SYDNEY, November 10 /PRNewswire/ --
- The Next Generation Healthcare Solution to Make Treatment More Personal and Efficient
- LORENZO Sets the Stage to Transform Healthcare Delivery Globally
iSOFT, an IBA Health Group Limited (ASX: IBA) company, today announced the global launch of LORENZO, the next generation software solution for healthcare organisations. LORENZO is a unique solution that will revolutionise the way healthcare is delivered around the individual.
I gets weary, and sick of trying … the words almost taken from Ol' Man River. But weary of what? Trying to persuade the physics world from harping too much on about celebrity physicists. This they do (at least in my reading) to an extent grossly exceeding that of mathematicians and chemists. “How will we discover the African Einstein?” they ask, to which I reply that a wilderness of Einsteins would do Africa no good at all, whereas a widespread knowledge of basic physics might help the continent somewhat. Even if Mariah Carey’s new album E=MC² inspires some to take up physics, most will fall exhausted before reaching such high levels.
The seasons are shifting. For most places, colder weather and less daylight means the steady approach of winter. In my home in Northern California, summer lasts through October. The sun shines steadily, temperature drops to a tolerable high 60’s and not a drop of rain is seen. Suddenly, it’s dark by 5:00pm and the cuffs of your pants are constantly wet from trudging through the rain puddles, you know that the dreaded winter is here.
In California, we definitely have seasons.
For those that suffer from Huntington’s Disease or worry about its development, a new hope for a treatment may be on the horizon. Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp. has announced that it will collaborate with researchers from French university Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d’Angers (CHU d’Angers) on the development of its proprietary drug delayed-release cysteamine bitartrate (DR Cysteamine) in a Phase II clinical trial for treatment for patients with Huntington’s Disease.
