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Remembrance Day (repost)

Remembrance Day (repost)

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

(Repost from one year ago on the older Genomicron -- this got a nice
response from readers and family, so I am posting it once again.)

In Canada, as in many countries around the world, November 11 is a day of remembrance for the sacrifices made during wartime. In Canada, this refers in particular to World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945), but also to smaller engagements in which Canadians were (or are) involved, such as Korea and Afghanistan.

A Sea of Safety

A Sea of Safety

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)







Record-breaking accomplishments confuse people about durability. In facing the frailty of humans and their machines, a 'sea of safety' is a comforting notion. Failures remind us safety can be improved. Take the Phoenix Mars Lander, our machine to touch water on another planet. Its operations came to an end on recent days in the arctic plains when sunlight became insufficient. The machine simply stopped working outside its operating parameters. 
I don't BLOG

I don't BLOG

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

There are no coincidences...yup, I had to laugh after signing up for this blog a couple minutes ago. In my description I wrote that curiosity killed the cat and that's why they have nine lives. To collect as much data to use for the next 'trip'.  Then after you sign up you're brought to the 'rules' page...here's what made me laugh:

Adult Stem Cells From Monkey Teeth Stimulate Generation Of Brain Cells

Adult Stem Cells From Monkey Teeth Stimulate Generation Of Brain Cells

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, have discovered dental pulp stem cells can stimulate growth and generation of several types of neural cells. Findings from this study, available in the October issue of the journal Stem Cells, suggest dental pulp stem cells show promise for use in cell therapy and regenerative medicine, particularly therapies associated with the central nervous system.
Unusual Use Of Toys In Infants A Clue To Autism

Unusual Use Of Toys In Infants A Clue To Autism

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

Researchers at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute have found that infants later diagnosed with autism exhibited unusual exploration of objects long before being diagnosed. Studying a group of children at high risk for developing autism, the researchers found that those eventually diagnosed with the disorder were more likely to spin, repetitively rotate, stare at and look out of the corners of their eyes at simple objects, including a baby bottle and a rattle, as early as 12 months of age.

These findings could help pediatricians diagnose and treat autism earlier, reducing some of the social and educational challenges associated with the disorder.
Carbon Nanotubes Take Data Storage To The Molecular Level

Carbon Nanotubes Take Data Storage To The Molecular Level

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

Computers are getting smaller and smaller and as hand-held devices like mobile phones and music players get more powerful the race is on to develop memory formats that can satisfy the ever-growing demand for information storage on those tiny formats.

Current memory technologies fall into three separate groups: dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which is the cheapest method; static random access memory (SRAM), which is the fastest memory — but both DRAM and SRAM require an external power supply to retain data; and flash memory, which is non-volatile — it does not need a power supply to retain data, but has slower read-write cycles than DRAM.
Happy Music, Happy Heart

Happy Music, Happy Heart

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

Listening to your favorite music may be good for your cardiovascular system. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore have shown for the first time that the emotions aroused by joyful music have a healthy effect on blood vessel function. 
RCW120 - A Glowing Stellar Nursery Near Constellation Scorpius

RCW120 - A Glowing Stellar Nursery Near Constellation Scorpius

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

Illustrating the power of submillimetre-wavelength astronomy, an APEX image reveals how an expanding bubble of ionised gas about ten light-years across is causing the surrounding material to collapse into dense clumps that are the birthplaces of new stars. Submillimetre light is the key to revealing some of the coldest material in the Universe, such as these cold, dense clouds.
In Rats, Fatty Diet During Pregnancy Hard Wires Brains Of Obese Offspring

In Rats, Fatty Diet During Pregnancy Hard Wires Brains Of Obese Offspring

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

A study in rats shows that exposure to a high-fat diet during pregnancy produces permanent changes in the offspring's brain that lead to overeating and obesity early in life, according to new research by Rockefeller University scientists. This surprising finding, reported in the Nov. 12 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, provides a key step toward understanding mechanisms of fetal programming involving the production of new brain cells that may help explain the increased prevalence of childhood obesity during the last 30 years.
Discovery - Biosynthesis Essential For Life Would Take 2.3 Billion Years Without Enzymes

Discovery - Biosynthesis Essential For Life Would Take 2.3 Billion Years Without Enzymes

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

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?
Is Limb Loss In Lizards Evidence Of Rapid Evolution?

Is Limb Loss In Lizards Evidence Of Rapid Evolution?

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

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".
Nanoporous Ceramic Membranes Could Be Breakthrough For Implantable Medical Devices

Nanoporous Ceramic Membranes Could Be Breakthrough For Implantable Medical Devices

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

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.
Exercise Improves Outcome For Patients With Heart Failure

Exercise Improves Outcome For Patients With Heart Failure

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

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).
Jim Watson Wins 'Double Helix Medal For Scientific Research' - Why?

Jim Watson Wins 'Double Helix Medal For Scientific Research' - Why?

Nov 11 2008 | comment(s)

Craig Venter and James Watson have won this year's Cold Spring Harbor 'Double Helix Medal For Scientific Research'. Venter deserves it, but what's the deal with Watson? He hasn't done much for science research recently except tarnish its image by insulting black people and calling everyone else boring.

Hasn't the guy won enough medals for a career that stalled scientifically decades ago? What's even stranger is that this award is completely incestuous, coming from the lab that Watson directed for years. It's like the Catholic Church giving the Pope an award for community service.

Gadflies And Geniuses

Gadflies And Geniuses

Nov 10 2008 | comment(s)

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 Weather May Be Frightful, But You Don't Have To Be SAD This Winter

The Weather May Be Frightful, But You Don't Have To Be SAD This Winter

Nov 10 2008 | comment(s)

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.

DR Cysteamine May Prove New Hope For Treating Huntington's Disease

DR Cysteamine May Prove New Hope For Treating Huntington's Disease

Nov 10 2008 | comment(s)

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.
Publishing of individual genomes rendered obsolete by publishing of individual genomes.

Publishing of individual genomes rendered obsolete by publishing of individual genomes.

Nov 10 2008 | comment(s)

As Adaptive Complexity writes, last week's issue of Nature  included the publication of  West-African and Han Chinese individual genomes.  The ability to sequence and analyze individual genomes for a reasonable price is a major technological advance of the past few years.  But, you can't learn a whole lot about populations from the study of individual genomes.  For that reason, I'm not sure you will ever see another individual genome published in a high-profile journal (unless it's a cancer genome).
Crankishness.

Crankishness.

Nov 10 2008 | comment(s)

As a brief follow up to the post about Dr. Andras Pellionisz's Google seminar, I cannot help but quote from his website:
Since a US Government-mandated (and taxpayer paid) 4-year study (ENCODE, led by Dr. Collins) established the scientific fact that (at the least a significant part of) formerly "written off" so-called "non-coding DNA" is massively involved in genome function, US government-supported professionals who after the release of ENCODE (reversal of the Establishment in 2007) neglect to to follow Dr.
Making Biodiesel From Waste Using Nature's Own Chemical Plant

Making Biodiesel From Waste Using Nature's Own Chemical Plant

Nov 10 2008 | comment(s)

Petroleum is the feedstock for many products in the chemical industry but it is becoming increasingly expensive.  Renewable raw materials are an alternative but we quickly learned that, despite the beliefs of activists in the 1980s and 1990s, fuel from food was not a good idea.

Thanks to white industrial biotechnology, chemical substances can also be derived from waste products generated by the food industry, leftover biomass from agriculture and forestry, and residual materials. Researchers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart are demonstrating how this biotechnical recycling works, using colza, whey and crab shells as examples.