Longevity gene may also boost memory › News in Science (ABC Science) News in Science Monday, 12 July 2010 AFP A gene linked to increased life span also appears to play a critical role in boosting memory and brain power, according to a study. The SIRT1 gene, called Sirtuin1 in humans, seems to enhance memory and nerve-cell development in the brain as well, according to the new findings, published in the journal Nature . The work could provide leads for drugs to combat Alzheimer's and other debilitating neurological diseases, the researchers said. A team led by Professor Li-Huei Tsai, director of the neurobiology program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, had earlier demonstrated that Sirtuin1 boosts neuron survival in mice genetically modified to mimic certain degenerative brain disorders. "We have now found that SIRT1 activity also promotes memory and plasticity," says Tsai, referring to the ability of healthy brain cells to interconnect. Reduced density Finally, they were less able to discriminate old from new objects in memory tests.
Sleep: Genes Cause People to React Differently to Lack of Sleep, Says Study <br/><a href=" US News</a> | <a href=" Business News</a> Copy No matter how little they sleep, some people can keep a skip in their step while others will yawn and struggle through the day. Researchers found that healthy people with one particular genetic variant were generally sleepier than those without the gene. One person who has been told by his doctor that he may have this genetic variation is Robert Gibson, a 43-year-old machine shop supervisor in Milan, Illinois. It would not be the only gene-linked sleep condition Gibson experiences; he already suffers from bouts of sleep paralysis, a disorder in which sufferers feel paralyzed as they fall asleep or as they wake up. "It feels like I am drugged down, like there's a heavy weight on me the whole next day," said Gibson. "He hasn't been tested for this gene yet, but it could be part of the spectrum of genes that contribute to his sleep habits," said Dr.
Genetic Science Learning Center Launch Tool The Genetic Science Learning Center is a great place to visit to explore and learn about cells, heredity, DNA, genes, natural selection, etc. The Learn.Genetics part of the site is geared to students, teachers, and the general public. It delivers educational materials on genetics, bioscience, and health topics. The homepage is divided into three main sections: Basics, New & Popular, and a section that highlights a variety of topics, from genetic technology to the new science of addiction. Going Further For Educators In addition to the Learn.Genetics part of the site, you can make use of the Teach.Genetics section, which has resources and information aimed at helping you bring genetics, bioscience, and health alive in the classroom. Teach.Genetics also provides unit plans and other supporting resources, such as talks by scientists with expertise in genetics. Send us feedback about this Tool >
Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues --Genome Research This page is an archive, the contents of which provide a snapshot in time--describing potential societal concerns arising from increased knowledge of our personal DNA as described and studied during the HGP (1990-2003). The content of this page is as it was at the close of the project with the exception of minor repairs such as the removal of broken links. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) devoted 3% to 5% of their annual Human Genome Project (HGP) budgets toward studying the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) surrounding availability of genetic information. At the time, this represented the world's largest bioethics program, and it become a model for ELSI programs around the world. Fairness in the use of genetic information by insurers, employers, courts, schools, adoption agencies, and the military, among others. Who should have access to personal genetic information, and how will it be used? Who owns and controls genetic information?
Biology | 7.03 Genetics, Fall 2004 | Lecture Notes How to Extract DNA from Anything Living First, you need to find something that contains DNA. Since DNA is the blueprint for life, everything living contains DNA. For this experiment, we like to use green split peas. But there are lots of other DNA sources too, such as: Spinach Chicken liver Strawberries Broccoli Certain sources of DNA should not be used, such as: Your family pet, Fido the dog Your little sister's big toe Bugs you caught in the yard Step 1: Blender Insanity! Put in a blender: 1/2 cup of split peas (100ml) 1/8 teaspoon table salt (less than 1ml) 1 cup cold water (200ml) Blend on high for 15 seconds. The blender separates the pea cells from each other, so you now have a really thin pea-cell soup. Step 2: Soapy Peas Pour your thin pea-cell soup through a strainer into another container (like a measuring cup). Add 2 tablespoons liquid detergent (about 30ml) and swirl to mix. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes. Pour the mixture into test tubes or other small glass containers, each about 1/3 full. Why am I adding detergent?
Cracking the Code of Life Cracking the Code of Life PBS Airdate: April 17, 2001 ROBERT KRULWICH: When I look at this—and these are the three billion chemical letters, instructions for a human being—my eyes glaze over. But when scientist Eric Lander looks at this he sees stories. ERIC LANDER (Whitehead Institute/MIT): The genome is a storybook that's been edited for a couple billion years. And you could take it to bed like A Thousand and One Arabian Nights, and read a different story in the genome every night. ROBERT KRULWICH: This is the story of one of the greatest scientific adventures ever, and at the heart of it is a small, very powerful molecule, DNA. For the past ten years, scientists all over the world have been painstakingly trying to read the tiny instructions buried inside our DNA. J. ROBERT KRULWICH: And what it's telling us is so surprising and so strange and so unexpected. ERIC LANDER: How different are you from a banana? ERIC LANDER: You may feel different... ROBERT KRULWICH: I eat a banana. We asked Dr.
Sleep & Gene Expression Photo Credit: Clipart.com Just one week of sleep deprivation alters the expression of at least 711 different genes. Transcript Sleep loss affects gene function. I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update. Just one week of mild sleep deprivation affects the function of 711 different genes. Archer:The changes are quite large, and they’re comparable to the kinds of differences that you would see if you were to compare, for example, a normal tissue with a diseased tissue. Genes linked to inflammation and stress increased their activity in sleep-deprived people, while master control switches that regulate the whole body became sluggish. Making Sense of the Research It's well known that sleep deprivation can have a wide range of effects, including irritability and depression, memory and cognitive deficits, impaired driving skills, and a higher risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and possibly even some kinds of cancer. But those instructions aren't always carried out in the exact same way.
Darwin's Radio: Prehistoric Gene Reawakens to Battle HIV -A Galaxy Classic What these scientists have done could give us the first bulletproof HIV vaccine. They have re-awakened the human genome's latent potential to make us all into HIV-resistant creatures; they published their ground-breaking research in PLoS Biology. A group of scientists led by Nitya Venkataraman and Alexander Colewhether wanted to try a new approach to fighting HIV - one that worked with the body's own immune system. Nonsense mutations are caused when random DNA code shows up in the middle of a gene, preventing it from beginning the process of manufacturing proteins in the cell. At last, they knew that if they could just figure out a way to reawaken the "junk" gene that creates retrocyclin in humans, they might be able to stop HIV infections. Here's where things really get interesting. After more research is done, the researchers believe this might become a viable way to make humans immune to HIV infection. via PLoS Biology Posted by Casey Kazan. Related Galaxy posts:
Cloning & Synthetic Biology Overview of Traditional Cloning Traditional Cloning refers to the generation of DNA fragments using restriction enzymes, and their subsequent assembly and transformation. The name is derived from the method’s history as the first widely-accepted cloning method. Learn more about the benefits and disadvantages of Traditional Cloning. scroll to see additional videos
23andMe presents top 10 most interesting genetic findings of 2010 Public release date: 12-Jan-2011 [ Print | E-mail Share ] [ Close Window ] Contact: Jane E. Rubinsteinjrubinstein@rubenstein.com 212-843-828723andMe Inc. MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – January 11, 2011 – 23andMe has released its first annual list of what it felt to be the 10 most interesting and significant genetic findings in 2010, as part of an ongoing journey to understand the role of genetics in personal health and human development. "Our understanding of the human genome is accelerating at a phenomenal rate," stated Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and CEO of 23andMe. Customers of 23andMe have the opportunity to learn about how their genetics can influence their individual health traits, risk for developing certain diseases and conditions, reactions to a variety of medications, and ancestry. 1. If you've been looking at an apple or pear body shape in the mirror, take a closer look at your genetic variants. "SNPwatch: Apple or Pear? 2. "SNPwatch: Breath Easier... 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
A Mendel Seminar Photo Credit: Clipart.com Purpose To learn about Gregor Mendel's discovery of a process of biological evolution: how recessive and dominant traits are passed from one generation of living organisms to the next. Context In middle school, students start to learn about genetic traits (Benchmarks for Science Literacy, p. 108.), where they come from, and how they are passed down from parents to their offspring. The lesson, constructed around Gregor Mendel's 1865 paper, is one in history, scientific inquiry, methodology, classical genetics, and plant biology. You will want to do this lesson with juniors and seniors who have had preparatory college biology classes. You will guide students through a thorough discussion of the (first half of the) paper Mendel wrote about his pea plant experiments. You should be aware of several common misconceptions as you conduct this lesson. Motivation Using the A Mendel Seminar esheet, have students explore Pea Experiment. Then discuss the following: Development
Gene Expression