Up until recently, people infected with the bacterium Clostridium difficile usually could only be cured by receiving the fecal matter of healthy individuals, usually family members, mainly through direct injection into the gut. This method made most individuals hesitant. I learned a little bit about this method in microbiology and thought it was interesting to read up on the new method.
First, I should start with a little bit of information about Clostridium difficile. When a person is on antibiotics, usually for a long period of time, their body starts to suffer from the effects of antibiotics. Antibiotics are made to sweep out the bacteria; however, antibiotics are not selective of only the bad bacteria. In return, bacteria like Clostridium difficile gets into the raw, bacteria-less gut and wrecks havoc.
The new approach that scientists are taking in order to cure patients with this sickness is different than mentioned above. Healthy individuals, usually family members again, are confiscated of their fecal matter. The feces is then filtered to only contain the good, intestinal bacteria. Then, this bacteria is put into a capsule and given to the sick patient. Sounds like a way better idea, right?!
Here comes the downside: About 25+ capsules must be ingested by the sick person... all in one day... all on an empty stomach...
If you were sick, which of the two ways would you prefer? Old, new, or neither?
Mining medicine from poop
Monday, December 2, 2013
Why it's a Good Thing That Your Parents Forced You to Eat Your Vegetables...!
If you had parents like mine, you were forced to eat your vegetables no matter how nasty they were. Research now shows that eating certain vegetables actually has a very positive benefit.
Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc., also known as cruciferous vegetables, all contain a compound that is converted to 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM). DIM helps repair healthy cells of chemical and radiation damage.
Studies are being done on rats to see if controlled dosages of DIM can help the lifespan of rats being treated of cancer via radiation. The results seem to be good so far! Also, DIM only benefits healthy cells; this allows the cancer cells to be penetrated the same without the fear of cancer cells getting stronger by ingesting DIM.
The researchers hope that in the future, dosages of DIM can help humans that are undergoing some kind of cancer radiation treatment or recovering from a nuclear explosion.
Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc., also known as cruciferous vegetables, all contain a compound that is converted to 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM). DIM helps repair healthy cells of chemical and radiation damage.
Studies are being done on rats to see if controlled dosages of DIM can help the lifespan of rats being treated of cancer via radiation. The results seem to be good so far! Also, DIM only benefits healthy cells; this allows the cancer cells to be penetrated the same without the fear of cancer cells getting stronger by ingesting DIM.
The researchers hope that in the future, dosages of DIM can help humans that are undergoing some kind of cancer radiation treatment or recovering from a nuclear explosion.
DIM is not going to be the miracle cure for cancer, but hopefully it can help the cancer patients' cells during their radiation treatments.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Your Brain's Rinse Cycle... While Sleeping
As we all know, your brain is filled with "trash" when you are awake and functioning throughout the day. The brain releases proteins and other small substances while a person is awake, and the longer the person is awake, the more "trash" that is released. One protein fragment that is released is amyloid-beta. This is the protein that is in excess in people who have Alzheimer's disease.
How does the brain release itself of all this litter in your brain, you ask? The glymphatic system is a system in your brain that essentially comes in and cleans out your brain of debris. Fluid, that comes from the brain and spinal cord, gets in between the brain cells and washes out any trash.
The significance of the study (and hence the title) is that the glymphatic system kicks into overdrive and works best while a person is sleeping. This is one of many reasons why getting adequate sleep is important. Your brain needs this time to get a proper cleansing more thoroughly than what is done throughout the day.
Sleeping brains take a bath
How does the brain release itself of all this litter in your brain, you ask? The glymphatic system is a system in your brain that essentially comes in and cleans out your brain of debris. Fluid, that comes from the brain and spinal cord, gets in between the brain cells and washes out any trash.
The significance of the study (and hence the title) is that the glymphatic system kicks into overdrive and works best while a person is sleeping. This is one of many reasons why getting adequate sleep is important. Your brain needs this time to get a proper cleansing more thoroughly than what is done throughout the day.
Sleeping brains take a bath
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
A New Type of Malaria is Making its Way to Africa
Researchers recently determined that a new form of malaria is making its way towards Africa from Asia and Latin America. The new malaria is Plasmodium vivax.
They have found signs of this new malaria in studies on the African population and under the microscope.
With common strains of malaria, the vivax protozoan takes over the Duffy protein to get access into the red blood cells (RBC). Africans do not have the Duffy protein in their genetic makeup, which puts them at an advantage to not contract malaria. The nonexistence of the Duffy protein means that the vivax protozoan has no way to enter the blood stream.
As we all know, uncommon strains of a virus/disease/bacteria can be detrimental. The researchers have noticed that this new strain may not necessarily be giving malaria to the population, but causing the population to become sick in a different way. This is all preliminary still, but it will be interesting to see what else is uncovered about this new finding...
Monday, November 11, 2013
Blood Clotting may be Traced to Genetics and Explain Differences in Racial Health
As we all know, blood clots can cause heart attacks and strokes. People take aspirin to help thin out blood or remove a clot. Like every medication, no two people will respond the same to it. But Paul Bray and his research group have figured out that clotting may be due to genetics and also explains why different people are going to need different blood-thining medications other than aspirin.
Bray conducted research on microRNA. microRNA is the RNA associated with protein regulation, to some extent. The study concluded that blacks tend to have a lower level of miR-376c, a type of microRNA, than whites. As levels of miR-376c get lower, an increase in production of the protein PAR4 happens. This protein is what tells the platelets to start clotting. From this data, Bray concluded that the platelets in blacks form clots more than the platelets in whites.
This is where the explanation of different medications that are going to be needed comes in. Aspirin may work well on whites, but may not be strong enough for blacks; or vice versa, aspirin may work well on blacks but may thin out whites blood too much. New medications may need to start having target groups based on ethnicities as it is seen that genetics cause different clotting amounts.
I found this interesting due to the fact that I am mixed (hence my other blogs talking about research associated with different races). I have donated blood plenty of times and noticed that my blot does not like to clot in the timely, 4-hour manner that the nurse tells you to keep your bandage on for. I can take the band aid off after four hours, and I'll still be bleeding a little bit for about four more hours. With that being said, it seems like my clotting factors favor the white side. I wonder what would make me more susceptible to one side's clotting tendencies versus the other? Why wouldn't I be in just a middle point?
Bray conducted research on microRNA. microRNA is the RNA associated with protein regulation, to some extent. The study concluded that blacks tend to have a lower level of miR-376c, a type of microRNA, than whites. As levels of miR-376c get lower, an increase in production of the protein PAR4 happens. This protein is what tells the platelets to start clotting. From this data, Bray concluded that the platelets in blacks form clots more than the platelets in whites.
This is where the explanation of different medications that are going to be needed comes in. Aspirin may work well on whites, but may not be strong enough for blacks; or vice versa, aspirin may work well on blacks but may thin out whites blood too much. New medications may need to start having target groups based on ethnicities as it is seen that genetics cause different clotting amounts.
I found this interesting due to the fact that I am mixed (hence my other blogs talking about research associated with different races). I have donated blood plenty of times and noticed that my blot does not like to clot in the timely, 4-hour manner that the nurse tells you to keep your bandage on for. I can take the band aid off after four hours, and I'll still be bleeding a little bit for about four more hours. With that being said, it seems like my clotting factors favor the white side. I wonder what would make me more susceptible to one side's clotting tendencies versus the other? Why wouldn't I be in just a middle point?
Using Fungi to Potentially Help Solve Crimes
Kelly Elkins along with her research team at Metropolitan State College of Denver are looking into forensic mycology as a means to adding evidence to or solving a crime. Forensic mycology is using fungi as means to help solve crimes.
She references to how entomology is commonly used in determining time of death, possible cause of death, whether the body has been moved, and possible links to suspects in criminal cases. This is possible because predictable growth patterns of insects have already been studied, or still currently are, which helps in crime scene investigation.
Her proposal is that maybe growth patterns of fungi after death can be established in a predictable manner to help with crime scene analysis, similar to entomology. She bases this off the fact that fungi present in or on a dead body is not the same fungi that is present in living tissue. She also explains that the role fungi plays in a decomposing body has not been studied.
This study seems like it could have many positive outcomes. If given the opportunity, would you take part in this research?
Crime-Solving Clues Can Be Found in Fungi
She references to how entomology is commonly used in determining time of death, possible cause of death, whether the body has been moved, and possible links to suspects in criminal cases. This is possible because predictable growth patterns of insects have already been studied, or still currently are, which helps in crime scene investigation.
Her proposal is that maybe growth patterns of fungi after death can be established in a predictable manner to help with crime scene analysis, similar to entomology. She bases this off the fact that fungi present in or on a dead body is not the same fungi that is present in living tissue. She also explains that the role fungi plays in a decomposing body has not been studied.
This study seems like it could have many positive outcomes. If given the opportunity, would you take part in this research?
Crime-Solving Clues Can Be Found in Fungi
Monday, November 4, 2013
Instead of Using Latent Print Identification, Try Using Touch DNA!
Recently, a string of church burglaries were happening in Florida. One of the scenes had a latent print left on a tile surface and a screwdriver left behind. The print was on a porous surface, which did not allow for the print to be lifted for analysis. Instead the CSI's took a DNA swab of the print and swabbed the screwdriver.
The used PCR to amplify the DNA to find a possible match. It did in fact come back to a suspect in the FBI database.
So what makes touch DNA a good source to use? Humans naturally sweat when under pressure (like committing a crime), which causes for DNA to be left behind on everything that is touched. When a sample of touch DNA is obtained, only about 30 cells are needed to do adequate analysis; this is a tiny number compared to the about 1 million cells that humans lose daily. From there, analysis is done on about 13 DNA locations that are quite specific to every human. This usually gives an accurate enough match of 1 suspect versus 330 million people.
Here is my question: If you had both a good latent print and good touch DNA, which would you rather do analysis on? Also, which do you think will give a stronger positive match?
Article in ABC News
The used PCR to amplify the DNA to find a possible match. It did in fact come back to a suspect in the FBI database.
So what makes touch DNA a good source to use? Humans naturally sweat when under pressure (like committing a crime), which causes for DNA to be left behind on everything that is touched. When a sample of touch DNA is obtained, only about 30 cells are needed to do adequate analysis; this is a tiny number compared to the about 1 million cells that humans lose daily. From there, analysis is done on about 13 DNA locations that are quite specific to every human. This usually gives an accurate enough match of 1 suspect versus 330 million people.
Here is my question: If you had both a good latent print and good touch DNA, which would you rather do analysis on? Also, which do you think will give a stronger positive match?
Article in ABC News
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Using Whole Exome Sequencing to Identify Speech Disorder
Recently, Dr. Worthey in partnership with Dr. Shriberg found an issue in the genes of eight of ten children studied that have Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS).
Using whole exome sequencing, the scientists determined that multiple genes are involved in the cause of CAS, which can severely interrupt a child's cognitive and learning process. They found that the primary problem in the genes was deletions within the nucleotides.
Up until now, only a few genes had been associated with CAS, but until whole exome sequencing was done, scientists could not see that it was multiple genes acting together causing the disorder versus individual genes.
Using whole exome sequencing has proven to possibly be the best way to study some disorders versus trying to study individual genes looking for the cause. And the best part, it's cheaper and more time efficient than single gene sequencing.
Can you think of any other disorders than are already associated with a few genes that would benefit from having whole exome sequencing done to see all of the genes involved?
Here's the link:
Next-gen sequencing identifies genes associated with speech disorder
Using whole exome sequencing, the scientists determined that multiple genes are involved in the cause of CAS, which can severely interrupt a child's cognitive and learning process. They found that the primary problem in the genes was deletions within the nucleotides.
Up until now, only a few genes had been associated with CAS, but until whole exome sequencing was done, scientists could not see that it was multiple genes acting together causing the disorder versus individual genes.
Using whole exome sequencing has proven to possibly be the best way to study some disorders versus trying to study individual genes looking for the cause. And the best part, it's cheaper and more time efficient than single gene sequencing.
Can you think of any other disorders than are already associated with a few genes that would benefit from having whole exome sequencing done to see all of the genes involved?
Here's the link:
Next-gen sequencing identifies genes associated with speech disorder
Yet Another Way to Determine Ethnicity... Oral Bacteria!
A research team at Ohio State has found a possible new way to determine ethnicity: the oral bacteria under your gums in your mouth! Kind of weird... I know.
The group took 100 individuals of races: African American (non-latin), Hispanic, Caucasian, and Chinese to test on.
The bacteria, 398 species from all parts of the mouth, were sequenced for their DNA since living conditions of these bacteria is not really possible in a Petri dish.
What did they find? Only 2% of the bacterial species matched in all of the participants. The breakthrough came in that certain species of bacteria were specific to each ethnicity. Pretty cool huh?!
The researchers concluded that it may be due to each ethnicity's DNA that causes certain strains of bacteria to be present in only one ethnicity. Also, this may give insight as to why Hispanics and African Americans are more susceptible to certain gum diseases versus other ethnicities.
The group did find that the best results of bacteria exclusive to ethnicity are under the gums. This could be due to mouth washes and toothpaste constantly being used on the surface bacteria.
I ask you this again, what happens with people that are more than one ethnicity?
Here is the link:
Oral Bacteria Create a 'Fingerprint' in the Mouth
The group took 100 individuals of races: African American (non-latin), Hispanic, Caucasian, and Chinese to test on.
The bacteria, 398 species from all parts of the mouth, were sequenced for their DNA since living conditions of these bacteria is not really possible in a Petri dish.
What did they find? Only 2% of the bacterial species matched in all of the participants. The breakthrough came in that certain species of bacteria were specific to each ethnicity. Pretty cool huh?!
The researchers concluded that it may be due to each ethnicity's DNA that causes certain strains of bacteria to be present in only one ethnicity. Also, this may give insight as to why Hispanics and African Americans are more susceptible to certain gum diseases versus other ethnicities.
The group did find that the best results of bacteria exclusive to ethnicity are under the gums. This could be due to mouth washes and toothpaste constantly being used on the surface bacteria.
I ask you this again, what happens with people that are more than one ethnicity?
Here is the link:
Oral Bacteria Create a 'Fingerprint' in the Mouth
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Marmoset Monkeys are Like Humans! Kind of...
Scientists have recently studied marmoset monkeys interactions with each other and learned that these monkeys act much like humans: they can correctly hold a conversation! Well, that's speaking for most humans...
The research team watched marmoset monkeys throughout different environment setups and noticed that these monkeys carry out conversations almost exactly like humans. So, what all do they do that proves this? They only speak one at a time, they will wait about 5 seconds after the other talks before they speak, they listen quietly, they don't yell over the other, and they can go back and forth calmly for five plus minutes sending out full length noises. I wonder if they have arguments like humans do?!
What do other animals such as gorillas and such do? Yell over each other using random short noises and stop after a few seconds. The noises are never continuous or alternating, characteristics of a conversation.
So, what does this finding help to do for the researchers? The researchers plan to study marmosets in the womb and early interactions with their parents. They hope the new findings will give some insight as to what goes wrong in early communication in humans causing disorders.
I wonder if these monkeys can have "conversations" with humans?! I want to buy one and try it!
Link:
Mamoset Monkeys Know Polite Conversation
The research team watched marmoset monkeys throughout different environment setups and noticed that these monkeys carry out conversations almost exactly like humans. So, what all do they do that proves this? They only speak one at a time, they will wait about 5 seconds after the other talks before they speak, they listen quietly, they don't yell over the other, and they can go back and forth calmly for five plus minutes sending out full length noises. I wonder if they have arguments like humans do?!
What do other animals such as gorillas and such do? Yell over each other using random short noises and stop after a few seconds. The noises are never continuous or alternating, characteristics of a conversation.
So, what does this finding help to do for the researchers? The researchers plan to study marmosets in the womb and early interactions with their parents. They hope the new findings will give some insight as to what goes wrong in early communication in humans causing disorders.
I wonder if these monkeys can have "conversations" with humans?! I want to buy one and try it!
Link:
Mamoset Monkeys Know Polite Conversation
Sunday, October 13, 2013
New Bioassay to Give Insight on Suspect's Ethnicity
Researchers have come out with a new bioassay that could possibly distinguish the ethnicity of possible suspects or missing persons based on DNA left at a crime scene.
Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were the two biomarkers looked at in Caucasians and African Americans. The levels were amplified using multienzyme/multistep biocatalytic cascade to distinguish the differences in the levels for the two ethnicities. They tested these levels on fresh blood and age 24-hour blood. The results showed conclusive differences.
What does this mean for crime scene analysts? It is a quicker way to get a possible identification of a suspect while waiting for the DNA to go through CODIS at an outside lab, which could take months.
This technique seems to have its pros and cons. Although it is a good preliminary test, what if the suspect is neither ethnicity or a mixture of both (like me)? Also, this has only been tested on blood, but do you think it should automatically work on any type of DNA left behind?
A Biochemical Eyewitness
Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were the two biomarkers looked at in Caucasians and African Americans. The levels were amplified using multienzyme/multistep biocatalytic cascade to distinguish the differences in the levels for the two ethnicities. They tested these levels on fresh blood and age 24-hour blood. The results showed conclusive differences.
What does this mean for crime scene analysts? It is a quicker way to get a possible identification of a suspect while waiting for the DNA to go through CODIS at an outside lab, which could take months.
This technique seems to have its pros and cons. Although it is a good preliminary test, what if the suspect is neither ethnicity or a mixture of both (like me)? Also, this has only been tested on blood, but do you think it should automatically work on any type of DNA left behind?
A Biochemical Eyewitness
Monday, October 7, 2013
Cells Eating Part of Themselves as Means for Survival
A recent (well, January) study of the enzyme AMPK concluded that AMPK is not only responsible for regulating cell energy, but it also regulates autophagic enzymes.
Autophagy is when enzymes within the cell digest other parts of the cell. So, why would the cell want to do this? Autophagy happens when the cell is under pressure of dying and needs nutrients to survive. The autophagous enzymes will find components within the cell that can be degraded and digested to help the cell survive longer. These enzymes are also responsible for clearing out dead components of the cell to make room for the replacement components.
What autophagic enzymes does AMPK regulate, you ask? There is a class of kinase called "Vps34" that has certain complexes controlled by AMPK. These specific complexes are what carries out autophagy in the cell.
What happens to cells that do not carry out autophagy? Possible cell damage can happen, along with disease, cancer, and aging quicker.
Here's the link in Science Daily:
How cells know when it's time to eat themselves
Autophagy is when enzymes within the cell digest other parts of the cell. So, why would the cell want to do this? Autophagy happens when the cell is under pressure of dying and needs nutrients to survive. The autophagous enzymes will find components within the cell that can be degraded and digested to help the cell survive longer. These enzymes are also responsible for clearing out dead components of the cell to make room for the replacement components.
What autophagic enzymes does AMPK regulate, you ask? There is a class of kinase called "Vps34" that has certain complexes controlled by AMPK. These specific complexes are what carries out autophagy in the cell.
What happens to cells that do not carry out autophagy? Possible cell damage can happen, along with disease, cancer, and aging quicker.
Here's the link in Science Daily:
How cells know when it's time to eat themselves
Monday, September 30, 2013
Using DNA to Hunt Down Residents that Don't Clean up After Their Dogs...
A complex in Riverdale, New Jersey is putting DNA to a good new use... Figuring out which residents aren't cleaning up after their dogs!
All residents of this condo complex will be required to give a mouth swab of their dog by November 1st. From there, when one resident does not pick up after their animal, the feces will be sent to a lab called "PooPrints" in Tennessee.
Who ever has the dog that has the DNA match to the feces, gets fined.
Seems like this apartment is adamant. Who would have thought of a company like "PooPrints" though?
Just one of the many new uses of DNA lately!
(This was my second article this week; so, that's why it is kind of out there!)
Article in FS Magazine
All residents of this condo complex will be required to give a mouth swab of their dog by November 1st. From there, when one resident does not pick up after their animal, the feces will be sent to a lab called "PooPrints" in Tennessee.
Who ever has the dog that has the DNA match to the feces, gets fined.
Seems like this apartment is adamant. Who would have thought of a company like "PooPrints" though?
Just one of the many new uses of DNA lately!
(This was my second article this week; so, that's why it is kind of out there!)
Article in FS Magazine
DNA of an Infected Wolf Found to be a Match to a Teen that was Bitten
A teenager was recently bitten by a wolf at a campground in Minnesota.
What does this have to do with molecular biology, you ask?
A DNA comparison was done on the wolf (that was captured and killed) and a comforter that the teen had used to stop the blood. The comparison proved to be a match indicating that the investigators had found the correct wolf.
So, why was this such a big deal that investigators were insistent to find the wolf? Well, wolves are not known to rummage for food close to areas of human activity. Moreover, they are not likely to come close enough to humans to bite them.
A pathologist/veterinarian decided to do a necropsy on the wolf. He learned that the wolf had facial abnormalities, dental abnormalities, and brain damage. This caused an infection in the wolf that made the wolf do things that were out of character. It did not go into much detail as to what the infection was or what exact part of the brain was physically/chemically altered, but this is still an interesting find.
The teen was ok and did not gain any harmful illnesses from the wolf.
I find the most random articles the most interesting. :]]
Link:
DNA Test Confirms Identity of Wolf that Bit Teen
What does this have to do with molecular biology, you ask?
A DNA comparison was done on the wolf (that was captured and killed) and a comforter that the teen had used to stop the blood. The comparison proved to be a match indicating that the investigators had found the correct wolf.
So, why was this such a big deal that investigators were insistent to find the wolf? Well, wolves are not known to rummage for food close to areas of human activity. Moreover, they are not likely to come close enough to humans to bite them.
A pathologist/veterinarian decided to do a necropsy on the wolf. He learned that the wolf had facial abnormalities, dental abnormalities, and brain damage. This caused an infection in the wolf that made the wolf do things that were out of character. It did not go into much detail as to what the infection was or what exact part of the brain was physically/chemically altered, but this is still an interesting find.
The teen was ok and did not gain any harmful illnesses from the wolf.
I find the most random articles the most interesting. :]]
Link:
DNA Test Confirms Identity of Wolf that Bit Teen
Monday, September 23, 2013
Obtaining Touch DNA Using a.... Vacuum
The body of a young girl was recently found submerged in water for, what investigators believe to be, eight to ten hours. They began to investigate a homicide with the possibility of a sexual assault.
Initial swabbing of the girl's underwear and genital area provided no DNA.
The investigators then decided to try using the M-Vac System to vacuum up possible cells in areas on the underwear where they believed the perpetrator may have touched in order to pull the underwear down.
Surprise, surprise-- they obtained enough cells to make a DNA profile.
This has started to catch the attention of many facilities because the M-Vac System may prove to be a new, innovative way to collect DNA that would have never been possible to obtain in the past.
Interesting to see the direction technology has been heading towards in the Forensic field lately...
Link to Article:
Touch DNA on Clothing
More information on the M-Vac System as to what it looks like and how it works:
M-Vac | M-Vac Systems, Inc
Initial swabbing of the girl's underwear and genital area provided no DNA.
The investigators then decided to try using the M-Vac System to vacuum up possible cells in areas on the underwear where they believed the perpetrator may have touched in order to pull the underwear down.
Surprise, surprise-- they obtained enough cells to make a DNA profile.
This has started to catch the attention of many facilities because the M-Vac System may prove to be a new, innovative way to collect DNA that would have never been possible to obtain in the past.
Interesting to see the direction technology has been heading towards in the Forensic field lately...
Link to Article:
Touch DNA on Clothing
More information on the M-Vac System as to what it looks like and how it works:
M-Vac | M-Vac Systems, Inc
Quicker Identification of Mass Disaster Victim's Using New DNA Techniques
I just had to write a blog on this. It's in today's issue of Forensic Science Magazine, and involves Sam Houston State University's Forensic Science Professors!
Our professors that work at the STAFS facility, mainly Dr. Hughes-Stamm and Dr. Gangitano, just obtained a grant to do research on better ways to preserve DNA after a mass disaster along with identifying the DNA quicker.
Their research will consist of testing different "home made" and commercial solutions in hopes of finding a solution that tissue samples can be placed in without out being affected by climate conditions. If this can be done, DNA will last much longer, in return having a longer readability. DNA genotyping and the process of identifying DNA would take considerably less time if this research proves to be successful.
Here's the link:
Sam Houston State to Research Quicker Identification of Mass Disaster Victims
Our professors that work at the STAFS facility, mainly Dr. Hughes-Stamm and Dr. Gangitano, just obtained a grant to do research on better ways to preserve DNA after a mass disaster along with identifying the DNA quicker.
Their research will consist of testing different "home made" and commercial solutions in hopes of finding a solution that tissue samples can be placed in without out being affected by climate conditions. If this can be done, DNA will last much longer, in return having a longer readability. DNA genotyping and the process of identifying DNA would take considerably less time if this research proves to be successful.
Here's the link:
Sam Houston State to Research Quicker Identification of Mass Disaster Victims
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Rapid DNA Technology to Help Agencies out Immediately
IntegenX plans to unveil their new RapidHIT DNA system in hopes to help out criminal agencies with DNA profiling.
This new system will allow agencies to run up to five DNA profiles, along with a positive and negative control, in about ninety minutes. Even better- the prep time is only about five minutes. The best part- all of this can be done within the time that the suspect is in custody!
So, what all can this new machine do? It fully automates and integrates the steps needed to run the full DNA test. It also can link up to previous DNA databases that already have DNA information from people and crime scenes.
I think it is great that IntegenX is trying to allow agencies access to this new equipment that is easy to use and very vital for crimes involving DNA, which may not be easy to work with for people that are unexperienced in DNA technology.
Link to Article
This new system will allow agencies to run up to five DNA profiles, along with a positive and negative control, in about ninety minutes. Even better- the prep time is only about five minutes. The best part- all of this can be done within the time that the suspect is in custody!
So, what all can this new machine do? It fully automates and integrates the steps needed to run the full DNA test. It also can link up to previous DNA databases that already have DNA information from people and crime scenes.
I think it is great that IntegenX is trying to allow agencies access to this new equipment that is easy to use and very vital for crimes involving DNA, which may not be easy to work with for people that are unexperienced in DNA technology.
Link to Article
Monday, September 16, 2013
A Way to Match DNA Without Using Extraction
Adrian Linacre and his team, of Flinders University in Australia, have been the first group to get DNA from a single hair--- not from extraction though. This team used free DNA that is found floating in loose material and copied the DNA using standard lab procedures (such as PCR).
Why is this a new, vital part of forensic science? They can completely skip DNA extraction when using free DNA causing much less problems. Also, they are able to pull free DNA from small samples that would usually get lost during extraction.
Just how available is free DNA at crime scenes? As stated before, it can be found on a single strand of hair. It can also be found on fabric that has been touched with sweat for only 15 seconds. Imagine all the other possible places it will be found in the future and what this means for forensics and the criminal justice system!
Here is the link, it is a very short article:
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Antibiotics Doing More Damage to you Than to Bacteria?
We all know that antibiotics are made to help you with hopefully minimal side effects, but what if the antibiotic is actually doing more damage to you than to the bacteria?
Recently, a group of scientists learned that antibiotics used to kill bacteria may also be penetrating the mitochondria and ultimately leaving harmful effects. It seems to only make sense though considering mitochondria are said to have come from bacteria.
How does this happen? It is currently believed that the antibiotic causes a high increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a possible means to kill the bacteria. The problem- the ROS also attacks at the mitochondria leaving the mitochondria less efficient.
Furthermore, when antibiotics that only stop bacterial growth are tested, the mitochondria are not changed.
Scientists do say that these kinds of extremely harmful effects are more so geared towards individuals constantly on heavy antibiotics. Ones who do not take antibiotics often, are less likely to have any severe damage.
Currently, studies are still being done to obtain more information. Also, studies involved with combining antioxidants, used to suppress ROS, and antibiotics are being done.
Just a small article that I found interesting...
Link to article in "The Scientist"
Recently, a group of scientists learned that antibiotics used to kill bacteria may also be penetrating the mitochondria and ultimately leaving harmful effects. It seems to only make sense though considering mitochondria are said to have come from bacteria.
How does this happen? It is currently believed that the antibiotic causes a high increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a possible means to kill the bacteria. The problem- the ROS also attacks at the mitochondria leaving the mitochondria less efficient.
Furthermore, when antibiotics that only stop bacterial growth are tested, the mitochondria are not changed.
Scientists do say that these kinds of extremely harmful effects are more so geared towards individuals constantly on heavy antibiotics. Ones who do not take antibiotics often, are less likely to have any severe damage.
Currently, studies are still being done to obtain more information. Also, studies involved with combining antioxidants, used to suppress ROS, and antibiotics are being done.
Just a small article that I found interesting...
Link to article in "The Scientist"
Monday, September 9, 2013
Using mRNA as a New Basis for Heart Repair?
I read an interesting article, on Science Daily, on a new research of heart repair, mainly after a myocardial infarction, using synthetic mRNA.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet and Harvard University have taken one step closer to finding a new way for the heart to repair itself. Instead of the traditional way of introducing new cells into the heart to build cardiac muscle, this new way explores injecting the heart with synthetic mRNA to trigger the native stem cells in the heart to start making new coronary vessels as if it were a fetal heart all over again.
This seems like a great, new way to help victims of heart attack if it proves to be successful, but of course it is still fairly new with many downsides:
1. It has only been tested on rats
2. They are just now moving towards testing it on other animals
3. Until it is tried on a human, scientists will never know exactly how well it does or does not work for the ultimate target species
4. A specific catheter is still trying to be made for perfect injection
5. The injection must be done within 48 hours of the heart attack to be successful
6. The injection will not work unless it is injected exactly in the location of the heart progenators
7. Very specific synthetic mRNA must be made to be able to hide from the immune system
With currently more cons than pros, would you say the researchers should continue moving forward? If so, what other tester animals would you use to dodge ethical/moral concerns? Also, how should they go about testing it on humans once they get to that stage?
Friday, August 30, 2013
Week of 9-2-13 Post: Do Women's Menstrual Cycles Really Sync?
I ran across an article on Scientific American called, "The Scent of Your Thoughts". It is about a college student who made a comment around researchers that women's menstrual cycles sync up the same way mice sync their ovary cycles. The researchers gave her a scorned look. Of course this was in the 1960's, and I can almost be sure that all of the researchers were men.
Now that it is years later, technology has greatly advanced, but I still believe the college student was correct. I believe this partly due to science and partly due to personal experience.
The science side- evidence has suggested that humans unknowingly release chemicals to other humans that release messages. These "chemical messages" are commonly seen to carry over to family members or close friends. So, who is to say that the chemical messages cannot relate to ovulation cycles or menstrual cycles? There is no study saying that they do or do not relate.
The personal side- in high school, I was the only one in my main group, of about four friends, that was on birth control. After about three months of me being on it, my friends and I all had our menstrual cycles within a week of each other. Since my periods were controlled, I was like the base to which my friends' cycles were able to link up to. How were they able to do that? Our bodies had to be communicating somehow other than talking.
With personal experience and science news, I honestly believe that females have the ability to sync on ovulation and menstrual cycles due to the release of chemicals in their bodies that communicate to other females. Furthermore, scientists are now trying to decode compounds released by humans to see what role they are playing or what message they are sending. I am sure most females will agree with these findings, males... maybe not.
Here is the link to the post in Scientific American:
"The Scent of Your Thoughts" Post
Now that it is years later, technology has greatly advanced, but I still believe the college student was correct. I believe this partly due to science and partly due to personal experience.
The science side- evidence has suggested that humans unknowingly release chemicals to other humans that release messages. These "chemical messages" are commonly seen to carry over to family members or close friends. So, who is to say that the chemical messages cannot relate to ovulation cycles or menstrual cycles? There is no study saying that they do or do not relate.
The personal side- in high school, I was the only one in my main group, of about four friends, that was on birth control. After about three months of me being on it, my friends and I all had our menstrual cycles within a week of each other. Since my periods were controlled, I was like the base to which my friends' cycles were able to link up to. How were they able to do that? Our bodies had to be communicating somehow other than talking.
With personal experience and science news, I honestly believe that females have the ability to sync on ovulation and menstrual cycles due to the release of chemicals in their bodies that communicate to other females. Furthermore, scientists are now trying to decode compounds released by humans to see what role they are playing or what message they are sending. I am sure most females will agree with these findings, males... maybe not.
Here is the link to the post in Scientific American:
"The Scent of Your Thoughts" Post
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