Another reason to use refillable water bottles

In an analysis of commercially available mineral waters, researchers found evidence of estrogenic compounds leaching out of the plastic packaging into the water. What’s also shocking, these chemicals result in an increased development of embryos in the New Zealand mud snail. These findings, show for the first time that substances leaching out of plastic food packaging materials act as functional estrogens.They analyzed 20 brands of mineral water available in Germany – nine bottled in glass, nine bottled in plastic and two bottled in composite packaging (paperboard boxes coated with an inner plastic film). The researchers took water samples from the bottles and tested them for the presence of estrogenic chemicals. They then carried out a reproduction test with the New Zealand mud snail to determine the source and potency of the man made estrogen (xenoestrogen). The water samples from the plastic and composite packaging showed 50% more cotamination. Also, the snails in the plastic bottles produced twice the number of embryos compared to the snails in the glass bottles. These results demonstrate contamination of mineral water with potent man-made estrogens that originate from compounds leaching out of the plastic packaging material. The researchers conclude: “We must have identified just the tip of the iceberg in that plastic packaging may be a major source of xenohormone contamination of many other edibles. Our findings provide an insight into the potential exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals due to unexpected sources of contamination.”

This was a mix of hypothesis and  discovery based science. The contamination problem was discovered during an analysis of mineral waters. The snail and water sample tests were hypothesis based.


This is useful information because it alerts people to the problem of man-made hormones in bottled water. It might also further encourage students to use the refillable bottle stations at Saint Johns.

A Step Toward a Saliva Test for Cancer

In a recent discovery, which was announced during the 242nd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), scientist said that there may be away to test the amount of potential carcinogens in the DNA of someones saliva. This could lead to the knowledge of the probability of someone getting cancer of any other disease. It can also show progress of a cancer treatment or to inform high risk patients on how they can prevent themselves from getting a disease. They found this because a DNA adduct begins to form once a cancer causing mutation is found in a DNA. The new test measures the levels of five Key DNA adducts and this can lead to the test that will tell the probability of someone having cancer or other serious diseases. 


This is a type of discovery science because they found that the DNA might be able to help discover these new techniques to find cancer. This can help humans find diseases and also might help cure them faster and save more lives.


Journal: Science Daily
Author: Unspecified
Date: August 31, 2011

Contagious Cancer: Genome Study Reveals How Tasmanian Devil Cancer Has Spread

Tasmanian devils are in danger of being wiped out by a contagious facial cancer that has been spreading via live cancer cells through bites. This cancer has plagued the animal’s population for more than a decade now, having spread from the original infected female 15 years ago. Genetic sequences show that all tumors affecting the population today contain cells from the originally infected devil. Researcher Elizabeth Murchison, from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, calls her the immortal devil. The Tasmanian devil genome revealed why the cancer hasn’t killed off the species yet. As it turns out, some devils show resistance to at least two strains of the cancer. However, the Tasmanian devil’s cancer has more than 17,000 mutations. “Sequencing the genome of this cancer has allowed us to catalogue the mutations that caused this cancer to arise and to persist,” Murchison said. Information acquired from studying the genomes could point the way to targeted cancer drugs. Scientists hope the Tasmanian devil cancer can prepare them for the rare likelihood that there is ever a contagious cancer in humans.

            This is discovery based science as no hypothesis was made, and the article is simply reporting the findings.

This discovery helps humans in the way that it provides new information in the fight against cancer, and is helping scientists find ways to fight against a contagious cancer that affects a population, in the event that there is ever such a cancer that affects human beings.  

Title: Contagious Cancer: Genome Study Reveals How Tasmanian Devil Cancer Has Spread

Journal: Scientific American

Date published: February 17, 2012

A New Law Bans Genetic Discrimination

After thirteen years of development, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)was passed in May of 2008. This innovative law prevents health insurance companies and employers from denying coverage or jobs because of an individual's genetic predisposition to a certain disease. In this way, otherwise healthy people are safeguarded from based on their DNA. This article cannot accurately be described as either hypothesis or discovery science but is closer to the latter as no experiment was conducted. This innovative legislation is highly significant to mankind as it may potentially provide great benefits as medical sciences advance. With this protection from the possibility of discrimination, individuals may be more inclined to engage in testing which will identify possible genetic liabilities, such as an elevated risk of developing heart disease. This knowledge of genetic predispositions may, in turn, lead to more effective preventive treatments. Title: A New Law Bans Genetic Discrimination Journal: Discover Magazine Author: Karen Wright Date Published: December 17, 2008

Researchers discover gene that leads to severe weight gain with antipsychotic treatment

            Researchers at Zucker Hillside Hospital and Feinstein Institute for Medical Research found a gene that increases weight gain in those that are treated with antipsychotic drugs, used to treat psychotic disorders. In this study they used second-generation antipsychotics or SGAs, which are commonly used to treat many psychotic and non-psychotic disorders. In the study researchers first evaluated a group of patients treated for the first time with antipsychotics. Then they replicated the result in three independent groups of patients who were in psychiatric hospitals. The gene identified to increase weight gain was MC4R or melancortin-4 receptor. Originally it had been linked to obesity and type-2 diabetes. In this new study, patients gained up to 20 pounds on the treatment. 
           The article is an example of hypothesis-based science because an experiment or study was done. The study gives the possibility of being able to identify who is at great risk for severe weight gain due to the antipsychotic treatment; therefore it is helpful in relieving those who are at risk. Instead they could receive more intensive or alternative treatment that would reduce the potential for weight gain. Currently they are conducting studies to find that type of treatment.


Title of Article: Researchers discover gene that leads to severe weight gain with antipsychotic treatment
Journal: Biology News Net
Date: May 7, 2012

On March 26, 2012 at 12:16 p.m., Peng Peng, the World’s first handmade cloned transgenic sheep was born in China. Chinese scientists from BGI, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shihezi University successfully made Peng Peng. They used a simplified technique called handmade cloning. It uses much simpler equipment, procedures and it is cheaper that other methods of cloning. They say that so far he “is developing normally and appears healthy” (Dr. Yutao Du). This project had been ongoing for about two years and faced some difficulties. For example, only very few of the reconstructed embryos are able to develop into healthy offspring, they had to adjust to special climate and deal with very basic instruments/materials. This modification could result better meat quality by increasing the unsaturated fatty acid content. The ω-3PUFAs that are added to the sheep reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and bran, eye and neuron development. Since then, other species have been cloned using this technique.

This is hypothesis based science because the scientists had to conduct many experiments throughout the two year process, and had to test their hypothesis until finally succeeding.

  

This accomplishment affects humans because it allows us to intake ω-3PUFAs by drinking milk or eating meat and has many medical benefits, like reducing the risk of heart diseases. Also, this could help save endangered species and make medicines for human diseases through transgenic animals.

Source: ScienceDaily 

author: n/a

date: April 19, 2012 

BGI Shenzhen. "World's first handmade cloned transgenic sheep born in China." ScienceDaily, 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 9 May 2012

One in Six Cancer Worldwide are Caused by Infection

The Lancet Oncology review recently looked at what started some 27 cancers in multiple countries, and came across the conclusion that four main infections (human papillomaviruses, Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis B and C) are are major causes for cervical, gut and liver cancers.
These cases usually happen in the wild. But even so, it does happen in more civilized areas of the world. This is hypothesis-based science, since the scientists and researchers were able to pin point what started certain cancers.
Knowing that some cancers are caused by certain viruses is helpful to the human race because this way, one can vaccinate for those viruses in anticipation, and prevent that cancer. The problem, however, is that these viruses are more common in areas that don't have the vaccinations available. So it makes it easier to prevent getting the viruses in places where the viruses are already less common.

Title: One in Six Cancers Worldwide are Caused by Infection
Author: Michelle Roberts
Date published: May 9, 2012 6:31 am
Date read: May 9, 2012 10:50 am

Triple Negative Breast Cancer tumours not even similar.

59 scientists have made a new discovery that will change the way deadly breast cancer is to be treated. The study is the largest genetic analysis of what were thought to be triple negative breast cancer tumours. All 59 scientists entered the lab believing to find a similar gene. When the tests came back, they had found that no two genomes were the same, nor even similar. Steven Jones, the co-author of the study, stated "Seeing these tumours at a molecular level has taught us we're dealing with a continuum of different types of breast cancer here, not just one". Triple negative breast cancer lacks surface cell receptors for estrogen, progesterone and herceptin and targets 16% of women who developed breast cancer and targets those under 40. Scientists consider it the most deadly form of breast cancer because modern drugs do not respond well to it. This experiment is a discovery based science because the scientist expected to find a similar gene, but instead found something even more impacting. This experiment affects humans in a grand scale. Now that we know how triple negative breast cancer tumours look like, they can understand how to treat them better and hopefully save lives.

Mutation Helps People Function with Less Sleep

A genetic mutation in the gene DEC2 has proved to allow people to function on less sleep. People with this mutation have been able to function with only five to six hours of sleep. The mutation allows people to sleep more efficiently. In addition, they seem to have no negative effects to it.  Although it is very rare, even among short sleepers, those involved in the discovery have said that they are trying to find a way to use it to benefit us in the future. This gene may be a key in helping those with sleeping disorders, or to simply help those who do not get enough sleep. 




This is an example of hypothesis based science because experiments were conducted on mice to see the effect of the gene, and on people to see how common the mutation was. 


Author: Katherine Harmon
Title: Rare Genetic Mutation Lets Some People Function with Less Sleep
Journal: Scientific American
Date Published: August 13, 2009

RNA Editing Explains Mystery of the Antarctic Optopus

       Octopi are a species who can be found in the coldest of waters, as well as the warmest. For this reason, scientists were shocked to find out that octopi living in the Antarctic as well as Caribbean octopi shared almost the exact same nervous system, that moved at the same rate. Usually the colder water would have slowed down the speed at which the nervous system of the organism worked. For years, scientists have attempted to figure out the reason for this strange development; now they know the answer. Scientists have found that edits are made to the creatures nerve cells, in order operate more efficiently in numbing water. Joshua Rosenthal, from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, explains that something changes the way the instructions of the DNA are sent and interpreted by the bodies nerve cell building machinery. They realized that this occurred in the mRNA, which was edited different by it's editing enzyme. With the new edits, the nerve cells change the rate at which they open and close the "gate" that produces electrical impulses. In the Antarctic octopus, the opening and closing of the gate is more rapid, since cold slows down this rate. It is an important counteraction that allows the octopus to survive.
       This experiment was definitely a hypothesis based one. This is because scientists spent many years testing, observing and documenting the genes of these organisms. It is helpful to humans because it allows use to understand the inner workings of such elusive and interesting creatures. 


Journal: Science News (Vol.181 #3)
Author: Rachel Ehrenberg
Date Published: Feb. 11, 2012