BIOLOGY CLASS
This week in class we started our chapter on Molecular Biology, as you saw in the video I used to introduced the topic, one of the biggest scientific projects in the last few decades has been the sequencing of the human genome. As an international collaboration, The Human Genome Project was able to complete their work in less time than what they had predicted. Only a few decades ago the molecule of DNA was described by Watson and Crick, and their work published on the journal Science in 1953. In less than 55 years that molecule has been studied so much that we now have a map of all those "parts" called genes. In class I asked you, imagine what will happen in the next 55 years.
Well here's an article that can give you an idea of things to come. Scientists have been able to "build" an artificial or synthetic genome. They have put together a molecule of DNA from a species of bacteria using enzymes to attach small segments made from nucleotides. Although they still have some work to do to have an entity that shows signs of life, indeed this is a demonstration of the power of biotechnology.
What do you think? Is it right to be doing this? Why do you think these scientist are doing this? Isn't just easier to go and find the bacteria somewhere else and then use it for what ever purpose you need? Tell me what you think.
Researchers have rebuilt an entire genome from scratch, they report online today in Science. Although the team has yet to demonstrate that this DNA can substitute for the real thing, the work paves the way for customized bacteria that could efficiently produce drugs, biofuels, and other molecules useful to humankind. more
Source: ScienceNOW Daily News
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Transplant Patient Makes Medical History
BIOLOGY CLASS
Here's another example of what I've been saying in class since the beginning of the year. There are always exceptions to the rules, especially in Biology which is the topic we discuss.
We just finished the chapter on Mendelian genetics, where you learn how the blood type of an individual is determined and inherited, how not all blood types are compatible and why, and the importance of screening the blood samples or organs that will be transplanted to avoid any rejections and further complications. Recall that the positive or negative (Rh) factors on blood types are determined by the presence (or absence) of certain proteins (antigens) on the surface of red blood cells.
Read the following article and try to come up with an explanation other than the one doctors interviewed provide to explain the phenomenon or maybe support the reasoning of the doctors.
CANBERRA (Jan. 25) - An Australian teenage girl has become the world's first known transplant patient to change blood groups and take on the immune system of her organ donor, doctors said on Friday, calling her a "one-in-six-billion miracle."
Demi-Lee Brennan, now 15, received a donor liver when she was 9 years old and her own liver failed.
"It's like my second chance at life," Brennan told local media, recounting how her body achieved what doctors said was the holy grail of transplant surgery. "It's kind of hard to believe." more
Source: Reuters
Here's another example of what I've been saying in class since the beginning of the year. There are always exceptions to the rules, especially in Biology which is the topic we discuss.
We just finished the chapter on Mendelian genetics, where you learn how the blood type of an individual is determined and inherited, how not all blood types are compatible and why, and the importance of screening the blood samples or organs that will be transplanted to avoid any rejections and further complications. Recall that the positive or negative (Rh) factors on blood types are determined by the presence (or absence) of certain proteins (antigens) on the surface of red blood cells.
Read the following article and try to come up with an explanation other than the one doctors interviewed provide to explain the phenomenon or maybe support the reasoning of the doctors.
CANBERRA (Jan. 25) - An Australian teenage girl has become the world's first known transplant patient to change blood groups and take on the immune system of her organ donor, doctors said on Friday, calling her a "one-in-six-billion miracle."
Demi-Lee Brennan, now 15, received a donor liver when she was 9 years old and her own liver failed.
"It's like my second chance at life," Brennan told local media, recounting how her body achieved what doctors said was the holy grail of transplant surgery. "It's kind of hard to believe." more
Source: Reuters
Sunday, January 27, 2008
James Watson's genome sequenced
BIOLOGY CLASS & ANATOMY CLASS
Being this the first post on this blog, I decided to start with this article from Nature magazine since I consider it analogous to what I will try to do this year with this blog. I don't think fifty years ago, as a young student, Watson thought he would be able to have his entire genome decoded and saved on a small DVD. Similarly when I was in high school, it never crossed my mind that information would travel so fast and be so accessible to the public like it does with the help of the internet. As a high school teacher many times I see how students miss the importance of this or at least don't realize how fortunate they are to be living in the information era. Just like Watson's (and Crick's) work gave way to some powerful tools today, I hope my students (or any other) will use this site as a tool to keep up-to-date with current discoveries and research made throughout the world.
Source: Nature
Being this the first post on this blog, I decided to start with this article from Nature magazine since I consider it analogous to what I will try to do this year with this blog. I don't think fifty years ago, as a young student, Watson thought he would be able to have his entire genome decoded and saved on a small DVD. Similarly when I was in high school, it never crossed my mind that information would travel so fast and be so accessible to the public like it does with the help of the internet. As a high school teacher many times I see how students miss the importance of this or at least don't realize how fortunate they are to be living in the information era. Just like Watson's (and Crick's) work gave way to some powerful tools today, I hope my students (or any other) will use this site as a tool to keep up-to-date with current discoveries and research made throughout the world.
Nobel laureate James D. Watson peered deep into his genome yesterday. And soon, anyone else interested in his genetic makeup will be able to do the same.
Scientists in Houston presented Watson with a DVD of his genome sequence, which they said was the "first individual genome to be sequenced for less than $1 million". The carefully worded claim may be an acknowledgement that another personal genome project has already been completed: J. Craig Venter has deposited his genome sequence into the public GenBank database, he told Nature two weeks ago.
Such personal genomes are for now largely symbolic, because it's difficult to draw concrete information about a person's health from his or her genome sequence. more
Scientists in Houston presented Watson with a DVD of his genome sequence, which they said was the "first individual genome to be sequenced for less than $1 million". The carefully worded claim may be an acknowledgement that another personal genome project has already been completed: J. Craig Venter has deposited his genome sequence into the public GenBank database, he told Nature two weeks ago.
Such personal genomes are for now largely symbolic, because it's difficult to draw concrete information about a person's health from his or her genome sequence. more
Source: Nature
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