Page 20«..10..19202122..3040..»

Category Archives: Biology

Biology’s need for speed tolerates a few mistakes – Phys.Org

Posted: Published on May 2nd, 2017

May 2, 2017 Anatoly Kolomeisky, left, and Oleg Igoshin. Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University Biology must be in a hurry. In balancing speed and accuracy to duplicate DNA, produce proteins and carry out other processes, evolution has apparently determined that speed is of higher priority, according to Rice University researchers. Rice scientists are challenging assumptions that perfectly accurate transcription and translation are critical to the success of biological systems. It turns out a few mistakes here and there aren't critical as long as the great majority of the biopolymers produced are correct. A new paper shows how nature has optimized two processes, DNA replication and protein translation, that are fundamental to life. By simultaneously analyzing the balance between speed and accuracy, the Rice team determined that naturally selected reaction rates optimize for speed "as long as the error level is tolerable." The paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is by Rice postdoctoral fellow Kinshuk Banerjee and his advisers, Oleg Igoshin, an associate professor of bioengineering and biosciences, and Anatoly Kolomeisky, a professor of chemistry and chemical and biomolecular engineering. Their technique allowed them to see that while error correction through kinetic proofreading leans toward speed, the cost … Continue reading

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on Biology’s need for speed tolerates a few mistakes – Phys.Org

The Biology-Based Roots of Anti-Immigrant Bias – Pacific Standard

Posted: Published on May 2nd, 2017

New research provides further evidence linking distaste for outsiders with a deep-seated fear of disease. By Tom Jacobs Its easy to blame the anti-immigrant impulses driving so much Trump administration policy on basic bigotry. But a recent line of research has asked whether this visceral disdain for outsiders is not just psychological, but biological. Evolution, after all, has programmed us to be wary of potential sources of disease or infection. For people who are particularly sensitive to such threats, that can translate into a desire to stay far away from suspect strangerssuch as immigrants from a far-away land. Strongly felt, but largely if not totally unconscious, this predisposition makes it virtually impossible to have a rational discussion about the pros and cons of immigration reform. It also hinders the best known antidote to prejudicegetting to personally know people of other ethnicities or religions. If you dont feel its safe to shake someones hand, youre probably not going to develop a meaningful relationship. That sad insight comes from University of Aarhus researchers Lene Aaroe and Michael Bang Petersen and Temple Universitys Kevin Arceneaux. They are the authors of a newly published paper that provides the best evidence yet linking pathogen avoidance … Continue reading

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on The Biology-Based Roots of Anti-Immigrant Bias – Pacific Standard

ECU student lands marine biology internship – Theadanews

Posted: Published on May 2nd, 2017

Kate Draper is ready to try her hand in marine biology research this summer. The East Central University freshman biology major and Ada resident will do a marine and estuarine science internship at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, June 5-Aug. 11, through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. This is a great opportunity to make connections for graduate school and help get the ECU name out there, said Draper Im really excited for being able to work in both the field and lab and it will help me focus on what I want to do with my career. Draper applied online for the internship through the National Science Foundation. The internship is one of only 15-20 spots available through the Maryland institution as Dr. Alisha Howard, assistant professor of biology at ECU, helped guide Draper through the application process. This is great for Kate and East Central. Shell be introduced to the competitive, intense drive that most scientists have. It will be amazing, said Howard. Doors will be opened for her to do more research, if she would like, here and her research experience will be good for ECU. Each research student will have a mentor during the summer … Continue reading

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on ECU student lands marine biology internship – Theadanews

Former Bethesda-Chevy Chase Students Recall Biology Teacher’s Kindness, Dapper Style – BethesdaMagazine.com

Posted: Published on May 2nd, 2017

Friend said Ed Schneck coached, acted in plays and was an overall Renaissance guy By Bethany Rodgers Published: 2017.05.01 09:33 Graduates of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School recently remembered former biology teacher Ed Schneck, who died in April. Via Harriet Haber Longtime biology teacher Ed Schneck enjoyed his retirement party so much, he decided to stick around for one more year. Steve Thompson, a friend and one-time colleague at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, said Schneck decided to teach one final year. And his farewell bonanza turned into an annual event, known as the Schneck Retirement Golf Classic, which was held long after he left his job. The story was just one example of the larger-than-life personality that endeared Schneck to those who knew him and helped explain the outpouring at the former teachers death last month at age 81. He was a mainstay there at the high school, said Harriet Haber, a B-CC graduate from the class of 1979 who estimated Schneck worked at the school for more than three decades. Though its been years since Schneck taught at B-CC, dozens expressed grief and shared memories on a Facebook memorial page for high school alumni. Schneck stood out for his dapper … Continue reading

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on Former Bethesda-Chevy Chase Students Recall Biology Teacher’s Kindness, Dapper Style – BethesdaMagazine.com

Can Synthetic Biology Finally Cure Diabetes? – Slate Magazine

Posted: Published on May 2nd, 2017

Possible cures routinely pop up only to fade from view, their benefits never quite surpassing the simple efficacy of an insulin injection. Lev Dolgachov/Thinkstock Type 1 diabetes is a discouraging disease. Despite the availability of synthetic insulin and increasingly sophisticated monitoring technology, its still a condition that requires incessant vigilance: Diabetics must constantly track their blood sugar levels and carefully use that information to calibrate drug doses. Even if you manage to do all of that well, bad days remain almost inevitable. Take too much insulin, and you can spiral into a hypoglycemic delirium. Take too little, and your glucose levels will rise, filling the body with dangerous levels of ketones. Less immediately frustratingbut no less familiar for diabeticsis the state of diabetes research. Possible cures routinely pop up only to fade from view, their benefits never quite surpassing the simple efficacy of an insulin injection. More recently, though, the field of synthetic biologya hybrid discipline that aims to construct or redesign biological components and systemshas shown the potential to produce a novel set of treatments. The solutions remain speculative, but they do offer cautious reasons for hope. Type 1 diabetes, in theory, should be relatively easy to solve. That … Continue reading

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on Can Synthetic Biology Finally Cure Diabetes? – Slate Magazine

CET: Several students give biology paper a miss – The Hindu

Posted: Published on May 2nd, 2017

The Hindu CET: Several students give biology paper a miss The Hindu With the Common Entrance Test no longer being valid for admissions to medical and dental courses this year, many students who wrote the test on Tuesday decided to give biology paper a miss. Of the total 1.85 lakh candidates who registered for the test, ... and more » Excerpt from: CET: Several students give biology paper a miss - The Hindu … Continue reading

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on CET: Several students give biology paper a miss – The Hindu

Tri County sophomores get out of class for biology adventure – Greenville Daily News

Posted: Published on May 2nd, 2017

Tri Countysophomore Kasie Gonzalez, on the shore, holds out a tray for her classmates to put samples from the Tamarack Creek theyve collected on a Thursday field trip to Minnie Farmer Park in Howard City. Daily News/Meghan Nelson HOWARD CITY After spending two hours at the park,Tri County High School sophomores went back to school wet and muddy, but with smiles on their faces. This is what teaching is all about, biology teacher Laura Readle said. Readle accompanied her 85 sophomore biology students to Minnie Farmer Park on Thursday as part of the partnership Tri County Area Schools has with the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (MRWA). When we wrote the (Great Lakes Restoration Initiative) grant, we wrote is as an explorational learning opportunity for students, said MWRA Project Manager Dixie Ward. We already worked with Laura Readle so we asked when we wrote the grant if they would help, and now theyre following through. SearrahHerendeen, a sophomore at Tri County High School, didnt bother to put waders before exploring Tamarack Creek during a biology field trip to Minnie Farmer Park on Thursday. Two years ago, MRWA received $257,000 in grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency for the total $440,500 … Continue reading

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on Tri County sophomores get out of class for biology adventure – Greenville Daily News

Scientific research has made links between biology and gay men who bottom – PinkNews

Posted: Published on May 1st, 2017

Researchers carried out by biologists believe they have found specific biological markers which indicate sexual positions that gay men prefer. The research, that was carried out at the University of Toronto Mississauga found that men who prefer to be bottoms often have older brothers, are left handed or did not conform to gender stereotypes from a young age. The research pinpoints non-right handedness as a key factor which signifies this. Those who demonstrated more masculine personality traits were likely to be tops, while those with more feminine traits were often bottoms. Self identified tops rated themselves as more masculine compared to bottoms and tops were more likely to score higher on male-typical cognitive styles while bottoms were higher on female-typical cognitive styles, the research stated. Among gay men, variation in gender nonconformity appears to correspond with variation in anal sex role behaviour. Specifically, gay men with an insertive anal sex role (i.e., tops) scored higher on masculine personality traits compared to males with a receptive (i.e., bottom) anal sex role preference. Conversely, bottoms scored higher on feminine personality traits compared to tops, it added. Those who participated in the study were recruited either through Facebook or at the Toronto Pride … Continue reading

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on Scientific research has made links between biology and gay men who bottom – PinkNews

Biology grad embraces dual role as animal educator and social … – Arizona State University

Posted: Published on April 30th, 2017

April 29, 2017 Editors note: This is part of a series of profiles for spring 2017 commencement. See more graduates here. Ashton Grove knew early on what to focus on in college. Volunteering with the Phoenix Zoo while in high school helped steer Grove toward studying biology, and working with animals in some capacity became a goal that was clearly within reach. Ashton Grove is graduating from the ASU School of Life Sciences with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. After graduation, Grove will continue to gain experience working with exotic animals. Photo courtesy of Ashton Grove Download Full Image However, embracing change and new experiences at Arizona State University became an important part of college life. Many unexpected opportunities arose and they began to embrace new roles in society and on campus roles that would push political boundaries, define personal goals, and even foster new friendships with trusted faculty members. Grove, from Glendale, Arizona, will be graduating with a bachelor's in biology from the School of Life Sciences. Question: Were you facing any specific challenges before you came to ASU, and did your college experience change those challenges in some way? Answer: Before I came to ASU, I … Continue reading

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on Biology grad embraces dual role as animal educator and social … – Arizona State University

Class XII students to get a grace mark in biology paper – Times of India

Posted: Published on April 30th, 2017

CHENNAI: The Madras high court has ordered that all Class XII students who wrote the Biology examination on March 31, and attempted question number 16 in Section A of Part II, should be awarded one mark each, as all answers for the multiple-choice type question were incorrect. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, passing orders on a batch of petitions, asked the director of government examinations to take necessary steps to award one mark each for students, and/or recompute the marks if the evaluation is already done. "In the interest of the career of students, marks have to be awarded. Though that should be only an exception, unfortunately, the exception has become a rule. Therefore, the authorities have to be careful in setting the question papers," said Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana. Petitioners said that according to the text book, the correct answer for the question was 85% to 90%, but the multiple choice answers did not have this right answer at all. When it was pointed out to authorities, they said students ought to have ticked the 'most suitable' answer which was 80 or 90%. They said no mark could be awarded for those who had not ticked option (a). However, the judge pointed … Continue reading

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on Class XII students to get a grace mark in biology paper – Times of India

Page 20«..10..19202122..3040..»