Page 2,612«..1020..2,6112,6122,6132,614..2,6202,630..»

Biological Warfare: Parasitic Wasp Uses A Virus To Control Its Host

Posted: Published on February 11th, 2015

Any depth of understanding of biology and ecology is accompanied by this inevitable conclusion: parasites rule the world. Theyre the man behind the curtain as fans of Oz would put it. They are the directors and stage managers of the grand production that is life on this Earth, natures finestpuppeteers, and that we think we have any modicum of control over any species physiology in comparison (including our own) is downright laughable. The latest reminder of our inadequacy when it comes to manipulating biology comes from a fresh paper inProceedings of the Royal Society B. In it, scientists describe how the parasitoid wasp, Dinocampus coccinellae, is able to manipulate its host, the ladybug Coleomegilla maculata: it uses another parasite, a never-before seen RNA virus. Parasitoid wasps are some of the most fascinating parasites on Earth. As adults, they are free-living little wasps that go about their day much like other Hymenopterans. But when it comes time to lay their eggs, they do not make nests of paper or mud; instead, they lay their eggsinside another creature. The larvae hatch in their host, and proceed to eat the host alive from the inside before erupting from the body,Aliens-style. Not surprisingly, most … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology | Comments Off on Biological Warfare: Parasitic Wasp Uses A Virus To Control Its Host

UN agency, Swiss scientists team up to crunch genome data to increase animal health

Posted: Published on February 11th, 2015

10 February 2015 The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today that it is teaming up with a Swiss institute using computer technology to study biological data in combatting dangerous viral infections such as bird flu that strike animals but can also be transmitted to humans. Future joint initiatives include a genetic module for Rift Valley fever a viral disease that is potentially devastating to livestock and can also be transmitted to humans and African swine fever, FAO said in a press release. "The new technology helps us understand biological threats in order to help countries better prevent, respond and ultimately protect the health of humans, animals and the environment," said FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer, Juan Lubroth. FAO said it chose SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics as a designated reference centre to expand its access to state-of the-art technology. The Swiss institute, FAO said, is equipped with high performance computers, software, databases and a knowledgebase used for screening and monitoring animal diseases. These, like avian influenza, also known as bird flu, strike animals but can also be transmitted to humans. Working closely with FAO, SIB experts have developed tools to improve early detection and fast alert systems to … Continue reading →

Posted in BioInformatics | Comments Off on UN agency, Swiss scientists team up to crunch genome data to increase animal health

Celebrate Valentines Day with Color Changing Flowers

Posted: Published on February 11th, 2015

Wouldnt it be great if you could break the mold and give your special someone something other than Roses for Valentines Day? Research being done atRevolution Bioengineeringmay allow you to do just that. Revolution Bioengineering is a new biotech company in Fort Collins, CO that is working on building aPetunia Circadia, a flower that changes color throughout the day. The petunia will be developed using synthetic biology. There are exciting opportunities available right now in horticulture and floriculture to develop GM flowers, said Dr. Nickolai Braun, member of the Revolution Bioengineering Team. Developing consumer biotechnology for the average consumer (80 million US households garden, ~70% of USA) allows people to become more familiar with this technology. In arecent press release,Dr. Braun outlined the science behind the project -Plants have circadian rhythms: cyclical expression ofgenes throughout the day. This allows them to start photosynthesis when the sun comes up or releasefragrance in the evening when their pollinators are active. Petunia Circadia will harness this internal clock to regulate flower color, resulting in a flower that changes color over approximately twelve hours. In a recent interviewwith the Silicon Republic, Keira Havens,CEO of Revolution Bioengineering, stated It is their hope that once they … Continue reading →

Posted in BioEngineering | Comments Off on Celebrate Valentines Day with Color Changing Flowers

Grey's Anatomy – Season 11 Episode 11 Promo – This Episode Is Why You Love Grey's – Video

Posted: Published on February 11th, 2015

Grey's Anatomy - Season 11 Episode 11 Promo - This Episode Is Why You Love Grey's Next week's episode has all the heartfelt emotions you feel about Grey's Anatomy. Subscribe: http://goo.gl/mo7HqT For more Grey's Anatomy: http://facebook.co... By: ABC Television Network … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy | Comments Off on Grey's Anatomy – Season 11 Episode 11 Promo – This Episode Is Why You Love Grey's – Video

Ballet 422 Movie | Anatomy of a Scene | The New York Times – Video

Posted: Published on February 11th, 2015

Ballet 422 Movie | Anatomy of a Scene | The New York Times The director Jody Lee Lipes narrates a sequence from his documentary Ballet 422, about the choreographer Justin Peck staging a new dance for New York City ... By: The New York Times … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy | Comments Off on Ballet 422 Movie | Anatomy of a Scene | The New York Times – Video

Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions, Second Edition – Video

Posted: Published on February 11th, 2015

Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions, Second Edition Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professionals, Second Edition provides an engaging and comprehensive overview of human anatomy and physiology, written spec... By: jblearning … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy | Comments Off on Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions, Second Edition – Video

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant | Animation Video – Video

Posted: Published on February 10th, 2015

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant | Animation Video Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant | Animation Video This video provides extensive details on allogeneic stem cell transplants. A procedure that provides the cancer patient with healthy stem... By: Medical.Animation.Videos.Library … Continue reading →

Posted in Stem Cell Transplant | Comments Off on Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant | Animation Video – Video

Donor telomere length and survival after hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with severe aplastic anemia

Posted: Published on February 10th, 2015

NCI News Note A new NCI study has found that, among patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) who received a hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) from an unrelated donor, those whose donor white blood cells had longer telomeres had higher survival rates five-years after transplantation than those whose donor white blood cells had shorter telomeres. By contrast, the length of telomeres in a patients own white blood cells, as measured before transplantation, was not associated with survival. SAA, a disease in which the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells, can occur at any age but is most common in young adults; in HCT, donor blood or marrow stem cells, which are cells that give rise to other blood cells, are given to patients by intravenous infusion. Telomeres are complex structures on the ends of chromosomes that help maintain chromosome integrity. They shorten naturally as people age. Telomere length has been implicated in the development of several cancers, as well as other health conditions. This study was the first to evaluate donor cell telomere length and outcomes after HCT in SAA. It appeared February 10, 2015, in JAMA. Although survival of patients with SAA who have received an HCT has … Continue reading →

Posted in Stem Cell Transplant | Comments Off on Donor telomere length and survival after hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with severe aplastic anemia

World hails UK vote on three-person embryos

Posted: Published on February 10th, 2015

Ted Horowitz/Corbis Three-person in vitro fertilization prevents women from passing on potentially harmful mutations in mitochondrial DNA. Following a 3 February vote in the UKHouse of Commons, the world may once again look to Britain to lead in fertility treatments, 37years after in vitro fertilization (IVF) was pioneered in the country. The vote lifts a ban on gene-altering fertilization techniques known as mitochondrial replacement, or three-person IVF, in which mitochondria the cells energy-processing structures from a donors egg cell contribute to a couples embryo. The procedures are intended to prevent the transmission of diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA. The vote, won by 382 in favour versus 128against, will still need to be confirmed by the House of Lords, which is widely expected to pass the law. Once approved, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), Britains fertility regulator, will be allowed to license clinics to carry out the procedures from October, although it could be some time before the first human trials begin. Many reproductive biologists see this as a step that will affect the field on a global scale. Weve been hoping that the UK will take the lead, says Shoukhrat Mitalipov, a stem-cell scientist at Oregon … Continue reading →

Posted in Stem Cell Human Trials | Comments Off on World hails UK vote on three-person embryos

Hoping for a cure

Posted: Published on February 10th, 2015

John Wyse, a shellfish farmer and father of three from Nanaimo, has not been able to work due to deteriorating health from a rare form of multiple sclerosis. image credit: CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin John Wyse, 40, a Nanaimo father of three, is in a race against the progression of his disease. Wyse was diagnosed in 2010 with primary progressive multiple sclerosis and hopes to receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation treatment at the Hassadah Medical Centre in Israel. Multiple sclerosis affects the brain and spinal cord by causing inflammation that damages myelin the protective covering of the nerves and disrupts nerve impulses, giving rise to symptoms that include extreme fatigue, weakness, lack of coordination, impaired sensation, vision and bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes. What causes MS is unknown, but its thought to be an autoimmune disorder causing the bodys immune system to attack healthy tissue. Patients suffer repeating cycles of advancing deterioration followed by periods of remission in all forms of MS except for the primary progressive variant of the disease, which progresses without remission and is the only form of MS for which there are no conventional drugs or treatments available. Research into stem cell transplantation therapy … Continue reading →

Comments Off on Hoping for a cure

Page 2,612«..1020..2,6112,6122,6132,614..2,6202,630..»