Scientists decode marsupial's genome, find much in common with humans
Daily Telegraph (UK) Nov 18, 08 4:26 PM CST
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The kangaroo genome has much in common with that of humans, the Telegraph reports. Scientists in Australia, under the auspices of the Centre of Excellence for Kangaroo Genomics, have completed mapping the marsupial’s genetic code. “There are a few differences, we have a few more of this, a few less of that,” one researcher said, “but they are the same genes and a lot of them are in the same order.”
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Human trials set next year
Reuters Nov 10, 08 4:02 AM CST
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A promising new treatment for AIDS may be in the works, with the discovery that genetically engineered immune cells can detect and destroy HIV even when the virus tries to hide by mutating. The so-called “assassin” cells, created from the T-cells of an HIV patient, have worked their magic in a lab dish but have yet to be tested in humans, Reuters reports.
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Brain scans show agressors feel reward watching others suffer
Reuters Nov 7, 08 12:33 PM CST
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Bullies appear to enjoy seeing other people in pain, Reuters reports. Researchers in Chicago took brain scans of two sample groups of teens while showing them videos of one person hurting another. When showed violence, one group of teens, who were diagnosed with aggressive-conduct disorder and had recently attacked schoolmates, had consistent activity in the brain’s reward centers.
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B3 pills caused big improvement in mice; human trials to begin
Guardian (UK) Nov 5, 08 2:07 PM CST
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A simple dose of vitamin B3 may be one of the keys to combating the brain deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s disease, California scientists say. The team found that diseased mice given high levels of the vitamin retained normal memory ability over the four months of a study, and healthy mice actually improved their ability, reports the Guardian .
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Mexican salamander suffers in polluted canals and lagoons
Associated Press Nov 2, 08 6:18 PM CST
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Mexico’s “water monster"—a mere foot long but once central to the Aztec legend and diet—is close to dying out, the AP reports. Axolotls have long endured in the polluted Venice-like canals of Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City, but baby-gobbling fish and ebbing water quality are killing them off. Scientists are in a rush to save them, but can't agree on how.
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Experts caution that dysfunction is relative, say 12% bothered is lower than thought
ABC News Oct 31, 08 2:28 PM CDT
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Just under half of the female population suffers from sex problems, ABC News reports. A new study found that 43% of its 32,000-women sample reported problems with low desire, arousal or difficulty with orgasms, but only 12% of women said such problems cause them personal anguish.
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Men who scarf their meals are 84% more likely to be obese; women even more so
BBC Oct 22, 08 12:52 PM CDT
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When your mom said to slow down and chew your food, she may have been more right than she knew: Speedy eating can double your risk of being overweight, according to a new study. Japanese scientists compared hundreds of food-savoring people to their sprinter counterparts, and found a striking correlation with weight, the BBC reports.
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House pets feel human worries; lab animals turn to high-fat treats
LiveScience Oct 17, 08 6:35 PM CDT
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Animals get stressed out just like humans, and they even cope anthropomorphically, binging on sweet, fatty foods, LiveScience reports. What’s more, animals can read our misgivings and take on that stress themselves. “The more intelligent an animal is, the more psychological stress it can undergo,” one veterinarian said, though humans still take the prize for the most neurosis.
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Imaging shows brain quickly switches among tasks instead
NPR Oct 4, 08 9:33 AM CDT
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Pull your ears away from that cell phone: Multitasking is a myth. New research shows we can’t really concentrate on two things at once; rather, the executive functions of the brain sweep quickly between multiple tasks. It’s thought that survival and the hunt made this rapid refocusing of attention an evolutionary boon. NPR checked in with researchers studying the phenomenon.
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Virus, used in mice, repurposes adult cells with no risk of cancer
Boston Globe Sep 26, 08 3:34 PM CDT
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Scientists have discovered a safer way to turn adult cells into stem cells, the Boston Globe reports. The cells, similar to those harvested from embryos, are called induced pluripotent stem, or iPS, cells; Japanese researchers introduced the method 2 years ago. But the Japanese used retroviruses, which can cause cancer; the new research uses a different virus, which is safe.
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MIT scientists stumbled onto workaround for misfiring brain system
NPR Sep 24, 08 12:50 PM CDT
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MIT scientists have discovered one of the mechanisms of Fragile X Syndrome, one cause of autism, and are developing drugs to treat it, NPR reports. The disorder, triggered by a genetic mutation, interferes with the normal links between brain cells, making those networks something like a car without a brakes. The new drugs limit acceleration, and have been successful in mice.
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New research center studies the effects of concussions
New York Times Sep 24, 08 2:52 AM CDT
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A dozen athletes have agreed to donate their brains to a new research project that will study them for the long-term effects of concussions, the New York Times reports. The Boston University center has already examined the brains of six deceased NFL players, finding brain damage in five cases. Former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson said he hopes donating his brain will help clarify debate.
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Scientists use deep-diving creatures for Antarctic research
Popular Mechanics Aug 17, 08 1:29 PM CDT
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Giant seals living in the chilly waters of Antarctica are helping researchers gather important data on climate change, reports Popular Mechanics . The elephant seals, tagged with hat-like sensors, make frequent dives deep into the Southern Ocean and surface with valuable details about water temperature and salinity. The dense waters of Antarctica drive ocean circulation around the planet.
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