Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The Wheel of Synthetic Life
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/rapidpdf/science.1190719v1.pdf
Did Venter's lab create life? The short answer: NO
As Venter himself says: We've created the first synthetic cell -- we used a recipient cell to boot up the synthetic chromosome." In other words they created a synthetic DNA molecule (as illustrated in the diagram above), almost identical to the previous one but with some hallmark sequences to identify it.
However Venter did play to the media by saying: "It's the first self-replicating cell on the planet that's parent is a computer", referring to the fact that his team converted a cell's genome that existed as data on a computer into a living organism.
Members of the public will be alarmed by their understanding that: Life has been created in the lab and that Frankenstein organisms will escape and endanger our planet.
The experiments by Venter are a technological and scientific milestone but pose no greater danger than other experiments in biology.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
I, virus: Why you're only half (or less) human
Depending on how you do the sums (DNA sequences) and whether you consider 'junk DNA' as being of viral origin -- the human genes account for 1,5 per cent of the entire genome while the DNA derived from viruses amounts to 9 per cent.
Not only that, the major genes required for placental development are of viral origin -- retrovirus-like genes. Some are required for immunosuppression during pregnancy -- preventing the foetus from being attacked by the mother's immune system. For more, read the NewScientist article: Click here
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Lady's Choice
The kind of a mate a woman choses -- does it have any evolutionary consequences? Read on..
The DNA sequence of the chimp (our closet relative) and man have been compared - and as expected (by some) there was very little difference. But it is interesting that there were small differences in the regions responsible for brain activity and sexual development. This was attributed to selective choices made by females -- the brains and balls combination being preferred. Interesting idea, but is there any evidence?
Recently a publication looking at the inheritance of the Y chromosome in neolithic European paternal lineages PLOSBiology, supports the view that 'woman's choice' was a major factor. Here in the words of the author:
"Much debate has focused on the origins of agriculture in Europe some 10,000 years ago, and in particular whether its westerly spread from the Near East was driven by farmers themselves migrating, or by the transmission of ideas and technologies to indigenous hunter-gatherers. This study examines the diversity of the paternally inherited Y chromosome, focusing on the commonest lineage in Europe. The distribution of this lineage, the diversity within it, and estimates of its age all suggest that it spread with farming from the Near East. Taken with evidence on the origins of other lineages, this indicates that most European Y chromosomes descend from Near Eastern farmers. In contrast, most maternal lineages descend from hunter-gatherers, suggesting a reproductive advantage for farming males over indigenous hunter-gatherer males during the cultural transition from hunting-gathering to farming."
Monday, January 11, 2010
Is Sharing like 'Gifting'?
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It's not what you give, it's what your gift says about you that counts. (Image: George Eastmant House /Hulton /Getty)
Alan Cann in a recent blog asked the rhetorical question: Why would I want to share? -- it was asked in the educational context of students/academics sharing their work. This reminded me of a NewScientist article by Geoffrey Miller about what really motivates some of us to flash our cash. It would seem this behaviour "is engendered by motives of costly signalling to display our personal qualities to potential mates and other social partners"
Is sharing a 'display' -- like the peacock' tail -- a behaviour shaped over aeons of evolution to attract potential friends and more importantly - mates? Is sharing on Facebook a prime example of this?
Therefore: why would I want to share? To make friends and influence people (make some whuffie) and 'to pull in the birds'.
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