Love Swans

Big Love: Monogamy and Promiscuity in the Animal Kingdom

Presented by Alexis Harrison, Emily Kay, and Emily Jacobs-Palmer The subject of promiscuity is rampant in the news. It appears in a social context – an affair can take down the campaign of a presidential candidate – and in a scientific one, as when theoreticians speculate on the evolutionary underpinnings of our relationship choices. As humans, we are the “monkey in the middle,” promiscuity-wise: our … Continue reading Big Love: Monogamy and Promiscuity in the Animal Kingdom

Broken genes: the role of DNA repair in preventing cancer

Presented by Jacob Sargent, Ben Morris, and Thomas Graham DNA serves as the blueprint for all living organisms on earth, but unlike most blueprints, DNA is constantly being damaged and repaired. Factors such as UV light from the sun and chemicals in cigarette smoke damage our DNA daily. Luckily, our cells contain intricate molecular machines that repair DNA damage. These DNA repair machines occasionally make … Continue reading Broken genes: the role of DNA repair in preventing cancer

An Anti-Cancer Drug with Male Contraceptive Properties

— A 2011 study in the United States reported that 49% of pregnancies were unintended in 2006 []. Across the globe, this type of trend has contributed directly to maternal mortality, as well as the ethical, social, and financial costs associated with abortions and deliveries to single mothers. The high rate of unplanned pregnancies, especially in teenagers, is, in part, due to the lack of contraceptive alternatives for men. Male contraceptive options are limited, at best, with the most prominent and widespread options being condom-use and vasectomies. An effective male contraceptive would undoubtedly help to reduce unplanned pregnancies. Surveys conducted around the world have indicated that, whatever the setting, at least 25% of men would consider using drug-based contraception, even if it meant affecting their own hormone levels []. Researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have designed a small molecule that dramatically reduces the generation of viable sperm, without affecting hormone levels, potentially providing a new way for men to combat unplanned pregnancy. Continue reading An Anti-Cancer Drug with Male Contraceptive Properties

Slow and Steady Wins the Development Race

— Try the training regimen of an Olympic athlete for a few days and two things will likely happen: you will be physically unable to complete the tasks and it will hurt, a lot. That’s because, as you overexert your muscles, they will tell your brain that it’s simply not possible to do what you want them to do and that, if you keep doing it, you will be in pain. There is no alternative path between your muscle cells and nerve cells that could send your brain a different message. But that wasn’t always the case. At the very beginning of life, our brains contain many possible connections between neurons and connecting cells. Continue reading Slow and Steady Wins the Development Race