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
A Prehistoric Plumage Palette: Discovering the Colors of Dinosaur Feathers
— Few things are universal throughout our culture, but a fascination with dinosaurs comes close. Whether it comes from a childhood visit to a natural history museum or that first appearance of Brachiosaurus towering overhead in Spielberg’s 1993 film, Jurassic Park, almost everyone shares a sense of awe at the notion that such great and massive creatures once roamed the earth. We also share in the curiosity about what they were really like. Many artists have created their own interpretations of the physical forms of dinosaurs – but like life itself, those interpretations have evolved over time. Continue reading A Prehistoric Plumage Palette: Discovering the Colors of Dinosaur Feathers
The Higgs Boson Hoopla Explained
— All scientists are driven to explain how and why things are the way they are. The differences among the various scientific disciplines lie in the scale and location at which we choose to investigate these basic questions. Two of the most fundamental questions one could ask about matter – anything that takes up space and has mass – are: “What is matter made of?” and “Why does matter have mass?” It is very rare nowadays to see a scientific discovery that helps answer questions as fundamental as these, which is why the July 4th announcement that scientists at the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) had discovered a new particle that behaved like the Higgs boson was such a big deal – it represents a step toward a more complete understanding of the universe. Continue reading The Higgs Boson Hoopla Explained
The Human Microbiome Project: the large effects of small inhabitants
— The Human Microbiome Project (HMP). If asked what it is, perhaps you would see that the name resembles that of the Human Genome Project and guess that it is a large effort devoted to some sort of DNA sequencing involving humans. This is partially correct. Continue reading The Human Microbiome Project: the large effects of small inhabitants
Mapping Memories: Illuminating how the brain stores a memory
— Memory encompasses everything from thoughts of childhood friends to a mental list of what we need to pick up at the grocery store. It is essential for our sense of self, and allows us to learn from our previous experiences. In general, a memory is a piece of information stored in your brain, but the quality of this information and the length of storage time vary greatly. How memories are formed, and what causes us to forget, have long been topics of great interest in the field of neuroscience. Continue reading Mapping Memories: Illuminating how the brain stores a memory
Science at the Summer Olympics
— Behind every Olympic victory is an incredible amount of physics, biomechanics, and engineering. With the Olympic Games in full swing, let’s take a look at the science behind three of its most popular events: running, swimming and gymnastics. Continue reading Science at the Summer Olympics
Improving diagnostic testing for infectious diseases
Most visits to a doctor or hospital occur when a patient feels under the weather, but is unsure of the cause of the symptoms or the best way to treat them. For example, sniffles and a sore throat could be caused by seasonal allergies or the flu, each of which must be treated with different medications. In such cases, physicians rely on diagnostic tests to help them decide on the appropriate course of treatment.
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Laboratory-based flu evolution – dangerous or necessary?
— Two groups of scientists — one based in the Netherlands and the other in the United States — have carried out detailed studies on the experimental evolution of the A/H5N1 virus, more commonly known as the “bird flu”. Public health officials have documented at least 600 cases of humans infected by A/H5N1 since it was first reported in Hong Kong in 1997. Half of those infected were killed, a strikingly high mortality rate compared to most strains of the flu. While this mortality rate has garnered widespread media attention, the impact of A/H5N1 on humans has remained relatively small due to its inability to transmit efficiently from human to human. However, the virus is highly transmissible in some non-human animals, especially birds, and has caused large-scale epidemics in these animals. Continue reading Laboratory-based flu evolution – dangerous or necessary?