Research Team Cracks Genetic Code for the New Swine Flu Strain

The recent swine flu endemic has caused chaos among the world's population. It has appeared in the US, Canada, Spain, New Zealand, France and very recent cases have been reported in Australia also. This virus first emerged in Mexico one month ago and is now proliferating at an uncontrollable rate. Swine flu has been around for years but this is the new strain of H1N1 swine flu which enables the virus to spread from human to human with ease. The World Health Organisation has issued a pandemic alert in order to caution countries to prepare for the effects of this new flu.
However, scientists from the US Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia have essentially identified the specific genetic code of the virus. It is claimed that this full genome sequence consists of a mix of swine, human and avian strains of H1N1 influenza. This new strain of virus came from the reassortment of genetic material, which usually occurs when an animal is infected with multiple viruses simultaneously. Hopefully this insight into the makeup of the viruse's genome will indicate whether the current influenza vaccines will be effective against the swine flu, and if not that, it will provide the basis for the synthesis of new vaccines.

Identification Of Key Proteins Needed For Ovulation

Two proteins essential for ovulation to take place have been identified in rats by researchers form the National Institutes of Health. The finding has implications for treating infertility resulting from a failure of ovulation to occur as well as for developing new means to prevent pregnancy by preventing the release of the egg.

In the study, the researchers observed that the release of molecules known as extracellular-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK 1 and ERK 2) are signaled by a hormone called luteinizing. In turn, these molecules trigger a chain of chemical sequences that bring about the release of the egg, the transformation of granulosa cells into luteal cells, and the production of progesterone.

To conduct the study, Dr. Richards and her colleagues used mice that lacked the genes needed to produce ERK1 and ERK2. The ovaries of these mice still produced eggs, but did not release them after exposure to luteinizing hormone. Also, the granulosa cells did not transform into luteal cells and begin producing progesterone, the normal course of events when the two genes are present. In contrast, mice with working versions of the genes for ERK1 and ERK 2 were fertile.

To date, no other genes have been discovered that are essential to both ovulation and the conversion of the other cells to progesterone producers, according to Dr. Richards. An important role of the ERK1 and ERK2, she said, appears to be to stop the granulosa cells from growing, so that they take on their final role of producing progesterone.

Source:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150249.php

Picture:
http://dustanddreams.blogspot.com/2008/05/six-pregnant-women.html

Common autism gene found

Common autism gene found

Autism is a behaviour disorder in infants, caused by non genetic (environmental factors such as toxic exposure and prenatal infections) and/or genetic inheritance. Autism conditions vary a lot, with cases of severity ranging from severe mental retardation to students with an above average IQ, despite impaired language and social skills. Autism has been known to be more common in males than females. For example, Fragile X Syndrome is an X-linked genetic disorder that affects approximately 1/4000 males and 1/8000 females. It is the most common cause of mental retardation, caused by repeats of the codon CGG in the FMR1 gene, which codes the fragile X mental retardation protein.
Although autism has long been linked to genetic causes, researchers have not yet found out how much it contributes to autism, probably because of its high variability. New research on the autism gene has found a common gene mutation present in up to 20% more in autistic children that may be responsible for about 12 to 18% of autism, which is far more than previously discovered. This gene mutation affects synapses in the brain, disrupting neuron signals during a child’s development. These abnormal brain connections cause social behaviour impairment symptomatic in autistic children. This evidence gives rise to the possibility that soon gene therapy may be able to fix the genetic defects that are causing autism. Researchers also believe that soon they can diagnose the genetic defect before babies develop autism and then be able to administer therapy.

Avdjieva-Tzavella, D. (2008). Genetic and non genetic aspects of autism spectrum disorders. Balkan Journal of Medical Genetics, 11(1), 4-5.
http://ten.com.au/video-player.htm?vxSiteId=cb519624-44a2-4bf7-808b-3514d34e96e4&vxChannel=Health
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/childrens-health/2009/04/28/what-the-autism-gene-finding-means-for-parents.html

student number: 42015116

Radiation resistant plants and Interplanetary Exploration

Scientists have known for decades the affects that the Chernobyl disaster had on humans and their pets. Recently however, they have extended this to plants and have made some fascinating discoveries.
They compared Soya bean plants in the fallout area to those hundreds of kilometres off. They discovered that those within the fallout area expressed higher levels of protein associated with resistance to heavy metal and radiation poisoning.
This has great importance to humans endeavour to populate other planets. In outer space there is far higher levels of radiation and it would seem that these Chernobyl plants could be the ideal choice to withstand such conditions. This is particularly important as the degradation of the Earths biosphere is increasing rapidly.
By Lachlan Harris.
Retrieved from...New Scientist Website, 17th May.

Brainy men may be healthier men

A research team at the King's College in London, lead by Rosalin Arden, have found that high intelligence may directly correlate to good health. A study conducted by the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in 1985 to 1986 found that, out of 3654 Vietnam War veterans, people with lower IQs had a higher likelihood of suffering and contracting dozens of diseases and health problems. Men with lower the IQ in the Vietnam War study, compared with men with higher intelligence, found that they had a higher risk of developing hernias, ear inflammation and cataracts. This offers evidence that intelligence and health are the product of common genetic factors. In addition, researchers also found that men with higher intelligence had healthier sperm.

These findings may just possibly simply be the result of a healthier, smarter choice of lifestyle, not the result of genetic mutation or adaptation. However in the study, the overall lifestyle fairly constant with most having a low BMI and a history of no smoking. They are now developing new ways to further test these theories and test whether the correlation between health and intelligence, that was implied in the study, may be genuine.