Discovery of an Enzyme May Help Create Better Biofuel

Article: http://www.news.wisc.edu/22033

Aug. 15, 2013 

This article describes how people thought they understood how plants created lignin, a compound that helps plants have structure.  Researchers discovered a gene in plants that helps create an enzyme that is key to lignin synthesis, or putting together lignin compounds.  John Ralph, a professor of biochemistry and biological systems engineering, said "This is the first new gene in the [lignin] pathway that's been discovered in ten years."  The enzyme caffeoyl, shikimate, esterase, or CSE that the gene produces is important in the creation of lignin.  When scientists grew mutant plants without the gene, the amount of lignin dropped by 36%.  If the plant has less lignin, then it would be easier to break down and therefore be a better biofuel.  By manipulating this gene, scientists will most likely be able to create a better biofuel than before.  

This relates to biology class because it shows how enzymes affect living organisms-- what we studied.        

Energy for Runnning

http://www.runningforfitness.org/book/chapter-7-eating-drinking-and-running/energy-while-running

Author: Owen Barder

Source: Running for Fitness Blog

Date: Dec 2013

This article explains how your body breaks down/burns energy for extended periods of strenuous exercise, like, in the case of the article the running a marathon.

Barder explains how, as we learned in class, our energy comes from three major macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, and sometimes proteins. Running, which is an aerobic activity, burns mostly carbohydrates and lipids. Low intensity running begins by burning mostly fat, but as the intensity goes up, so does the amount of carbohydrates burned. These two macromolecules do not store/burn energy in the same way though, which has led runners to develop strategy for storing and relaeasing energy in the most efficient way possible.  

Throughout the post, Barder discusses tips and strategies like “carbo-loading" which is where runners eat a lot of carbohydrates the night before a marathon so their stores of carbohydrates. He also explains the importance long, slow training runs which teach the body to rely on lipids for a longer period time of exercise instead of glycogen (a carbohydrate), a more limited source. He also discusses how and when to get energy during long runs in the context of the carbohydrate capacity of the blood. By using Barder's scientific strategies, runners can perform their best.

ribozymes

http://exploringorigins.org/ribozymes.html

This Article is about ribozymes. In class we have been studying enzymes and their application in the human body. Enzymes act as a catalyst. It allows for 2 substances to mix easier without affecting the output materials. There are tons of different types of enzymes and each one breaks down a different substance. The one similarity? They are all proteins. Proteins are building blocks in your body. They are the stuff that does stuff. Not all proteins are enzymes. Some proteins are muscles, or bones, or other organs. For a long time, scientists thought that proteins were the only thing that did applications in your body, but they were debunked by 2 scientists named Sidney Altman and Thomas Cech. These two proposed that ribosomes could break down other materials as well as proteins. These scientists found that some RNA as catalytic properties and can act like an enzyme. These were called Ribozymes.
Ribozymes aren't more powerful or more common than normal enzymes, but it's interesting how a ribosome, which is used to make proteins, actually can do some of the same stuff.

Cellular self-destruct has deep roots through evolution

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141016192824.htm

Date: October 16th 2014
Source: Molecular Biology and Evolution (Oxford University Press)

       This article explains the importance of the the protein caspase-8, a protein responsible for triggering the death of a cell in a process known as apoptosis.

       The researchers had taken the protein and triggered it in a variety of animals, the protein had triggered the elaborate death pattern in all of the tests, mammals and non-mammals The protein can be triggered in any animal in the animal kingdom. This shows how the protein functions universally through the evolutionary pathway. It turns out that this protein is important in evolution because it allowed animals to get rid of sick, inefficient or dangerous cells, It also reacts with another protein called FADD. The key protein reaction produced can be observed throughout the animal kingdom too.

      This relates to what we learned in class by covering how animal cells evolved to work the way they do, and shows more detail on how animal cells function.

Nobel Prize in Medicine Recognizes Achievements in Cellular Transport

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2013/press.html

Date: October 7th 2013
Source: Nobelprize.org
             
                  This article shows the study of this year's Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine. The scientists, James Rothman, 62, Randy Schekman, 64, and Thomas Sudhof, 57, "Have discovered the mystery of how cells organize their transport system".
                    They learned about how cells keep track of and regulate the vesicles that are in charge of the system. They studied how cargo is moved around in a cell, and how traffic "congestion" is caused by mutated genes and basically leads to buildup of vesicles in certain areas. Also, the nature of the transport system which talks about the fusing of protein molecules to target membranes, and the specific combinations of these fusions. One particular scientist investigated how cells communicate with each other with signals, and realized that everything was very controlled and precise and timing was very important. They also used the information they gathered to benefit disease research for neurological and immunological diseases as well as diabetes and how without the cells intricate transport system the cell would collapse.The three scientists did most of this work separately, but each in turn helped the others.
                       This pertains to our study of cells in class, but it dives further into the complexity of how cells work and are so self sufficient.

Biodiversity in Balance, How is it Maintained?

Link: sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140903162635.htm

Date:September 3, 2014
Source:International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

Anna Rychlik

    This article is about new studies on biodiversity that ask "what relating to biodiversity exactly do we need to protect? The article writes that even though we are taught in biology that 2 species cannot occupy the same niche(what we learned in class), this is not true. It gives an example by talking about 2 fish in the Baltic sea that survive in the same niche. 
    It explains the possibility for this with a theory called "Relative Nonlinearity of Competition" that explains that 2 species can occupy the same niche because of how the 2 species react differently to density dependent, density independent, and other limiting factors found in nature. 
    If this theory would prove true, it would completely disprove and contradict everything we learned about biodiversity in our unit on ecology. 

Stem Cell Breakthrough for 'Cinderella Cells'

Author: David McNamee
Published: August 27th, 2014

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/281557.php


In this article, the author, David McNamee, talks about how scientists have recently discovered a new way to create the cells that make up the spinal cord, muscles, and the skeleton. Before, they used stem cells to grow these cells. However, these cells that are developed from stem cells are not very accurate, because they do not occur naturally. Fortunately, scientists have found a much better way to achieve this goal. The cells of bone, tissue, and nerves are formed by specific cells, called neuro-mesodermal progenitors. Although they have been discovered for over 100 years, these NMPs have just recently been realized as crucial for the development of spinal cells. After this, scientists immediately started to try to find a way to create them, and now, they have. With this new discovery, a great leap has been taken toward creating spinal cells, something that has been eluding science for years.

This article relates to our textbook because it gives an example of a way that cells can be used to replace damaged cells in order for an organism to continue to function properly. Being able to create the cells that make up parts of our body is important because when the cells of these organs get damaged, we can replace them with fresh, healthy cells to keep our bodies working properly. Our textbook also explains this on page 180.

Repeated Evolution in Nicaraguan Fish

Date:

October 28, 2014

Source:

University of Konstanz

Student: Logan Penney

Article url: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141028082353.htm

Summary: 

This article is about a type of Nicaraguan fish called the cichild. What the interesting thing is about these fish is that they live in completely isolated little lakes called crater lakes. Over 10,000 years ago they were a single species, but since then have been separated into similar environments. Even though they had no contact with each other in over 10,000 years since they have been separated they have evolved many similar characteristics. The interesting thing is that even after all that time apart they have evolved much to the same extent. In a Konstanz university study the found proof that shows that evolution of a species can be repeated going against many other theories that state that each species evolution is unique.

Relevance:

 The relevance of this story to our unit is the evolution as well as the biodiversity. This story is proving that cells and cell structures when in similar conditions can change in very similar ways. It also kind of goes against they way people like to think of how life started. People believe that one single organism has evolved into all others. But this finding might suggest that this might not necessarily be true and it would have taken several different life forms to create all the biodiversity on earth. Because with only one they think that it would have evolved very similarly and would have repeated its self.

 

 

Lizard Stowaway Revise Principle of Ecology

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lizard-stowaways-revise-principle-of-ecology/

Lizard Stowaway Revise Principle of Ecology

Emily Singer

10 October 2014

By mapping out the locations of exotic lizards in the Caribbean, a team of scientists have changed the theory of  island bio geography.  The old theory was that size and distance from the mainland were the two most influential factors of biodiversity on an island.This is because there are only two ways for a new species to integrate into  an ecosystem, either through migration or long term development (evolution). Since larger islands have more habits for species to both arise from and for immigrating species to survive in,  geographical size has been a key factor in predicting the richness of species. The second key factor from the old theory was the island's distance from the mainland. This is because the only way to get species on an island other than by long term development, is for the species to migrate to the island. This migration is very rare, and the only way for some animal species to get across the vast distance of water is by traveling on the odd log or other raft type thing between islands. But by mapping out the location of exotic lizards in the Caribbean however, the team noticed that trade is now the best indicator of an island's biodiversity. Stowaways lizards have been carried and established all around the Caribbean unintentionally on large trade vessels. This provide a third way for new species to arrive on an island, human trade. This new key factor is much more important than the geographical size and location of the island, as shown by mapping lizard species in the Caribbean.

This relates to this term's study of ecology and invasive species, as it discusses how animals (lizards) migrate and integrate into ecosystems, and the role humans play in that process.

Man’s Genome From 45,000 Years Ago Is Reconstructed

Article URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/23/science/research-humans-interbred-with-neanderthals.html?src=mv

Source: The New York Times

Date Published: Oct, 22 2014

        Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany have discovered the oldest known human genome on Earth. The genome was from a man who lived 45,000 years ago and was taken from a fossilized thighbone found in Siberia. Scientists at the Institute have found signs that show early humans bred with neanderthals, leading to the discovery of one more step on our (Homo sapiens sapiens) evolutionary path. The man's genetic information contained pieces of DNA which, by examining how fragmented they were, showed when humans bred with neanderthals. The answer? Around 50-60,000 years ago. The reason for this sudden breakthrough is that the team in Germany was perfecting their technique for stitching DNA together for examination and further analysis of timeframes and such. The fossil itself was found in 2008 by a fossil collector looking for mammoth tusks in Siberia. Upon discovering the thighbone, he sent it to Russian authorities, who identified it as human. It was then carbon dated at Oxford, and sent to the team in Germany. There are two main discoveries to take away from this article. 1. Early humans bred with neanderthals.

2. We now have the capacity to piece together ancient DNA from small viable samples, such as well-preserved fossils.

        This article relates to our studies in biology in multiple ways. It is extremely related to organic chemistry, which goes into the nitty-gritty of how the DNA extraction, restitching, and analysis might take place. We also learned about nucleic acids/nucleotides, the key component in DNA that makes up its coded genetic information. This also applies to our studies of ecology, in part because we can analyze his DNA to figure out biotic/abiotic factors that modified it. Studies have shown that environment can impact genetic information. Knowing what conditions may have been like for early humans/neanderthals may give us more insight into our evolution and biological history as a species.

Humanity's 'inexorable' population growth is so rapid that even a global catastrophe wouldn't stop it

Article URL: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/humanitys-inexorable-population-growth-is-so-rapid-that-even-global-catastrophe-wouldnt-stop-it-9821601.html

Source: The Independent

Date Published: Oct, 26 2014

Professor Corey Bradshaw of the University of Adelaide and Professor Barry Brook of the University of Tasmania who are two renown ecologists that usually study the wild animal populations state that the number of people on Earth today present a daunting problem for sustainable living on Earth in the 22nd century and so on. Various measurements have been taking in account to try to reduce population. A one child policy for the whole world would still keep the population at 7 billion. Not even a catastrophe like a huge disaster or a world war III can even stop the growth. So far, there aren't any specific limiting factors to the humans yet. Professor Bradshaw says that the human population growth today "is like a race car traveling at 150 miles per hour." The population is expected to be at 9 billion people by 2050 and 25 billion by 2100. Anyways, fertility control in rapid growing areas will eventually have an impact on reducing the pressure on limited resources leading to more resources for the booming population. Overall, there isn't any quick solution in reducing the population. But there is potential to see some positive side effects in population control.

This article relates to our unit of ecology in terms of population growth. Population growth has been rising so exponentially ever since the 20th century. The population could even go up to 9 billion in 2050 and 21 billion in 2100. The possible ways of trying to reduce the population mentioned in this article have no possible way to reduce the large human population. In class, we discussed that human population has been rapidly growing since less wars and technology like medicines have improved to the degree that can sustain longer lives to humans. That way, there aren't many limiting factors for humans to be concerned of. Since a catastrophic event nor a one child policy can stop population growth, fertility control is one way that can gradually sustain a large human population on Earth. There is no imminent solution to this growing population issue.

A Chronicler of Warnings Denied; Naomi Oreskes Imagines the Future History of Climate Change

Source: The New York Times
Author: Claudia Dreifus, October 27, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/science/naomi-oreskes-imagines-the-future-history-of-climate-change.html?ref=science&_r=0

     Naomi Oreskes is a historian at Harvard University, as well as a geologist. When she took the plunge into climate change, she wasn't aware of the splash she would make. In the beginning, Naomi had believed like most of America in 2004 that the facts pertaining to climate change were inconclusive. The way the data and articles had led her and most of America to believe that not all scientists were convinced of climate change, let alone had definitive or any proof for that matter. However, while researching for a book on oceanography she looked at 1,000 articles published in a peer reviewed scientific literature in the past 10 years. Now, in the interview with Dreifus, she discovered that not a single scientist disagreed that the increase in global temperatures in the last 50 years was due to the increase in green house gasses.  She then published her findings in Science, which was titled "The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change," which gained a great amount of publicity, and even Al Gore mentioned it (with negative connotations).  Five years later, she ditched the oceanography book, and published a book on climate change with another scientist named Erik Conway.
     Now, Naomi says that the battle is not about science, but rather economics. When it comes down to it, most people can probably acknowledge the increased changes of the Earth, but if this threatens their money, then there is no argument really there. Money trumps change. However, Naomi says that today, more people are willing to deal with the problem, stating that 70-80% of the American public is ready to deal with this very real problem, politics now standing in the way. By the end of the interview, Oreskes speaks about how she thought we would have cut down in our intake of fossil fuels, but as we have, in fact increased, there are real challenges that lay ahead.

Surtsey and its Pioneer Species

The formation of Surtsey, a new island in Iceland shows how pioneer species operate

Article: http://volcanocafe.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/surtsey-the-birth-of-the-modern-world/

Date Published: Nov. 23rd, 2013

Author: Carl L'estrange

This article explains how the island on Surtsey came to be. Surtsey is an underwater volcano that surfaced in the 1960's just off the coast of Iceland. it was immediately studied as a prime example of land formation and also of pioneers species. Within a few years the first plants started to grow there, their seeds having been blown from the Icelandic mainland. Today, there are 69 different species of birds living there, and it has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

This article is relevant to the study of ecosystems because it provides a prime example of how pioneer species work, by showing how new land is quickly populate with organisms. In 50 years, Surtsey has become inhabited by plants and animals, and it a thriving ecosystem as developed, all because of the reproduction and spreading strategies of the different plants inhabiting the island. 

Migration of Whales

Migration of Whales
Article: http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/whale
Source: World Wildlife Fund
Date Published: September 18, 2014

Summary
            A great threat to whales is climate change. Due to the warming of oceans and loss of sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic, whales, such as the humpbacks, have began to migrate north. The affect of the warmth causes the plants and animals whales feed on to move or for there to be fewer plants and animals available. As the change in climate alters the seawater, winds and ocean currents, it causes whales to move to another region for food. Some whales have to migrate further than others, allowing less time to find food. The effect of these factors has lowered the reproductive rates of whales.

Relevance
            This relates to the study of ecology. The climate changes are not just to the ecosystems of whales but to the entire biosphere itself. Humans recently are blaming themselves for causing climate change, and have provided evidence that this belief is true. Climate change occurs because greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, become trapped in the atmosphere causing the temperature to rise. Therefore, this heats the oceans and melts ice, and the whales migrate.

Complex Life owes its existence to parasites?

Complex Life owes its existence to parasites?

Date: October 24, 2014

Source: Scientific American

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/life-unbounded/2014/10/24/complex-life-owes-its-existence-to-parasites/

The current theory as to how mitochondria developed in our cells is that a very long time ago, by some stroke of luck, a prokaryotic organisms merged together and developed into our complex cells. However, new research suggests a different theory may have occurred, where instead of two cells merging, the first mitochondria was a parasite. So a bacterium whose intention was to steal energy from the cell, ended up providing the energy for the cell. This is supported by research at the University of Virginia, where researchers studied the genetic relationships shared by mitochondria and different types of bacteria. Researchers tried to reconstruct the metabolic processes of the earliest mitochondria and their predecessors, and found that they were most likely to be mobile chemical energy parasites. This argument would make a lot of sense for parasites are found everywhere throughout nature, it can even be argued that Earth is dominated by parasites.

This article directly relates to our curriculum on two fronts, symbiotic relationships and the origin of life. During our ecology unit, we discussed symbiotic relationships, parasitism in particular, which is the relationship where one organism benefits and one is harmed, or in this case the other organism eventually benefits. In our current unit, cells, we recently discussed the origins of life and mitochondria, and we discussed the current theory, that prokaryotic bacteria merged into cells and developed into mitochondria, but not the theory put forth here.

When Predators Vanish, So Does the Ecosystem

Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/15/science/when-predators-vanish-so-does-the-ecosystem.html
Source: The New York Times

Author: Carl Zimmer

Date of Publication: May 15, 2014

An ecologist at Brown University, Mark Bertness, started studying salt marshes in New England in 1981. Now he has observed that the salt marshes are dying. In the place of lush green cordgrass is the bare ground. Salt marshes are very valuable because they shield coasts from flooding, pull pollutants from the water, and is a breeding area for many fish species. So, it is very important to find out what is causing the salt marshes to die off. Dr. Bertness has found an explanation for the decline of salt marshes. The cause is the act of fishing and crabbing. If the top predators of the salt marsh, such as striped bass and blue crabs, are repeatedly removed, then the predator population would significantly decrease. Therefore, the predator's prey species, particularly the ones that eat plants, thrive. For example, the marsh crabs eat the cordgrass of a salt marsh. If the population of the marsh crab grows, then more of the cordgrass is eaten. This causes the cordgrass to be completely wiped off . The size of the salt marsh would also decrease because the roots of the cordgrass provide as an anchor for the soil. Without the roots the salt marsh would erode, making it difficult for new plants to grow. In addition, Dr. Bertness surveyed healthy salt marshes to ones that were dying. He was able to observe that in the dying salt marshes, the there were more signs of marsh crabs eating the plants.

This topic relates to the ecosystem unit. It shows the connection of the predator and prey, and how one thing could lead to a decline of an ecosystem. It also shows that maintaining a good predator population is an important thing to keep in mind. Without any predators, the prey population would rapidly increase. In addition, there is a predator-prey relationship in this. The marsh crab is the predator because it is eating the cordgrass, which is the prey.

Magnetic Detector Identifies Single Protons

Article: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/magnetic-detector-identifies-single-protons

Scientists at IBM have created a way to scan single protons by using a technique similar to the MRI's found in hospitals: Radio waves are fired at positive hydrogen ions aligned to each other(in terms of spin) by massive magnetic fields. The ions absorb the radio waves and send it back at a different frequency, allowing scientists to measure the returned radio waves in order to determine the location of the ion. The scientists claim it is a big step towards being able to get in depth looks at viruses, proteins, and other objects of similar size.

With recent topics being molecular structure and proteins, as well as a lab practical in using microscopes, this article presents interesting new information. Perhaps one day, this technology could be considered commonplace in school science labs.

2014 Nobel Prize for the development of higher resolution microscopic technology

http://www.npr.org/2014/10/08/354511750/3-win-nobel-prize-in-chemistry

Source: NPR News
Date: October 8, 2014

        The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded this year's Nobel Prize in chemistry to Eric Betzig, William Moerner, and Stefan Hell for their "development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy". For a long time, the limit for maximum resolution was .2 micrometers, but using this technology, known as nanoscopy, you can see down to the molecule in living cells. This breakthrough allows them to study how these molecules function. The three scientists used this to further understand synapses between the brain and nerves, proteins related to Huntington's disease, and cell division inside embryos.
        This relates to our biochemistry unit because nanoscopy allows scientists to observe how molecules react and function in living cells. For example, this technology can be used to study the reaction between catalase and hydrogen peroxide with a higher resolution picture of how the molecules react.

Global boom in hydropower expected this decade

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141024082615.htm  

A boom in hydropower dam construction is underway, taking place for the most part in developing countries . While this boom is expected to increase the global electricity production from hydropower sources, it could potentially block off 20% of the last free-flowing rivers on Earth and become a serious threat to freshwater biodiversity. 

By blocking of these rivers with dams, the environment is affected as migration patterns are disrupted as well as the flow of nutrients and materials that the environments beyond the dam need.  By cutting off migration patterns, populations of animals such as fish will begin to decrease as less and less fish are able to reproduce.  The lack of certain organisms that have evolved into a food web could drastically affect the health of the system(Populations that served as prey could grow without check and threaten biodiversity, Predators could die out because of lack of food).  These threats to the biodiversity of these environments could lead to a collapse of ecosystems in the enviroments. 

Lab-Made Insulin-Secreting Cells

Article: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/41205/title/Lab-Made-Insulin-Secreting-Cells/
Source: Columbia University
Date Published: October 13, 2014

Scientists have recently claimed that they have created an insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cell. Though scientists have claimed to create the insulin cell, it is still far from achieving the clinical results that they are hoping for. However, it presents the idea that a cell treatment could help treat the diabetes. Melton said, "We are tired of curing mice… Most patients are sick of hearing that sometimes just around the corner: I sick of thinking things are just around the corner but I do believe in the big picture" (Melton). Other scientists are already trying to repress repeat Meltons experiment immediately, as they have all been waiting for a long time to make something bigger out of the result. Six steps are involved in the process. It involves chemicals, growth factors, it takes 40 days from embryonic or adult stem cells to mature into pancreatic beta cells. This process can create millions of insulin cells. Scientists are trying to re-create the work and are trying to find ways to scale the process. Thus they can create an effective theory.

This post is relevant to our current studies, because it involves cells. As we discussed in our class, as we take in glucose, most of it is passed through our liver. Want to go it has gone into the liver, it also produces something called insulin. The insulin floats around and the insulin receptors on the cells bring them through the cell membrane. This is called selective permeability. To be specific, the insulin could be carried into the cell by the channel proteins. Insulin needs channel proteins because unlike water, it cannot flip through the cell membrane on its own. It is too big.

Works Cited:

Grant, Bob. "Lab-Made Insulin-Secreting Cells." Columbia University. The Scientist. Web. 26 October 2014.

Once Considered Won, Battle Against Invasive Beetles Is Renewed

Source: NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/nyregion/thousands-of-trees-will-fall-in-a-renewed-battle-to-stop-a-beetle.html

Date Published: September 29, 2014

Summary

The Asian long horned beetle supposedly arrived in America in the 1980's, transported on ships before a regulation that required wood objects traveling to be heat treated and fumigated. They lay their eggs under a tree's bark, and the larvae grows there throughout the winter, destroying the insides as it eventually burrows out. This has killed up to 80,00 trees in the United States and has costed the government $236 million to combat so far since 1997. These beetles were thought to have been eradicated after destroying trees near New Jersey, and the battle was near won on Long Island. However this was not the case, as they started popping up again, revealing that the area they were in was double the original estimate. One positive is that adult beetles are terrible fliers, tending to stay in one place their whole life, allowing the majority of the beetle population to be more easily deduced than if they could spread out better. The combat against these beetles is still raging on, and the battle will be costly to once and for all weed out this invasive species.

This is relevant to the ecology unit, as this involves the problem of invasive species damaging native ones. One problem with invasive species, is the damaging and destroying property, which can be seen here as at a local cemetery, 80 trees alone were destroyed by these pests. It also shows that containing and controlling these pests is very difficult, as the previously thought to be won battle lasted over a decade, and cost over 100 million dollars.

Heart Drug Might Prevent ALS

Source: Washington University School of Medicine
Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141026195413.htm
Date Published: October 26, 2014

Summary
As many people now know, the ALS is a disease that slowly paralyzes the person who has it. Scientifically, it kills the nerve cells that control muscles. Lou Gehrig's disease, known as ALS, leads to the inability to move your body and eventually, the difficulty of breathing and swallowing leads to death. However, digoxin, a medication that is used during heart failure, is being tested to see if it is adaptable to treat ALS. In mice, scientists have discovered that when they reduce the activities of enzymes or limited the reproduction of enzymes, the killing of the nerve cells stopped. The enzyme is found to maintain the proper balance of sodium and potassium in cells. The scientists are still undergoing the research in order to find the cure of the Lou Gehrig's disease.

Relevance
This topic is relevant to what our class learned because of the enzymes. We recently learned what enzymes are and what they do in chemical reactions. This topic involve biochemistry because it also has to do with cells. The title engrossed me as soon as I came across it because I know that many people are struggling and donating so that the patients can be cured. I did not know that what the scientists were researching had to do with enzymes and the cellular functions. Enzymes have specific functions and this enzyme has to do with something with the killing of the nerve cells. Biochemistry is very important and this discovery just might save thousands of people.

Cell Membranes Self-Assemble

 

 Cell Membranes Self-Assemble

Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141027100457.htm

Source: University of California

Date Published: October 27, 2014

Summary

Neal Devaraj, a biochemistry and chemistry professor at University of California, leads a team that researches different reactions that form membranes. Recently, they have described a new and unique reaction that uses a process called native chemical ligation to form phospholipid membranes without using enzymes. This is the first time Devaraj has observed membranes forming on their own which is very different from natural membranes, which rely on enzymes. This reaction could be used to study biomolecules in artificial cells or to deliver drugs into the body because it is nontoxic.

Relevance

This article relates to topics we have studied in biology in two major ways. The first connection is the topic of enzymes. We learned that enzymes perform as catalysts, substances that speed up chemical reactions. Secondly, the reaction described in the article assembles phospholipid membranes. We have learned that cell membranes are constructed of a phospholipid bilayer, a two-layer "sandwich" of phospholipids, in which the hydrophilic phosphate heads face towards the outside and inside of the cell and the hydrophobic lipid tails are sandwiched in between to stop any molecules besides ions from diffusing into the cell.

Southern Birds moving north

Southern birds are moving to the north in the winter
https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/wild-things/southern-birds-may-be-moving-your-winter-backyard?tgt=nr

Because of the higher temperatures around the world due to climate change, southern birds that generally prefer warmer temperatures, like cardinals, are migrating further and further north. Researchers studied FeederWatch data of 38 species over a span of 22 years, from 1989 to 2011, as well as average temperatures, during the months of December, January, and February. They found that on average, over the 22 years, average temperatures went up, and many birds started moving north. What's more surprising is that many birds accustomed to living in the south started migrating north as well.

This relates to our study of ecology, as well as our study of pseudoscience. This is evidence for climate change, which will affect almost all ecosystems within our biosphere. Climate change is the idea that the global temperature has been increasing unnaturally recently because of humans, and there is a lot of evidence to support this. Birds travelling north is simply another piece of evidence to support climate change. We also studied climate change in the context of pseudoscience. We determined that deniers of climate change were using pseudoscience to support their claims, and again, this confirms the supporter's theory of climate change.

Cells from a mans nose made him able to walk again

Source: Discovery News 

Published: October 23, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELIHboG8PZs&list=UUzWQYUVCpZqtN93H8RR44Qw

                A man who was stabbed suffered injuries to the spin. When the spin is injured badly Glial scars form. These scars prohibit the growth of new nerve fibers, these fibers are known as axons. Without nerve fibers signals can't be passed to the brain. The man lost use of his lower body including his legs. The doctors took Olfactory Ensheathing Glia which stimulate the growth of axon in your nose and put them in the damaged spot in the mans spin. After six months of extreme physical therapy the man can now walk using leg braces and parallel bars. The process in not quick but hopefully over time the availability of this exchange of cell will be more common and will change the life of many more people with nerve damage. This video directly relates to the cell unit we are studying in class. This cell research reminds me stem cell research. The also reminds me of the evolution of cells and hot these cells in your back and nose must be very similar.

In East Coast Marshes, Goats Take on a Notorious Invader

URL: http://e360.yale.edu/digest/in_east_coast_marshes_goats_take_on_a_notorious_invader/4281/
Author: Crystal Gammon
Source: Yale Environment 360
Date Published: 22 October 2014

Phragmites australis is an invasive reed that grows along eastern U.S. and Canada. They crowd out native species and when they die, they leave behind a thick layer of dead biomass. A few ideas to control this invasive species included herbicides and sometimes, bulldozers. However, new research concluded a better solution, goats. In an experiment, goats were able to reduce the size of Phragmites australis by 80 percent in a few weeks. Although, goats have been eating invasive species for a while, it is only now that goats would be used, purposely, as a means of controlling an invasive species' population.

This article ties into the unit of Ecology. Through invasive species, such as Phragmites australis, overcrowding has become dangerous for an environment. This is a major threat invasive species pose to native species, as this causes less biodiversity. With goats, Phragmites australis can be controlled and cleared, leaving room for native species to thrive.  

Biodiversity in the balance, how is it maintained?

Published: September 3, 2014 

Source: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis 

Click here for full link. 

One of the biggest questions in ecology is how biodiversity is maintained. "This is a fundamental"This is a fundamental question if we want to protect biodiversity -- what exactly do we need to protect?" says IIASA Evolution and Ecology Program Director Ulf Dieckmann. In most biology classes, they teach that no two species can occupy the same niche at the same time, but in the real world, it is actually true that two species can occupy the same niche at the same time. For example, the herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea occupy a similar niche, eating the same types of plankton. 

One theory is that the organisms react differently to the fluctuations in resources and limiting factors. Some examples are algal blooms for fish, and rainfall for mosquitoes. This causes changes in the environment that benefits the other species. This leads to a dynamic relationship in which each species benefits from each others influence on the environment, holding the two in balance. This is called the Relative Nonlinearity of Competition (RNC). This idea holds up very well, but it is very difficult for it to be tested. 

The scientists put RNC to the test by using three evolutionary models. These results show that the two coexisting species are outcompeted over time by one species. Further research has to be done on this topic to see what supports biodiversity.


This article directly relates to our class because of ecology and biodiversity. We spent a lot of time going over niches, and how they can only one species can occupy a specific niche. I found this article interesting because it totally went against what we learned in class.

"Study upends current theories of how mitochondria began"

Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141016165955.htm
Source: University of Virginia
Date Published: October 16, 2014

      Mitochondria, often referred to as the “powerhouse” organelles, are vital to the survival of nearly all eukaryotic cells, found in both plants and animals. They turn the energy from the food we eat into ATP (adenosine triphosphate,) a molecule used to perform cellular functions. Little is known about the exact details of how these organelles originated and how they evolved to where they are today. The most common theory is endosymbiotic theory. This says that around 1.5 billion years ago, bacteria were ingested by prokaryotic cells, creating a symbiotic relationship where both individuals benefited. The bacteria got protection and the cell gained ATP energy. As time went on, the bacteria and cell became increasingly dependent upon one another, eventually evolving into the mitochondria and eukaryotic cells of today.

      A recent study from the University of Virginia suggests that the first relationships between the mitochondrial bacteria and its host cell were likely parasitic, instead of mutualistic as many people currently believe. From analyzing the DNA of mitochondrial relatives, scientists predict that early bacteria probably stole ATP energy from the cell at first, only becoming useful to its host much later on“by switching the direction of the ATP transport” (Science Daily).

      

     This article relates to our curriculum because we are currently learning about the functions and roles that each organelle plays in the cell. For example, mitochondria turn the stored energy from the food we eat into ATP energy. Furthermore, it ties into our studies of the differences between a prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell, and how scientists are able to study and form theories about how life evolves.

Climate Change Affect on Tea

http://now.tufts.edu/news-releases/reading-tea-leaves-impact-climate-change

Published on January 17, 2014. By Alexander Reid.

Tea produced in China is changing flavor, smell, and health contributions due to climate change. The students at Tufts University are studying how the weather is affecting the properties in tea. Tea provides benefits to health and prevents many different health problems (including problems with digestion, heart, and blood). Unfortunately, chemical components in tea are adjusting due to climate change, and the quality of tea is decreasing. In result of the tea’s chemicals decreasing, the flavor has also changed and health benefits have decreased. This may affect the tea industry by reducing the demand for tea; tea is one of the most popular drinks around the world, but the changes may cause the number of buyers to decrease. Also, many farmers will have to change their way of farming so it corresponds with the changing climate. Scientists are currently studying the effects the climate changes have on tea to make a generalization about most other agriculture.

This article relates to our lessons about ecology and chemical properties in life. We learned about global warming (climate change) and how it changes weather patterns, in result effecting all life and nature. Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide and other chemicals in the atmosphere which create the greenhouse effect (gases that can’t escape the atmosphere and trap heat). We also learned about chemical properties and how they affect life. In the article, the climate changes affected the composition of chemicals in the tea, making the tea produce different features (in taste, smell, health factors). Chemical reactions are constantly breaking and bonding when exposed to different conditions (like temperature).

Spain's Amphibians Succumb to Deadly Virus

Article: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/41254/title/Virus-Decimating-Spanish-Amphibians/
Author: Bob Grant 
Published: October 20, 2014

Summary
 European amphibians (mostly frogs and toads) are facing a new attack from a type of ranavirus, called common midwife toad. A ranavirus is an infectious disease commonly found in amphibians, reptiles and freshwater fish. This virus has evolved from fish, which then harms other amphibians and reptiles. Ranaviruses enter cells through endocytosis, which bind to the tissue of the plasma membrane outside the cell. Then these specific molecules are ingested by the cell. Most organisms that have fallen victim to this disease are found in Picos de Europa National Park in Spain. There are reports of this virus spreading to areas at a nearby site, called Galicia. The disease has a relativity high kill rate. Never before have amphibians in the European area had to face mass die-offs from virus as deadly as this one. 

Relevance 
 One of the major topics (so far) that we've learned is ecology. We've discussed varying factors that can affect the growth of a population or community. This particular article emphasizes a major density-dependent factor, disease. Density-dependent factors are influenced by population density directly and can drastically change a population. Here, this article displays how frogs and toads are beginning to die off in Spain because of this deadly virus. This can affect communities and eventually the ecosystems which these amphibians live in. We've also discussed how these factors can cause an ecosystem to become unbalanced, and even cause organisms to die off. The discovery of this disease can challenge the survival of other amphibians and reptiles elsewhere in the world.

How ferns adapted to one of Earth's newest and most extreme environments

Date:

October 23, 2014

Source:

University of Bristol

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141023142312.htm

Ferns have been around for a long time. They have existed on the Earth for over 200 million years. Despite their age, one specific type of fern has made a very recent adaptation. These fern species exist in the Andes mountains. The Andes are a very harsh climate and hard to grow and thrive in. This ecosystem in the Andes, known as the páramo, was created recently within the last three to five million years after a dramatic change in the south American landscape. The páramo undergoes very extreme temperature ranges, experiencing very cold nights and hot days. The type of fern that has evolved to live there are very special. Despite being sexually mature, the fronds of the fern remain furled, just as a young, immature fern would. What's interesting about these ferns is how quickly they were able to evolve. three to five million year is a pretty short time at an evolutionary standpoint. The fact that this fern species was able to evolve to survive in the changed Andean ecosystem is incredible.

                       

        regular fern fronds                                   unfurled frond of the Andean Fern        

New Catalyst Could Improve Biofuels Production

Article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141016100315.htm

Source: Washington State University

Date: October 16

While fossil fuels take millions of years to form, biofuels are renewable and are composed of recently dead biological matter, making them highly sought after. However, one challenge industry leaders face is that when biofuels are made, it is difficult to remove oxygen while leaving carbon. A high oxygen content makes biofuel less stable and efficient than fossil fuels and unsuitable for airplane or diesel fuels. Even though iron catalysts function well when removing oxygen from plant-based materials, it can stop working when it interacts with water and rusts. On the other hand, palladium can work in water, but it simply does not function as efficiently as when iron is used and the metal itself is very expensive.

Researchers at Washington State University have developed a mixture of two metals, iron along with a tiny amount of palladium, to serve as a catalyst to efficiently and cheaply remove oxygen. They found that adding extremely small amounts of palladium to iron helped cover the surface of the catalyst with hydrogen, speeding up the reaction and making it work better. It also prevented water from interrupting the reactions. Additionally, it minimized the hydrogen consumption needed to remove the oxygen. “When combined, the catalyst is far better than the metals alone in terms of activity, stability and selectivity," Professor Yong Wang, the leader of the project, states.  

This article relates to our units on matter and energy and ecology. Catalysts are proteins that increase the speed up chemical reactions. The macromolecules mentioned in the article increase the rate at which oxygen is removed from plant matter so that a higher amount of the desired fuel product can be produced. In class, we studied how the enzyme catalase (which is also a catalyst) catalyzes the reaction of H₂O₂ breaking into H₂O and O₂ and what factors affect it. In addition, the biofuels that are produced with the catalysts relate to conservation biology. By using biofuels, less fossil fuels will be burned, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and slowing down global warming. The discovery of this new catalyst could potentially be a scientific breakthrough that will greatly help maintain biodiversity on Earth.

Cells' powerhouses were once energy parasites: Study upends current theories of how mitochondria began

"Cells' powerhouses were once energy parasites: Study upends current theories of how mitochondria began"

Source: University of Virginia

Published: October 16, 2014

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141016165955.htm

A new study was done by the University of Virginia, that used DNA sequencing technologies to decode the genomes of 18 bacteria (which are known to be close relatives of mitochondria). This study introduces a new theory on how mitochondria originated. It is said that mitochondria began to form from bacteria two billion years ago, and scientists have been continuously trying to find out how it started. Before this theory was introduced, people believed that mitochondria began from a mutualistic symbiosis between a bacteria cell and its host, and later the bacterial cells were "swallowed up." This new study says that the relationship was in fact, not mutualistic but instead it was an antagonistic relationship. This meant that at first the bacteria was parasitic but it later became beneficial to the host by "switching the direction of the ATP transport." Contrary to what mitochondria does in our cells today, this new study says that those many years ago the mitochondria would have "stolen" energy (in the form of ATP) from its host. 

This new study relates directly to our study on the structure of cells. We know that mitochondria provides our cells and the cells of many other organisms with energy. Without mitochondria the biodiversity of our world would not even compare to what it is now, and making insightful theories will only further our knowledge on the subject matter. 

Genetically Modified Stem Cells Kill Brain Tumors

By the Science 2.0 Staff
October 24, 2014
Article

In the article Genetically Modified Stem Cells Kill Brain Tumors, scientists have found a way to engineer stem cells to produce tumor-killing toxins in mice brains to help in the fight against brain cancer. After the main tumor is removed, these cells kill off any remaining cancer cells.The stem cells are placed at the tumor site in a biodegradable gel, solving previous delivery issues. The cytotoxins used to kill the cancer cells are deadly to all cells, however, scientists have found a way to only target the cancer cells while posing no risk to normal cells. The toxins enter the cancer cell and disrupts the cell’s ability to make proteins, and therefore kills the cell. While the toxins have been used before to stop blood cancers, they have been unsuccessful with solid tumors because the toxins have a short half-life. This is where the stem cells come in. They can continuously deliver these toxins into the brain tumors, and the stem cells themselves are also genetically engineered to be immune to the toxins themselves. The stem cells are created with a mutation that prevents the toxins from killing them off, and they also have an extra bit of genetic code that allows them to produce and release the toxins. So far, the cells have only been tested in mice, but they have successfully killed the cancer cells and prolonged the life of the mice. The team of scientists is planning to combine the use of these toxin-producing stem cells with therapeutic stem cells for more positive results. These cells may be used on humans in clinical trials within the next five years.

This article relates to our study in class about cells. It makes reference to the cell’s protein-making abilities, and also discusses the genetic makeup of the stem cells (DNA and RNA).

“Plant communities produce greater yield than monocultures”

 

Date: October 16, 2014

Source: University of Zurich

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141016085406.htm

Most crops are currently grown in monocultures. However, diverse plant communities are much more productive. Monocultures even damage soil over time. If people continue growing monocultures as the human population increases, there will be far too little food. A ten year study on grassland plants showed that in communities with biodiversity, all niches are occupied, so resources are used more effectively than in monocultures. Also, in biologically diverse communities, plants shield each other from parasites, making it hard for them to spread and wipe out crops. Thus, diverse plant communities are far more productive than monocultures. Additionally, plant species coevolve so they can use the available materials as effectively as possible. Overall, diverse plant communities have many more positive effects than crop monocultures like wheat. In fact, they even require less pest controls and fertilizers!

This article directly relates to our study of ecology. We learned about how communities, plants, evolution, niches, symbiosis, and how communities with great biodiversity are beneficial. This article explains how crops grown in communities rather than monocultures are very productive and have a large yield.