Category Archives: Science in the News

How Long Will You Live? A “DNA Clock” May Give You the Answer

Posted on February 9, 2015 by | 1 comment

Many factors may influence our lifespan, for example whether to diet, exercise or smoke. Some of the relationships are clear; however, some are not. Even with certain connections, the precise lifespan still cannot be told.

Will you be interested in if there is a molecular clock inside you which can predict how longer you will live? Scientists have identified a biological clock that could help predict a person’s lifespan by analyzing DNA methylation, a chemical change in DNA.

DNA CLOCK

Photo credits: Google image

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh, collaborating with scientist in Australia and the US found that certain chemical changes to our DNA which accumulate over time can be used to predict our lifespan. With further study, scientists found that the difference between estimated age and a person’s real age can be used as a “DNA clock” to predict people’s age. In order to calculate an individual’s DNA clock, researchers compared the volunteer’s actual age with the age shown by methylation in their DNA. Based on information collecting in 14 years, scientists reported that those whose biological age was greater that their actual age were likely to die sooner than those whose biological and chronological age were the same.

Photo Credits to Google image

 “At present, it is not clear what lifestyle or genetic factors influence a person’s biological age. We have several follow-up projects planned to investigate this in detail.”

—Dr. Riccardo Marioni, who is a member in the research team

From previous studies, factors like lifestyle and environmental influence may change the degree of DNA methylation.

“This new research increases our understanding of longevity and healthy aging,” lead scientist Professor Ian Deary said in a news release. “It is exciting as it has identified a novel indicator of aging, which improves the prediction of lifespan over and above the contribution factors such as smoking, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”

In other related study posted on Nov.2014, Russian scientists believe they’re able to extend our lifespans with new miracle drug.

by Xindi Wang

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Bilingual Chimpanzees

Posted on February 9, 2015 by | 2 comments

Humans have developed the amazing capability to learn new languages, dialects, accents and become multilingual. However, have you ever heard of animals learning new languages? In a recent study, led by Dr. Katie Slocombe from the University of York, nine chimpanzees from the Beekse Bergen Safari Park, in the Netherlands, had been relocated to Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo. Interestingly, each group of chimpanzees had their own distinctive grunts to represent different types of foods. The Dutch chimpanzees loved apples and had originally called for apples using a high-pitched yell. Whereas the Scottish chimpanzees were less enthusiastic about apples compared to the Dutch chimps and had used a lower-pitched grunt.

After a year into the study, the two groups of chimpanzees were still observed to have two distinct calls for apples. Moreover, the social interactions between the groups were very minimal. However, after three years of integration, the Dutch chimpanzees had learned and adopted the lower-pitched grunts the Scottish chimps had used to call for apples. As well, it was noted that the social interactions between the Dutch and Scottish chimps had increased dramatically. Although, the Dutch chimps had adopted the new call, their preference for apples had remained unchanged.

 

Dutch chimpanzees adopt Scottish grunt for apples.  YouTube video courtesy of New Scientist.  

This is an interesting study as it was initially thought that one unique characteristic of the human language is the ability to represent the same events and objects using different words across different cultural languages. However, from this study it indicates that that characteristic may have evolved from one of our earlier ancestors, the primates. In addition, although the study did not discuss in detail the initial transition of the two groups during integration, I found it quite astonishing that the two groups did not kill one another as chimpanzees are known to be quite aggressive and territorial animals. Therefore from this study, we see a much softer and gentler side of the interaction between two different clans of chimpanzees which is quite surprising.

Although it is quite difficult to determine the exact reason for the observed change, Dr. Slocombe thinks it could be due to the goal of communicating better with one another or for social reasons. She believes that it is similar to humans as humans who speak the same language or have the same accent tend to get along better with one another. Nonetheless, this study still portrays a great example of animals learning new languages.

– Candace Chang

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Is Artificial Photosynthesis a Solution to the Global Energy problem?

Posted on February 2, 2015 by | 3 comments

One of the greatest problems facing mankind is the search for renewable energy. One potential solution is inspired by photosynthesis in nature. Photosynthesis combines water, carbon dioxide(CO2) and energy from the sun to store energy as sugar, which also releases oxygen. This principle is illustrated below.

Photosynthesis

Image source: National Energy Education Development Project (NEED)

The idea behind artificial photosynthesis is to create a man made system, or ‘artificial leaf’, that allows water and sunlight to react and form hydrogen gas(H2) to store chemical energy instead of glucose(sugar). This is significant because the hydrogen gas can be stored and utilized as a fuel source.

David Nocera of Harvard University explains the basic principle of artificial photosynthesis using an artificial leaf. Nocera also goes on to say that artificial photosynthesis still has to overcome high engineering costs to become commercially viable. Nocera’s lab is actively researching the topic to try and find more economical methods of artificial photosynthesis. Full David Nocera BBC interview below.

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One review paper visually illustrates how a large scale H2 power plant could operate using sunlight and seawater as inputs. Also shown are green energy sources to enable the power plant to be completely self-sufficient and sustainable.

Vision of a sustainable hydrogen fuel community based on APS.

From Nature article: ‘Artificial photosynthesis for solar water-splitting’ by Yasuhiro Tachibana, Lionel Vayssieres & James R. Durrant

New research suggests that in addition to creating a hydrogen fuel source, artificial photosynthesis may be able to lower atmospheric CO2. This would require a system that more closely emulates natural photosynthesis, using CO2 as well as water and sunlight to create a type of hydrocarbon(contains both hydrogen and carbon) fuel. Atmospheric CO2 is a major contributor to climate change so this would effectively be ‘killing two birds with one stone’ as far as global issues are concerned. The possibility of reducing atmospheric CO2 further sells the case of artificial photosynthesis as a leading energy source for the future.

Artificial photosynthesis surely has some desirable qualities, but is it the solution to the global energy problem? Well, possibly, but not in the immediate future. A full switch to H2 fuel would be a long process involving engineering of new infrastructure for transportation, such as motor vehicle engines.

Research on the topic is fast evolving and it will not be long until artificial photosynthesis is highly efficient with cheap materials. The real challenge now will be turning laboratory research into a large-scale commercially viable energy source. Can we do it? Only time will tell.

-Dixon Leroux

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Sitting Leads to Premature Death?

Posted on February 2, 2015 by | 7 comments

Right now, as you are sitting and reading this blog, you are inviting a premature death. A recent study by Biswas et al. in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal states that sedentary time, i.e. time sitting down, shows a correlation to the risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some cancer types. These diseases allude us to people lacking physical activity however, in the study done by Biswas et al., it is suggested otherwise.

Sedentary Time. Source: Google Images

Sedentary Time. Source:Simpsons Wikia

Physical activity is emphasized deeply in our everyday lives. Data shows physical inactivity has led to many of deaths and is believed that physical activity decreases the risk of diseases. However, in the study done by Biswas et al., the correlation between sedentary time and diseases is independent to physical activity. A related study suggests that reallocating 30-minutes of sedentary time everyday showed to be slightly beneficial, whether it be sleeping, physical activity, or even standing up. The study showed unspecific benefits and were not able to come to a conclusion that physical activity was beneficial.

Pressure Points. Source: Wikimedia

Pressure Points. Source: Wikimedia Commons

 

A CNN coverage on this topic by Jen Christensen suggests that a person should stand up every 30 minutes for 1-3 minutes in order to reduce the risks of these diseases. The coverage suggests that when a person is standing up, there are some pressure points in the body which are activated so that the body secretes certain types of chemicals essential for the body. However, when sitting down, the body does not generate these chemicals hence the increase risk of diseases.

 

The next video describes in further in detail on how the body responds to prolonged sedentary time.

YouTube Preview Image

 

Everyone nowadays spends at least half of their day sitting down, whether it be at home watching TV, at work finishing up a presentation, or even sitting down to read a book. Contrastingly, healthy living is emphasized so greatly in our lives. Balancing healthy living and our normal lives can be struggling, but taking small steps can help reach that struggle. Standing up and stretching every 30 minutes or so can help, as well as exercising at least 10 minutes a day can decrease the risk of harmful diseases.

-Tommy Kim

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The Mystery Of How The Zebra Got Its Stripes

Posted on February 1, 2015 by | 4 comments

Why is the sky blue? Why did the cheetah get all the speed? Why do zebras have stripes? These are all questions that we wonder about the world around us. Fortunately scientists are working on answers in regards to zebras and their magnificent stripes.

In the plains of Africa, striping varies regionally. In some areas zebras have thick black and white striping covering their entire body, while in other areas zebras have thin stripes, with some parts of the body having no striping at all. In the past, many ideas have been developed to explain why zebras have stripes and to explain the variation in their stripes. Perhaps their stripes make it difficult for predators to predict their size and speed, therefore protecting them from capture. Perhaps the stripes cause an optical illusion that confuses biting flies in their habitat. Perhaps their stripes evolved for thermoregulation (the process of cooling and heating the body to the correct temperature) or social unity.

Predicted levels of stripe thickness on hind leg (left) and torso stripe definition (right). Image Courtesy of: Royal Society Publishing

Predicted levels of stripe thickness on hind leg (left) and torso stripe definition (right).
Image Courtesy of: Royal Society Publishing

Recent studies have found that the amount of striping on a zebra, and the intensity of that striping can be predicted by the temperature of the environment these zebras are living in. In hotter, drier areas, zebras have thicker stripes. Thinner stripes are seen farther from the tropics, in
slightly cooler areas. This pattern was seen on the torso, with the legs being a bit harder to predict.

This finding supports the thermoregulation hypothesis that states the thicker the stripes on the zebra, the more the heat difference between the black and white stripes. This causes eddies of air that have a cooling effect on the zebra’s body temperature.

Image Courtesy of: Wikimedia Commons

Additionally, a non-contact thermometer gun was used to compare the surface body temperature of zebras with herbivores of approximately the same size in the same area. This non-contact thermometer gun is simply pointed at the animal, and then it takes a reading of the infrared energy emitted by the animal and the animal’s temperature can be determined. It was found that zebras had an average body temperature of 29.2◦C, which was significantly lower than herbivores of the same size with a body temperature of 32.5◦C.

This relationship between temperature and striping patterns on zebras gets us one step closer to determining the functionality of zebra stripes. However, the cause of the correlation between temperature and striping patterns is still not fully understood and further investigation is needed.

Posted by: Alex Ensing

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A New Hope For Antibiotics

Posted on January 25, 2015 by | Leave a comment

Your body is constantly under attack from millions of pathogens every day and while most of the time the body’s immune system can take care of the invaders there are instances where outside help is needed. This is where antibiotics become useful. But currently problems are arising with the usage of antibiotics, mostly in the form that many current antibiotics are no longer effective against specific species of invading bacteria, these bacteria are termed antibiotic resistant bacteria. The problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria is one that if left unchecked will grow and might contribute to a mass outbreak of dangerous bacteria.

Antibiotics have become a prominent feature of modern health care and are used to fight and inhibit the growth of bacteria that have invaded your body. When the field of antibiotics was first discovered and expanded upon there was little to no general resistance to the antibiotics commonly used in today’s medical practices.

But resistance has grown as microbial mutations and the misuse of antibiotics has selected for dangerous antibiotic resistant bacteria. Bacteria replicate incredibly quickly and due to their methods of replication their genetic code, DNA, there will be a chance for  mutations, random changes to the new DNA produced, in each new generation of bacteria. These mutations can often give bacteria a way of making certain antibiotics useless against them due to how they can change where the antibiotic interacts to interfere with the bacteria. While normally this chance of mutation is low for each bacteria, due to their fast replication rate mutations can  appear quite frequently and cause problems for antibiotic treatments.

The bacteria grown in the petri dish on the left are susceptible to the different antibiotics in the white pills. The bacteria in the right petri dish are resistant to most of the antibiotics in the pills. Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The bacteria grown in the petri dish on the left are susceptible to the different antibiotics in the white pills. The bacteria in the right petri dish are resistant to most of the antibiotics in the pills; Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

These antibiotic resistant bacteria are very dangerous as it is left up to the immune system to fight them and for people that have weaker immune systems this can be dangerous or even lethal.

Some Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacteria Source: Wikimedia Commons

Bacteria Species Mycobacterium Tuberculosis;  Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

While the outlook might look grim for the future of antibiotics there has been a recent study published that reports on finding a new antibiotic, teixobactin, and new possibilities for culturing microorganisms to find new antibiotics. While the discovery of a new antibiotic is an incredible achievement by itself the scientific implications in their tests against two species of bacteria in which they found no resistance to the new antibiotic is massive. In addition to the current lack of resistance to teixobactin the researchers report that the properties of the new antibiotic suggest that resistance is unlikely to develop against it as it acts on a structure of the bacteria that is highly unlikely to change due to its specific functionality of the bacteria’s life cycle.

Teixobactin was found by examining uncultured bacteria. Uncultured bacteria, which are bacteria that have yet to be grown in a lab, make up most of the population of bacteria on the planet and are a huge potential source for future antibiotics. The study reports on developing new ways to successfully culture these previously uncultured bacteria and this is highly significant as it opens doors to discovering more antibiotics that do not have resistance developed against them yet.

With this discovery the research field of antibiotics might be rejuvenated as new populations of bacteria are now able to be grown due to the new methods of culturing previously uncultured bacteria developed in the study. In the future be on the lookout for teixobactin because it might be the answer to a dangerous bacterial infection that affects you.

– Matthew Leupold

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