science blogspot

All life forms on Earth use the same genetic alphabet of the bases A, T, C, and G—nitrogen-containing compounds that constitute the building blocks of DNA and spell out the instructions for making proteins. Now, scientists have developed the first bacterium to use extra letters, or unnatural bases, to build proteins. The new research builds on the team’s previous efforts to expand the natural genetic code. In 2014, the scientists engineered Escherichia coli bacteria (pictured) to incorporate an additional pair of bases —X and Y—into their DNA. The bacteria could store the unnatural bases and pass them onto daughter cells. But to be useful, these bases need to be transcribed into RNA molecules and then translated into proteins. So in the new study the researchers slipped the “alien” pair of bases into bacterial genes that also contained traditional bases. The microbes successfully “read” DNA containing the unnatural bases and transcribed it...

Transforming greenhouse gases: New 'supercatalyst' to recycle carbon dioxide and methane November 17, 2017 University of Surrey Engineers have developed a new and cost-effective catalyst to recycle two of the main causes behind climate change -- carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). a b v e g d Cite This Page : University of Surrey. "Transforming greenhouse gases: New 'supercatalyst' to recycle carbon dioxide and methane." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 November 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171117085156.htm>. FULL STORY Air pollution from industry. Scientists have developed an advanced nickel-based catalyst strengthened with tin and ceria, and used it to transform CO2 and CH4 into a synthesis gas that can be used to produce fuels and a range of valuable chemicals. Credit: © Jaroslav Moravcik / Fotolia The University of Surrey has developed a new and cost-effective catalyst to recycle two of the main causes behind climate chang...

Observations Having parents present is crucial during an infant’s first weeks of development—but institutions that train physicians don’t always seem to care The Neuroscience of Paid Parental Leave By Daniel Barron on October 30, 2017 Credit: Halfpoint Getty Images As a new father, I’ve learned that the U.S. ranks at the very bottom of industrialized nations for paid parental leave. Denmark offers a year. Italy offers five months. France offers 16 weeks; Mexico, 12 weeks; Afghanistan, 13. According to a 2016 Pew Research Center analysis of 41 countries, the U.S. is the only one to offer zero paid parental leave. It is easy (and likely accurate) to assume that paid parental leave policies are a nice gesture to help exhausted, stressed-out parents have the time and resources to figure out how to care for an infant. Perhaps this is why it is often bundled with leaves for tending to a sick family member. But the focus should more directly on the infants themselves, with parental lea...

Precise DNA editing made easy: New enzyme to rewrite the genome October 25, 2017 Howard Hughes Medical Institute A new type of DNA editing enzyme lets scientists directly and permanently change single base pairs of DNA from A*T to G*C. The process could one day enable precise DNA surgery to correct mutations that cause human diseases. a b v e g d Cite This Page : Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "Precise DNA editing made easy: New enzyme to rewrite the genome." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 October 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171025140532.htm>. FULL STORY A newly created DNA base editor contains an atom-rearranging enzyme (red) that can change adenine into inosine (read and copied as guanine), guide RNA (green) which directs the molecule to the right spot, and Cas9 nickase (blue), which snips the opposing strand of DNA and tricks the cell into swapping the complementary base. Credit: Gaudelli et al./ Nature 2017 DNA editing just got a sharp,...

Investing in conservation pays off, study finds October 25, 2017 University of Georgia Governments and donors have spent billions of dollars since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit attempting to slow the pace of species extinctions around the world. Now, a new article provides the first clear evidence that those efforts are working. a b v e g d Cite This Page : University of Georgia. "Investing in conservation pays off, study finds." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 October 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171025141124.htm>. FULL STORY Conservation funding works. Credit: © kate / Fotolia Governments and donors have spent billions of dollars since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit attempting to slow the pace of species extinctions around the world. Now, a new paper in Nature provides the first clear evidence that those efforts are working. The study by an international team of researchers found that the $14.4 billion that countries spent on conservation from 1992 t...

Global road-building explosion could be disastrous for people and nature, say scientists October 26, 2017 James Cook University The global explosion of new roads is rife with economic, social, and environmental dangers, according to a new study. a b v e g d Cite This Page : James Cook University. "Global road-building explosion could be disastrous for people and nature, say scientists." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 October 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171026142335.htm>. FULL STORY This is an image of forest destruction for road-building in the Republic of Congo, Africa. Credit: William Laurance The global explosion of new roads is rife with economic, social, and environmental dangers, according to a study in Science led by Professor William Laurance from James Cook University. "We've scrutinized major roads and infrastructure projects around the world," said Laurance, "and it's remarkable how many have serious hidden ...

Solving the Mystery of Chronic Fatigue By  Matt McMillen Oct. 20, 2017 -- It is a very complex, very real physical disease, and one that for years has caused uncertainty, confusion and even dismissal by many medical professionals. But now, thanks to a new, multi-year grant, there is hope for a better understanding and treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS. In late September, the National Institutes of Health committed $7.2 million in grants for fiscal year 2017, with plans to fund the work for five years. If funding remains steady, grants will total more than $35 million.  SLIDESHOW Slideshow: A Visual Guide to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) 1 / 21 What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)? ME/CFS, also called Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID) is a complex illness. The severity is variable, but the symptoms are real. The condition can be completely incap...

Physicists have breakthrough on brittle smart phone screens New 'potato stamp' technique combining silver and graphene may create cheaper, more flexible and eco-friendly screens Date: October 25, 2017 Source: University of Sussex Summary: New 'potato stamp' technique combining silver and graphene may create cheaper, more flexible and eco-friendly screens. Share:      FULL STORY Dr Matthew Large, University of Sussex, flexes a screen made from acrylic plastic coated in silver nanowires and graphene to illustrate the kind of touch screens that can potentially be produced using the new approach. Credit: Dr Matthew Large Scientists at the University of Sussex may have found a solution to the long-standing problem of brittle smart phone screens. advertisement Professor Alan Dalton and his team have developed a new way to make smart phone touch screens that are cheaper, less brittle, and more environmentally friendly. On top of that, the new...

Neuroscientists improve human memory by electrically stimulating brain Weak signal over ultrafine wires targets region linked to learning Date: October 25, 2017 Source: University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences Summary: Neuroscientists have discovered precisely where and how to electrically stimulate the human brain to enhance people's recollection of distinct memories. Share:   FULL STORY A new study suggests that even low currents of electricity can affect the brain circuits that control memory and human learning. (stock image) Credit: © kentoh / Fotolia Neuroscientists at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA have discovered precisely where and how to electrically stimulate the human brain to enhance people's recollection of distinct memories. People with epilepsy who received low-current electrical pulses showed a significant improvement in their ability to recognize specific faces and ignore similar ones. advertisement Eight of nine pa...