Stem Cells Used to Grow New Windpipe

http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=12487

• A 10-year old boy has successfully undergone an operation to transplant a windpipe using his own stem cells, potentially heralding a revolution in transplant surgery

• "milestone moment" in the development of techniques that could enable people to grow damaged or transplanted organs inside their own bodies

• The operation was the first to use stem cells with the scaffold inside the body

• It was also the first entire windpipe transplant to be carried out on a child and the first to involve the entire length of the trachea

•Professor Martin Birchall, the head of translational regenerative medicine at University College London, said: "It is the first time a child has received stem cell organ treatment, and it's the longest airway that has ever been replaced

•"We need to conduct more clinical trials to demonstrate that this concept works. We'd like to move to other organs as well, particularly the larynx and oesophagus. We need to think about how to make regenerative medicine a part of healthcare”

•Professor Martin Elliott, who led the surgery, said the technique was a breakthrough because once the scaffold was ready it could be carried out in a matter of hours.

Reflection:

My biology class prepared me for this article because I had a clear understanding of how stem cells could be used and their purpose once they have been transformed. When the cells are renamed, they gain new properties which allow the surgery to happen.

"Stem Cells Used to Grow New Windpipe - Public Service." Public Sector & Government News - Public Service. 21 Mar. 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=12487

Stem Cells: An Exciting Future for Medicine

http://www.publicservice.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=13723

stem cell therapy

• Like most other cells in the human body, stem cells carry a nucleus which contains the normal complement of chromosomes comprising the full human genome

• In the past, we thought that a specific cell type, such as a skin cell, could only fulfill its function as a skin cell and then die off

• recent research has revolutionized our thinking by showing that gene expression patterns in any cell are not necessarily fixed and that they can be turned back into an embryonic stem cell-

• Cells that have been reverted to this embryonic stem cell-like state are now referred to as induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells

•IPS cells can be used in the laboratory as patient surrogates for the detailed study of almost any disease, as well as for drug toxicity testing and initial high-throughput screening of large numbers of potential drug compounds

•Right now, the pharmaceutical industry is assessing their potential and looking towards their development as tools for use in these three areas.

Reflection:

My biology class prepared me for this article because I had a general knowledge of stem cells. I know the differences between adult and embryonic stem cells as well as their purpose in the body. I somewhat have an interest in stem cells and this article has made me want to gain more knowledge regarding this fascinating and controversial topic.

"Stem Cells: An Exciting Future for Medicine - Public Service." Public Sector & Government News - Public Service. 21 Mar. 2010. Web. 18 May 2010. http://www.publicservice.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=13723

Signal Proteins for Plant Stem Cell Discovered

http://www.physorg.com/news187550690.html

wood stem cell

• The cells communicate with one another via the transportation of a protein

• Meristems are the key to plant growth

• Embryogenesis is the process by which the embryo is formed after fertilization\

• Arabidopsis - the genes which are activated by Menopteros

•Signal transmitted by the surrounding cells to form the hypophysis is a protein

•How do plant cells in the young embryo know what they have to become?

•The nearby cells tell them by sending a gene activator

•This communication makes sure that the meristems are at the right places, to enable stem cells to form roots at these places

Reflection:

I used an article on plant cells because we studied the difference between animal and plant cells in class. We drew diagrams and labeled each part of the cell. This article was interesting because I learned how plant growth is affected by the process of Embryogenesis. I didn’t know that plants realize what they have to become and this article did a great job informing me!

"Signal Proteins for Plant Stem Cells Discovered." PhysOrg.com - Science News, Technology, Physics, Nanotechnology, Space Science, Earth Science, Medicine. 11 Mar. 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. http://www.physorg.com/news187550690.html

The Vatican Supports Stem Cell Research?

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/vatican-backs-stem-cell-research/story?id=10447981

• Providing money for a center of stem cell research to be located in Rome

• "Rather than say they don't want [stem cell research], it would be more logical to say 'Is there a better way?'," Fasano says

• He believes that using adult stem cells, harvested from the intestines of the patients themselves, could be the "better way."

• Revolutionary move on behalf of the church

• Some stem cell researchers worry that the Vatican's agenda in this project is to argue against the need for embryonic stem cell research

•The new research aims to do away with the need for the embryonic stem cell research that the Vatican has called "gravely immoral”

Reflection:

This article is very controversial. The church is usually against stem cell research, and it's interesting that the vatican is supporting it. This is very important because there is a big controversy over stem cells, and a lot of it has to do with the church's views on taking a life.

Hutchison, By Courtney. "Vatican Backs Stem Cell Research - ABC News." ABCNews.com - Breaking News, Politics, Online News, World News, Feature Stories, Celebrity Interviews and More - ABC News. 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/vatican-backs-stem-cell-research/story?id=10447981

New Australian Dinosaur Fossil Shows That Tyrannosaurs’ Range Was Global

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=new-australian-dinosaur-fossil-show-2010-03-25

• The discovery of a distinctively tyrannosaur-like hipbone in Victoria, Australia, however, might change the way scientists think about the distribution—and evolution—of this infamous group of dinosaurs

• "The absence of tyrannosauroids from the southern continents was becoming more and more anomalous as representatives of other 'northern' dinosaur groups started to show up in the south," Paul Barrett, of the Department of Paleontology at the Natural History Museum in London

• The hipbone fossil is 30 centimeters long

• "The bone is unambiguously identifiable as a tyrannosaur because these dinosaurs have very distinctive hip bones," - Roger Benson

Reflection:

My biology class better prepared me to understand this article because of out time learning about the process of evolution. We did a project with the evolution of birds and that helped me to understand the article.

Harmon, Katherine. "Observations: New Australian Dinosaur Fossil Shows That Tyrannosaurs' Range Was Global." Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American. 25 Mar. 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=new-australian-dinosaur-fossil-show-2010-03-25

Scientists Spot Genetic “Fingerprints” of Individual Cancers

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636208.html

fingerprint

• "[This technique] will allow us to measure the amount of cancer in any clinical specimen as soon as the cancer is identified by biopsy," said study co-author Dr. Luis Diaz, an assistant professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University. "This can then be scanned for gene rearrangements, which will then be used as a template to track that particular cancer."
• Creates a higher success rate in the cancer battle

Reflection:

I thought this article was very interesting and informing because I learned that fingerprints of cancer could be used for possible treatment and to see how far the cancer can progress. This could help with the finding the cure to cancer.

Reporter, Amanda GardnerHealthDay. "Scientists Spot Genetic 'Fingerprints' of Individual Cancers - BusinessWeek." BusinessWeek - Business News, Stock Market & Financial Advice. 18 Feb. 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636208.html

An Effort to Save One Child Starts A Longer Journey

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100402/ARTICLE/4021009/2055/NEWS?Title=An-effort-to-save-one-child-starts-a-longer-journey&tc=ar

Henry's mother

• The article was written to inform people of a disease called Fanconi Anemia, which is extremely rare.
• pre-implantation genetic diagnosis = PGD
• A field that developed in the wake of in vitro fertilization
• Henry had a disease called faconi
• Fanconi anemia is extremely rare
• It is a recessive disorder; Laurie and Allen, unknowingly, were carriers of type C
• During IVF treatments, sperm and egg are united in a lab to form a human embryo
• A transplant of umbilical-cord-blood stem cells from an HLA-matched sibling had an 85 percent chance of repairing Henry's immune and blood production systems; a transplant from an unrelated donor then had little chance of working

Reflection:

My biology class prepared me for this article because I had a clear understanding of genetic testing. We studied genetic testing and learned how today’s technology would allow us to see our entire DNA mapped out. The family in the article used genetic testing to try and save their son!

"An Effort to save One Child Starts a Longer Journey | HeraldTribune.com." Sarasota Florida News, Sarasota Weather, Sports and Business | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 02 Apr. 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100402/ARTICLE/4021009/2055/NEWS?Title=An-effort-to-save-one-child-starts-a-longer-journey&tc=ar

Farmers, exporters warn GM animals could damage 'brand New Zealand'

http://gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/11997-farmers-exporters-warn-GM-animals

organic food

• Organic farmers fear "brand New Zealand" will be damaged if plans proceed to expand the range of genetically modified animals
• Farmers and exporters told a panel to put human genes into goats, sheep and cows that overseas customers might stop buying
• Rob Hamill told the Environmental Risk Management Authority that New Zealand should make the most of its isolation from other countries and reject GM. "Let the big countries that are hell-bent on creating GM organisms do it in their own backyard" -Hamill
• Agresearch wants to try to get the animals to make human proteins in their milk, which they hope could eventually be used to treat human diseases
• It plans to keep the animals behind a double layer of fencing, protected by an alarm system, at Ruakura near Hamilton. But Malibu Hamilton said it went against Maori protocol to compromise the genealogy of a creature by artificially altering its gene structure

Reflection:

I chose this story because I am against genetically modified animals, and I think it's wrong for people to be genetically modifying animals just so they could get more money. New Zealand shouldn't modify animals because the animals have lives, and they're only doing this so that they could have more sales. It's wrong for people to be modifying animals because they could die easily. Even though having more and better animals could feed more people, it's wrong to genetically modify animals.

"Farmers, Exporters Warn against GM Animals." GMWatch. 3 Mar. 2010. Web. 17 May 2010. http://gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/11997-farmers-exporters-warn-GM-animals.

NIH-Funded Researchers Transform Embryonic Stem Cells Into Human Germ Cells

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/102809-germ-cell.cfm

embryo

• Researchers have discovered how to transform human embryonic stem cells into germ cells. The advance will allow researchers to observe human germ cells
• "Although infertility is apparent only after sexual maturity, many forms of unexplained infertility are thought to have their origins in errors that occur in the cells of the early embryo. The ability to observe embryonic germ cells as they develop may allow researchers to pinpoint potential genetic changes underlying infertility." -Dr. Feijo Pera
• The researchers began with human embryonic stem cells, to which they added a gene that makes a protein which flashes green when a gene found only in germ cells is turned on. After the embryonic stem cells grew and changed for two weeks, the researchers isolated the cells that flashed green
• The researchers even observed that some male germ cells went all the way through the process of meiosis, to the point where they had half as much genetic material as they had begun with
• Dr. Reijo Pera next plans to try the same techniques with induced pluripotent stem cells

Reflection:

I chose this story because it tells about actual research on stem cells. It isn't just an article telling about stem cells, but it's an actual experiment. I thought this article was interesting because the researchers were able to discover something they had been trying to figure out for a while. I think that if anyone was interested in science, or interested in stem cell research, should read this article so that they know what is going on with stem cell research.

"NIH-Funded Researchers Transform Embryonic Stem Cells Into Human Germa Cells."NICHD - The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Official Home Page. 28 Oct. 2009. Web. 17 May 2010. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/102809-germ-cell.cfm

Cuckoos, Wrens in Escalating Evolutionary Arms Race

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/03/0311_030312_cuckoo.html

cuckoo

• Scientists discovered that there's a bird that can detect cuckoo chicks in a nest
• Scientists found that the bird abandoned Hosfiled's bronze-cuckoo chicks to starve in 40% of cases
• The study shows there are two pointers that enable wrens to discriminate against parasitic chicks.
• "The host bird develops its defenses and then the cuckoo counterattacks," -Kilner
• If the defense systems of cuckoos become sophisticated enough, perhaps they will eventually run out of evolutionary tricks and lose the arms race

Reflection:

This story was really interesting to me. I never really knew anything about cuckoos, or any other type of birds. I picked it because it caught my attention. It's interesting to know that there's an arms race between other species besides humans. I'm not very interested in birds, they actually scare me, but this article had a lot of information that I wouldn't have known before. Even though birds aren't a very big part in my life, they still have meanings to nature. They have to live too. I think this article shows that birds are important, and they aren't just left alone. People are actually interested in birds, too.

"Cuckoos, Wrens in Escalating Evolutionary Arms Race." Daily Nature and Science News and Headlines | National Geographic News. 12 Mar. 2003. Web. 17 May 2010. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/03/0311_030312_cuckoo.html

Learning About Sex From an Elegant Worm

http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/LSD-worm-meiosis.html

c. elegans worm

• C. elegans is a tiny worm less than a millimeter in length and completely transparent. Its reproductive organs make up over half its cells
• Homologous chromosomes remain locked together until they are pulled apart into opposite daughter cells
• To guard against mistakes during meiosis, all sexually reproducing organisms employ checkpoints at which cell division may be halted and effective cells made to self-destruct through programmed cell death (apoptosis)

Reflection:

This story is very informative to help explain more about meiosis. I liked it because it really helped me understand meiosis better. It would be helpful for anyone that would want to lean more about meiosis and what processes an organism goes through. I think this article can really help me in biology class because now I have a better understanding of meiosis and I'm not as confused as I was before. I'm not very interested in this subject, but I would recommend this article to anyone that is interested in biology.

Preuss, Contact: Paul. "Research News: Learning About Sex From an Elegant Worm."Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. 15 Dec. 2005. Web. 17 May 2010. http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/LSD-worm-meiosis.html

MRSA bacterial strain mutates quickly as it spreads

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/55505/title/The_MRSA_Bacterial_strain_Mutates_quickly_as_it_spreads

MRSA bacteria

• Scientists used a new technology to decode the antibiotic-resistant strain of staph bacteria's genome and follow its movements
• The methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA changes its genetic makeup faster than previously thought by altering at least one letter in its genetic handbook about every six weeks
• More of those mutations fall in genes involved in antibiotic resistance than would be expected if the changes had occurred randomly, illustrating that there is an immense selective pressure from antibiotic use worldwide
• All the isolates are variations of a MRSA strain known as a sequence type 239, or ST239. Most of the samples look genetically identical when analyzed using other DNA fingerprinting techniques

Reflection:

I chose this story because I thought it was interesting to read about and learn about mutated bacteria spreading around in Europe. I didn't know anything about bacteria or viruses at all before and I learned a little bit by reading this article. I think anyone that is interested in science and biology should read it. I'm not very interested in science, but I found it very informational.

"MRSA Bacterial Strain Mutates Quickly As It Spreads." Science News. 13 Feb. 2010. Web. 17 May 2010. http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/55505/title/The_MRSA_Bacterial_strain_Mutates_quickly .

Meat Industry Urges USDA to Develop Age Verification Program

http://www.thecattlesite.com/bse-news/28805/meat-industry-urges-USDA-to-develop-age-verification-program

USDA logo

• the U.S. government should establish an age-verification Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program for Taiwan to ensure an orderly expansion to a full market opening to US beef products
• The three groups sent the letter following Taiwan's October 22 announcement that it will expand access to its market to permit imports of US beef and beef products consistent with the guidelines of the WOrld Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for BSE
• "While US exporters are confident that all beef and beef products produced in the United States are safe regardless of age, the US beef exporting industry is prepared to temporarily limit beef exports to Taiwan to products from cattle less than thirty months of age under a program verified by USDA as a transitional measure to ensure an orderly expansion to a full market opening" -AMI president J. Patrick Boyle
• The letter noted that USDA's Agriculture Marketing Service has confirmed that it is taking the steps necessary to establish the QSA program

Reflection:

I chose this story because I think it's important for people to know about BSE and CJD. People should know so that they are careful with the meat that they are eating, and so that they pay attention more to how easily they can get a disease. I think that what the US is doing with Taiwan is good because they're limiting the exports. It's important because the meat had BSE.

"Meat Industry Urges USDA to Develop Age Verification Program." Cattle, Cattle Health, Welfare, Diseases, Cattle News, Articles, Photos of Cattle, Cattle Photo. 23 Oct. 2009. Web. 17 May 2010. http://www.thecattlesite.com/bse-news/28805/meat-industry-urges-USDA-to-develop-age-verification-program.

Bolivia: water people of Andes face extinction

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/24/andes-tribe-threat-bolivia-climate-change

• The Uru Chipaya, a Bolivian tribe, are warning that they face extinction through climate change
• The people consider them “water peoples” and soon, they will have to live in the city like regular people
• Bolivia has a shortage of all natural resources, they barely get any water throughout the whole country
• The Uru Chipaya culture is almost completely lost because of this

Reflection:

This article made me a little sad when I read it. It is very unfortunate how the people in Bolivia are on the verge of extinction. This article made me realize how fortunate I am to have the resources I need to lead a long life. I would recommend this article to anyone that is interested in saving other countries and helping other people around the world.

"Bolivia: Water People of Andes Face Extinction | World News | The Guardian." Bolivia: Water People of Andes Face Extinction. 24 Apr. 2009. Web. 16 May 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/24/andes-tribe-threat-bolivia-climate-change.

Stem cell treatments making a big difference in the life of Janesville teen

http://www.stemcellschina.com/index.php/en/component/content/article/1186-stem-cell-treatments-making-a-big-difference-in-the-life-of-janesville-teen

Kyle Knopes

• 16-year-old Kyle Knopes from Janesville, Wisconsin traveled half way around the world to China to receive stem cell injections
• Kyle is diagnosed with the genetic neuromuscular disorder that affects the part of his nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement
• Kyle received stem cells from umbilical cord blood
• He received the stem cells through an IV with a group of other international patients
• He received eight stem cell injections that have improved his quality of life living with Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy.

Reflection:

This story really caught my attention. It was interesting to read about a teenager get stem cell injections. I thought it was great that he was able to get the money he needed to get the injections in order for him to lead a normal life. It was pretty cool how he was able to meet people his age from all around the world that had the same problem as him, so he had people to relate to. There is a big controversy over stem cells, but they can always help people, just like Kyle.

"Stem Cell Treatments Making a Big Difference in the Life of Janesville Teen." China Stem Cell News. 27 July 2009. Web. 16 May 2010. ./http://www.stemcellschina.com/index.php/en/component/content/article/1186-stem-cell-treatments-making-a-big-difference-in-the-life-of-janesville-teen

Portrait in DNA: Can forensic analysis yield police-style sketches of suspects?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=portrait-in-dna

• Modern day detectives can identify a lot of information about a person just by their genetic code
• forensic profiling is edging toward the capability to create a police-artist-style sketch of an unknown person by reading traits inscribed in the genome
• Daniele Podini of George Washington University is developing a forensic kit to determine a suspect’s eye and hair color, sex and probable ancestry by analyzing 50 to 100 genetic markers
• Having more to go on than ancestry is the goal of programs such as the DNA Initiative of the National Institute of Justice, which funds research into alternative genetic markers for forensic use

Reflection:

This story was very interesting. Genetics has always interested me, so when I saw this article, it caught my eye. I didn't know that people could find out so much about a person just from one genetic code. I'm very into forensic science, so this was interesting to me. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who wants to be a detective or who is into forensic science.

Soares , By Christine. "Portrait in DNA: Can Forensic Analysis Yield Police-style Sketches of Suspects?: Scientific American. Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American. Scientific American, 11 May 2010. Web. 16 May 2010. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=portrait-in-dna.

Scandinavians Are Descended from Stone Age Immigrants

http://www.physorg.com/news173022084.html

• Today's Scandinavians are not descended from the people who came to Scandinavia at the conclusion of the last ice age but from a population that arrived later. This is one conclusion of a new study straddling the borderline between genetics and archeology
  
• The study involved using DNA from Stone Age remains that were spread by immigrants or represented innovations on the part of hunter-gatherers.
• "Our findings show that today's Scandinavians are not the direct descendants of the hunter-gatherers who lived in the region during the Stone Age"
• "This entails the conclusion that some of migration to Scandinavia took place, probably at the onset of the agricultural Stone Age"

Reflection: This story interested me a lot. When I was looking for an article, most of the titles seemed boring, and then I saw this one. The title made me interested so I decided to read it. I never even knew where Scandinavians came from, and the article taught me a little bit about their background. I think this story wasn't too informational, but it caught my interest. I thought that it was helpful if you ever want to know where the Scandinavians come from. I don't think that this article would probably help me much in the future because knowing where Scandinavians come from isn't very essential to every day living.

"Scandinavians Are Descended from Stone Age Immigrants." PhysOrg.com - Science News, Technology, Physics, Nanotechnology, Space Science, Earth Science, Medicine. 24 Sept. 2009. Web. 04 May 2010. http://www.physorg.com/news173022084.html.