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.