Bad news for mosquitoes: Yale study may lead to better traps, repellents

Yale University researchers have found more than two dozen scent receptors in malaria-transmitting mosquitoes that detect human sweat. This is a finding that may help scientists to develop new ways to combat a disease that kills 1 million people annually.

These olfactory receptors in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae offer scientists potential new targets for repelling, confusing or attracting into traps the mosquitoes that spread a disease. "Mosquitoes find us through their sense of smell, but we know very little about how they do this," Carlson said. Carlson says that more knowledge about mosquito behavior and odor reception will help develop more effective traps and repellents.

I think this is really interesting because I hate mosquitos and I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way I do. They are extremely annoying espescially in the summer during a party and all those traps you spend your money on to make them go away, never work. If one person just came out with an amazing trap that would keep all those bugs away, I think everyone would enjoy their lives a little better.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/02/03/bad_news_for_mosquitoes_yale_study_may_lead_to_better_traps_repellents.html

Beer is a Rich Source of Silicon and May Help Prevent Osteoporosis

A new study suggests that beer is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density. Researchers from the Department of Food Science & Technology at the University of California, Davis studied commercial beer production to determine the relationship between beer production methods and the resulting silicon content, concluding that beer is a rich source of dietary silicon. Silicon is present in beer in the soluble form of orthosilicic acid (OSA), which yields 50% bioavailability, making beer a major contributor to silicon intake in the Western diet. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), dietary silicon (Si), as soluble OSA, may be important for the growth and development of bone and connective tissue, and beer appears to be a major contributor to silicon intake. Some studies suggest moderate beer consumption may help fight osteoporosis, a disease of the skeletal system characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100208091922.htm

hiv researchers solve key puzzle after 20 years of trying

HIV is such a deadly virus that doesn't have a cure to stop it. Scientists have been working for years and years to try and find an antidote, but have not been successful. After 20 years now the researchers, from Imperial College London and Harvard University have discover a crystal that may potentially block the process of pasting its genetic information into the persons DNA. These scientists are extremely confident that this crystal will counter act the virus. They are currently still trying to create more amounts of this crystal to be able to test it out. Also they are still testing all different other crystals to see if any other ones will have the same effect.

HIVcure

Cancer in Tasmanian devils

Scientists finally discovered the true identity of contagious cancer that has been rapidly killing the Tasmanian devils. Reported in Science from a group of researchers, the cancer has been discovered to start in the nerve fibers and it affects the face of the devil. Hence came the name, devil facial tumor disease. At first, scientists thought that it was a virus spreading the disease, but now it is known that the cancer itself is actually spreading between Tasmanian devils.

This breakthrough in science allows for scientists to develop a vaccine that would target proteins. It is crucial to develop this vaccine because the devils might reach extinction with this plague. Since the genome of the devils have not been fully recognized, this may serve as a problem to scientists who want to save them. They are currently working very hard to help the Tasmanian devils and develop this vaccine.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/52286/title/Cancer_plaguing_Tasmanian_devils_began_in_one_animals_nerve_cells

Rotting fish

Could scientists be wrong about where some animals fall into the tree of life?  Some researchers in England think it is possible. They theorize that some primitive animals have been miss classified because of the way their fossils have been found. They believe that important information in missing because these animals are believed to only have soft tissue. They argue that that tissue could have decomposed long before a fossil could preserve the information.   To prove their theory they decided to study the decomposition on some fish with similar characteristics. 

No one was there 500 million years ago to say this is what happened, and without actual fossil records it will be difficult to prove. I think this is an interesting way of gathering information that might help to decode the fossils that did survive. 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=early-vertebrate-evolution

New genes for lung disease discovered

Scientists have discovered five genetic variants that are associated with the health of the human lung. The new findings provide hope for better treatment for lung diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma.

The scientists said: "This work is important because until now we have known very little about the genetic factors that determine an individual's lung function. By identifying the genes important in determining lung function, we can start to unravel the underlying mechanisms which control both lung development and lung damage. This will lead to a better understanding of diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Crucially, it could open up new opportunities to manage and treat patients with lung conditions".

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/12/14/new_genes_for_lung_disease_discovered.html

Chicken...or Soy?

Soy has become pretty popular over the years. There is basically soy everything anymore. Now there is soy chicken. It looks, tastes and feels just like regular chicken but its not. It low cost and has benefits like lowering cholesterol, preventing certain cancers (like prostate and breast), and strengthening bones. To create soy chicken the scientists start with soy proteins that are extracted from soy flour. Then it goes into the extrusion cooking process. The taste appeal and appearance is that of a regular chicken breast. The FDA says individuals should have 25 grams of soy in their diet, this would be a great way to get the soy and have the benefits of a meat product.