Has Plant Life Reached Its Limits?

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Sophia Li
Published September 20, 2012

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/has-plant-life-reached-its-limits/?ref=flowersandplants

Summery:

Dr. Steven Running has said that humans are coming close to the finite limit of plant life on Earth. His study suggests that no matter how much us humans try to increase the amount of plant growth each year, it is not possible because we have almost reached a limit. Dr. Running calls the plant limit a planetary boundary that cannot be crossed without major consequences. Nine of these boundaries were already identified. He also mentions that the current extinction rate is 100 times the natural rate. Dr. Running's research has also shown that while in colder climates plant life is increasing because of warming global temperatures, plant life in areas of warmth and drought have decreased. Dr. Running cautions that if nothing is done to stop this decrease of plant life, there could be a possible mass starvation in the future.

Connection:

This article relates to our discussion of plants. Since humans are almost completely dependent on angiosperms for food, a decrease in the growth rate of angiosperms and other plants could easily wipe out many humans as less plants means less food. Also, lots of medicines come out of plants. A large extinction rate would cause a loss of biodiversity. Less biodiversity of plants could mean less medicines being produced. Overall, the loss of plant life could affect the prosperity of humans in the future.

Growing Antibiotic Resistance

Denise Grady, NY Times
March 5, 2013
 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/health/deadly-drug-resistant-infections-rise-in-hospitals-report-warns.html?ref=science&_r=1&

Summary:

Antibiotic resistance is bacteria's ability to resist antibiotics.  The resistance to antibiotics is on the rise, resistance occurs when a bacteria is introduced to an antibiotic, and the few bacteria that survive live on and reproduce, while passing on their trait for resistance to their offspring.  When antibiotics are over used, the amount of resistance increases.  This has been a huge problem recently, due to the discovery of antibiotics and overuse of them in the past hundred years without fully understanding their mechanism of action first.  Many bacterial infections that were once easily treated with antibiotics have mutated to be resistant, giving anyone infected a much lower chance of survival.  One particular strain of bacteria, Klebsiella, has been dubbed the "nightmare bacteria", due to its resistance to the group of antibiotics called carbapenems, often used as a last resort. A large increase in cases of infections of this bacteria has occurred across the United States in the last few years, and due to its resistance there is no treatment for patients infected.

Connection:

This article relates to our current units in multiple ways.  It deals with bacteria, a microbe, which we have been studying.  We've also studied antibiotic resistance, and the bacteria's adaptation of the resistance trait connects to evolution too.

Can Plants Be Helpful in space

Summary
Scientists at the Kennedy space center think that plants made be beneficial in long term space flights. They have now been studying the effects of plants that grow in micro gravity  The largest hope is that plants could easily recycle CO2 into O2 and also provide a food source for Astronauts on the mission. Developments like this will become important as Nasa sets its sights towards mars and other missions in deep space. Experiments conducted on the space station have shown positive results for the project. If plants do truly prove beneficial scientists still have some major engineering problems ahead of them. Plants would have to grow at different light levels and extra water would be needed to keep the plants alive.
Connection
The properties of plants such as photosynthesis look beneficial to long term space missions.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/plant_habitat.html

Bee Venom Destroys HIV And Spares Surrounding Cells

Scientists are coming close to creating a gel which could potentially stop the spread of the hiv virus. Melittin a toxin inside Bee Venom is found to poke holes in the casing around HIV. In large enough quantities it could destroy the virus. Also Venom has been shown to possibly be linked with  anti-cancer treatment.The difference between this new Melittin Nano-particle and normal hiv medications is that this strips the hiv of a vital cell structure and normal medications focus on stopping the replication. This could theoretically also work on other viruses such as hepatitis a and b. It also could be used to theoretically clear already existing hiv out of the blood stream, even anti-drug resistant ones.

Connection: In the microbe unit we studied retroviruses such as HIV. Also Bees are animals, we also discussed ways to stop the spread of such viruses.

Baby Born With HIV is Deemed Cured

Andrew Pollack and Donald G. McNeil Jr.
March 3, 2013
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/health/for-first-time-baby-cured-of-hiv-doctors-say.html?ref=aids&_r=0

Summary:
It was announced on Sunday, that a baby was cured of an HIV infection for the first time in medical history. This could change how babies are treated, and it could significantly reduce the number of babies that live with AIDS. The baby was intensively treated with antiretroviral drugs (because HIV is a retrovirus) starting at around 30 hours after birth, which isn't usually done. Researchers plan to test the results of this on other babies with AIDS in hopes of success, which will cause such methods to be used globally. A few years ago, scientists thought that this virus could not be cured, but now there is hope. Some experts say that the findings in the baby would probably not be relevant to adults. Some people say, though, that they needed to be convinced that the baby was actually infected. If it was not actually infection, then the case would be a case of prevention. This was already done for babies born to HIV infected mothers. That is the only uncertainty to the report. There is still speculation about whether or not the baby was actually infected. There are a handful of doctors that do confirm that the baby was infected. There were various tests done on the baby in its first month of life- four being for RNA and one for DNA. Once the treatment started, the virus levels in the baby declined as would be expected of infected patients. The baby did not start off with a lot of viral copies, and virus levels rapidly declined with treatment and were undetectable by the time the baby was 1 month old. The baby stopped being given drugs at 18 months, and when the child came back 5 months later, the results came back negative. It seemed to have worked!

Connection:
In the Prokaryotes Unit, we learned about HIV as a retrovirus. We learned that it was an RNA virus, which is why there were more RNA tests on the baby than DNA tests. HIV has a membranous envelope that helps the virus recognize the host cells and merge with the host cell membranes, delivering the contents of the virus to the host cell. The antiretroviral drugs had managed to stop the dangerous effects of HIV in the baby before the conditions were too harsh. We learned that HIV was a retrovirus, which meant that it reversed the usual DNA to RNA flow of genetic information in the process of transcription. Retroviruses carry molecules of an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which catalyzes reverse transcription, which is the synthesis of double stranded DNA using a single stranded RNA template.

Tipsy Fish

http://science.time.com/2013/02/15/tipsy-fish-when-anti-anxiety-meds-get-into-rivers/
Veronique Greenwood, Time
February 15, 2013

Summary:

Many drugs, such as antidepressants, make their way into different bodies of water. To test the toxicity of these, scientists from the Umeå University in Sweden conducted experiments with a species of fish, known as perch, living downstream from a factory treats waste water. The scientist discovered that the toxins were accumulating in the muscle tissue of the fish. For oxazepam, an antidepressant drug, six times the concentration in the water was found the the cells of the fish. In order to test the effects of this toxin, a school of perch were split into three groups: one that would continue living in fresh water, one that would live in conditions similar to that in the river, and one that would live in water with five hundred times the river's concentration. Before and after the one week treatment, the fish took a behavioral test. The results showed that fish living in clean water did not have a change behavior. The ones that were exposed to the river conditions spent much less time around other fish and also ate zooplankton more quickly. The main difference between fish exposed to the high concentration was their bravery. They became almost fearless, a bad trait for these small school fish.

Connection:
This relates to our studies on animals because perch are multicellular organisms that are bilaterally symmetric, a topic included in the unit. In addition, this animal is motile and has the ability to move around in the water. Finally, perch is part of the phylum Chordata, which is also part of the unit. 

"Nightmare Bacteria" On The Rise

Aaron E. Carroll
Thursday March 7, 2013
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/07/opinion/carroll-nightmare-bacteria/index.html?hpt=he_c2

Summary:  This article talks about CRE, a bacterium whose antibiotic-resistance has been one the rise. CRE infections can kill about half the patients with bloodstream infections. With the rise in CRE bacteria, hospital are taking necessary precautions to isolate the infected patients and make sure the bacteria doesn't spread. The problem that Aaron Carroll addresses with this issue is that the widespread use of antibiotics is allowing for bacteria to become resistant. We now find antibiotics in lotion soaps, food that animals eat, as well as using these antibiotics to treat minor issues. Carroll states that the more we use these antibiotics for a minor issue, like a virus, we're giving the bacteria a chance to evolve resistance that will potentially lead to long-term problems due to these resistant strains.


Connection: This article relates to our last unit in microbes because we were studying bacteria and they're structure, reproduction, evolution, and origin. Also, our last lab had to do with the inhibition of bacteria and what substances were more effective in treating them versus others. Finally, this article brings up the issue from our evolution unit about antibiotic resistant bacteria because through evolution and natural selection, the more we use antibiotics the greater chance there is that the bacteria will become resistant.

Ancient Fungus, Algae Discovered in Deep-Sea Mud

Becky Oskin, LiveScience
March 5, 2013
http://www.livescience.com/27646-fungus-discovered-deep-ocean.html

summary
Researchers have found evidence of dormant algae and active colonies of fungi in mud millions of years old and deep beneath the sea floor. According to genetic evidence, the deepest fungi are separate from relatives on the Earth's surface, and likely diverged from them very early on. Some scientists are hopeful that new compounds, especially antibiotics, may be found in these previously unknown fungi. The scientists studied sediments drilled from ocean basins, searching for ribosomal RNA to see if microbes were metabolically active. The fungi found matched the concentrations of organic carbon in the samples, leading to the theory that they were a part of the carbon recycling on the seafloor. The algae also discovered are diatoms, and their genes show that they could be revived from their current dormancy.

connection
This article relates to our studies of fungi and plant life. The discovery shows that, in the time that these algae diverged from their relatives, plant life lived in the sea originally. The theory of the fungi participating in carbon recycling in the sea is an example of the role of fungi in cycling materials through ecosystems. We also learned about diatoms in more detail than the article goes into.

The Beauty of Bacteria

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/garden/bio-design-in-the-home-the-beauty-of-bacteria.html?ref=bacteria

Summary: "'We have been conditioned to fear micro-organisms', he said, 'but in fact they can be useful and have been for millenia...'" William Myers, a New York based author and teacher, told the New York Times after admitting that he had been fascinated by the idea of these tiny organisms. This idea came after becoming acquainted with yeast through making his own bread and beer. Myers has recently published "Bio Design: Nature, Science, Creativity," detailing the growing movement to incorporate natural processes in the creation of buildings and household items. The work focuses on 73 different projects, collected from creative studios and laboratories around the world, which will help conserve resources and limit waste. Some of these projects include how living trees can be "coaxed" into forming houses and bridges, how concrete can heal itself when damaged, and how the luminescence of fireflies can be used to power lamps. It has been said that architectural designers have been known to copy nature in their work, but Myers focuses on actually incorporating nature into household goods. One piece, called the "Moss Table", utilizes the small electrical charge released in moss due to the chemical breakdown of organic compounds by bacteria. In this case, less energy is needed to power a lamp connected to the table, conserving energy and creating a creative and stylish work of art. Another example is the "Halflife Lamp", which is a prototype for a lampshade coated with hamster ovary cells, modified with firefly DNA in order to generate an enzymatic reaction, causing the lamp to light up. Though the idea of copying the feel of nature is prevalent in bio design, it is more about "harnessing the machinery of the natural world to perform as nature does: storing and converting energy, producing oxygen, neutralizing poisons and disposing wastes in life-sustaining ways." In other words, these innovators have shown the true beauty behind life's processes, and want to share them with the world in order to create a more efficient and creative way of life.  

Connection: Last unit we focused on the life processes of microorganisms, and this article is a great example of real-world application of such processes. Currently we are studying the habits of plants, and I found it extremely interesting that some designers have begun to manipulate plant processes in order to incorporate them into architecture, such as "coaxing" a tree to form bridges or house-like structures. This article is extremely interesting, and also conveys the importance of conserving natural resources and reducing waste, all achievable through biological design. 
-Griffin

Adelie Peguins and Emperor Penguins

Have A 100% Success Rate for Feeding 

in Recent Studies

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/animals-news/adelie-penguins-cameras-vin/

Summary written by Marshall Grant

            Today, scientists from all around the world travel to the thick depths of the Antarctic to study the behaviors of the many species of animals it is home to. We know a lot about the surface interaction of penguins as part of a flock on land through camera study and in-field analysis, but never did scientists ever try to study the interaction of penguins on other organisms in the freezing antarctic waters, until now. Many recent SCUBA divers have filmed the breath taking movements of penguins under ice caps. Though many species of penguin are endangered, the question rises about their success rate while fishing.

           A recent study carried out by a Japanese Research Team, have tagged and applied small long range cameras on the back of Adelie Penguins to count and gather data on feeding rates for the penguin species. The same process was carried out by an American Research Team on Emperor penguins to gather their success data. The results pooled by both teams was astonishing. Adelie Penguins were able to capture 2 krill organisms per second and 14 fish organisms every 20 seconds without failing to capture or miss its prey on the approach. The same held true for the Emperor Penguin where it went 100% catch rate in 3 hour feeding period.

         Why is this important? Further study is providing us with a better understanding of the feeding behaviors of these agile birds of the Antarctic. It also generates a greater question towards the important of conservation of fish and krill species in order to preserve the Penguin population, as they play a vital role in the ecosystem of the Southern Ocean.

Connection:

Since the topic we cover is animals, a penguin fits the category. In biology class, we are better understanding how animals came to being, and the adaptations that help them accomplish such in certain environments  The Penguins of the Southern Ocean are a perfect example of how big our ocean is and how little we have explored from it. Learning more from Penguins and creatures of our world's oceans will better help us as a society preserve and protect the resources and species of this great planet of ours. Further research on animals like the Penguins and what we study in biology class will open new doors to evolution, research, discovery, and innovation.

Stomata development in plants unraveled

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403085743.htm
Gustavo E. Gudesblat
April 3, 2012

Summary - Researchers have discovered the mechanism that regulates the stomata in plants. This is significant in protection against diseases and stress. Plants use hormones called Brassinosteroids to regulate the number of stomata, important especially during quick environmental change. More Brassinosteroids result in more stomata, and also improved disease and stress resistance, as well as healthy crops. Scientists discovered the effect of Brassinosteroids on the transcription factor of the gene regulating stomata.

Connection - The article relates to our unit on plants due to its relevance to leaf structure. The stomata, located on the underside of the leaf, regulate the exchange of gases of a plant, as well as the movement of water. The stomata are very important in the function of plants, and therefore knowledge of the controlling factors is also important. The article also relates to plant reproduction due to the involvement of Brassinosteroids in healthy crop production.

New Insights Into Plant Evolution

Monash University
ScienceDaily
Feb. 28, 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130301123314.htm

Summary:

In a recent published study, researchers from Monash University and collaborators in Japan and the U.S., identified for the first time a particular gene that regulates the transition between stages of land plant life cycle. This has may provide a potential for engineering better crops. In contrast of animal life cycle, alternation of generation occur in plants cycle. A professor and a doctor removed a gene, known as KNOX2  from moss, and they found that this caused the diploid generation to develop as if it was a haploid. This is a phenomenon known as apospory. If this happens to us humans, our entire bodies will turn out to be either eggs or sperm. The researchers found that this may provide possibilities for the mutations in the gene cause the plant to skip a generation. When a plant produces seeds identically by skipping the haploid generation, a.k.a gametophyte, it will maintain some desirable characteristics of the mother plant. This mutation, termed apomixis, would make high-qualities crops cheaper and easier to plant. 


Connections:
This articles is greatly connected with our current unit on plant. It overly talks about how alternation of generation can be related to agriculture and how a new genetic mechanism will benefit agriculture. This article demonstrate that a better knowledge of the molecular basis of plant reproduction and alternation of generations will eventually set new genetics engineer techniques in motion, which definitely will be beneficial to our daily life.

Impact Craters May Have Been Toasty Home For Early Life

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348653/description/Impact_craters_may_have_been_a_toasty_home_for_early_life
Erin Wayman
March 1, 2013

Summary:
            Life on Earth evolved roughly 3.8 billion years ago. These first forms of life thrived in hydrothermal systems. Around the same time that the first signs of life appeared, there was a frequent barrage of meteorites landing on Earth. This impacts were the largest source of hydrothermal systems and thus, life flourished in impact craters. Most of these craters have been erased by Earth's geologic activity, but a few still remain. The larger these craters are, the longer it takes them to cool off. Thus, the larger craters tended to create a hydrothermal environment that lasted a long time. Currently, scientists and geologists study the well preserved craters that are located in Germany and Australia.

Connection:
             In the microbes unit, we learned about thermophiles (heat loving bacteria) and other extremophiles which may have lived in these hydrothermal environments inside of these impact craters. These craters are a good starting point to try to discover where life evolved from.

Pacific Leatherback Turtles' Alarming Decline Continue's.

http://www.livescience.com/27519-pacific-leatherback-turtle-decline.html

Becky Oskin
Live Science
27 Febraury 2013

Summary
The Pacific Leatherback Turtle is the largest of all living turtles and can be found in any ocean.  Their name was derived from their unique “leathery” shell which can grow to 2 meters in length and weigh up to 540 kilograms.
This species of turtle was added to the endangered species list in in 1970 in the United States. With its population declining, studies shows that the Leatherback Turtle will not be able to avoid extinction in 20 years if conservation efforts are not expanded.

Reasons for Declining Population: There are two major hot spots that impact the Leatherback Turtle’s population: Their nesting (Indonesia) and feeding grounds (Americas).  75% of the species make the Bird’s Head Peninsula in Papua Barat (Indonesia) their nesting site. The major reason for the population decline is that the villagers and fishermen of Indonesia were collecting thousands of turtles from the beach (human poaching). Another reason for their decline is that they are “victims of bycatch,” which means that they are susceptible to being accidently caught in fishing or whaling nets while migrating from Indonesia to the Americas where their feeding grounds are located. Their population was also impacted by environmental changes resulting in declining food sources, particularly jellyfish.

Conservation Efforts: A law passed in 1993 prohibits the practice of that act. Although it is against the law for humans to collect the turtle eggs, it does not stop other animals such as dogs and pigs digging up the turtle eggs that are laid on the beach.  In February 2012, in the United States efforts for conservation, protected 108800 square kilometers including the Pacific Ocean off California, Oregon and Washington as critical habitat for the Leatherback Turtle to avoid extinction. The environmental change proves a challenge for the conservation of the Leatherback Turtle; however actions can be taken to ensure safety in their nesting and feeding locations, such as creating a wild life sanctuary for these turtles

Connection
The connection between the unit on animals and the article on the Pacific Leatherback Turtle is the effects of human activity, such as harvesting eggs and fishing which resulted in the near extinction of the species. The Leatherback Turtle’s ecological role as a food source to certain predators and its own food source such as jellyfish is impacted by environmental changes and human activities.

Harnessing Plant-Invading Fungi for Fuel

Monica Kanojia (editor)

January 8, 2013

http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=126518&org=NSF

Summary:  Endophytes live in plant tissues and they do not cause harm, sometimes there is a mutualistic relationship where the endophytes prevent the plant from a harmful bacteria. Endophytic fungi have proven to be a good source for energy. Scientists studied an endophyte known as Hypoxylon, and studied the volatile organic compounds that it produces and its antimicrobial activity and genetic makeup. The volatile organic compounds they produce can be used as fuel or a part of fuel.  The range of compounds Hypoxlon produces is important.  Different compounds have certain structures and some structures shows they can be used as fuel. Specific compounds in Hypoxlon are called monoterpenes and they are very successful fuels.  They would be more efficient and better for the environment than ethanol because monoterpenes can come from natural wastes. Also ethanol causes problems with engines and does not contain very much energy.  Scientists have talked about increasing the production of monoterpenes through bioengineering in the hope of finding a new energy source for fuel. 

Connection:  This article is related to what we have been learning about this term. It shows an example of a symbiotic relationship.  The relationship is between endophytes and plants.  It also involves fungi and how they can be useful to everyday life. Lastly, in the past we have talked about bioengineering and this an example of a real life situation in which scientists use this technology.

Plants and Pollinators Falling Out of Sync

http://www.futurity.org/earth-environment/plants-and-pollinators-falling-out-of-sync/
Diana Lutz-Futurity
March 1, 2013

Summary

               Biologists are now discovering that the bond between the plants and their pollinators are becoming more weak. Studies show that they are much weaker than what they were 100 years ago. They suspect this to be an effect of climate change and habitat loss. Nearly half the bees are left that pollinate certain flowers, each carrying even less pollen that is effective in pollinating that certain flower. This is a big factor as to how flowers are able to reproduce. Other factors in this decrease in the bond are the timing. Studies show that some flowers are blooming nine days earlier while the bees are coming out in a substantially different time. This therefore decreases the amount of time they are able to interact and ultimately making them "fall out of sync" as the title implies. Although these connections may be affected, their methods are flexible and can be replaced by new ones.

Connection

                 This article connects to our curriculum because it talks about plants. It also talks heavily about how certain plants reproduce, by pollination, which is what we have been learning in the past chapter. This also has other connections such as animals, the bees. The process of pollination and fertilization in plants, even blooming times, tie directly to our biology unit.

Leaf-cutting Ants Prefer Low-Fungi Leaves

Arthur Nead 
 Futurity.org
 March 7, 2013
http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/leaf-cutting-ants-prefer-low-fungi-leaves/

Summary:
Leaf-cutting ants are major defoliators, inflicting billions of dollars of damage to agriculture in the southern United States and Central America. The ants harvest chunks of leaves, bring them to their nests, and pile them to create compost heaps that host a special fungus that the ants use to feed themselves and their larvae. However, a recent study shows that the ants selectively pick their leaves based on levels of another fungus already living in the leaves: cryptic endophytes. This symbiotic fungus is believed to negatively affect the growth of the food fungus the ants grow, and because of this ants will pick leaves with lower levels of this fungus. This discovery suggests that cryptic endophytes could be used someday as leaf-cutting ant detterent.

Relevance:
In the article symbiosis between plants and fungi and animals and fungi are shown, which links the article to our fungi unit as well as to some extent our plant unit.   

Deadly Bacteria That Resist Strongest Drugs Are Spreading

Denise Grady
New York Times
March 5, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/health/deadly-drug-resistant-infections-rise-in-hospitals-report-warns.html?ref=science&_r=0

Summary:

According to the article, a certain pathogenic bacteria that is resistant to even the strongest antibiotics is becoming more and more frequent in hospitals across the United States. These bacteria are normally found in the human gut, but because of frequent antibiotic exposure they have become highly resistant to all known antibiotics, including carbapenems, which are usually a last resort antibiotic for doctors trying to cure the disease. One of the most dangerous features of the bacteria is that the pathogenic genes are located on a plasmid, so that it can be easily passed along to other bacteria. So far, the illness has only been found in those that are already severely ill and the disease has not yet spread beyond hospitals. However, it could easily spread outside of hospitals if it is not quickly treated. Forty two states have had cases of carbapenem-resistant infections, but the problem is most serious in the Northeast, especially New York City. Hospitals are now urged to do all possible measures to contain such a bacteria, which includes prescribing antibiotics only when they are needed.

 

Relevance:

This article is greatly relevant to our previous unit in biology and our term lab. Last unit, we learnt about bacteria and we also talked a lot about the problem of antibiotic resistance. Also, our term lab was about the use of natural substances to inhibit bacterial growth. Lastly, the article talks about plasmids, which we learnt about in the unit.

Plants, Microbes Team Up to Resist Drought

Futurity.org
Published February 20, 2013
No Author
http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/plants-microbes-team-up-to-resist-drought/

Summary

A study at Penn State has shown that viruses and fungi can help plants survive in certain tough conditions. The researchers tested infected different species of plants with different viruses and found that viruses helped increase drought resistance and sometimes cold tolerance. Further evidence suggests that the virus does not have to replicate in the specific cells where resistance occurs to produce this effect. Other studies have studied plants that live in volcanic soils and geothermal ground and found that the plants need to grow together with a fungi in order to tolerate the high temperatures. Plant fungi often have viruses, so viruses may also be responsible for this trend. Researchers do not understand how viruses help plants, but are researching more in hopes of finding a way to use this information to increase crop production in times of drought.

Connection

This relates to our study of plants and viruses. We learned that viruses are packages of nucleic acids wrapped in a protein coat that insert themselves into a host’s DNA in order to reproduce. We learned about pathogenic viruses, however this article shows that viruses are not always harmful. The virus DNA may be responsible for changing the plants characteristics. Also, it relates to what we learned about plants surviving in stressful environments. Plants normally would need an adaptation to survive during a drought, and the symbiotic relationship with a virus shows another adaptation to survive  a lack of water.

Deadly ‘Brain-Eating’ Microbe Outbreak in Pakistan

RT News
Published October 9, 2012
http://rt.com/news/brain-eating-microbe-pakistan-016/

Summary:
Karachi, a major city in Pakistan, experienced an outbreak of Naegleria fowleri, or as it is more commonly referred to, “brain-eating amoeba”. Naegleria fowleri is a deadly freshwater microbe that kills 98% of infected individuals. Though the original source of the amoeba is unknown, it is transmitted through contaminated water into the nasal cavity. After that, it travels to the brain and causes inflammation. Those who are infected by this microbe experienced symptoms of headaches, stiff necks, fever, and stomach ache. The symptoms early on are mild, however, after five to seven days death is likely because there no cure has been developed for it.

            People normally contract the disease through swimming in contaminated water, but health authorities said that many of the victims were not swimmers. In a press conference, the Health Minister, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, said that it was a serious cause of concern that people may be contracting the infection by using tap water. The city’s water supplier is the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board. They announced that they are increasing chlorine levels at water treatment facilities. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to determine the source of the contamination because the specific microbe, Naegleria fowleri can only be identified in microscopic study of the cerebrospinal fluid.

Connection:

This article connects to our study of microbes because it discusses the impact of a microbe on a human community. We studied various types of microbes, such as amoebas, and examined their impacts on the environment. This article shows an example of a harmful microbe, Naegleria fowleri, and reveals the dangerous impact it had on Karachi.

Different reproductive methods lead to different defense systems in plants

Jack Billings
http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/sex-life-of-plants-can-alter-their-defenses/
Published: February 25, 2013
Source: futurity.org
Author: Krishna Ramanujan

Summary:
Recent studies have shown that the evolution of a plant’s defense system is tied to the method the plant uses to mate. Some plants self-fertilize or mate with relatives (inbreeders) while others mate with non-relatives (outcrossers). Researchers have found that these two types of mating styles have caused very different defense strategies to evolve. Inbreeders’ defense systems do not become activated until after their leaves have been eaten or damaged. The defense systems of outcrossing species however, are always turned on. One reason for a defense system that only activates when needed could be that inbreeders often colonize new areas where they have little to no predators and, therefore, do not need the defense. The reason inbreeders have an advantage for colonizing new areas is that they do not require a large population to reproduce because they can self-fertilize or breed with their relatives. The inbreeders that had their defense systems turned on all the time were wasting energy and were therefore outcompeted (through natural selection) by those who only turned their defenses on when necessary. On the other hand, outcrossers colonizing new areas is much more rare, (because of their need for a large population to reproduce) so they constantly need to defend against herbivores and parasites that could hurt them. Because of this, they have developed defense systems that are on at all times.

Connection:
This connects to our study of plants and evolution because it discusses how one aspect of a plant may have affected the evolution of another. More specifically, it connects to the different methods of reproduction, and the different defense systems. It explains that the methods of reproduction of different plants have (over time) determined the way the plants defend themselves, and it discusses how these defense systems are adaptations.

Fungi Offer New Clues against Asthma

Published February 19, 2013

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130219121216.htm

Summary

A study done by a team of researchers, led by Dr Hugo van Woerden from Cardiff University's Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, suggests a relationship between asthma and the presence of fungi in the lungs. For many years, it had been thought that lungs were sterile or free from microorganisms although this research and others prove differently. They found that although there are large numbers of fungi in the both healthy lungs and the lungs of asthma patients, the species of fungi are different. The researchers examined the mucus of both asthma patients and healthy individuals and found that there were about 136 different species, 90 more common in asthma patients and 46 more common in healthy lungs. Another previous study done by the same team found that removing fungi from the homes of asthma patients could help improve life for them. The knowledge of fungi in the lungs of asthma patients and the link between fungi and asthma could lead to more research and better treatments in the future.

Connection

This connects to our unit on microbes because the study involves different species of fungi found in human lungs. Also, they live inside our bodies just like other microorganisms we learned about such as E. coli.