Researchers Discover How ALS Spreads

Adhirath Bollapragada

18 May 2014

University of British Columbia

Published: 18 February 2014

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140218114305.htm

Summary:

             The fatal neurodegenerative disease ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, has been under investigation by researchers, and in particular, how it spreads. New findings suggest that transmission can be blocked, and that misfolded non-mutant SOD1 can be transmitted from region to region in the nervous system, offering a molecular explanation for the progressive nature of the spread. ALS is a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. There are approximately 140,000 new cases diagnosed worldwide each year.

Connection:

            This connects to our first unit on the Human Body, where we learnt about the Nervous System. We learnt about the motor neurons and how they send the information back to where the sensory neurons received received information. This article connects to the nervous system as it talks about how ALS can break down the motor neurons in the nervous system. In addition to connecting with the nervous system, this article also talks about mutation and how genetic mutation can cause mutation in protein. As a result, this article relates back to our unit on DNA and RNA. 

Origin of Huntington's disease found in brain; insights to help deliver therapy

Shruti Suresh

Period 2 Mathieu
Biology Honors
19 May 2014

Published: 28 April 2014
No author, but article is based on materials given by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140428120654.htm


Summary: 
           A research that was published on April 28, 2014, gives new awareness on the origins of Huntington's disease. The research helps advocate new targets and routes for drugs to help delay the disease. Huntington's disease is caused by a genetic mutation in the gene, huntingtin, which is present in every somatic cell. A repetitive area of DNA at one end of the mutated gene called a genetic "stutter" is what scientists hold responsible for the cause of the degeneration of the neurons. Professor X. William Yang and Nan Wang, a postdoctoral researcher used genetic scissors to cut the "stutter" off and turned off the mutated gene in neurons of the cortex and the striatum in a mouse model. Scientists at UCLA unearthed that diminishing huntingtin in the cortex partially recovered the symptoms of Huntington's disease. But when reducing huntingtin in both the cortex and in the striatum, and leaving the gene in the rest of the brain, resulted in a correction in symptoms of the disease in the mouse model.

Connection:
           This article directly relates to our curriculum because it focuses on a specific brain disease that affects a particular part of the human brain, which we studied. Due to this research, new ways to target the mutated gene have been found. For example, by finding precise locations of the origins of Huntington's disease and by using genetic scissors to cut the repetitive part of DNA in huntingtin scientists are able to reduce the symptoms of brain atrophy and help patients affected with Huntington's disease.

Dolphin Species Created Through Natural Hybridization

Thanoshi Balasuriya
Mr. Mathieu
Period 2

Author: unknown; Source: Wildlife Conservation Society
Published: January 9, 2014
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140109003754.htm

Summary:
       According to authors from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History's Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, the University of Lisbon, and other groups, the clymene dolphin species was developed through the process of natural hybridization. Hybridization is when members of two distinct species produce offspring that are a new species. This has been occurring naturally between dolphins and producing unique dolphin species. The clymene dolphin is a hybrid of the spinner and striped dolphins. Ana R. Amaral, lead author of the study and research associate at the American Museum of Natural History said, "This [study] also provides us with an excellent opportunity to better understand the mechanisms of evolution." Taxonomists used to believe that the clymene species was a subspecies of the spinner dolphin, but in 1981, it was established as a separate species. In the study, scientists took the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from clymene, spinner, and striped dolphins. For data, they amplified 6 nuclear DNA markers and 1 mitochondrial DNA marker in order to see the evolutionary relationship between the three species. The nuclear genome was more alike to the spinner dolphin, and yet, the mitochondrial genome was more similar to the striped dolphin. Continued hybridization could be possible. 

Connection:
       This article connects to the unit of evolution, as the scientists want to use the data from the study, and the study itself in order to be able to have a deeper understanding of evolution. One way to test the evolutionary relationship between organisms is molecular, or genetic analysis. You can get the exact and specific data needed to see the clear relationships that a certain organism has with another organism. In their study, they examined the DNA of the dolphins to see the correlation between the clymene, spinner, and striped dolphins. We also have been doing DNA amplification in our own labs as they have done to study these dolphins, using PCR to amplify the extracted DNA and then visualizing it through Gel Electrophoresis. The concept of hybrids is something we have also discussed in class, when talking about how individuals from different species should not be able produce fertile offspring.          
   

Scientists discover chemical modification in human malaria parasite DNA

Katie Liu

Published: 11 Dec. 2013

Link:http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2013/12/11/scientists_discover_chemical_modification_in_human_malaria_parasite_dna.html?

The Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria, is mutating to resist some of the most effective drugs against it. However, recent studies have shown low levels of DNA methylation in its genome could be a possible way to eliminate the parasite. The low levels are important to the survival of the parasite. DNA methylation is a biochemical process regulating how genes are expressed, which plays an important role in diseases. In humans, DNA methylation is very important. Abnormal DNA methylation has been linked to many diseases such as cancers and neurological disorders. Until now, it was unsure if Plasmodium contained methylation, but research has confirmed its low level presence in the parasite. The DNA methylation in Plasmodium is different from the ones in humans. Due to this difference, if a way can be found to shut down the methylation enzyme, then it could kill the parasite in sick people. Despite this, more research still needs to be done about Plasmodium.

This relates to what we've learned during our evolution unit. The reason why the parasite was becoming resistant to many drugs was due to the fact that it was mutating and therefore was able to have some members of its population resistant to the malaria cures. We also learned how animals also adapted to their environments similarly to the Plasmodium through adaptation and natural selection. This connects to what we've learned in our evolution unit. We’ve also learned about DNA and gene expression during our molecular biology unit, which relates back to the DNA methylation in the article.

Turning carbon dioxide back into fuel through algae: could this be an answer to greenhouse gas emissions?

  Summary: Marine Phycology professor Michael Borowitzka is working on an algae that can be burned for fuel as an alternative for fossil fuels. The major benefits to this process is that it does not use fresh water, so it does not take up the supply, while instead it uses salt water, which is much more abundant. Also, it is an efficient way to convert carbon dioxide back into fuel, reversing the damage that humans have done by emitting greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and restoring balance to earths climate. We probably will not see humans using algae as fuel in the next 10 years, but the study is promising for the future and it may be our answer for cutting our dependency of fossil fuels and having a renewable fuel that has a steady rate of energy production. Other people around the world are also working on this idea for alternate fuel and it is hoped that this particular alternative energy will be successful.

Connection: This subject matter relates to molecular genetics because of the biological genetic enhancement that must go on to make the algae a more efficient fuel. Also, a lot of biotechnology is involved in the process of refining and adding genes to the algae to make it more suitable for human use. It also relates to the photosynthesis unit because the algae is using the process of photosynthesis to make burnable energy from carbon dioxide.   

                              

Scientists Find ways to Stop Cell Division

Everett Han  
P2
Mr. Mathieu
10/19/2013

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131008123154.htm

Summary: The article above describes how scientists have found a way block cell division. Scientists have observed the way tumor cells divide uncontrolled and by observing the regulation of this process, have now found out a way to block mitosis. The control of cell division mainly relies on proteins. Scientists are mainly focused on Aurora and Polo because inhibitors have already been developed for them. They are currently undergoing clinical trials in oncology. Another protein that regulates cell division that is being worked on is Greatwall. The reason that this is not as hard to study is because France has now generated the first genetic model of this protein in mammals, using the mouse as a model. This model allows us to see that without the Greatwall protein,  cellular DNA does not form the right structure at the moment of cell division and the cell collapses. This prevents them from continuing to divide. Many scientists say that this is the next future cancer treatment because Greatwall blocks the function of PP2A phosphatase, a tumour suppressor frequently altered in human cancer. This implies that the inhibition of Greatwall could, at the same time, slow down cell division and reactivate tumour suppressor PP2A, a protein capable of inhibiting many of the oncogenic molecular pathways involved in cancer development. However, the key is to find the tumors of which this would work benefit from this strategy.

Relevance: This is relevant to what we are discussing in class because we are currently learning about cell division in class. We also learned that cell division occurs because of proteins. This article says that cell division is controlled by special proteins and cannot occur without these proteins. These proteins can stop or start cell division and without them, no cell division would occur. This also relates to our unit on cancer because this arivle says that stopping sell division is the next step in treating cancer. It also syas that this is used to treat tumors.

Human Blood Types Have Deep Evolutionary Roots

Rachel Ehrenberg
Oct 23, 2012
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/345987/description/Human_blood_types_have_deep_evolutionary_roots

Summary:
According to new research led by Laure Ségural and colleagues (University of Chicago), A, B, and O types of the human blood have evolved at least 20 million years ago in the common ancestor of humans and other primates. The A, B, and O versions of the blood type gene differ slightly, and there exists two ideas about their evolution: first, the A version existed long ago, and the B and/or O types then popped up in several species, and second, all species inherited types A and B from a common ancestor. Ségural's team compared the DNA stretches of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, orangutans, and a few species of monkeys. In their comparison, they found that sections in the A version of human DNA more closely matched the A version of gibbons than the human B version, implying that the A and B groups existed more than 20 million years ago. A suspected reason why evolution favored different blood types is how people with different blood types are more or less susceptible to different pathogens. For example, type O people are more susceptible to cholera and plague, and type A people are more prone to smallpox and blood clots. This diversity could have offered protection over whatever diseases developed.

Connection:
This article connects to our unit on evolution as well as our unit on molecular genetics. It connects to evolution because the article discusses the evolution of blood types in humans; types A, B, and O evolved around 20 million years ago. It also connects to adaptation because different types may have had their benefits, which caused adaptation to maintain diversity. This article connects to molecular genetics because it uses the sequencing of DNA to find the similar blood type DNA sequences between humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, etc. 

Heat-Resistant Corals Provide Clues to Climate Change Survival

Daniel J. Barshis, ScienceDaily
Published on January 7, 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130108091820.htm

Summary

Climate change poses a major threat to coral reefs around the globe. Over half of the world's coral has been killed by rising temperatures and factors related to human disturbance. However, some coral individuals have a mutation(s) that allows them to survive at higher water temperatures. Scientists have experimented on coral to find out how they survive in the wild at temperatures as high as 32°C (90°F). Researched analyzed coral animals' gene expression at varying water temperatures up to 35°C (95°F). The results showed that in the heat-resistant individuals, the 60 genes responsible for managing heat stress had been activated even before the coral was exposed to heat. Patterns such as these are allowing scientists to find out which individuals are most likely to survive climate change, which is instrumental to protecting them.

Relevance

This article employs genetics and evolution. It relates to our unit on genetics because the coral underwent a genetic mutation that permanently turned on the heat-stress genes. This was likely caused by a mutation in the repressor protein of the operon(s) that deals with the heat-stress gene, so it could not bind and prevent RNA polymerase from attaching. In terms of natural selection, the coral best suited to climate change (those with the heat-resistant mutation) will be most likely to survive. In addition, the heat resistance is an adaptation because it makes the coral better suited to warmer environments as ocean temperatures rise.

DNA of 100,000 People to be Mapped for NHS

Peter Walker, The Guardian

December 10 2012

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/dec/10/1000000-peoples-dna-mapped?INTCMP=SRCH

Summary:

Over the next three to five years, up to 100,000 people with cancer or certain rare diseases will volunteer to have DNA their mapped. This is the start of a public health initiative by the UK government. They hope that it will improve treatment and prevention of cancer. Genetic analysis is an essential part of some medical treatments. Sir John Bell, professor of medical sciences at Oxford University and the government's adviser on genetics, said that the UK hoped to lead the world in the practical applications of DNA mapping. He believes that DNA mapping can allow scientists to deliver medicines and understand cancer and other diseases more precisely.

The first complete map of the human genome was finished in 2003.  The endeavor took more than 10 years to complete, at a price of 750 million pounds. However, since then, the cost of genome sequencing has been decreasing, making it more possible for scientists to use.

A target of this investigation will be cancer. DNA analysis can detect genetic susceptibility to certain rare cancers, but through genetic mapping, scientists hope to understand the development of cancer.

Relevance:

This article connects to our unit on Genetics and DNA technology because it relates to real uses of DNA mapping, an example of DNA technology. It illustrates how scientists apply the same ideas we discussed in class about DNA technology to learn about cancer and other rare diseases. The article concerns the DNA mapping of many patients to find treatments to these diseases.