"Science and Biotechnology Books Made Simple" |
"Science and Biotechnology Books Made Simple" |
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Scientists at the National Institute of
Health (NIH)-[The Human Genome Project] have achieved 99% of high quality
sequence of the human genome with 99.99% accuracy
(April 2003). A
working draft sequence of the human genome has already been done by
scientists at The Human Genome Project at NIH and Celera Genomics
(6/27/2001). (The above information was adapted from
the Human Genome Project Information page). About 97% of the Human Genome does not
produce any protein. The non-coding pieces of DNA are known as
introns. Only 3% of the DNA (about 30,000 to 40,000 genes) will
code for proteins. The coding pieces of DNA are known as
exons, since they produce
proteins. Other News Source- Science Daily 1/24/12 Improving Crops by Manipulating their Roots Researchers have discovered that they can change root growth in the plant known as Arabidopsis thaliana, or thale cress, by controlling a regulatory protein. Scientists changed levels of the protein known as transcription factor WRKY23 in plants and analyzed its effect on root development to demonstrate that it controls important chemicals called flavonols. Changes in levels of flavonols affected the distribution of auxin, a plant hormone that controls many important aspects of development, and resulted in impaired root growth. The results of these experiments can help researchers produce new plants that are economically valuable, with improved root system that enables them to resist environmental changes which may lead to plant damage or poor yield of crops. Also, it may help protect plants from parasite attacks during the early stages of plant growth. Source-
GEN News Highlights 4/20/11 mRNA Blocks Insulin Function in Obese Mice Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research and the CECAD found that micro RNA (miRNA) plays an important role in blocking insulin function in obese mice. The researchers looked at normal weight mice and obese mice with type 2 diabetes. The obese mice produced more than twice as much miRNA-143 in their livers than the normal mice. In addition, they found that the concentration of protein ORP8 in the obese mice was low. In normal mice, ORP8 stimulates insulin to activate enzyme AKT, which reduces the sugar content in the blood. When ORP8 is lacking, insulin’s function is disrupted, and the AKT remains inactive. Scientists are trying to determine why obese mice have higher than normal levels of miRNA-143. The discovery of the signaling paths in the cells that lead to miRNA-143 production may lead to development of new drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. This study was published online on March 27 in Nature Cell Biology. Source-
MedicalNewsToday.com 2/27/11 The King's Speech Movie AND Stuttering The King's Speech movie is a story about King George VI of England's problem with stuttering - a speech disorder- and how he overcomes it with the help of a speech therapist. Scientists have recently identified specific genetic changes associated with stuttering. Stuttering tends to run in families and researchers identified mutations in a gene known as GNPTAB in the affected family members. GNPTAB gene give cells instructions for making an enzyme that helps break down recycling cellular components. Two other genes associated with GNPTAB had mutations in family members who stuttered but not in the control group. About 9% of people who stutter have mutations in one of the three genes. A better understanding of how these mutations may affect structures within the brain that influences speech will help with future therapies. The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. __________________________________________________
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