CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (IX)

Why you’ll never see a dirty gecko?

Student Society for Science                                                                                                   11-4-15

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/why-you%E2%80%99ll-never-see-dirty-gecko

SCIENTIFIC SHIELD: Animals, technology & engineering 

and materials science

SUMMARY:

Nowadays we are wearing simple clothes. Even though little by little the T-shirts are more original, maybe they change with the light, they reproduce music,... but maybe one day you'll be posible to wear a self-cleaning jacket and it could have been inspired by a frozen lizard, gecko, to be exact.

Australian scientist Jolanta Watsonand her husband, Gregory Watson, work at Australia’s University of the Sunshine Coast in Maroochydore, Queensland. As multidisciplinary scientists, they work in many fields. Over the years they have studied the unusual properties of insect and plant surfaces.

The scientists hadn’t set out to study the water-repelling behavior of gecko skin. They just followed where their research took them. And it quickly led to other gecko-skin surprises. For instance, when the Watsons looked closer, they realized the gecko had a self-cleaning skin.

Engineers recently created nano-scale spikes on the surface of a new plastic. Those bumps repel moisture and dirt in much the same way as the gecko skin did. 

And before long engineers will be able to create whatever using properties of the gecko and maybe with other animals.

BOUNCING DROPSThis video shows how small liquid droplets 

cannot sit on the lizard’s skin. Any that rain down upon

 it bounce up, again — and away

CRITICAL APPRAISAL:

In this days scientist can do whatever. Innovations in the clothes scope could be great in my opinion.

But there is one thing that scares me. 

Is the fact that if you want create something like is you'll have to experiment with the lizard. And it's very normal that during the experiment one of the animals dies. 

It's true that I'm agree with it but I think that there's a limit. Are we able to put on one?

On the other hand we'll have incredible clothes as self-cleaning jackets, computer keyboard that only obeys us, super-hydrophobic clothes and plastics with several uses, a self-cleaning surface that can get rid of dirt just by sitting there, antibacterial properties might lead to safer surfaces in hospitals or engineers might develop materials that protect the electronics on boats.

GLOSSARY:

engineer  A person who uses science to solve problems. As a verb, to engineer means to design a device, material or process that will solve some problem or unmet need.

gecko   A small to medium sized reptile found in warm to equatorial regions of the world. Some 2,000 different species of this lizard exist, in a wide range of colors. These reptiles eat insects, worms and even the occasional small bird. But they are best known for being to climb slick surfaces, owing to special structures on the bottom of their feet.

hydrophobic  Repelling (or not absorbing) water.

antibacterial  Having properties that tend to destroy or limit the growth or reproduction of bacteria. 

multidisciplinary   Having to do with many different disciplines (such as the combination of biology and physics, or computer science and geology), or teaming up people from many different fields (such as hydrology, plant science, statistics and bacteriology) to work on the same project.

lizard  A type of reptile that typically walks on four legs, has a scaly body and a long tapering tail. Unlike most reptiles, lizards also typically have movable eyelids. Examples of lizards include the tuatara, chameleons, Komodo dragon, and Gila monster.

      

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (IX), by Marina Dorca

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (IX), by Marina Dorca

News' title: Fracking wastes may be toxic, tests show

Date of publication: April 5, 2015

Source of information: Science news for students

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/fracking-wastes-may-be-toxic-tests-show

Scientific field: environmental biology

Extract

This article talks about hydraulic fracking, which consists on extracting oil or gas from deep underground.

This technique involves watery wastes that may be toxic as they contain some chemicals. The consequences are varied; they range from contaminated ground water to affected hormones. Scientists have found out that fracking-fluids alter the effects of hormones, preventing them from developing its role.

Moreover, many energy companies use this procedure and, furthermore, they seldom disclose the precise recipe of chemicals in their fracking fluids.

Besides, last research with mice shows some other fracking chemicals effects such as obesity and heart defects.

Critical appraisal
World energy sources: pros and cons

As we have seen in this article, oil and gas fracking could make us suffer health problems and endocrine defects. All this kind of news, added to the ones about pollution, lead me to wonder if our world does have a good energy policy.
As far as I'm concerned, a great percentage of the energy we use comes from non-renewable energy sources. This type of energy ranges from petrol to gas and oil.
In my opinion, we should  cut down on the use of this kind of energies for many reasons. Firstly, barely all of them are very contaminating. According to this article, fracking pollutes ground water amid other consequences. Moreover, they are running out, so we won't be able to use them long-term. And, last but not least, the exposures of fracking chemicals have negative effects on people's health, as recent research has discovered.
Besides, I think the attitude of energy companies is very irresponsible, because they almost never show its precise recipe of chemicals. This may indicate that they have something to hide about the chemicals they use. That means they may be using polluting chemicals, and I believe they shouldn't.
So I'd propose to change non-renewable energy sources to renewable ones. I think it would be good for everyone, because there are lots of advantages: they are inexhaustible and, moreover, they don't contaminate as much as non-renewable energies do. Although it may be more expensive at first, I guess it would be better for us all long-term.

So, in conclusion, I reckon that we should consider changing the global energy system based on oil and other similar non-renewable energy, as I believe we'll appreciate it later.
 

Glossary

cyst  A group of cells that form a type of bubble-like shell or sac. Some cysts develop as a result of disease or tissue damage. Others may develop as a normal, protective during certain phases of a parasite’s maturation.

endocrine disruptor  A substance that mimics the action (sometimes well, sometimes poorly) of one of the body’s natural hormones. By doing this, the fake hormone can inappropriately turn on, speed up or shut down important cellular processes.

endocrine system  The hormones (chemicals secreted by the body) and the tissues in which they turn on (or off) cellular action. Medical doctors who study the role of hormones in health and disease are known as endocrinologists. So are the biologists who study hormone systems in non-human animals.

epidemiologist  Like health detectives, these researchers figure out what causes a particular illness and how to limit its spread.

hydraulic fracturing, or fracking  The cracking open of undergound rocks by introducing liquid at high pressure, especially to extract natural gas. Those cracks are then held open by sand that had been added to the fracking fluid.

testis   (plural: testes) The organ in the males of many animal species that makes sperm, the reproductive cells that fertilize eggs. This organ also is the primary site that makes testosterone, the primary male sex hormone.

toxic  Poisonous or able to harm or kill cells, tissues or whole organisms. The measure of risk posed by such a poison is its toxicity.


Video: This video below talks about what is fracking. It's very interesting!! Hope you enjoy it;)

 

Los-Marck

The following link send us to a page where we can download an application that explains us the Lamarckism:

http://mobincube.mobi/3378SW

If you install BIDI you can download the app from the next QR: 

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (VIII)

8/3/2015

http://noticiasdelaciencia.com/not/13033/la-nave-dawn-llega-a-ceres-como-el-primer-visitante-de-un-planeta-enano/


Summary:

N.A.S.A has always improving and his final achievement was to be the first space agency that visits a dwarf planet with a spacecraft. Ceres is the first of the dwarf planets to be visited by a spacecraft. Dawn has taken 7.5 years to reach its destination. His arrival has seen it pass behind the dwarf to hos "dark side". The satellite has turned up at Ceres having previously visited asteroid Vesta. Vesta is the 3th bigger asteriod from the Asteroids's belt (location between Mars and Jupiter).

Researchers think Ceres' interior is dominated by a rocky core topped by ice that is then insulated by rocky lag deposits at the surface. A big question the mission hopes to answer is whether there is a liquid ocean of water at depth. Some models suggest there could well be. The evidence will probably be found in Ceres' craters which have a muted look to them. The speculation is that Ceres has been struck by something, exposing deeply buried ices. The Dawn mission is expected to work at the dwarf planet for, at least, 14 months. 

Critical appraisal:

Every time people are innovation. I think that if we are arriving now to investigate dwarf planets for first time, maybe in 10, 20 or 30 years we will can know all about our solar sysitem. Maybe it discoger can show us a new incredible discover that we will can imagine. As we know more, we are nearer to be perfectly. Maybe this discover shows us that there exists life in other planets. Why not?

Glossary:

A spaceship is a vehicle, vessel or machine designed to fly in outer space. 

The scientist corner

The scientist corner: a deeper look to DNA.

Biography: Gregor Johann Mendel

Johann Mendel was born the 20 of July in 1822. He was the only boy in the family and worked on his family farm with his older sister Veronica and his younger sister Theresia. Mendel took an interest in gardening and beekeeping on the family farm as he grew up.

He went on to the University of Olomouc where he studied many disciplines including Physics and Philosophy. He attended the University from 1840 to 1843 and was forced to take a year off due to illness. In 1843, he followed his calling into the priesthood and entered the Augustinian Abbey of St Thomas in Brno.

Upon entering the Abbey, Johann took the first name Gregor as a symbol of his religious life. Gregor Mendel is most well known for his work with his pea plants in the Abbey gardens. He spent about seven years planting, breeding, and cultivating pea plants in the experimental part of the Abbey garden that was started by the previous Abbot. Through meticulous record keeping, his experiments with pea plants became the basis for modern genetics.

Mendel's first experiments focused on one trait at a time and gathering data on the variations present for several generations. These were called monohybrid experiments. There were a total of seven characteristics he studied in all. His findings showed that there were some variations that were more likely to show up over the other variation.  He called the one that seemed to be missing from the first filial generation "recessive" and the other "dominant" since it seemed to hide the other characteristic.

Mendel's work wasn't truly appreciated until the 1900s -- long after his death. Mendel had unknowingly provided the Theory of Evolution with a mechanism for the passing down of traits during natural selection. Mendel did not believe in evolution during his life as a man of strong religious conviction. However, his work has been added together with that of Charles Darwin's to make up the Modern Synthesis of the Theory of Evolution. Much of his early work in Genetics has paved the way for modern scientists working in the field of microevolution.

Article: Britain Set to Approve Technique to Create Babies From 3 People

Summary:

British lawmakers voted earlier this month to allow in vitro creation of babies with the DNA of three people. They are still discussing whether it should be put in practice or not.

This technique could prevent genetic diseases in women with mithocondrial diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, loss of vision or even premature death. By using in vitro creation, the embryo would have nucleous DNA from the child's parents but mithocondrial DNA from a donor.

Despite all this advantages, this situation has lit a fierce debate. There are people who are in favor of allowing it. For example, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, highlights the benefits it would provide, but others are not so sure. The Human Genetic Alert, for example, has said that we are crossing an ethical threshold. Its leaders have warned that if we start giving support to this kind of pioneering techniques, we might be tempted to create DNA modified babies in the future, and that wouldn’t be ethical.

(Link:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/world/europe/britain-nears-approval-of-fertilization-technique-that-combines-dna-of-three-people.html?ref=topics&_r=0)

STRIKING IMAGE

Dolly was the first domestic sheep to be cloned from an adukt somatic cell using the process of nuclear transfer. The cell used as the donor for the cloning of Dolly was taken from a mammary gland, and the production of a healthy clone therefore proved that a cell taken from a specific part of the body could recreate a whole individual. Dolly was born on 5 July 1996 and had three mothers (one provided the egg, another the DNA and a third carried the cloned embryo to term).

This is the clone process that has been used to create this sheep.

On 14 February 2003, Dolly was euthanaised because she had a progressive lung disease and severe arthritis. Dolly has a life expectancy of around 11 to 12 years, but Dolly lived to be 6.5 years old. After cloning was successfully demonstrated through the production of Dolly, many other large mammals were cloned, including pigs, deer, horses… and more animals.

The 21th of february of 1953 the cientists Linus Pauling and Robert Corey published his theory of ADN.

This theory tells us that in proteins , the α helix is ​​the main cause of secondary structure. It was postulated first by Linus Pauling and Robert Corey. The amino acids in an α helix are arranged in a right-handed helical structure where each amino acid residue corresponds to a 100° turn in the helix.

DISCOVERY:

In the early 1930s, William Astbury showed that there were drastic changes in the X- ray fiber diffraction of moist wool or hair fibers upon significant stretching. The data suggested that the unstretched fibers had a coiled molecular structure with a characteristic repeat of ~5.1 ångströms (0.51 nm).

Astbury initially proposed a kinked-chain structure for the fibers. He later joined other researchers (notably the American chemist Maurice Huggins) in proposing that:

• the unstretched protein molecules formed a helix (which he called the α-form)

• the stretching caused the helix to uncoil, forming an extended state (which he called the β-form).

Although incorrect in their details, Astbury's models of these forms were correct in essence and correspond to modern elements of secondary structure, the α-helix and the β-strand, which were developed by Linus Pauling and Robert Corey in 1951; that paper showed both right-handed and left-handed helixes, although in 1960 the crystal structure of myoglobin showed that the right-handed form is the common one.

Linus Pauing was amazed with the Nobel Price in Chemistry for his theory in 1954.

CMC's NEWS REVIEW (VIII), by Marina Dorca

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (VIII), by Marina Dorca

News' title: Britain Set to Approve Technique to Create Babies From 3 People.

Date of publication: 3^rd of February, 2015

Source of information: New York Times

 (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/world/europe/britain-nears-approval-of-fertilization-technique-that-combines-dna-of-three-people.html?_r=0)

Scientific field: Genetics (biology)

Extract:

British lawmakers voted to allow in vitro creation of babies with the DNA of three people. They are still discussing whether it should be put in practice or not.

This technique could prevent genetic diseases in women with mithocondrial defects, such as muscular dystrophy, loss of vision or even premature death. By using in vitro creation, the embryo would have nucleous DNA from the child's parents but mithocondrial DNA from a donor.
Despite all this advantages, this situation has lit a fierce debate. There are people who are in favour of allowing it. For example, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, highlights the benefits it would provide, though others are not so sure. The Human Genetic Alert, for example, has said that we are crossing an ethical threshold, and that this technique shouldn't be put in practice.

Critical appraisal: Where the limit is?

When science collides with such sensitive issues as the ones related to humans' lives, it's very difficult to determine which is the good thing to do. The ethical limits of science are pretty unclear, and the opinions related to this matter are varied. Should we leave poor babies in the hands of natural selection? Or should we interfere and try to prevent the possible diseases they carry with them?

On one hand, if we approved this technique, we could prevent most of the genetic diseases. Science has advanced enormously last decades, and it has developed pioneer

procedures which could help humans' lives to improve. This technique could be applied to women with defects in the mitochondria. By doing this, they could make sure that its son wouldn't suffer a genetic mitochondria disease, which would be great.

Despite this advantage, bioethics may not be in tune with this kind of techniques. It's true that it could prevent lots of pathologies but, on the other hand, babies would be genetically modified.

I think we shouldn't do anything against nature laws. Science is capable of doing incredible things, but I believe this advances shouldn't go in the opposite direction to what nature establishes. Furthermore, if we start giving support to this kind of pioneering techniques, we might be tempted to create DNA modified babies in the future, and that wouldn’t be ethical. We shouldn't «design» our babies under any circumstance. Does it really matter whether your son will have blue or brown eyes? We may stop caring about such things and embrace the gift of life as its given to us.

Glossary:

Threshold: the sill of a doorway.

In vitro: made to occur in a laboratory vessel or other controlled experimental environment rather than within a living organism or natural setting.

DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid: an extremely long macromolecule that is the main component of chromosomes and is the material that transfers genetic characteristics in all life forms.

Womb: the uterus of the human female and certain higher mammals.

Kidney: either of a pair of bean-shaped organs in the back part of the abdominal cavity that form and excrete urine, regulate fluid and electrolyte balance, and act as endocrine glands.

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (VIII)

Mice can teach us about

 human disease

Student Society for Science                                                                                              27-2-15

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/mice-can-teach-us-about-human-disease?mode=topic&context=39

SCIENTIFIC SHIELD: Humans & Health

SUMMARY:

Scientists understand what fewer than one-fifth of human genes do; probing mice can help fill the gaps.

Zorana Berberovic works at the Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics (FEE-no-geh-NO-miks) in Toronto, Canada. There she and other scientists are working together to figure out the function of every mouse gene.

That's because between the mouse and humans even they look and act very differently  85 to 90 percent of our genes are the same or at least very similar. So by understanding the instructions in every mouse gene, people should get a pretty good idea of the instructions in virtually every human gene too.

As we can see in the article Zorana uses the pee oh the mouses to research humans diseeses:

Zorana Berberovic coaxes a mouse to pee into a vial. Later, she will test its urine for signs of illness that could be related to "knocked-out" genes.

Berberovic and her fellow researchers even want to know which genes affect pee. They especially want to know whether chemicals that the body dumps into urine can tell us how healthy — or sick — an individual might be.

CRITICAL APPRAISAL: 

For a long time a lot of animals experiments were made. The humans normally use mouses, cows, goats...as an objects wich gives us profits.

In the article it's said that many scientists are looking well beyond pee. Their research may tease out which genes affect an animal’s size, weight, behavior — even lifespan. Matching a gene with the effect it has on those characteristics or traits is called phenotyping. But then what is the price? The death of thousands of mouses for their experiments?

It's true that we demostrate that the DNA is the genetic material with the Griffith's experiment or that we could cure some diseeses through animals but many of them die or have to be self-sacrificing for the sake of science.

Then is when we enter in the world of the bio ethics. We can kill animals if then we save lives? If we can, why not experiment with humans? Where's the limit? 

In my opinion we have to go on in science. Experience more and no matters the way. The limits? Humans. The animals, even I'm not agree at all are a little price that takes us to the glory and discovery.

GLOSSARY:

beneficiaries    The individuals who receive money, better health or some other type of benefit from some activity, decision or process.

DNA  (short for deoxyribonucleic acid) A long, spiral-shaped molecule inside most living cells that carries genetic instructions. In all living things, from plants and animals to microbes, these instructions tell cells which molecules to make.

ethics    A code of conduct for how people interact with others and their environment. To be ethical, people should treat others fairly, avoid cheating or dishonesty in any form and avoid taking or using more than their fair share of resources (which means, to avoid greed). Ethical behavior also would not put others at risk without alerting people to the dangers beforehand and having them choose to accept the potential risks.

gene    A segment of DNA that codes, or holds instructions, for producing a protein. Offspring inherit genes from their parents. Genes influence how an organism looks and behaves.

phenotype  (in biology) A term derived from the Greeks terms for “to show” and “type.” It refers to all characteristic features of an organism that can be observed. This would include its size, shape, color — even how it would typically behave. These traits stem both from its genes (what it inherited from its parents) and its “environment” — including its diet. Although individuals of a species — or even a subgroup, such as a strain —may vary somewhat, the common traits of the entire group will be its phenotype.

(The video explains the Griffith's experiment and what 

happens with the mouses used)