Tag: "dna"
Knowing Neanderthals
One of the more interesting things to come out of all the cheaper, more robust DNA sequencing technology has been our deeper understanding of human history.
Post on Dec 17, 2012 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Divining Human History with DNA
Everyone knows about how genetics is changing how we look at and treat human disease. But what may be less appreciated is what it can tell us about human history.
Post on Apr 16, 2012 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Phylo: Turning Biology Puzzles Into Interactive Games
People often think of medicine as hard work, but an emerging group of tech-savvy entrepreneurs is looking to re-shape people’s perspectives and turn health, and health research, into a form of play.
Post on Mar 09, 2012 by Kamal Menghrajani from QUEST Northern California
The Benefits of Radioactive Fallout
Wildlife seems to be thriving in the radioactive areas around Chernobyl. For now it looks like if animals had to choose, they'd choose radioactivity over humans.
Post on Jan 09, 2012 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Turning Chickens into Dinosaurs
If we are ever going to resurrect dinosaurs, it probably won't be like in the movie Jurassic Park. Instead, we'll have to throw evolution into reverse and turn a bird back into a dinosaur.
Post on Sep 12, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
The High Cost of Sex
Biologically speaking, sex is ungodly expensive. One reason it may have evolved in to keep our genomes stable and intact.
Post on Aug 01, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Patient-Specific DNA Sequencing Finally Paying Off
Here Dr. Starr talks about three patients who have dramatically improved lives because scientists sequenced their DNA and correctly interpreted the results. The dream of helping individual patients using data from the human genome project is finally being realized.
Post on Jul 04, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Secretive Openness
It will take a long time for scientists to figure out why those redwoods in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park are albino. And because of the way science is set up, it will take the public even longer to find out the answer.
Post on Mar 14, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
All (U.S.) Children Left Behind
New test results confirm what many of us have feared: U.S. students suck at science.
Post on Feb 14, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Reliable Science Web Resource: Scitable
An interview with Vikram Savkar, the man who runs a reliable web resource for science called Scitable.
Post on Feb 03, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Meet Our Newest Relative
Scientists identified a new human relative just using DNA from a fossilized finger. Using this DNA they showed more non Homo sapien DNA in modern humans. First Neanderthals, now Denisovans. Who knows what DNA we'll find next.
Post on Jan 17, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Post on Dec 20, 2010 by Dr. Barry Starr
Meditation Training Improves Markers Of Cellular Health and Psychological Well-Being
Intensive meditation training increases psychological well-being and telomerase activity in immune cells.
Post on Nov 05, 2010 by Darya Pino
Tracing Bad (and Dangerous) Internet Science
A dangerous rumor has been spreading across the web that people with Rh negative blood are resistant or even immune to getting AIDS. They’re not. This is the “everyone is an expert” ethos of the web at its worst.
Post on Oct 25, 2010 by Dr. Barry Starr
Test Tube Baby Nobel Prize
Dr. Edwards recently received a Nobel Prize in medicine for figuring out how to fertilize an egg in a Petri dish. Huge social impact but was the science Nobel-worthy?
Post on Oct 11, 2010 by Dr. Barry Starr
Who's Your Daddy?
What became clear to me at a recent meeting I attended is that most everyone is going to have his or her DNA read in the near future. Another thing that became obvious is that scientists aren’t doing enough thinking about what impact this will have on society.
Post on Sep 27, 2010 by Dr. Barry Starr
Reporter's Notes: Backyard Seed Banks
Today, most backyard gardeners opt for buying seed packets or seedlings at the garden store. But a handful of Bay Area groups are working to create local seed saving networks, where local gardeners can learn to save seeds and share them.
Post on Sep 17, 2010 by Lauren Sommer
Milky Mutations
Lactose intolerance is the norm for mammals. Humans are one of the few animals where a sizable minority of adults are lactose tolerant.
Post on Sep 14, 2010 by Dr. Barry Starr
More Transparent Genetic Testing
A few minor tweaks to genetic testing companies' websites could make their offerings more transparent to the public and the FDA.
Post on Aug 31, 2010 by Dr. Barry Starr
Direct to consumer (DTC) genetic tests: Here Comes the FDA
Direct to consumer (DTC) genetic tests are taking a beating right now from the FDA. Part of the problem has to do with some snake oil salesmen contaminating the whole field. But part of it has to do with the data that is available right now and how it is presented.
Post on Aug 16, 2010 by Dr. Barry Starr
