Tag: "genes"
Living Life To The Extreme
Fish live in the below-freezing waters off Antarctica. How these beasts have adapted to their incredibly harsh environment? More specifically, what changes have happened in their DNA that allow them to live where no other animal could?
Post on Oct 27, 2008 by Dr. Barry Starr
Safer Prenatal Testing
A new study out from Stanford (yay Stanford!) promises to revolutionize prenatal testing. Instead of looking at a fetus’ cells, the test looks at mom’s blood. More specifically, it looks at the small amounts of fetal DNA found in her blood.
Post on Oct 14, 2008 by Dr. Barry Starr
The Nose Knows
We've known for awhile that animals find their "true love" partly through smells. One of the things they are sensing is whether the potential mate has a different set of MHC genes. People might be able to do this as well.
Post on Sep 29, 2008 by Dr. Barry Starr
A Viral Infection that Might One Day Cure Diabetes
People get Type 1 diabetes when their bodies attack and destroy their own islet cells. These people can't make insulin anymore. The best cure would be if scientists could replace the old islet cells with new ones.
Post on Aug 29, 2008 by Dr. Barry Starr
Producer's Notes: Autism: Searching for Causes
It's challenging to report on an illness such as autism, which scientists and doctors are only beginning to understand (the disease was described in the 1940s) and over which there is so much debate. There is even disagreement around the question of whether or not there has been a real increase in the number of children being diagnosed with autism in California.
Post on Aug 19, 2008 by Gabriela Quirós
Obesity and the modern man
Given today's environment, it is surprising that there are still thin people around. The origins of this epidemic are pretty easy to spot—lots of food and less opportunity for exercise. And yet, not everyone in the U.S. is overweight. So why is one person fat and the next thin?
Post on Aug 04, 2008 by Dr. Barry Starr
Surviving Chromosomal Rearrangements
Last blog I talked about the Transcaucasian mole vole. This little burrowing mammal has lost its Y chromosome over time. Now both males and females have only a single X. I focused on how scientists can't yet figure out how there are any male mole voles running around. This week, I want to focus on what this means from an evolutionary perspective.
Post on Jul 21, 2008 by Dr. Barry Starr
Producer's Notes - Doggie DNA
There is a lot we don't know about our DNA and how it works. While there seems to be news every week about genetics, scientists are still in the early stages of finding out what effect our genes have on us (check out this post from another QUEST blogger, Dr. Barry Starr). That's what the [...]
Post on Apr 11, 2008 by Lauren Sommer
Wired for wireless: the genetics of text messaging
I love my cell phone. We have a serious relationship. One that may be biologically predetermined. Let me explain. On New Year's Eve I brought my phone with me to San Francisco's Ocean Beach, where I traditionally go, rain or shine, to watch the year's last sunset. I was by myself, but I wasn't alone. [...]
Post on Jan 10, 2008 by Robin Marks
Gay Genes? part deux
Bobby is more likely to be gay than Greg. Last blog I talked about some studies that link homosexuality and genes. The most powerful studies are those that compare identical twins to fraternal twins. These studies show that both twins in an identical pair are more likely to be gay than are both twins in [...]
Post on Nov 12, 2007 by Dr. Barry Starr
Gay Genes?
Gay Pride Parade in BrazilA big federal study is underway to identify the specific DNA changes that contribute to being a homosexual. Note that scientists are not investigating whether or not being gay is genetic. The evidence is already pretty strong at this point that there is a genetic component to being gay. What they [...]
Post on Oct 29, 2007 by Dr. Barry Starr
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