Now that the genome (DNA) of humans and many other organisms have been sequenced, biologists are turning their attention to discovering how the many thousands of structural and control genes -- the "worker bees" of living cells that can turn genes on and off -- function.
The duck-billed platypus: part bird, part reptile, part mammal -- and the genome to prove it. An international consortium of scientists has decoded the genome of the platypus, showing that the animal's peculiar mix of features is reflected in its DNA. An analysis of the genome, published today in the journal Nature, can help scientists piece together a more complete picture of the evolution of all mammals, including humans.
New guidelines developed by the American Academy of Neurology confirm that the drug botulinum toxin is safe and effective for treating cervical dystonia, a condition of involuntary head tilt or neck movement, spasticity and other forms of muscle overactivity that interfere with movement in adults and children with an upper motor neuron syndrome, and excessive sweating of the armpits and hands.
The recent increase in food prices throughout the world has caused tremendous social upheaval, says UAB political scientist Nikolaos Zahariadis, Ph.D. Zahariadis is an expert on European public policy and foreign aid and is director of international studies at UAB. He also is author of the new book "State Subsidies in the Global Economy" (2008 Palgrave Macmillan).
Laughter yoga can really make a difference in your overall health. While it shouldn't replace other types of exercise, laughter yoga is fun and it can help to reduce stress, enhance the immune system, and even tone muscles, say University of Michigan Health System fitness experts.
Researchers estimate that about 20 percent of all strokes are caused by atrial fibrillation, a chaotic electrical heart rhythm that occurs in as many as 2.2 million Americans. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for people with AF, including a new device under investigation at the U-M Cardiovascular Center.
Earthwatch kicks off a five-year global forest research program at the Smithsonian as part of the HSBC Climate Partnership. Over the next four years, hundreds of employees from the world's largest bank will slog through a forest bordering Chesapeake Bay, learn about how climate change relates to their bottom line, and live in dorms for 12 days at a time.
Recent economic events have shaken the confidence of many Americans with respect to their ability to achieve the "American dream." "With rising numbers of home foreclosures, job cuts, and loss of savings, more Americans are encountering severe periods of economic risk and insecurity in their lives," says Mark R. Rank, Ph.D., poverty expert and professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis.
Robert Fisher and Cal Jordan are among a team of scientists who will expend 22 million computational hours during the next year on one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, simulating an event that takes less than five seconds.
Latest robotics surgery trend has made its debut in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialty, where cancer and otolaryngology surgeons say they like the robot's improved accuracy. Patients benefit from reduced post-op pain and shorter recoveries, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Adaptations to the robot procedure were needed for head & neck cases.
Today, in celebration of the Hubble Space Telescope's 18th launch anniversary, 59 views of colliding galaxies constitute the largest collection of Hubble images ever released to the public. This new Hubble atlas dramatically illustrates how galaxy collisions produce a remarkable variety of intricate structures in never-before-seen detail.
April 25 is World Malaria Day 2008 and despite the grim statistics out of Africa there's cause for celebration. Florida State University biologists have discovered an autoimmune-like response in blood drawn from malaria-infected African children that helps to explain why existing DNA-based anti-malaria vaccines have repeatedly failed to protect them.
We all know the story of a man named Brady and the group that somehow formed a family. But if the iconic "˜70s sitcom about a "blended" family reflected reality, the Brady Bunch likely would have been dealing with much more than silly sibling squabbles.
AHRQ and Ad Council launched a national public service campaign designed to raise awareness among middle-aged men about the importance of preventive medical testing.
Through the ages, the sound of music in myriad incarnations has captivated human beings and made them sing along, and as scholars have suspected for centuries, the mysterious force that shapes the melodies that catch the ear and lead the voice is none other than math.
A rehabilitation therapy developed by a UAB neuroscientist produces changes in the structure of the brain, the first evidence of actual brain remodeling resulting from a rehabilitation therapy. In findings presented online in Stroke, sophisticated analysis of MRI images of stroke patients showed that Constraint Induced (CI) therapy produced a significant increase in the amount of gray matter present in the brains of patients receiving the therapy.
Researchers have developed novel atomic force microscopy probes that can quickly and simultaneously measure biomolecule or material properties including adhesion, stiffness, elasticity and viscosity, in addition to the standard AFM topography scan.
By combining the use of stents and photodynamic therapy, also called SpyGlass, physicians at the University of Virginia have been able to significantly increase survival rates for patients suffering from advanced cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the liver bile duct.
Researchers at NIST have demonstrated a new device that creates nanodroplet 'test tubes' for studying individual proteins under conditions that mimic the crowded confines of a living cell.
Most parents believe that any medicine prescribed by a health care provider for their child is safe and approved by the FDA for use in children, according to a report by the U-M C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health. But, experts say, many may be surprised to learn that less than one-third of prescription medicines available for kids actually have formal FDA approval.
World War II-era physiologists helped solve physiological problems related to flight, research that helped pave the way for an Allied victory in the air. Dr. Jay B. Dean of the University of South Florida College of Medicine prepared a presentation on his historical research for the Experimental Biology conference in San Diego.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have discovered why rocket engines are occasionally destroyed by mysterious waves of sound. The new imaging techniques allow scientists to observe and understand the destructive waves.
Two professors, one from USC and another at UCLA, led Israeli and Palestinian archaeologists over the course of five years to draft a plan that covers the fate of the antiquities, and the sacred places, in the event of a two-state solution. They are hoping to remove these treasures from the political arena and remove a potential roadblock on the path to peace.
A growing number of high school and college students are turning to stimulants like ADHD drugs and energy drinks to help them through their stress "” particularly during exam time. U-M experts say that misuse of stimulants can lead to serious health consequences, and encourage parents to take steps toward preventing their children from overusing stimulants.
Relief for a stuffy nose, watery eyes or post-nasal drip is just a rinse away, say experts at the U-M Health System. Nasal irrigation - rinsing the nose and nasal passages with a solution, typically salt water "“ is a cheap and easy way for the millions of people who suffer with spring allergies and nasal congestion to alleviate symptoms.
The FDA recently approved TREANDA, a novel chemotherapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It is the first new agent for CLL patients approved by the FDA since 2001.
Women may reduce the risk of their breast cancer returning by starting treatment with Femara (letrozole) anywhere from one to seven years after finishing tamoxifen therapy, according to a new analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
International students considering this spring if they want to join the 500,000 other students from abroad already in the U.S., can get tips before they come in a new book on how adjust to academic demands and living situations that may require a new understanding of how to treat members of the opposite sex and how to as rent an apartment or buy a used car.
Two Mayo Clinic researchers who study the role nanoparticles may play in hardening of the arteries and in the formation of kidney stones, will lead a symposium on how these super-small particles may affect the body's physiology. The symposium will take place April 8 at the Experimental Biology conference in San Diego.
Astronomers have found evidence for a medium-size black hole at the core of Omega Centauri, one of the largest and most massive globular star clusters orbiting our Milky Way Galaxy.
A new study could have a profound effect on fetal deaths and injuries caused by car accidents. The study, by researchers at the University of Michigan, found that about 200 fetuses each year would not be lost if pregnant women properly buckled their seatbelts every time they were in an automobile.
Instead of a silver bullet to kill cancer cells, USC biologists discover a way to protect all other cells against chemotherapy while leaving cancer cells vulnerable. Experts call the animal study a major advance in cancer research.
Kevin Knobloch, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), is calling for urgent change and a rapid, immediate reduction of emissions to combat the effects of global warming. Knobloch's comments appear in the latest edition of Conversations "“ an online discussion focused on the transforming impact of science. www.crdf.org/conversations
Maria Blair, associate vice president and managing director of the Rockefeller Foundation, says there is an immediate need for the practical use of already available scientific data regarding global climate change. Blair's comments appear in the latest edition of Conversations "“ an online discussion focused on the transforming impact of science. www.crdf.org/conversations
Dr. Alan Hamlet, a research assistant professor at the University of Washington's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is urging that steps be taken to mitigate future emissions that contribute to climate change while adapting to current circumstances.
Whether or not Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination for president, the question of how much being a woman helped or hurt her campaign will linger for a long time. A WUSTL professor discusses the unique challenges Clinton faces and why people seem to react so strongly to her.
A groundbreaking discovery about how molecules work sheds new light on a Nobel-Prize winning theory from a decade ago.
The American Physiological Society has awarded Michigan State University Professor Stephanie W. Watts the 2008 Henry Pickering Bowditch Memorial Award for early-career achievement. Dr. Watts has focused her research on whether serotonin plays a role in hypertension. The award is the Society's second highest.
Actress and activist Morgan Fairchild has teamed up with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the American Stroke Association (ASA). She is raising awareness about the warning signs of stroke and the importance of getting to the emergency department fast with a campaign called "Give Me 5: Walk, Talk, Reach, See, Feel."
Heart damage due to blocked arteries remains the leading cause of disease and death in the Western world, but a Florida State University College of Medicine researcher is helping to open new pathways toward treating the problem.
Some of the nation's leading economists have formed The Enterprise Initiative, based at the University of Chicago, to assemble data and develop models based on the role of enterprise in emerging economies. The models will be used to evaluate the impact of factors such as occupational choice, education and the availability of credit and insurance.
Maryland Day - the annual University of Maryland open house - is 10 years old! Last year, the event drew more than 77,000 visitors who came to find out what the university is all about. Open 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on April 26 in College Park. The first 50,000 visitors get a free cupcake to celebrate.
In a paper that will be published in Physical Review Letters, researchers at Michigan State University's National Superconducting Laboratory (NSCL) report the first ever discovery of a nuclear isomer by Penning trap mass spectrometry.
Astronomers have made the best ever determination of the power of a supernova explosion that was visible from Earth long ago using two methods together for the first time -- X-ray observations of a supernova remnant and optical observations of the expanding light echoes from the explosion. These results establish the validity of an important new method for studying supernovas.
Researchers at Georgia Tech and Emory University have created a robot, designed to help users with limited mobility with everyday tasks, that moves autonomously to an item selected with a green laser pointer, picks up the item and then delivers it to the user, another person or a selected location such as a table. The new robotic communication method may help robots find their way into the home sooner.
Researchers from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry are tracking coyotes using GPS and sorting through coyote scat to determine what the animals eat and how they affect deer populations.
Tests on the influence that a stress-related hormone has on learning in ground squirrels could have an impact on understanding how it influences human learning. Researchers have found that when they perform normal survival tasks, ground squirrels learn more quickly if they have a modest amount of cortisol, a hormone produced in response to stress.
Along an isolated, rocky stretch of Greek shoreline, a Florida State University researcher and his students are unlocking the secrets of a partially submerged, "lost" harbor town believed to have been built by the ancient Mycenaeans nearly 3,500 years ago.
University of Maryland research that started with bacteria from the Chesapeake Bay has led to a process that may be able to convert large volumes of all kinds of plant products, from leftover brewer's mash to paper trash, into ethanol and other biofuel alternatives to gasoline.
A new microscope design allows nanotechnology researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to track the motions of nanoparticles in solution as they dart around in three dimensions. The researchers hope the technology, which NIST plans to patent, will lead to a better understanding of the dynamics of nanoparticles in fluids and, ultimately, process control techniques to optimize the assembly of nanotech devices.
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