MonWorld

Spider Protein

2010-11-17T07:39:00.000-08:00

Spiders were made cool by movies such as Spider-man but they have a "it" factor of their own. Spiders produce silk fibers that are incredibly strong therefore they could be used for various things in the human world. But, there is a slight problem. How in the world do you create farms of spiders. Spiders are very territorial and kill one another if their space is invaded. To solve this problem scientist at University of Wayomi came up with an idea of making the fibers through another animal, a goat if we want to be specific. Goats have been genetically altered and as they produce milk they also produce the spider protein that can then be purified in large quantities. So far the genetic alteration does not seem to be harmful to the animals and for sure they can do the coolest trick on the farm.

Video

University of Wayomi

Decoding Dogs

2010-11-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

A sweet shitsue named Maja is a part of my family. She has a distinctive personality and I am pretty sure she talks to me and other members of my family. People that do not have a dog always laugh when I said “My dog talks you know”. But who is laughing now. Extensive researches are being conducted on dogs and their relationship with humans and they show incredible intelligence behind these cute eyes.

A PBS Nova special, Dogs Decoded presents various studies that explore the history of dogs from their wolf ancestors through archeological evidence and DNA analysis. The story goes even further when a research comparing dogs with chimpanzees shows who really is capable of communication with humans.

I truly enjoyed this program and it has much more to offer then the things I mentioned.

Watch the full episode. See more NOVA.

The Silver Pharaoh

2010-11-11T16:41:00.000-08:00

If you thought you seen all Egyptian discoveries think twice. Right before the World War II an incredible discovery was made but because of the war it was buried in time. A royal tomb of Pharaoh Psusennes I was discovered by Pierre Montet. The treasures contained in the tomb are even more spectacular then those found in the Tutankhamen tomb. A PBS special about this discovery presents this find in a new light and allows the general public to finally see the great man behind the mask.

Watch the full episode. See more Secrets of the Dead.

Plant Watering Sensor

2010-11-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

I love technology and when I see how technology can help us to use our resources more responsibly I am simply jazzed with excitement. The demand for food is growing and irrigation of the crops takes a lot of fresh water but every day is different therefor plants do not have the same water demand. With the variation of demand and constant watering water is wasted. But if there was a way to ask the plant if it needs to be watered. This approach may have sounded far fetched few years ago but now it is a different story. A development of a sensor that is clipped to a leaf is in the trial stages right now. The sensor is able to detect the lowering of water content in the plant as a change in electrical current. When a decrease is recorded a certain level watering systems get activated. The test show that the system is able to save about 25% of water used for irrigation.
Video below shows the sensor inaction.

Video

Cell Cycle

2010-11-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

Cell cycle is one of the things I am studying for my Cell and Tissue Culture Class. And it seems that Cells are constantly in a balance between signals produces within and outside. This all happens as a cell goes through its cycle. A cell cycle trough experiments and observation of cell DNA contents have been divided in to phases. G1 is the first phase and it is the longest phase because it takes about 50 % of the cells life cycle. During G1 the cell grows and manufactures proteins. Turing this phase cyclins D and E in produced and present.

If conditions are favorable cyclins will combine with G1 CDKs (4,6) and the cell will move to the S phase during which DNA is replicated. If DNA damage is found p53 induces production of p21 that will block cyclin A from binding with CDK2. Lack of binding does not allow for phosphorylation of the Rb/E2F. If the Rb/E2F is not phosphorylated the E3F is not released (the phase S does not progress). In the pauses the p53 is able also to activate DNA repair process. If the DNA is repaired the cell cycle resumes.

After the DNA is doubled the cell proceeds to G2 phase. In this phase cyclin B and A are present and CDK 1 can bind them. The activation of the CDK moves the cell towards M phase during which mitosis and cytokinesis occur.