Identifying How Radiation Causes Cancer in DNA Sequence.

Biology Blog

 Majhor Cheel

11/1/16

Identifying How Radiation Causes Cancer in DNA Sequence.

            Researchers for the first time are identifying the part in a DNA genome sequence that is affected by radiation. The findings and specifics of cancer causing mutations have never been identified really until recently by a team of scientists in Wellcom Trust Sanger Institute. Cancer cells and tumors are abnormally growing cells that have some sort of mutation that allows them to become uncontrolled growth. DNA is the main regulator of all cellular life. From what and how tumor cells arise has been an ongoing research.

            The researchers from their finding from comparing caner cells with other tumors have found that the DNA sequence in where they are changed. It seems that their findings have found a match in the same spot. They concluded that from the different cells that were mutated they found the same signatures in genome. The way a mutation In DNA from x-rays can occur by high energy wavelengths rotating a piece of DNA to a different orientation that can cause the misreading of the cell to produce different proteins that are different from the intended protein. High-energy radiation can also delete sequences or cause balanced inversion. Balance inversion is when DNA is cut into two three pieces and the middle piece rotates backwards then gets reconnected.

            Professor Adrienne Flanagan, a collaborating cancer researcher from University College London and Royal National Orthopaedic hospital, said: "This is the first time that scientists have been able to define the damage caused to DNA by ionising radiation. These mutational signatures could be a diagnosis tool for both individual cases, and for groups of cancers, and could help us find out which cancers are caused by radiation. Once we have better understanding of this, we can study whether they should be treated the same or differently to other cancers."

            Reading this article gives hope for the ongoing research of cancer and gives new light to how might the future of cancer treatment can become. We are one step closer to curing an big problem.

Source-

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2016/09/12/study_reveals_how_ionising_radiation_damages_dna_and_causes_cancer.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+biologynews%2Fheadlines+%28Biology+News+Net%29

           

Artificial Intelligence Expedites Breast Cancer Prediction

            A team of researchers led by Wong and Jenny C. Chang, M.D created an artificial intelligence software that scans patient’s medical charts and mammograms, interprets it, and accurately predicts if the patient needs a breast biopsy.

            Currently, women are tested thru mammograms for breast cancer with 50% yield of false positives. This leads to numerous erroneous diagnoses and unnecessary breast biopsies. Not to mention the emotional distress on patients. The new software has an accuracy of 99% and is 30 times faster than human doctors. 

            This new technology means faster and more accurate results. Doctors would benefit greatly from having the help from this AI software. All fields of study benefit greatly with the help of computers and machines to process information faster and more accurately than the human brain. This development is exciting for the medical field, especially in the field of diagnostics. Enabling physicians to enter the data from patients charts into a software that accurately diagnoses patients should be the future of medical practice.

            Personally, I want to go into Physician Assistant school and work with plastic surgeons. Lately, I have had the chance to shadow plastic surgeons and I met quite a few breast cancer patients. After witnessing first-hand how traumatic the experience can be, I believe our society would benefit greatly of more tools such as this software that increases accuracy and speed which diagnoses are given. This is an amazing medical development.

Post by SRH.

Hair Testing for Drug Use- Michael Maestas

I read the article “Hair Testing for Drug use gains Traction: Critics say the practice, which may lead to possible racial bias, has outpaced the science” on the Scientific American website. This article written by Leah Samuel, a reporter in Chicago, is about the focus that many employment offices are taking on the drug tests their employers are participating in. many use the saliva test but now, the hair test is being used to get an             “Accurate” response to know if the individual being tested is a user of illegal substances or not.

Have you ever been tested for drugs as part of the interview process for a job? The tests that are normally done are very noninvasive, but that may change as more and more federal employers are begging to use hair follicles for drug tests. The process of this type of drug test is fairly simple but has some pros and cons to it. The individual being tested needs about a cotton ball size of hair if it is curly, or at least 120 strands of hair in order for the test to be properly done.

Right now there is a case waiting for a ruling at the federal Court of appeals to know if this type of testing is racially discriminating towards individuals. This topic easily comes up based on studies they have done in what type of analysis is received from the types and color of hair. Individuals with lighter hair and lower melanin have less of a chance of than individuals with darker hair and more melanin in finding the use of drugs in their system. Studies show that even though an individual may not have done illegal drugs, they can have it in their system from being around the substance. The smoke within the area will attach to their hair follicles and will give them a permanent positive on the tests “Employers are interested in hair testing as a kind of lifestyle test,” said Barry Sample, a pharmacologist and head of science and technology for Quest. I can see how this can be considered a lifestyle test, if an employee tests positive for drugs but has never done them personally, the employer will know the type of individuals the employee surrounds his/herself with.

There was a case, where six officers from the Boston Police department were fired because there were traces of cocaine in their hair. Having a job like an officer, they are constantly around illegal substances, and there is that possibility that they tested positive because they were in an enclosed area where it was being used and it entered into their blood system which makes the test give a positive for their results. This test can be great in many ways, but until they find a way to do it to make it more accurate, then it shouldn’t be used.

Are We Reaching the End of World Records?

Will there be no more Michael Jordans, Michael Phelps or Muhammad Alis? The article “Are We Reaching the End of World Records?” argues whether humans have reached the peak of performance abilities and will no longer be able to break world records.

I learned from this article that world records have been hindered by illegal doping, social changes, and rule changes. But also progressed with a better understanding of fitness, health, and exercise science. A great example is the Fosbury flop jump technique in high jump. This technique is when a person turns their back to the bar when jumping, what is typically preformed nowadays. Although this jump when first preformed didn’t break the world record, over time and with more practice it dramatically increased a jumper’s average by .5 meters.

            To me this article is interesting because it seems every year you hear people say things like “Kobe will never be as good as Jordan.” It makes me question if a sport like men’s basketball has reached its peak and if it has progressed as much as it can. Also relating to women’s athletics in the article it addressed how females weren’t allowing to play completive until recently. So my question is if females, for example will use basketball, will every reach the intensity and high performance that males have. In fifty years will they be able to get up and down the court as fast as males and be able to dunk? 
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-we-reaching-the-end-of-world-records/

Brain circuit that drives sleep-wake states, sleep-preparation behavior is identified-Tanner Findlay

Scientists at Stanford University have recently discovered a brain circuit that is indispensable to the sleep-wake cycle. This is part of the same circuit that is a "reward system" the brain uses that is necessary for animals, including humans, to survive and reproduce. The article goes on to talk about the reward system being responsible for goal directed behaviors. Behaviors like running from predators or seeking food. How then can the sleep wake circuit be connected to such activities if you cannot perform them while sleeping.

The article continues to talk about how diseases like Insomnia have only been treated with drugs that shut down the entire brain. Recent findings of this sleep-wake circuit have lead scientist to think that there is a possibility for therapies that will target this new found circuit directly and as a result, will induce a higher quality of sleep. A chemical called dopamine plays a crucial part in stimulating this circuit.  Activity in dopamine-secreting nerve cells rise upon waking and stay elevated while awake. As we transition into sleep, activity in these nerve cells decrease and stay low while we sleep.

Scientists noticed this while observing mice. One cage of mice was kept completely normal. The mice were allowed to live under normal conditions. The other cage had the mice whose sleep schedules were completely jacked up. Instead of letting them sleep when they normally would, these mice were kept up and active. The mice then started to sleep through many things that would cause the "reward system" of the brain to start up. Things like the presence of  food, a female, or even fear induced by fox urine. The mice were then placed in the opposite cage. In the normal cage, the mice had built nests. Mice in the abnormal cage had no such time to build nests because they were constantly active. When mice are placed in an unfamiliar environment they typically spend time exploring energetically. While this did occur for about 45 minutes, the rest of the time was spent building nests and once the mice were satisfied with what they had built, they proceeded to fall asleep.  Scientists concluded that this predatory state before bed was crucial to a deep sleep.

Mice have a sleep-starter site in the brain. The recent findings of this sleep-wake circuit has lead to the conclusion that humans have one too! We disrupt this preparation by doing things like watching TV, reading emails, or playing video games. Things that not only give off light, but also charge our emotions , then it is easy to see why most people have a hard time falling asleep.

There are plenty of drugs that counter dopamine. But perhaps if a person is given the right dose at the right time, the effects will wear off at the right time as well and would work a lot better than just knocking out the brain entirely. This could also be a solution to sleep-wake characterized disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Perhaps another solution to sleep trouble is to take advantage of the predatory time before bed. Instead of watching videos or movies or looking at social media we should be focusing on sleeping and hopefully fall into that deep sleep that everybody loves.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2016/09/05/brain_circuit_that_drives_sleepwake_states_sleeppreparation_behavior_is_identified.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+biologynews%2Fheadlines+%28Biology+News+Net%29

Yale team discovers how Zika virus causes fetal brain damage

I choose the article “Yale team discovers how Zika virus causes fetal brain damage” that was published in Biology net news. I became interested in this virus when I first heard about it in the 2016 Rio de janeiro Olympics. I didn't pay to much attention to it at first until I researched the symptoms and why it was threatening. although the article I choose didn't explain the virus in detail I would like to go over acouple details first. The Zika virus is passed by a mosquito by day or night, its name originated from the Zika forrest in Uganda, where it was first isolated, and is know to be popular in South America but has spread sense. Many have reported to not have symptoms while others expierence fever, eye redness and headaches. The virus is not airborne or can it be transmitted by person to person contact,it is most dangerous to pregnant women, because it affects the brain growth in the fetas. The article was about how the virus that diverts a key protein in the fetas affects developing of the brain causing a birth defeat where the brain is abnormally small called microcephaly.The virus kills brain cells in the body and interrupts the process of make new ones,the protein TBK1 who's primary job is to organize cell division in the mitochondria, is affected causing the protein to lack and cells begin to die instead of forming new brain cells. There is already an FDA approved medication called Sofosbuvir that has been very successful in preventing Zika virus infection in the neural stem cells.However, there is no cure or nothing that can be done once the patient is infected, this research is very helpful in hopes to minimize brain damage already caused by the virus and help children born with microcephaly. By Ruth Guerra

The Emotions of Insects-Katelynn Illum

            “I’ll Bee there for you: Do Insects Feel Emotions?” was a very interesting article that explored the idea that insects may have emotions and feelings. The article used experiments and quotes all from experts to explain reactions in insects not uncommon to reactions mammals would experience. The article explains how most people see insects as unthinking machines but if it could be proved that they had feelings people could see them in a whole new light. I already have started to think about them differently and wonder how their minds work.

            The article describes an experiment by biologist Clint Perry at Queen Mary University of London that attempts to find how much bees feel. In the experiment the bees were conditioned to think certain blue flowers would hold a tasty treat for them. They then gave half the bees a sixty percent sugar solution and let them loose in a location with the blue flowers. The bees that had been given the sugar flew faster to the flowers than the ones that were not given any. The sugar amped them up and made them more optimistic that there would be a treat for them in the blue flowers. The article described this as optimism bias, like how an infant will cry less when offered a sweet treat, or an adults mood will improve with a bit of candy.

            To make sure it was their emotional states and not a sugar high the researchers preformed the experiment again this time with a variety of different colored flowers. The optimistic effect only continued with the blue flowers, if they didn’t hope for a treat they would fly just as slow as the ones without the sugar solution. In the next experiment the researchers simulated a predator attack, the same optimism prevailed. The ones that had been given sugar resumed foraging fairly quickly while the others where more cautious for longer. In the final experiment the researches gave the bees a drug that disrupted receptors for dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to motivation and reward. The optimism bias disappeared, the same thing that would occur in a mammal.    

            The article quotes Katy Prudic, an entomologist from University of Arizona, to better explain how insects are viewed by people “because they’re built so differently we tend to downplay their emotional state, probably because we don’t see it in the same way we would with a dog or a cat or a cow.” The article then states that there is actually no intrinsic reason that insects wouldn’t experience emotions the real question is whether they have feelings, which are the subjective experiences of emotions. When something happens to you your body has an emotional response you breath harder or your pupils dilate, if you feel sad or scared because of what’s happened then it is a feeling and not just emotion. Antonio Damasio, a neuroscientist at University of Southern California explains that “feeling implies the presence of a mind and a mental experience, or consciousness. I have every reason to believe that invertebrates not only have emotions but also the possibility of feeling those emotions.”

            It’s interesting to think about how much more insects might feel than what we think. Its interesting too to think about how people might react if it could be proven that they really do think. Would people’s views change? Would they still just be pests? Would people try to protect them the same way that some people try to protect animals? Would it then be inhumane to kill them? However people might react, it’s amazing to think about how complex the minds of insects may really be.

To find the full article visit:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/i-ll-bee-there-for-you-do-insects-feel-emotions/