A new database, called PhenoDB, has been developed to help track the genetic roots of every disorder that is caused by a single, rogue gene. Scientists developed the database for the Baylor-Hopkins Center for Mendelian Genomics (BHCMG) initiative. This initiative seeks to track the roughly 3,000 inherited disorders that are attributed to genetic causes. This new tool makes use of technological gains that now allow doctors to sequence about 90% of a patient’s genome at one time. Although it is still cost-prohibitive to sequence the entire genome, this form of testing provides a great ... [Read more]
NASA Contractor Accused Of Being Chinese Spy
US government officials have arrested a Chinese scientist bound for Beijing on suspicion of being a spy. The former NASA contractor, Bo Jiang, worked at the National Institute of Aerospace in Hampton, Virginia. Officials allege that he took a laptop belonging to NASA that contained sensitive information to China previously. Jiang was detained at the Dulles International Airport on Saturday … [ Read more ]
Evolution Reducing Roadkill Of Cliff Swallows
A team of researchers has been studying the causes of death for cliff swallows for the past 30 years. These birds are often found as road kill in Nebraska, their native habitat. The team found that cliff swallows with longer wingspans are more apt to be killed by vehicles because it’s harder for them to take off and ascend into … [ Read more ]
Sleep Study Shows What Happens As Kids’ Brains Mature
Researchers have published the first long-term description of what happens in the brains of adolescents as they mature and acquire adult thinking. The study monitored the brain waves of sleeping kids aged 6 to 10 years old. Scientists found that neural synaptic density in the cerebral cortex reaches its apex at the age of 8 and then begins a steady … [ Read more ]
“Don’t Feed Me” T-shirts Save Kids From Food Allergies
A new line of T-shirts can help parents protect their kids from food allergies. The “Don’t Feed Me” T-shirts have check boxes next to categories of foods that are considered to be highly allergic. Parents can denote food allergies to dairy, gluten, soy, peanuts and more on the shirt in order to protect their kids at all times. The shirts … [ Read more ]
Eating High Fat Diary May Contribute To Breast Cancer
A new study reports that women suffering from breast cancer may increase their risk of death from consuming a lot of high-fat diary foods. The study followed 1,900 women from California and Utah who had been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer over the course of 12 years. When the study was initiated, the women had completed doctor prescribed treatments … [ Read more ]
Underground Galapagos Proves To Be Amazing Discovery
The term, “underground Galapagos”, refers to the presence of bacteria and viruses living deep beneath the Earth’s surface in sediment layers and oceanic crust. These micro-organisms have been discovered in samples of rock cores from as deep as 3.7 miles into the Earth. The vastly unknown and amazing diversity of these species may not even use DNA or proteins the … [ Read more ]
Massive Dinosaur Egg Nest Found In Spain
The discovery of a massive dinosaur nesting ground at Coll de Nargó in Spain has scientists buzzing with new information. For the first time, the eggs of several species were found nestled together, although the majority were from sauropods. Not only did researchers identify the presence of four other species, but they also determined that the eggs were laid at … [ Read more ]
Several Mutations In One Gene Leads To Evolutionary Change
Genetic scientists studying deer mice in Nebraska have determined that changes in the the color of their coats can be attributed to nine small changes in one specific gene over the course of the species’ evolution. This finding explains how organisms are able to fine-tune their bodies to their habitat over an extended period of time. This also opens the … [ Read more ]
UGA Study: Early Dating May Lead To Risky Behvaior Later
A study performed by researchers at the University of Georgia reports that dating in middle and high school can lead to risky behavior later in life. The study followed 644 students through 6th to 12th grade and correlated students who never dated in either middle or high school with the highest grades. Researchers believe that students who date and experience … [ Read more ]
