Author Archives: ev1

Palm trees 'may hold key to immortality'

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Washington, December 20 (ANI): The key to longevity may not lie in a miraculous essence of water, but rather in the structure and function of cells within a plant and not a special, mysterious, rare plant, but one that we may think of as being quite commonplace, even ordinary - the palm, researchers say.

For centuries, humans have been exploring, researching, and, in some cases, discovering how to stave off life-threatening diseases, increase life spans, and obtain immortality.

Biologists, doctors, spiritual gurus, and even explorers have pursued these quests - one of the most well-known examples being the legendary search by Ponce de Leon for the "Fountain of Youth".

P. Barry Tomlinson from The Kampong Garden of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Miami, teamed up with graduate student Brett Huggett from Harvard University to write a review paper exploring the idea that palms may be the longest-lived tree, and whether this might be due to genetic underpinnings.

Having retained his essay in his personal files, Tomlinson found that it provided an excellent literature background for working on the question of cell longevity in relation to palms.

A component of an organism's life span that biologists have been particularly interested in is whether longevity is genetically determined and adaptive.

For botanists, discovering genetic links to increasing crop production and the reproductive lifespan of plants, especially long-lived ones such as trees, would be invaluable.

In their paper, Tomlinson and Huggett emphasize that in many respects, an organisms' life span, or longevity, is determined by the period of time in which its cells remain functionally metabolically active.

In this respect, plants and animals differ drastically, and it has to do with how they are organized-plants are able to continually develop new organs and tissues, whereas animals have a fixed body plan and are not able to regenerate senescing organs. Thus, plants can potentially live longer than animals.

"The difference in potential cell longevity in plants versus animals is a significant point," Tomlinson said.

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Palm trees 'may hold key to immortality'

Longevity Global Inc. Offers 20% Discount This Christmas, on its Plasma Cutting Machines and Consumables Kits

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Longevity Global Inc. is now offering 20% discounts on all of its plasma cutting machines and plasma cutting equipment including all of its specially crafted plasma cutters and plasma cutter consumable kits.

Hayward, CA (PRWEB) December 19, 2012

The US based company - Longevity has a limited but successful series of plasma cutting machines, which comes in 1 phase plasma cutters and 2 phase plasma cutters. Longevity Global Inc.'s 1 phase plasma cutter comes with force cut series, which has ForceCut 40D (40 A, 5000 watts), ForceCut 50D (50 A, 5000 watts), ForceCut 40i (40 A, 6500 watts), ForceCut 50i (50 A, 6500 watts) ForceCut 60i (60 A, 7000 watts) and ForceCut 80i (80 A, 9000 watts).

On the other hand, Plasma Cutter Consumable Kits include tips, electrodes, shield cups and gas diffusers that are available of heavy discounts. The consumable kits are tailored perfectly to insure you maximize the usage. The consumables are available at various amperes 40 amp, 50 amp, 60 amp, 70 amp, 80 amp and 100 amp, all at discounted prices that are available during the festive Christmas season.

Longevity Global Inc. has a wide distribution in UK, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Australia and several other countries. With exceptional and effective services, Longevity ensures the quality equipment for its customers as each of these go through various testing processes before reaching its master. Longevity believes in building an immense ethical and professional relationship with its customers. That is why Longevity has the power to last.

About the company:

Longevity Global, Inc. has been providing quality products and exceptional service for over five years. At Longevity Global, Inc., customers get prime quality welding machines and welding equipment. It ensures quality with the help of inspections during production. Each product is tested before it is sold to customers so that it is in compliance with the quality standards set by the company.

For more information please visit: http://www.longevity-inc.com

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Longevity Global, Inc.

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Longevity Global Inc. Offers 20% Discount This Christmas, on its Plasma Cutting Machines and Consumables Kits

Chaos Theory – explained – Video

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Chaos Theory - explained
Chaos theory is a field of study in mathematics, with applications in several disciplines including physics, engineering, economics, biology, and philosophy. Chaos theory studies the behavior of dynamical systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions, an effect which is popularly referred to as the butterfly effect. Small differences in initial conditions (such as those due to rounding errors in numerical computation) yield widely diverging outcomes for such dynamical systems, rendering long-term prediction impossible in general. This happens even though these systems are deterministic, meaning that their future behavior is fully determined by their initial conditions, with no random elements involved. In other words, the deterministic nature of these systems does not make them predictable. This behavior is known as deterministic chaos, or simply chaos. Chaotic behavior can be observed in many natural systems, such as weather, swarming bees and schooling fish Reference: en.wikipedia.org Created at http://www.b2bwhiteboard.comFrom:B2BwhiteboardViews:0 0ratingsTime:01:23More inFilm Animation

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Chaos Theory - explained - Video

Core Practical: Investigating the permeability of beetroot membranes – Video

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Core Practical: Investigating the permeability of beetroot membranes
This video demonstrates how to investigate the permeability of a beetroot membrane by changing the alcohol concentration. The video is intended as a revision resource for AS Biology students.From:James HillViews:0 0ratingsTime:07:04More inEducation

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Core Practical: Investigating the permeability of beetroot membranes - Video

Tahara – The Key to Salah – Video

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Tahara - The Key to Salah
http://www.sacredlearning.org Shaykh Husain Abdul Sattar Shaykh Husain [may Allah preserve him] was born in Chicago (USA) in 1972. After completing his primary education at schools in his hometown near Chicago, he joined the University of Chicago where he studied Biology, Arabic and Islamic Civilization. It was during this period that he began his study of sacred knowledge, studying Arabic grammar (nahw), Hanafi Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh under ulama (scholars) in Chicago. In 1994 Shaykh Husain also began training in Islamic spirituality under Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad, a leading shaykh in this field. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Shaykh Husain enrolled in the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. Along with his medical studies, he continued his studies of sacred knowledge. In his final year he took leave from medical school to focus on his religious studies, traveling to Syria and then Pakistan, where he studied a traditional curriculum for a number of years under some of their greatest scholars. Throughout his years of study, Shaykh Husain continued his training under Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad. He was blessed with the close company of his Shaykh, learning the science of the purification of the heart. The deep taqwa and firm adherence to the sunnah and Shariah that characterized his teacher were eventually transferred to the student and Shaykh Husain was formally authorized in this science by Shaykh Zulfiqar in July 2001. Shaykh Husain has completed medical ...From:strivingmuslim1Views:0 1ratingsTime:12:36More inEducation

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Tahara - The Key to Salah - Video

Core Practical: Investigating the effect of enzyme concentration on the initial rate of reaction – Video

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Core Practical: Investigating the effect of enzyme concentration on the initial rate of reaction
This video is intended as a revision aid for AS Biology students. Here the core practical, effect of enzyme concentration on the initial rate of reaction is demonstrated.From:James HillViews:0 0ratingsTime:04:58More inEducation

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Core Practical: Investigating the effect of enzyme concentration on the initial rate of reaction - Video

Frog Beer – Video

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Frog Beer
A frog escapes from a holding tank in a biology laboratory and sets out to explore... Based on a true story. Hazardous Materials, Ltd. Writing and Directing: Samir Patel Scientist: Dan DenningFrom:sspatel819Views:0 0ratingsTime:02:17More inEntertainment

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Frog Beer - Video

Dragonflies have human-like 'selective attention' – Video

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Dragonflies have human-like #39;selective attention #39;
This video shows a dragonfly on the hunt for prey - at normal speed and then in slow motion. The dragonfly hovers while it searches for prey, moving its head and then repositioning its body, ready to pursue a target. When a target is identified (in this case a small fly), the dragonfly locks on and ignores all other potential targets. It swoops up and catches its prey. Background: University of Adelaide researchers have found evidence that the dragonfly is capable of higher-level thought processes when hunting its prey. The discovery, published online today (20 Dec 2012) in the journal Current Biology, is the first evidence that an invertebrate animal has brain cells for selective attention, which has so far only been demonstrated in primates. For more about this story - Dragonflies have human-like #39;selective attention #39; - please visit the University of Adelaide #39;s news and events site: http://www.adelaide.edu.au Credit: Dr Steven Wiederman and Associate Professor David O #39;Carroll, Adelaide Centre for Neuroscience Research, University of Adelaide.From:universityofadelaideViews:6 0ratingsTime:00:21More inScience Technology

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Dragonflies have human-like 'selective attention' - Video

IU Cloud Computing MOOC: Biology on the Cloud 3: PAS Elementary: Embarrassingly Parallel – Video

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IU Cloud Computing MOOC: Biology on the Cloud 3: PAS Elementary: Embarrassingly Parallel
Assistant Prof. Michael Schatz (Simons Center for Quantitative Biology) on the use of Cloud Computing in genetic sequencing.From:cglmoocsViews:1 0ratingsTime:05:06More inPeople Blogs

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IU Cloud Computing MOOC: Biology on the Cloud 3: PAS Elementary: Embarrassingly Parallel - Video

IU Cloud Computing MOOC: Biology on the Cloud 4: PAS Mid-Grade: Loosely Coupled – Video

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IU Cloud Computing MOOC: Biology on the Cloud 4: PAS Mid-Grade: Loosely Coupled
Assistant Prof. Michael Schatz (Simons Center for Quantitative Biology) on the use of Cloud Computing in genetic sequencing.From:cglmoocsViews:3 0ratingsTime:10:15More inPeople Blogs

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IU Cloud Computing MOOC: Biology on the Cloud 4: PAS Mid-Grade: Loosely Coupled - Video

IU Cloud Computing MOOC: Biology on the Cloud 5: PAS Higher-Ed: Tightly Coupled – Video

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IU Cloud Computing MOOC: Biology on the Cloud 5: PAS Higher-Ed: Tightly Coupled
Assistant Prof. Michael Schatz (Simons Center for Quantitative Biology) on the use of Cloud Computing in genetic sequencing.From:cglmoocsViews:0 0ratingsTime:08:06More inPeople Blogs

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IU Cloud Computing MOOC: Biology on the Cloud 5: PAS Higher-Ed: Tightly Coupled - Video

Advancing Cotton Biology Drives Future Variety Improvement

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Cotton Genomic Blueprint Offers Benefits for Growers, Consumers, and Scientists

NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --As published in the December 20 issue of Nature, an international consortium of scientists has assembled a 'gold standard' sequence of the simplest cotton variety (Gossypium raimondii) and compared it to 'draft' sequences of three other Gossypium species, one of which was an Upland cotton variety.This scientific breakthrough leverages new biology to put cotton on a trajectory to increase yields, fiber quality, and to make more efficient use of the inputs necessary to grow cotton.

The research is a joint effort by a consortium of international scientists representing varied scientific research disciplines and spans more than 20 years.Led by Dr. Andrew Paterson from the University of Georgia, the findings will help expedite the development of robust and innovative cotton varieties that will help meet the fiber and food demands of a growing population, and can help optimize the use of inputs and, thus, contribute to reducing environmental impact of growing cotton.

Dr. Kater Hake, Vice-President of Agricultural & Environmental Research at Cotton Incorporated, puts the relevance of this breakthrough research into context:"The majority of the 400 research projects funded by Cotton Incorporated each year focus on ways to maximize efficiencies of cotton crops in varied geographic regions, each facing varying challenges.Essential to that goal is understanding cotton plant biology at its most fundamental level."

This blueprint of the simplest cotton genome will provide cotton breeders a detailed roadmap of where desirable genetic traits are located."Whether a grower subscribes to organic or conventional farming practices, this research will speed to market improved cotton varieties that address specific soil, weather and pest-related challenges in the U.S. Cotton Belt and beyond," adds Hake.

On a broader scientific level, these whole genome comparisons provide insight into "how a polyploid becomes more than the sum of its parts," says Dr. Paterson.Adding credence to the value of this research is the fact that no cotton-centric research has been published in Nature since 1961.

Dr. Don Jones, Director of Agricultural & Environmental Research at Cotton Incorporated, was the point-person for the company's participation in the project. "As a not-for-profit, Cotton Incorporated offered modest financial support of the project.We supplemented this contribution by facilitating communications between the researchers representing 31 institutions from around the world. This Nature publication demonstrates that wise investment of grower and importer supplied funding produces cutting edge research.This accomplishment is a cornerstone that will enable us to more thoroughly understand the biology that leads to higher yield, improved fiber quality, and better stress tolerance while reducing inputs used in producing the crop.This enhances the sustainability of cotton and further broadens its appeal as the "The Fabric of Our Lives".

The value of cotton fiber grown in the U.S. exceeds $6 billion per year. Cottonseed oil and meal byproducts add another $1 billion annually.More than 200,000 domestic jobs are related to cotton production and processing, with an aggregate influence of $35 billion on the annual U.S. gross domestic product.

Cotton Incorporated, funded by U.S. growers of upland cotton and importers of cotton and cotton textile products, is the research and marketing company representing upland cotton. The Program is designed and operated to improve the demand for and profitability of cotton.

SOURCE Cotton Incorporated

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Advancing Cotton Biology Drives Future Variety Improvement

GenScript Sponsors and Presents Novel Technologies at 2012 Cold Spring Harbor Asia Synthetic Biology Symposium

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PISCATAWAY, N.J., Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- GenScript recently sponsored the Cold Spring Harbor Asia Synthetic Biology Symposium held in Suzhou, China, from Nov. 26 to Nov. 30. This is the second consecutive year that GenScript sponsored the symposium in which scientists from all over the world convened to exchange the latest and most innovative synthetic biology research results. Synthetic biology entails building novel genetic circuits to re-program cells, and has been touted as having great potential in many industrial applications including biofuel, drug, and vaccine production.

As a gene synthesis expert, GenScript presented technical breakthroughs in synthesizing long (>10kb), complex genes (having high GC content, highly repetitive sequences, complex secondary structures or unstable structural elements), one of the most challenging tasks in synthetic biology research. GenScript recently demonstrated proficiency in long, complex gene synthesis by synthesizing 17 pre-designed chunk fragments (average size: 10 kb each) of yeast chromosome VI, totaling 170 kb. The synthesis was part of the Johns Hopkins University Synthetic Yeast Genome Project, Sc2.0, which aims to build the first functional synthetic eukaryotic genome, totaling 16 Mb. GenScript delivered the chunk fragments to JHU within a short time, and successfully incorporated several pre-designed DNA elements into the sequence such as telomeric repeats and LoxP sites, which are crucial for gene function studies and subsequent genome manipulation. GenScript is the only purely commercial entity to participate in Sc2.0 thus far.

The symposium is just one of the synthetic biology advancement efforts that GenScript supports. GenScript is a long-time sponsor of iGEM, having supported over 20 teams in the collegiate competition. It is also a founding member of the International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC), which seeks to prevent terrorist abuse of synthetic biology technologies. GenScript believes its support of these efforts along with the continued enhancement of its gene synthesis technologies will increase production speed and decrease production price for long, complex genes. Such technological advancements will allow researchers to realize the full potential of synthetic biology faster.

About GenScript

Founded in 2002, GenScript is the world's largest gene synthesis supplier, and a leading biology CRO offering customized services to aid biological research, and drug discovery/development. GenScript is headquartered in Piscataway, NJ, with subsidiaries in Europe, Japan, and China.

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GenScript Sponsors and Presents Novel Technologies at 2012 Cold Spring Harbor Asia Synthetic Biology Symposium

Multiplex qPCR: Criteria for Success – Video

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Multiplex qPCR: Criteria for Success
Current best practices for gene expression analysis by qPCR recommend the use of multiple normalizers and, potentially, a second gene of interest (GOI) assay. For samples with limited nucleic acid content, such an experiment may only be achieved by performing multiplexed qPCR assays. Even when working with abundant nucleic acids, multiplexing can save time and money. Achieving successful multiplex assays depends upon several criteria, including using robust assays, correct reagent and target concentrations, and appropriate cycling parameters. Using data from several assays, we demonstrate how PrimeTime® qPCR Assays simplify a 4-plex assay system, and discuss factors that influence the success of using these assays in a multiplex format. We also compare the use of master mixes assembled de novo to commercially available reagents and discuss their effects on multiplex assays. About the Speaker: Scott Rose, PhD, is the Director of Molecular Genetics at Integrated DNA Technologies. He leads a group of scientists involved in numerous projects and research collaborations in areas such as qPCR, RNAi, antisense, RNase H2--based detection, and synthetic biology. The focus of his postdoctoral research was transcription-based gene regulation using the pancreas as a model system. For his PhD in Biochemistry, he studied RNA processing, concentrating on RNA splicing and polyadenylation.From:idtdnabioViews:55 0ratingsTime:01:09:12More inScience Technology

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Multiplex qPCR: Criteria for Success - Video