Daily Archives: May 11, 2013

Texas A&M researchers uncover genome sequence of Scarlet Macaw

Posted: May 11, 2013 at 1:51 am

The results of an avian genome project conducted by a team of Texas A&M researchers were published this month in a scientific journal.

Spearheaded by Christopher Seabury and Ian Tizard at the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, which is part of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the team studied the DNA of a Scarlet Macaw named "Neblina" in producing the first genome sequence of the breed.

The macaw is a rare type of parrot known for its intelligence, ability to fly long distances and their long lives, with some living up to 75 years, according to Tizard.

Because of their unique characteristics, affectionate demeanor and colorful feathers, the Scarlet Macaw is coveted by illegal pet traders. Neblina, who lives in a Iowa zoo, is believed to be from Brazil and was recovered during a raid on illegally imported exotic birds.

Seabury said the project is significant for several reasons. It's one of just a handful of avian genomes that's been assembled and published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Additionally, the techniques used by the team have the potential to lead the way in future avian genome research.

"We demonstrated that genome projects like this are absolutely feasible for small scientific groups," Seabury said.

He added that by studying the Scarlet Macaw genome in comparison to other known bird genomes, scientists can gain a better understanding of avian biology.

"The Scarlet Macaw Genome Project opens a variety of doors ranging from modern forensics to determining how the macaws utilize their natural habitat and landscape, as inferred from variable genetic markers," Seabury said.

The research also helps define genetic components that influence traits commonly found in parrots such as longevity and intelligence.

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Dog DNA May Yield Clues to Human Eczema

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FRIDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- A gene associated with eczema in dogs has been identified, and that might one day lead to better treatments for people with the skin disease, a new study contends.

The skin of patients with eczema -- whether canine or human -- is easily irritated by allergens such as pollens, house mites and certain foods. This irritation leads to itching, scratching and flaky skin that is vulnerable to infections.

Examining the DNA of dogs, the researchers found that a genetic region associated with eczema contains the gene PKP-2, which produces a protein important for the formation and proper functioning of skin structure. The finding suggests that an abnormal skin barrier is a potential risk factor for eczema, the study authors said.

"With the help of pet owners, we have managed to collect a unique set of DNA samples from sick and healthy dogs, which allowed us to gain insight into atopic dermatitis genetics," said first author Katarina Tengvall of Uppsala University in Sweden.

The findings, published online May 9 in the journal PLoS Genetics, could lead to better understanding of the disease, which may open the door to improved treatments and perhaps a genetic test for the condition, Tengvall said in a journal news release.

Eczema affects 10 percent to 30 percent of people and up to 10 percent of dogs. Purebred German shepherds are prone to eczema because of generations of selective breeding, the researchers said.

For the study, the researchers compared DNA samples from healthy dogs with DNA samples from German shepherds that had eczema to locate the particular genetic segment associated with the disease. Compared to human DNA, the structure of canine DNA makes it easier to locate areas that carry disease-risk genes, the researchers said.

The similarity between canine and human eczema was underscored by another recent discovery, the researchers said. In that case, a gene involved in the skin barrier was linked to human eczema.

-- Robert Preidt

Copyright 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Faun Satyros (Stop censorship ART ONLINE) – Video

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Faun Satyros (Stop censorship ART ONLINE)
Stop censorship ART ONLINE.

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saat UAS | did not pass censorship – Video

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saat UAS | did not pass censorship
Smk Muhammadiyah 1 Tangerang angkatan 2009-2012.

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Students Riled by Rutgers Observer Censorship of Article About Dr. Richard Kaul Take to the Sidewalks Wearing …

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NEWARK, N.J., May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --On Friday, two "mobile" electronic signs appeared on campus to engage students in the discussion of the Rutgers Observer editors who removed an Opinion piece from the paper's online presence and wrote a retraction the following week explaining their rationale. Unfortunately, by getting the facts wrong in the retraction, both the student journalist and the subject of the piece, Dr. Richard Kaul, are furious.

(Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130510/NY11815 )

Sidrah Bajwa, a Rutgers student, attended the first hearings of the case now being heard in a Newark court between the New Jersey Attorney General and Dr. Richard Kaul. She surmised that the $800,000 that the New Jersey Attorney General's office had spent so far on the case seemed wrong, as she has some interest in progressive medical approaches and is very conscious about the impact on education due to restraints and cuts in the State budget.

A couple of weeks ago, she submitted an Opinion piece for publication in the Observer about the waste of New Jersey taxpayer money and called on students to be aware of how they and their parents' public funds are spent in what has become known in medical circles as The Spine Turf Wars. The story was removed on April 26 from the online edition due to pressure from the attorney general's office. Zarna Patel, the Executive Editor, then published an Opinion in the April 30 issue, in which she suggests that Bajwa "may have lied", that her story was some sort of press release, and proceeded to repeat untrue bits of information about Dr. Kaul that had been long ago refuted but can still be found floating around the internet.

Kaul's attorney, Jeffrey Randolph, has written a letter to the Observer editors demanding a retraction be published for defaming and libeling his client. Bajwa, for her part, is pursuing the censorship of her opinion and the subsequent defamation of her character with the hierarchy of the University and has already met with the Dean, the Chancellor and others. Where this is all going is still unclear, but for now the students are riled and are demanding there be some attention paid to this issue, and others perpetrated by Rutgers Observer management and coverage.

For Further Information: Tameh Rohani 917.488.7124

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WILL US. GOVERNMENT CONFISCATE OUR 401K`S?…DR. RON PAUL SAYS-" I DON`T DOUBT IT FOR A MINUTE" – Video

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WILL US. GOVERNMENT CONFISCATE OUR 401K`S?...DR. RON PAUL SAYS-" I DON`T DOUBT IT FOR A MINUTE"
"They`ll do what they think is necessary and THEY WILL USE FORCE....." Dr. Paul in Chile 2013.

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Ron Paul is the Choice of the Troops March on DC – Video

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Ron Paul is the Choice of the Troops March on DC
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Freedom is Popular Ron Paul march on DC – Video

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Freedom is Popular Ron Paul march on DC
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Ron Paul R3VOLUTION MARCH ON DC – Video

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Ron Paul R3VOLUTION MARCH ON DC
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We Are Transhuman – H+ Magazine

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By: Extropia DaSilva

One question that I have seen repeatedly asked is: When did the transhuman era begin; indeed, has it begun or is it an event that is yet to occur?

One can find arguments both for and against it being an event we are in the midst of. Those who argue in favour of the transhuman era being well underway argue that we are already cyborg: We compensate for short-sightedness with eyeglasses; we wear clothes to protect our body from the elements, and we depend greatly on computing and communications devices to organise our daily lives. Those who argue against point out that, while we are clearly dependent on technology, by and large it serves only to compensate for disabilities. Glasses correct short-sightedness, for example, but do not augment vision to human+ levels. And we merely carry our smart phones around with us, rather than have them implanted. We are not really cyborgs.

So what side of this argument do I side with? I think it pretty obvious that we are in the midst of the transhuman era. We are, now, clearly in a transitional period between homo-sapiens sapiens and the post-human. It is not my purpose to pinpoint when, exactly, the transhuman era began. Perhaps it is impossible to pinpoint the moment when our relationship with technology was such that we had become transhuman. The computer age? The Industrial Age? The Stone Age? I would not be surprised if arguments could be made favouring any one as the age in which our relationship with technology was intimate enough to warrant favouring it as the beginning of the transhuman era. What I want to show is that, it began at some hard-to-define period in the past and we are now well into that transitional period between natural humans and whatever technological being is to follow.

Consider the range of our senses and physical abilities as natural humans*:

Visible light: 4 to 7 times 10^-5 meters.

Hearing: 10 to 20,000 Hz

Chemosenses: 5 tastes, 1000 smells

Touch: 3,000nm

Heat sensing 200 to 400K

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