Daily Archives: February 20, 2015

Thursday February 19, 2015 03:37 PM

The Associated Press

(c) 2015, The Washington Post.

By inserting bits of human DNA into mice, scientists were able to make their brains develop more rapidly and ultimately grow bigger in the womb. The study, published Thursday in Current Biology, suggests that the evolution of this gene may be one of the things that sets us apart from our close relatives in the primate world.

Human brains are unique, even when compared with our close genetic relatives, such as chimpanzees. Our brains are about three times heavier than those of our cousins, and are more complex and interconnected as well. It's generally accepted that these neurological differences are what allowed us to evolve the higher brain function that other primates lack. But just what genetic changes allowed humans to surpass chimps in the brain arena is one that's still being answered.

There are a lot of physical differences to examine more closely, but size is such a dramatic one that the authors of the new study chose to start there.

Using databases created by other labs, the Duke University scientists cross-checked areas of human DNA that had developed differences from chimp DNA with areas of DNA they expected to be important for gene regulation. Regulator genes help determine how other genes will express themselves, and the researchers suspected that some of these regulators might be making brain development more active in human embryos than in chimps.

They ended up focusing on a region called HARE5 (short for human-accelerated regulatory enhancer), which testing indicated had something to do with brain development. They suspected that the enhancer, which is found close to a molecular pathway important in brain development, might have changed in a way that influenced brain size in humans.

"We discovered that the human DNA sequence, which only had 16 changes in it compared to the chimp sequence, was being expressed differently in mice," said study author Debra Silver, an assistant professor of molecular genetics and microbiology in the Duke University Medical School.

In fact, HARE5 was regulating how many neural stem cells the precursors of brain cells a mouse embryo could produce.

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Scientists pinpoint a gene regulator that makes human brains bigger

Feb 8, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) drives baseline against Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

First of all, dont use the expression human capital when talking about NBA players. Its a vaguely creepy neologism to begin with, but useful when describing aggregates of hundreds, thousands or even millions in economic terms. When describing the 15-man (give or take) playing staff of an NBA team, its downright impersonal. Its explicitly and almost intentionally transforming men into the machines which were the original capital investments.

The treatment of NBA players or athletes in general as fungible widgets or inputs in a production function is probably not a new thing. At the end of the day, its a business has been a stock answer in an athlete approach free agencys repertoire for many years. But the perception is that using thecalculating, depersonalizing language of the accountant or investment bankeris new. How could it not be, with the influx of finance industry veterans to the ranks of ownership?

This language is part and parcel of a mindset often described as analyical. Not unfairly so, as this new wave of owners has ushered in a wave of quant-centric front office personnel across the league. On one hand, this is a great boon to the league and its fans. We simply know and can learn much more about the game than was even possible three years ago. However, with this outlook there comes a great danger in losing sight that the players are people first, and as such subject to imperfections, emotions and inconstancy. Changing the environment around a player for the worse and its only natural to expect a dip in performance.

In plainer terms, if you treat someone like crap, they are less likely to perform for you. Getting a paid a lot of money is certainly nice, but money alone doesnt obviate the need for job satisfaction and basic human contentment. Being told either directly or by virtue of actions that one is of now value other than the value of the service they perform can and will wear on many. Not every player, some are likely so stoic, so emotionally removed from the business or simply clueless as to these cues to care. But some will react badly.

Fans and commentators usually treat those reactions unkindly. As if the concerns for being appreciated in ones work dont exist in whatever profession in which fans labor. Perhaps its the illusion that the moneydoes solve everything, or maybe its tinged by the jealousy that unlike most workers, athletes sometimes have the leverage to make their complaints over working conditions stick.

In any event, unsettled players are areal risk to a franchise. It might be pointless to appeal to a sense of decency (in the extreme version of this MBA mindset, there is little room for such niceties), but pointing out the practical, tactical problems with a disgruntled workforce might illustrate the issue as well. Simply put, if a certain method of asset management ends up devaluing or degrading some or all of those assets, that cost must be taken into consideration.

These internalities can take many forms. A collection of bad attitudes or unprofessional players can stunt the growth of a young player, either by teaching bad habits or at least hindering the development of good ones. A player might lose some motivation, allow his skills and conditioning to decline, knowing hell still collect a paycheck if a paycheck is all the job now means to him. Worst of all, it can sabotage the relationship between team and player to the point where rational self-interest causes the player to act in a manner detrimental to the organization.

Whether in the form of contract year gunning or an untimely trade demand,the entire framework of the team might be disrupted, and not in current bad-means-good colloquial terms.

Certainly, Phoenixs best laid plans are scattered to the wind with Goran Dragic expressing his desire to be out of the Valley of the Sun toot suite. While the team was busy arbitraging free agency, letting Channing Frye walk and adding Isaiah Thomas for less, Dragic saw another competitor for playing time, touches and shots arriving. In a contract year. With another would-be lead guard in Eric Bledsoe having signed a big money extention late in the offseason. After Dragichad been the point guard performingat a (sadly unrecognized)All-Star level a year ago in the Suns shocking 48 win season. Not to mention Frye was Dragics partner in a deadly pick-and-roll combo. Add that together and its more than a little understandable he lost trust in the organization his past contributions were devalued, his chances of putting up the numbers sadly still needed to secure a big next contract reduced. For all the loyalty he supposedly owes the organization, have they done right by him?

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Human Capital in the NBA

Provided by Washington Post

The headlines have been grim. Europe's Jews face "rising anti-Semitism"; in some countries, many are leaving in "record numbers." In separate incidents in recent months, gunmen have targetedJews and Jewish institutions in Paris and Copenhagen. Even the Jewish dead have not been left in peace, with reports of graves beingdesecrated.

But the future of tolerance and multiculturalism in Europe is far from bleak. The bigotry on view has been carried out by a fringe minority, castall the more in the shadeby the huge peace marches and vigils that followed the deadly attacks. And some communities are trying to build solidarity in their home towns and cities.

One group of Muslims in Norway plans to form a "ring of peace" around a synagogue in Oslo on Saturday. On a Facebook pagepromoting the event, the group explained its motivations. Here's a translated version of the invite:

According to the Times of Israel, Ervin Kohn, a leader of Oslo's small Jewish community, had agreed to allowing the event on the condition that more than 30 people show up a small gathering would make the effort look "counter-productive," Kohn said.Close to 1,000 people have indicated on Facebook that they will attend.

"We think that after the terrorist attacks in Copenhagen, it is the perfect time for us Muslims to distance ourselves from the harassment of Jews that is happening," 17-year-old event organizer Hajrad Arshadsaid in an interview with Norwegian television.

"If someone wants to attack the synagogue, they need to step over us first," posted another of the event's organizers on Facebook.

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Norwegian Muslims will form a human shield around an Oslo synagogue