http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/12/15/polar_bears_on_thin_ice_extinction_can_be_averted_scientists_say.html
Poler bears were added to the threatened species list three years ago. The species look like there never going to come all the way back. researchers say they will continue to decline over the next ears untill there extinct. Scientists say that global warming is the main cause of the decrease. Green house gasses get trapped then cause the weather to be warmer then the ice melts.

Polar bears would be a big loss because we would know that we killed them. Are use of machinary caused them all to die out. Scientists are right in telling us how the Polar bears die. Science never lies.

Nighttime Makes Urban Heat Waves Deadly

Summary- Extreme heat tempertures during the day may be hard to ignore but did you know they are more deadly at night. The rising frecuency of lethal heat waves across the globe is prompting a more detailed look at "urban heat island" effect. This probably goes the some way about 600 people died in sprawling, greener London during the same heat wave that killed 4,867 people in densely populated Paris. Exposure to high temperature during several nights, especially consecutive nights, can double the risk of death for the most vulnerable people-- people over 60 years of age or young infants, and also people with chronic health problems. It's a vicious circle, temperature increases due to air condition will lead to an increasing air cooling demand.
Opinion- I think we should use hand fans and umbrellas like they did a long time ago. I wonder why we stopped using them, the fans. If people are hot then they shoulg go inside a building to cool off. I wonder who would freak out at the sight of a dead body. I think during the summer you should wear sun screen and drink pleanty of water.





http://news.discovery.com/earth/nighttime-makes-urban-heat-waves-deady.html

Least Sea Ice in 800 Years

http://www.macroevolution.net/sea-ice.html

Scientist has found a new study whichs says that there is less ice today in the Fram Strait (between Svalbard Island and Greenland) than at any other time since the 13th century. There are no climate records dating all the way back to the 13th century we all know. But research says nature has its own record of climate change if you know where to look for it. Researchers looked back at ship logs to find out the early climate records. From their information they have come up with how much ice there used to be. During the middle of the 17th century was when a huge decline started happening where there was a lot less ice.

I personally think that this is not something scientists and researchers should worry about. Everyone knows that all around the world there has been a decline in how much ice there still is. (Ex: The Polar Ice Caps are melting). It is not something anyone should worry about because nature will do what it wants. Although there has been a major decline in the Fram Strait, it happened in a long amount of time. Over the next couple centurys there could easily become an incline in ice and the Fram Strait could go back to normal again.

mammogram!

most women have not been using their annual mammogram to their advantage. a lot of women take it for granted and do not visit the doctor every year for a mammogram. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended the age of the mammogram be lifted to 50 years. but once women found that out, they got mad and protested that their annual rights to a mammogram should not be taken away.

my opinion: women need to use the annual mammogram to their advantage! the mammogram helps find breast cancer and any other possible breast diseases. nobody wanted it when they had the chance to get it. now that the scientists/doctors wanted to take it away, they got mad and protested that it isnt fair! doctors should make it mandatory to get one.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/12/10/most_women_do_not_get_recommended_mammograms.html

US scientists create mice from two fathers

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US scientists have used stem cell technology to create mice from two fathers, an advance that they say could help preserve endangered species and even help same-sex couples have their own genetic children one day.

According to the study published Wednesday in the journal Biology of Reproduction, reproductive scientists in Texas were able to manipulate cells from a male (XY) mouse fetus to produce an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell line.

These iPS cells are adult cells that have undergone some genetic reprogramming in order to enter an embryonic stem cell-like state.

Some of the cells that were grown from this new line spontaneously lost their Y chromosome, turning them into XO cells.

Those XO cells were injected into embryos from donor female mice and transplanted into surrogate mouse moms who gave birth to babies with one X chromosome from the original male mouse.

Those babies grew and later mated with normal male mice. Their offspring, both male and female, showed genetic contributions from two fathers.

The study was led by Richard R. Berhringer at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Researchers said that with a variation of their technique, "it may also be possible to generate sperm from a female donor and produce viable male and female progeny with two mothers."

However, the study cautioned that the ability to replicate the findings in humans was a long way off.

The "generation of human iPS cells still requires significant refinements prior to their use for therapeutic purposes," the study said.

Previous research has found ways to create mice without any fathers at all, as well as ways to create mice with two mothers.

I don't think it's right what does O even stand for? What can this later affect. Now one knows the effects of what we do like science says if there's a cause then there is a effect.

Yale Scientists Find Molecular Glue Needed To Wire the Brain- Hannah Moerk

Summary:

Yale University have found that a single molecule not only connects brain cells, but also changes how we learn. Researchers have discovered ways to improve memory and could lead to new therapies, that could correct disorders. In particularly, neurological disorders could benefit with these new therapies. The piece of research they discovered is about the molecule called Syn CAM1 that goes across the synaptic junctions. They have discovered that this Syn CAM1 is an adhesion molecule that helps hold these junctions together.

Opinion:

When we learn, new synapses can form. However, its strength changes during learning depending on the amount of stimuli received. Supposedly accessing the molecule can be damaging. Hopefully with more research we will be able to understand these parts and functions more clearly. With more knowledge, new therapies can be devolped that can benefit people in numerous ways!

http://opac.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=8076&s=t

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/12/08/plants_remember_winter_to_bloom_in_spring_with_help_of_special_molecule.html
Most plants bloom in the spring right after a cold. They must bloom then for correct pollination. Plants don't no spring from the warm. They have a since of how much cold time there's been. Plants don't literally remember because they don't have brains.

It's important to know when they bloom. So we can grow them. Crops are important to know so we can grow them. Crops are a supstancial amount of our food. It's important for the plants to no when winter is over so they can survive.

UVM students call for boycott of course evaluations

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20101208/NEWS0213/101207023/UVM-students-call-for-boycott-of-course-evaluations

At the University of Vermont, a horde of students boycotted the school because of lack in giving the students course evaluations. Prior to this event, the Student Government Association informed the school to give the students course evaluations by Dec. 1st or there would be a boycott in return. The Faculty Senate, who oversees the evaluation process, didn't support this process. This transaction isn't new either. It dates back to several years. There are people who supported it and those who didn't.

In my opinion, boycotting is a good way to notify the group that you seek for change. These students wanted to see their course evalutions, but the school refused to. Even if the school didn't change the rules, they now know the students care. Hopefully, the students will one day see their course evaluations. You never know unless you try.

Influenza virus strains show increasing drug resistance and ability to spread

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/12/08/influenza_virus_strains_show_increasing_drug_resistance_and_ability_to_spread.html

Summary – This article is about how there have been some studies that showed that some types of influenza are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Some viruses are even becoming resistant to two different antibiotics, which although rare, is on the rise and is causing some to worry about the effectiveness of the antibiotics in the future. They think that new strategies for treatment of the viruses will need to be created in the future because treatment will be limited if the dual resistant virus spreads. In some rare cases in a study, people on oseltamivir therapy have had traces of OR H1N1, which is resistant to oseltamivir but hadn’t been in the past. Scientists say that we will just have to keep a close eye on the changes these viruses show and be creative in the treatments in the future.

Opinion – I think this is actually kind of scary, and it makes me afraid to get sick because I might not be able to recover! Why can’t all those stupid viruses just die instead of becoming resistant to all the medications? I also think this relates a lot to what we are currently learning about in class, with the natural selection and adaptation thing. I also hope that some new medication will be found soon so that the viruses will not be able to adapt and all the scary diseases will be gone for good. Also, I remember that there was some kind of disease that used to be so widespread, but now it is nonexistent except in some place where the government is keeping it just in case the disease breaks out again. If it was possible for that disease to die out, it should be possible for others!

Oldest Skeleton of Human Ancestor Found

Summary- Scientist have announced the discovery of the earliest human ancestor. She walked the Earth millions of years before Lucy. Radiometric dating of two layers of volcanic ash that sandwiched the fossil deposits revealed that Ari lived 4.4 million years ago. Instead of fighting for access to females, a male Ardipithecus would supply a "targeted female" and her offspring with gathered food and gain her sexual loyalty in return. Ardi lived in a moist woodland that is now a desert in Africa.



Opinion- I think its really cool. The only thing I think is nasty is that they used food to have sex. I understand why they did that but it's still nasty. I wonder if they took baths. I wish they were still alive so I could observe them and not have to look it up.








http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/10/091001-oldest-human-skeleton-ardi-missing-link-chimps-ardipithecus-ramidus.html

Living in Arsenic

SUMMERY
In a new study, scientists have found a strain of bacteria that can live in arsenic. Arsenic is just under phosphorus on the periodic table of elements. But, unlike the necessary building block of life element phosphorus is, arsenic is deadly to almost all species on earth. In Eastern California, Mono Lake, is an alkaline and hypersaline lake with a high concentration of dissolved arsenic. In this death pit, scientists have found a strain of bacteria that's not only living in the arsenic rich habitat, but using arsenic as a building block to it's life force in a way similar to phosphorus.
OPINION
I have to wonder now if we're going to be able to find a way to use this bacteria as a weapon. Using it as a bioweapon where we can infect an area with a bacteria that uses arsenic in it's essesence would be not only evil and coruptive, but also tactical. It's interesting that they've evolved to live in this condition, but it's very impressive that they've been able to adapt so well.
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/12/02/from_toxicity_to_life_arsenic_proves_to_be_a_building_block.html
BRITTANY BURNS

Whale sharks do the math to avoid that sinking feeling-Hannah Moerk

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/11/26/whale_sharks_do_the_math_to_avoid_that_sinking_feeling.html

Summary:
Whale sharks are the largest species in the ocean. How do they float so well? In the last four years research has been done looking into their technique into more detail. The conclusion is it's a combination between energy conservation and math. They use their movement both for survival and to find food in the ocean.


Opinion:
Until reading this article, I never thought much about the movements of this giant shark. The research collected has shown that the whale shark has to move its' tail swimming down, but not while swimming up. This is due to the "buoyancy" within the shark. This movement is made up of both energy conservation usage and the appropriate math to keep them suspended. As more research is done on these interesting creatures, I will be fascinated to see how this whale shark's buoyancy compares to other fish.

2 more rare red foxes confirmed in Sierra Nevada

By SCOTT SONNER, Associated Press - 12/3/2010

RENO, Nev. – Federal wildlife biologists have confirmed sightings of two more Sierra Nevada red foxes that once were thought to be extinct.

Scientists believe the foxes are related to another that was photographed this summer near Yosemite National Park. More importantly, they say, DNA samples show enough diversity in the Sierra Nevada red foxes to suggest a "fairly strong population" of the animals may secretly be doing quite well in the rugged mountains about 90 miles south of Reno.

The first confirmed sighting of the subspecies in two decades came in August when a remote camera captured the image of a female fox in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest near Sonora Pass.

Forest Service officials confirmed Friday that two more foxes — one male and one female — were photographed in September in the neighboring Stanislaus National Forest, about 4 miles from the original.

That indicates there is the "continued persistence of a genetically unique population of Sierra Nevada red fox in the southern Sierra Nevada, rather than a single individual," the agency said.

The DNA samples were obtained from fox feces, or scat, collected at the sites where the two most recent animals were spotted. They were caught on film by motion-activated cameras triggered when the bait — in this case, a sock full of chicken — was disturbed.

"There's enough diversity in the DNA that we think there is a fairly strong population there after not showing up in this isolated area for years and years," Forest Service wildlife biologist Diane Macfarlane said Friday.

"It shows the male individual has some relationship to that initial female. The data isn't strong enough to say if it was a mother or father or sibling, but it is some level of relationship — aunt, cousin, uncle," she told The Associated Press.

"The good news is we definitely have a male and female. We know there are breeding possibilities and there could be others," said Macfarlane, who leads the agency's regional program on threatened, endangered and sensitive species based in Vallejo, Calif.

"We anticipate getting a lot more information in the future as we begin to focus serious, additional efforts there," she said.

This particular red fox subspecies — or geographically distinct race — is one of the rarest, most elusive and least-known mammals in California and the United States, agency officials said.

Once widespread throughout California's mountains, it has become very rare in recent decades, with only a single known population of fewer than 20 individuals at the north end of the Sierra near Lassen Volcanic National Park about 100 miles northwest of Reno.

The Forest Service has expanded the survey effort in recent months in conjunction with researchers at the National Park Service, California Department of Fish and Game, UC-Davis and Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.

Adam Rich, a wildlife biologist for the Stanislaus National Forest, worked with a team of high school volunteers to collect scat at the two new photo locations.

Macfarlane said it was a good example of how federal agencies can work in concert with other researchers to find "simple and cost effective ways to manage and monitor rare wildlife."

"We are really ramping up our survey efforts, working with universities and others, to go look for things in places where we haven't looked before," she said. "And we are finding more things as our techniques become more and more sophisticated."

"For wildlife biologists, these types of findings are the highlight of our career," she said. "I get goose bumps just talking about it."

I wounder what other animals can come back from being extinct. Like science says survival of the fittest. If they can be made into this world then they can come back but there most likely not the same as before. Could this be really though or just fox's that resemble them wow really knows. It would be great to have a species come back but how will it effect the environment scene nature got use to having it not there?

Chelsea Hinesley

From toxicity to life: Arsenic proves to be a building block

From toxicity to life: Arsenic proves to be a building block


I think that if scientist were able to find how this organism was to use arsenic to survive it would play a major role in many studies. if arsenic was to be found useful it could maybe replace another major gas and allow organisms to live for extended periods of time. and if plants can use it for resperation possibly scientist could find a way to use it in the betterment of the human race.

Dinosaurs are Even Bigger Than Thought

http://www.macroevolution.net/dinosaurs.html

Scientists have found something between the dinosaurs leg and hip bones. They fond dinosaurs with thick layers of cartilage. This has made scientists believe that dinosaurs are even bigger than was once thought. Their study of modern-day limbs has shown that dinosaurs are taller than originally thought. After this scientists starteed comparing the dinosaur to other animals.

I think that this is kind of pointless since dinosaurs are extinct. There is really no need to research dinosaurs anymore. We are in the future now and they are not very useful now. I also do not know what scientists could find out by researching this. Who should care if dinosaurs were taller than once thought!?

Tiny RNA Creates Many Leukemia?

Whitehead Institute researchers have discovered through studies/experiments on mouse models that the over expression of microRNA 125b can create multiple types of leukemia and even accelerates the disease. In 2010, the National Cancer Institute estimates that 43,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with a form of leukemia and approximately 22,000 will die from the disease. In one type of leukemia, a blood cell divides in an uncontrolled way in the bone marrow, crowding the other blood cells. This caused anemia and organ damage. Leukemia is genetic mutations, as are other cancers.

MicroRNAs are very small pieces of RNA that normal fine tune the target genes. Some of the target genes have already been described, like the P53 pathway. These targets are programmed for cell death, also known as apoptosis.

Mice that were tested with this type of cancer, died due to one of the three types of cancer, myeloproliferative neoplasm, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Couch Potato Effect: Missing Protein Leaves Mice Unable to Exercise

A group of researchers have come up with a new model displaying muscle functions. The mice keep a steady body weight but do not have the energy to exercise. They found that aging, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic illnesses can lead to this "couch potato" effect. In humans, the PGC-1 allows us to exercise unless we are obese and these levels are low. In the mice without PGC-1 acted normal but were unable to walk on a treadmill. This study led to the conclusion that if you are deficient of PGC-1 you have dysfunctional mitochondria resulting in diabetes.

I think that this was a good study because they need to figure more out about diabetes. They have found just another source but I think they need to keep researching. I know lots of people who have diabetes and they wished they new more. I am glad I don't have diabetes because I love to exercise. I would hate to sit on the couch all day but if that was all I knew I guess it wouldn't make a difference.

Biology Current event

NASA's Spaceship Cassini got close enough to one of Saturn's moons and got picture of a light streak near the surface. The moon is called Enceladus. It took the picture 48 kilometers or 30 miles away and also took pictures of the frozen rocky terrain, and the Bright lights coming from it.

It was winter in the southern hemisphere when the pictures were taken. The sun lights up the water vapor icy crystals in the sky which causes the bright jets of light. the jets are lined up in rows which causes the curtains of light spray.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101202132209.htm

Apes unwilling to gamble when odds are uncertain

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/11/29/apes_unwilling_to_gamble_when_odds_are_uncertain.html

Summary – This article investigates the similarity between apes and humans in their judgment when gambling. The study tested chimpanzees and bonobos by giving them a choice of two bowls, which could contain peanuts, a banana, or a cucumber slice. The chimpanzees were very hesitant when they were choosing because although they like peanuts and bananas, they dislike cucumbers and did not want to risk getting one. The researchers realized that this study shows that an animal’s foraging decision making skills in the wild are actually quite complex and that the animals have to be smart to make sure that the food they decide to pursue will pay off. This is what the article was about.

Opinion – I thought this article was kind of interesting actually. It shows that animals, especially monkeys, are actually quite smart because they have to go through an impressive decision making process to make sure that what they do is worthwhile. It’s also nice because it proves that monkeys are smart, and a lot of people think that they are stupid and make fun of them. I also think it opens up a lot of possibilities for future studies on what animals think, which is something I used to wonder about. This is my opinion on the article.