Top 5 Amazing Organisms Of The Week!

 5 Amazing Organisms Of  The Week!

This blog post goes over the pick of the 5 most exciting, amazing organisms of the week! Hope you enjoy! If there are any more you'd wish to add to the list, leave a comment below and let me know!

5) Llareta plants

These gorgeous plants can give the Atacama Desert in South America an extra-terrestrial scenery! Their soft appearance is misleading. These plants are pretty strong; so strong that you could stand on them! They grow very slow at just 1.5cm a year and some of the plants are around 3,000 years old.

4) Tersicoccus phoenicis

You usually think of most bacteria residing in dirt-clad, un-sterile environments, but not for Tersicoccus Phoenicis. This bacterium thrives on of the cleanest places on earth, and is home to an entirely new genus of bacteria! In the European Space Agency's clean room in South America, where sterilisation is a common procedure, this microbe was seen to be extremely resistant to the sterilisation process. It was also found in the clean room at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida! It is thought that the bacteria do not thrive well with too much bacterial competition; and because the clean rooms are excruciatingly cleaned, other forms of bacteria can't survive, hence more nutrients, space for T. Phoenicis!

3) Chondrocladia Lyra

This beautiful construct looks somewhat like an architectural piece, but it is actually a carnivorous sponge! Discovered in 2012, Chondrocladia Lyra was found 10,000 ft beneath Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of California. This graceful looking sponge traps tiny crustaceans with little 'hooks' positioned on the top of the hyphae-like tendrils. Once it has a hold of it's prey, it begins to digest it. Appearances can definitely be deceiving!

2) Wolffia

This person actually has a small garden on their fingers! The Wolffia genus is known to have some of the smallest plants on earth! Wolffia Globosa is the smallest flowering part of Wolffia.
It's average size is about the size of a candy sprinkle, and weighs about 2 grains of salt! They are found in freshwater, and usually float atop the water as they have no roots!

1) Zebrafish

Lovely, it's a fish with stripes, how startling. But hold onto your excitement, these fish are extremely useful in scientific research! It's genome has been fully sequenced, and it is very easy to observe their developmental behaviours, as the young develop outside of their mother, relatively large and transparent. They also have regenerative abilities, and are able to 'regrow' vital organs such as their brain or heart. Because of these abilities, they have been incorporated into various areas of research, such as neurodegenerative diseases or muscular dystrophy.

Awesome! I hope you enjoyed this short list, if there is any amazing organism you've noted this week, feel free to comment below! 

Thanks for reading!

The Biology Of Science Fiction

The Biology Of Science Fiction

Synthetic biology is disputably the future of biology. Re-engineering and reprogramming properties of biological molecules has been done for centuries! From the very first recorded beer created by the Ancient Egyptians when yeast was utilised for alcohol; we began our journey to  manipulate biological molecules for specific uses. 

By gearing yeast to undergo ethanolic fermentation by limiting oxygen supplies in the microbial environment, we created beer! Very different in taste today, but the Ancient Egyptians loved it.

It's only recently we have taken this manipulation further, not just simply altering the environment in which particular microbes reside in to evoke a response from them, but actually altering the genetic make-up of microbes. A step away from biotechnology, a step toward engineering in biotechnology.

Yum, Ancient Egyptian beer.

History of synthetic biology

Synthetic biology was arguably a proper division of biology in 1910, when the phrase was used by Stéphane Leduc (a French biologist) in a scientific publication called 'The Chemical And Physical Mechanisms Of Life' [1]. In 1978, a Nobel Prize was awarded to scientists Arber, Nathans and Smith for founding restriction enzymes [2]. Restriction enzymes are specialised proteins which can cut specific sections (restriction sites) of genes. They allow snippets of genes to be cut out and replaced with other genes- which is essentially reprogramming genetic information. 

EcoRV restriction enzyme.

Restriction enzymes are used in the production of insulin. They cut out bacterial genes in plasmids (which are bacterial genetic structures) and another form of enzyme seals a human insulin gene from where the bacterial gene was removed. This new plasmid, is called recombinant DNA. And because bacteria have rapid reproductive rates, they are able to reproduce mass amounts of the recombinant DNA, which in this case can now be known as insulin.

The production of insulin isn't the only major breakthrough related to synthetic biology, but it is certainly one of the most profound. Artificial genetic synthesis is also incredibly important in synthetic biology. A yeast tRNA was the first complete gene to be synthesised using the genetic code, by Har Gobind Khorana in 1968, who also founded the universal genetic code [3]. Since then it has become possible for almost anyone to synthesise genes, by sending desired genetic characteristics to particular companies which carry out the synthesis, for a particularly high price of course. 

In May 2010, a group founded by Craig Venter, called 'Venter', had synthesised the entire genome of the bacterium Mycoplasma Mycoides using a computer, and then transplated the genome into  Mycoplasma Capricolum which had all of it's genetic information removed [4]. Venter stated that "It is the first species to have it's parents be computer".
Genome editing can also be carried out by using The Sleeping Beauty transposon system -discovered in 1997- which is a altered enzyme which can insert precise sequences of DNA into the genome of animals for the purpose of introducing new traits and discovering the functionality of new genes [5].
SB transposons have been as non-viral vectors, to essentially deliver genetic information to cells, and is thought to be really useful for gene thereapy.

Future of Synthetic Biology

The future is bright and...very synthetic. Bioilluminescent trees are an idea of biology how biological systems can be altered in the face of synthetic biology. Scientists Omri Amirav-Drory and Kyle Taylor are looking at incorporating the luciferase enzyme-which is an enzyme which catalyses light-emitting reactions- into specific operons in a plant's genome, along with a specialised promoter gene and some luciferin. This ultimately leads to the emittance of light when luciferin becomes oxidised [6]. 

Some engineered molecules known as 'biosensors' are being developed. Biosensors are molecules which have specifically engineered characteristics to enable them to sense particular attributes in their environment. Recently chemists at the University of Nebraska have covered bacteria with tiny gold particles and connected them to a silicon chip in order for them to sense changes in humidity, and collect the data on a computer system [7]. In the future, researchers hope to use biosensors to aid the detection of pollutants in water systems, or to help detect toxins in the body. 

Glowing plant

There are also many ethical disputes related to synthetic biology. The exciting division in the future is thought to eventually lead to the dispersion of bacterial genomes to the general public. It will also leave room for people allow to be able to fully re-design their own bacteria for desired characteristics. Many people feel that these engineered microbes can be used as a tool for biological warfare, and feel that these privileges should not be available for public use.

Microbe covered with gold particles

What else does the future of synthetic biology entail? Have a watch of this exciting video to find out more about what the future holds for synthetic biology! This video also talks about acorn trees growing computers...

I hope you've become as excited as I am about synthetic biology!
What ethical problems do you think will arise around synthetic biology?
Thanks for reading!

Sources:

1)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St%C3%A9phane_Leduc
2)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restriction_enzyme
3)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Har_Gobind_Khorana
4)http://www.jcvi.org/cms/research/projects/first-self-replicating-synthetic-bacterial-cell/overview/
5)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21459777
6)http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/creating-a-new-kind-of-night-light-glow-in-the-dark-trees-9600277/?no-ist
7)http://www.nature.com/news/2005/051017/full/news051017-3.html

Science fiction: 3 Possible truths, 1 lie.

                               

                        Science fiction : 3 possible truths, 1 lie

We've seen it all in science fiction movies! Inserting yourself into the matrix, becoming half man, half robot, transporting to different destinations via transporting machines, body computer chips! But which one will stay science fiction, and which ones will become actual reality?

Inserting yourself into the matrix

Totally possible

1) Computer chip implants

Something that you'd see in a sci-fi/ action movie, where computer chips are used to keep tabs on most wanted! However, their use in reality, is much less sinister. Computer chip implants are already being utilised in society. A quadriplegic man was able to control the movements of his arm since his accident, using a micro-chip implanted in a specific part of his brain which is involved in movement of the arm [1]. Signals are received from the brain- avoiding the injury, and then are transmitted to the muscles in his arm to credit movement!

 

Quadriplegic moves arm

President Obama has even deviated a plan to help improve the lives of US veterans and troops, by implanting them with a micro chip [2]. The chips are thought to help alleviate symptoms from illness, such as from post traumatic stress disorder.

2) Bionic body parts

Prosthetic hands have recently been developed which have the ability to "sense" touch [3]! All prosthetic limbs available are not equipped with the ability to touch; however thankfully the University of Chicago has designed a prosthetic limb which can do just that! It was tested with monkeys, and the results were commendable. Pretty soon, many people that use present prosthetic limbs should be able to experience tactility again with this breakthrough.

The prosthetics work by transmit signals to the brain to generate the feeling of touch!

3) Liquid hard drive

Researchers at the University of Michigan have created a hard drive which is suspended in nano-particles which stores data! In just one tablespoon of liquid, there could be up to 1 terrabyte of data  [4]!

Imagine storing the last draft of your essay in a bottle of spring water!

Totally not possible

1) Teleporting

It happens in Star Trek, and you're seriously uncool if you don't agree with the fact that it's awesome! But it's highly unlikely we'd be taking advantage of teleportation in the future. You'd form a complete copy of yourself, if you were to engage in teleportation [5]. Every atom in your body would be copied to another destination, but the original you would be destroyed. It's also quite impossible we'd ever be able to generate a great amount of energy for a teleportation device. Teleporting a single human would be equal to the energy generated by the UK for a million years. Phwoar!

The future is promising!

Unfortunately we won't be able to teleport any time soon...but the future is definitely not dim! Especially not with the promised existence of bioiluminescent trees [6]! Leafy suburbs are hoped to be replaced with trees with glowing leaves, to help light up the streets and save money on energy costs. Also, our energy problem isn't soon to be a problem for long! Electricity has been generated from liquid water- the most abundant liquid on the planet [7]. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found that water droplets gain electric charge when they 'jump' away from water-repellent surfaces! How...electrifying.
If you have any futuristic ideas you felt could have been added to this list, feel free to comment them down below!

Thanks for reading!

Sources

1)http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/a-medical-first-quadriplegic-man-controls-arm-using-a-chip-implanted-in-his-brain-9561255.html

2)http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/08/27/new-obama-plan-calls-for-implanted-computer-chips-to-help-u-s-troops-heal/

3)http://wonderfulengineering.com/10-body-parts-that-can-be-replaced-now/

4)http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-07/28/liquid-hard-drives

5)http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/teleportation2.htm

6)http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/bioluminscent-trees-could-light-our-streets

7)http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2014/getting-charge-out-water-droplets-0714

3 cutting edge ways TO BEAT CANCER.

                      

3 ways to win against cancer

Cancer research  is big. Scientists are always looking for new ways to find a cure for cancer or new preventative methods. But HOW exactly do you go about finding a cure, or how do you go about prevention? Where do you begin? This blog post offers guidelines about where you can begin if you want to partake in cancer research yourself!

1. Fully understand the nature of malignant cells

Getting closer to understanding the enemy, is the first step in deviating a plan to take the enemy down. We must know every weakness and strength, in order to benefit on the weaknesses and weaken the strengths.

Scientists today are in the process of mapping the genome of cancer cells, to ascertain how and why some genetic information leads to the proliferation of cancer cells [1]. They are particular interested in replication regulatory pathways, which are involved in assuring the replication of genetic information of cancerous cells. 

By having this knowledge, they can become increasingly aware of how to inhibit/modify these pathways to kill cancer cells.

Cancer cells dividing by mitosis.

                           

 2. Look to nature for help

Nature always has the answer. Instead of creating more artificial methods to cure cancer, (.i.e. methods which involve chemicals, such as chemotherapy) it would be much more sustainable and efficient to invest time in aspects of nature which are already equipped with tools to modify genetic information and kill cells, such as viruses.

Viruses are so good at destroying cells, as they are able to use the cells devices to apply their own genetic information which leads to further manifestation of them and their proteins.

When the cell is full of viruses and viral information, a series of changes can lead to apoptosis (programmed cell death), but more commonly, viral proteins are presented on the surface of the cell, and as a result of this killer T cells, induce apoptosis for the infected cell, which then leads to the expulsion of many viruses into the surrounding tissue fluid. These viruses are then free to infect further cells.

However, they're not so bad, and they can actually be our ally in this lengthy battle Telomerase-specific virotherapy is a new branch of research related to curing cancer [2]. Telomerase is an enzyme which lengthens telomeres, which are essentially "shoelace like caps", situated at the periphery of chromosomes which prevent rapid degradation of genetic information wound up in chromosomes. Cancer cells, have been found to have high amounts of telomerase, which is said to account for their "immortality".

A virus called OBP-301 has been developed, which kills bone and soft tissue carcinomas based on the abundance of telomerase. However the virus is yet to be developed further, as there are questions about it's specificity.

Oncolytic virotherapy is definitely a budding area of cancer research.

Results with OBP-301 shows reduced tumour size in mice.

"Spermbots" are also an option [3]! Sperm are equipped with specialised flagellum which propel them to their destination, so they are perfect for reaching a specific place in a short period of time. They are essentially biological delivery men! Researches at the Institute for Integrative Nano-science in Germany, are experimenting with modifying sperm, to perhaps deliver medicines to cells! It is thought that it would also be very useful for cancer research.

Please see the YouTube video below, to view Spermbots in action!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9fJx1Y7vaQ

                    

3. Investigate environmental influences

 

Prevention is a way to keep cancer under wraps, and seeing as cancer is thought to be on the rise according to the world health organisation (WHO); it is easy to conclude that environmental factors maybe a big influence on the incidences of cancer. By investigating these environmental influences, it is increasingly easier to pinpoint a factor which needs to be reduced, or increased. For example it has already been proposed that tobacco consumption, leads to higher incidences of lung cancer- whereby 100 million people are thought to have died as a result-, and in sight of this environmental factor, measures have been put into place to reduce tobacco consumption [4].

Other factors such as diet might play a key role in incidents of cancer. The "Mediterranean diet" is said to aid the prevention of cancer due to the healthier food choices making up a large part of the diet [5]. 

 Awesome!

Is it really this simple? Well no...I personally think we need to spend a lot more time on number 1 before we consider other ways! Like a soldier preparing for battle, he needs to be aware with what he's facing in order to create a perfect strategy to win the fight!
Do you have any other guidelines which we could work with to come up with a cure or preventative method for cancer? Mention them in the comments below! Or....keep them to yourself, who knows...that one idea you have might be a breakthrough!
Thanks for reading!

Sources

1)http://home.ccr.cancer.gov/inthejournals/mirit.asp

2)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21325287

3)http://theweek.com/article/index/254132/how-sperm-could-one-day-cure-cancer

4)http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr27/en/

5)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22644232

Biology is beautiful!

I like to think of biology as science unique to us. It is encapsulated in this relatively small blue globe, it's based on our experiences on earth; our experiences with our biology. Our biology includes every living organism around us. We all rose from the same pool of life, and we all exist in the same macro-environment. Earth.

Sure, we can apply biology to other organisms which may exist beyond our home, but it will always be an application, we might have to adjust particular knobs in order to fully understand the nature of other organisms. I feel it will never be quite right, as their environment; their place in the universe, is in a completely different location to ours; and different environments provide astounding differences between life on Earth. So life -or biology- on a entirely different globe is to be quite different form biology on Earth.

An artists' rendition of life on Jupiter

Why is biology beautiful? Well 13.8 billion years ago, physics was going to give rise to chemistry. It started with the amalgamation of particles to form the simplest of element, Hydrogen. Then Helium, then more complex elements were formed, like carbon, which is an extremely important element for biology on Earth. The fact that something so corporeal, and fascinating arose from something seemingly inorganic is incredibly charming.

I think that we, as humans, have already began to create new forms of life from inorganic constituents. Our phones and computers are essentially based off of human biology; they contain central processing units, which operate much like our central nervous systems- they both receive and transmit signals to other components of their environment. They both have memory systems, in order to apply particular knowledge to future references. And most importantly, they both operate via a code, ACTG for us, 1 and 0's for them; which underlines all functions.

Science fiction movies which show robots being equipped with human emotions and desires; aren't completely unrealistic. If anything, we are key examples of how something inorganic can give rise to something organic.

This blog aims to present how few of many ways beautiful biology can offer triumphs for us!