Category Archives: Biology

A long-standing challenge in synthetic biology has been to create gene circuits that behave in predictable and robust ways. Mathematical modeling experts from the University of Houston (UH) collaborated with experimental biologists at Rice University to create a synthetic genetic clock that keeps accurate time across a range of temperatures. The findings were published in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Synthetic gene circuits are often fragile, and environmental changes frequently alter their behavior," said Kresimir Josic, professor of mathematics in UH's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. "Our work focused on engineering a gene circuit not affected by temperature change." Synthetic biology is a field in which naturally occurring biological systems are redesigned for various purposes, such as producing biofuel. The UH and Rice research targeted the bacterium E. coli. "In E. coli and other bacteria, if you increase the temperature by about 10 degrees the rate of biochemical reactions will double - and therefore genetic clocks will speed up," Josic said. "We wanted to create a synthetic gene clock that compensates for this increase in tempo and keeps accurate time, regardless of temperature." The UH team, led by Josic and William Ott, … Continue reading →

A long-standing challenge in synthetic biology has been to create gene circuits that behave in predictable and robust ways. Mathematical modeling experts from the University of Houston (UH) collaborated with experimental biologists at Rice University to create a synthetic genetic clock that keeps accurate time across a range of temperatures. The findings were published in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Synthetic gene circuits are often fragile, and environmental changes frequently alter their behavior," said Kreimir Josi, professor of mathematics in UH's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. "Our work focused on engineering a gene circuit not affected by temperature change." Synthetic biology is a field in which naturally occurring biological systems are redesigned for various purposes, such as producing biofuel. The UH and Rice research targeted the bacterium E. coli. "In E. coli and other bacteria, if you increase the temperature by about 10 degrees the rate of biochemical reactions will double -- and therefore genetic clocks will speed up," Josi said. "We wanted to create a synthetic gene clock that compensates for this increase in tempo and keeps accurate time, regardless of temperature." The UH team, led by Josi and William Ott, … Continue reading →

You dont get very far discussing synthetic biology and biohacking before someone asks about bioterrorism. So, lets meet the monster head-on. I wont downplay the possibility of a bioterror attack. Its already happened. TheAnthrax-contaminated lettersthat were sent to political figures just after 9/11 were certainly an instance of bioterrorism. Fortunately (for everyone but the victims), they only resulted in five deaths, not thousands. Since then, there have been a few copycat crimes, though using a harmless white powder rather than Anthrax spores. While I see bioterror in the future as a certainty, I dont believe it will come from a hackerspace. The 2001 attacks are instructive: the spores were traced to a U.S. biodefense laboratory. Whether or not you believe Bruce Ivins, the lead suspect, was guilty, its clear that the Anthrax spores were developed by professionals and could not have been developed outside of a professional setting. Thats what I expect for future attacks: the biological materials, whether spores, viruses, or bacteria, will come from a research laboratory, produced with government funding. Whether theyre stolen from a U.S. lab or produced overseas: take your pick. They wont come from the hackerspace down the street. Breeding superbugs sounds trivial in … Continue reading →

Candi Roy, left, talks with Galina Abdelaziz, 16, a junior, in the Biology III class during a lesson about heart rate at Vanguard High School in Ocala on Monday. Two dozen students in Candi Roy's Biology III class checked heart rates Monday the old-fashioned ways: fingers on wrist, stethoscope, or both. Last fall, the National Science Teachers Association announced the 2014 Shell Science Lab Challenge. Hundreds of schools from the United States and Canada submitted applications in hopes of getting $20,000 in new lab equipment. On Friday, Vanguard High teacher Candi Roy was presented the grand prize trophy and $20,000 to transform her classroom into a state-of-the-art lab. Grand prize Vanguard High School Candace Roy, International Baccalaureate biology teacher Finalists Northeast High School, Philadelphia eStem Public Charter School, Little Rock, Ark. Taos Middle School, Taos, N.M. Delta High School, Delta, Colo. This lab assignment, part of the human anatomy and physiology chapter, required the students to compare the pulse before and after some type of physical exertion. Students were given several activities to endure, everything from running up and down steps to changing seats. Next year, students in this biology class will have a much easier time trying to register … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 3-Apr-2014 Contact: Jamie Brown jamie.brown@liverpool.ac.uk 44-151-794-2248 University of Liverpool Scientists at the University of Liverpool have been awarded 2M to build a state-of-the-art DNA synthesis facility, a capability offering much needed tools for genome engineering to the academic and private sectors. This facility, named GeneMill will be part of the UK's focus on synthetic biology, identified by the Government as one of the 'Eight Great Technologies' in which Britain is, or can be, a world leader. Synthetic biology involves the construction of artificial biological devices, pathways or networks or the re-engineering of existing natural ones. Key to this engineering process is the construction of parts or components, which are encoded in DNA. One of the biggest hurdles in synthetic biology is the creation and assembly of starting materials: modular bits of DNA that code for a particular function and are synthesised in the lab. Creating such starting materials is time-consuming and expensive and a challenge that the Liverpool group of scientists will address through the GeneMill. Like traditional mills, scientists will take in raw materials and use them to create new products. In the GeneMill however, raw materials will be in the form of DNA blocks and, … Continue reading →

Scientific Evidence for Creation CSE BIBLE FORUM Origins 1212 Dr Seuss Biology By: Seung-Hwa Chung … Continue reading →

Biology revision song on protein synthesis by Andrew Perkins I am currently a lecturer teaching undergraduate nurses at a London University and this is one song I used to help get some of the tricky fundamental ideas o... By: Andrew Perkins … Continue reading →

Subjectivity is a key to the Buddhist approach to understanding the world (Image: Christophe Boisvieux/Corbis) In Buddhist Biology, David Barash highlights parallels between these empirical systems of thought, and suggests that together they can show us how to live AT FIRST glance, Buddhism and science seem natural bedfellows. Both seek essential truths about the world and the human condition and both set great store on their empirical approach. Yet the perception of a growing affiliation notwithstanding, at a deep level they are some way apart. The Buddhist approach to understanding is largely subjective: no one can meditate for you. And certain Buddhist principles, such as reincarnation, are blatantly unscientific. Science, on the other hand, requires verification and is often poor at quantifying personal experience (note the "hard problem" of consciousness). Above all, whereas science strives for objective knowledge, Buddhism offers an ethical framework in which to apply it. In his new book, Buddhist Biology, evolutionary psychologist David Barash is candid about this misalignment. His main aim, however, is to do for biology what other Buddhist-inclined writers have done for neuroscience, physics and psychology to highlight the parallels between the two disciplines, which he says "complement each other like a pair … Continue reading →

Biology Reproduction part 13 (Sexual reproduction: Flower Structure) CBSE class 10 X Biology Reproduction part 13 (Sexual reproduction: Flower Structure) CBSE class 10 X. By: ExamFearVideos … Continue reading →

General Biology-Concepts and Investigations The Nervous System-adapted from lectures given by Dr. Eric Lander By: Karen Yao … Continue reading →