Biotechnology The Advance Biology

Ant communication: Secrets of the antennae Date: August 28, 2015 Source: Kobe University Summary: Scientists have identified chemosensory proteins (CSPs) that play important roles in communications between worker ants. CSPs may represent a starting point for elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in the sophisticated system of communication that supports ants' complex societies, and the evolution of these mechanisms. Ants, being social insects, form highly organized societies on the basis of very close communication between individuals, mediated by pheromones and other chemical substances. Information about the genomes of several ant species has been obtained to date, and genes linked to chemosensitivity in ants have been shown to be diverse. However, almost no elucidation of the modes of expression and functioning of these genes in chemosensory organs has previously been achieved. This research group previously showed that one type of CSP1, CjapCSP1, binds w...

Environment pollution with  ENVIRONMENTALPOLLUTANTS  •Heavy Metals e.g., lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, zinc, nickel and copper  •Persistent Organic Pollutants e.g., aldrin, dieldrin, dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), endrin, heptachlor, toxaphene, chlordane, hexachlorobenzene, mirex (organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) What is the common health status of Public for environmental pollution? => PUBLIC HEALTH EFFECTS WITH POPULATION   •        Skin Disorders – Fungal infection, allergic dermatitis, pruritis and skin cancer.  •         Respiratory Abnormalities – bacterial upper respiratory tract infections (pharyngitis, laryngitis and rhinitis), chronic bronchitis and asthma.  •         Abdominal and Intestinal Problems – bacterial enteritis, helminthiasis, amoebiasis, liver cancer, kidney and re...

 Negative Health Effects of Drinking Coffee Overview For some, coffee is an indispensable part of daily life--whether as a morning pick-me-up, an afternoon energy booster or simply a treat between meals. According to the National Coffee Association's 2010 survey of coffee-drinking trends, 56 percent of Americans indulge in a cup of joe on a daily basis. Despite its popularity, the effects of this beverage are not always positive: Coffee carries several potential health risks for occasional and devoted drinkers alike. Cholesterol Coffee, particularly when unfiltered, may increase serum and LDL cholesterol levels in some individuals. Unfiltered coffee contains two cholesterol-raising substances known as cafestol and kahweol, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Although paper filters remove both substances from brewed coffee, consumers of unfiltered varieties may experience up to a 23 mg/dl rise in total cholesterol and a 14 mg/dl rise i...

Genetically engineered crops are safe, review of studies finds Date: September 30, 2016 Source: Penn State University Summary: Genetically engineered crops are no different from conventional crops in terms of their risks to human health and the environment, according to a new report. Full story Leland Glenna, associate professor of rural sociology and science, technology and society in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, served on the committee that authored the report. "The study committee found no substantiated evidence of a difference in risks to human health between currently commercialized GE crops -- specifically soybean, maize and cotton -- and conventionally bred crops, nor did it find conclusive cause-and-effect evidence of environmental problems from the GE crops," said Glenna. "These findings should not be interpreted to mean that there are not still many challenges related to both conventional and GE crops, just that currently avail...

Treating malaria by stabilizing leaky blood vessels Date: September 29, 2016 Source: University Health Network (UHN) Summary: Boosting a protective protein to stabilize blood vessels that are weakened by malaria showed improved survival, beyond that of antimalarial drugs alone in pre-clinical research. Researchers now describe how their approach bolsters the body’s own capabilities to protect itself against cerebral malaria, rather than solely targeting the malaria parasites in the blood. Full story.                     Toronto General Research Institute (TGRI) and the Sandra Rotman Centre for Global Health, University of Toronto and University Health Network researchers describe in Science Translational Medicine   how their approach bolsters the body's own capabilities to protect itself against cerebral malaria, rather than solely targeting the malaria parasites in the blood. Over 400,000 lives are lost each year t...

A bad bite is associated with worse postural, balance control Date: September 14, 2016 Source: Plataforma SINC Summary: In recent years there has been increasing medical interest in correcting teeth that do not touch perfectly in order to prevent problems such as jaw pain, gaps between teeth and crowding. Now, a new study has concluded that dental occlusion is also related to the control of posture and balance. Straight teeth (stock image). Dental occlusion is simply the contact made between the top and bottom teeth when closing the mouth. Teeth may be perfectly aligned or they may present alterations with varying levels of severity. Credit: © Laurin Rinder / Fotolia Fullstory- Although it is a technical term, 'dental occlusion' is increasingly on the minds of many patients following a routine visit to the dentist. Doctor's offices diagnose problems related to a bad bite such as a shifted midline, gaps between teeth, crowding, crossbites and missing teeth...

High factor sunscreen can decrease the risk of melanoma by 33% Date: September 14, 2016 Source: University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine Summary: Using high factor sunscreen compared with low factor sunscreen can decrease the risk of melanoma by 33%, new research demonstrates. Melanoma is the cancer with the strongest increase in incidence in the last decade. Credit- google image  Full story- Using sunscreen does not guarantee protection In this study sunscreen users reported more sunburn, more sunbathing vacations and use of sunbeds than those who never used sunscreen. As a result non sunscreen users had a lower risk of developing melanoma than those who used low factor sunscreen. The Department of Biostatistics with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo have found that sunscreen with an adequate factor can reduce the risk of melanoma by over 30 percent compared with low factor sunscreen. Melanoma is the cancer with the strongest increase in incidence ...