DNA Methylation Provides Accurate Genetic Clock To Measure Biological Age of Tissues and Organs

A scientist at the University of California- Los Angeles, has discovered a genetic biological clock that accurately measures the biological age of tissues and organs in the body. Using a ntural process called DNA methylation and monitoring 353 biological markers, the clock can measure how each part of the body and its age is comparable to others. The scientist, UCLA geneticist and biostatistician Steven Horvath, Ph.D., noted for example that a woman's breast tissue, age faster than the rest of the body.

DNA methylation is a genetic process that alters the expression of genes in cells as cells divide and differentiate from embryonic stem cells into specific tissues. As mentioned in the embedded video, DNA methylation is similar to a light dimmer switch where it can suppress a specific type of gene from expressing itself.

Using 8,000 samples of 51 types of tissue, Dr. Horvath narrowed focused on 353 biomarkers that change with age and are present throughout the body. These markers measure the biological age of the target tissue rather than its chronological age.

The next step in the research would be to find out if stopping or halting this clock can also stop aging.

Mysterious Ancient Human - Denisova Hominins Travelled From Northern Asia to Australia

Neanderthals and Denisovans were closely related. DNA comparisons suggest that our ancestors diverged from theirs some 500,000 years ago.
Credit: NGC, CHIP CLARK, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

Scientists from the University of Adelaide in Australia and Pthe Natural History Museum in the UK have proposed that human ancestor, Denisova hominins, managed to travel from Indonesia on the way to Australia and New Guinea and interbred with modern humans on the way. DNA studies show that Denovan DNA is not present in indegnenous humans at the northern asian region where the first of the species have been discovered but were prevalent in Australia, New Guinea and surrounding areas.

This observation means that Denisovans have managed to cross the Wallace line, one of the world's biggest biogeographic barriers which is formed by a powerful marine current along the east coast of Borneo.

The Denisovan species were discovered from a 41,000 year old finger bone fragment of a juvenile female found in the Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains in Siberia, a cave which has also been inhabited by Neanderthals and modern humans. It is believed that Denisovans have coexisted in Asia with Neanderthals and early modern humans.

Denisovans are defined so far only by the DNA from one bone chip and two teeth and is generally referred to as the "Third Human".

Mapping and DNA Sequencing the Genomes of Uncharted Microbial Organisms - Microbial Dark Matter

Great Boiling Spring in Nevada
Credit: Brian Hedlund, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Scientists led by the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) are mapping the genetic make up of previously uncharted branches in the bacterial and archaeal cells and organisms. These cells, referred to as "microbial dark matter" cannot be cultured in a laboratory and because they live in specific conditions and environments, are hard to reproduce.

Living organisms are divided into three kingdoms or domains, Eukaryota, Bacteria, and Archaea. They are classified based on their cellular organization, biochemistry, and molecular biology which each share on a fundamental basis with others in the domain regardless of the diversity.

Microbes are important to life. Bacteria, for example, comprises about 10% of a human body's weight and can be found in all organs and tissues. These organisms have great influence on a body's biological and even behavioral processes. The influence of microbial life is not restricted to the human body, it can also have influence over other areas such as the environment, global cycles, and also climate processes. A recent study points to microbes as the cause for rising methane levels in the ocean.

With this undertaking, scientists visited nine habitats around the world to collected uncultivated microbial cells from which they were able to reassemble and identify 201 distinct genomes. The data can be used to align with 28 major previously uncharted branches of the tree of life.

The nine habitats visited were Sakinaw Lake in British Columbia; the Etoliko Lagoon of western Greece; a sludge reactor in Mexico; the Gulf of Maine; off the north coast of Oahu, Hawaii, the Tropical Gyre in the south Atlantic; the East Pacific Rise; the Homestake Mine in South Dakota; and the Great Boiling Spring in Nevada.

Synthetic Biology: New Approach To Activating Genes

A new breakthrough in synthetic biology involves building a synthetic protein known as a transcription activator-like effectors or TALE (see image). TALEs are artificial enzymes that can be engineered to attach or bind to almost any gene sequences. This allows biologists and genetic engineers to turn on genes inside cells to levels that were not previously possible.

Synthetic biology is an emerging field of science (biology) where biological parts, devices and systems are designed and constructed for a specific purpose using cells and molecules. It also covers redesigning existing systems to address a specific situation. Synthetic biology covers technologies such as DNA nanotechnology and bionanodevices.

Synthetic biology involves creating cells that copy or mimic natural molecules or using natural cells and molecules and place them within a redesigned system. The purpose for synthetic biology is to understand the factors involved in a problem wherein observation and analysis are not enough. Construction of new models and redesigning biological systems are needed to further comprehend it. Being able to design and build a system further enhances the measure of understanding of the factors involved.

Currently, synthetic biology have developed devices that can diagnose diseases, monitor and identify cancer cells in the blood stream, and even be used to treat common diseases such as acne (See Related Links below).

This is done by creating cells through genetic manipulation. DNA manipulation is similar to coding a computer. The Human Genome Project successfully mapped and sequenced the human gene from both the physical and functional standpoints. By combining certain gene sequences that activate a process, a synthetic biologist can construct a biological system or device. This can be compared to using Lego building blocks to create a structure.

A common application for synthetic biology is creating artificial molecules that mimic natural molecules such as enzymes. Enzymes are large biological molecules responsible for chemical reactions within the body to keep it going.

Using Virus and Viral Products To Treat Acne and Other Skin Conditions

Acne is the most common skin disease. It is a condition that causes pimples on the surface of the skin. These are normally called "zits". Zits are a result of excess oil that gets trapped in the pores of the skin. The oil blocks the pores which leads to a build up of bacteria and eventually infection.

Acne is most prevalent among pre-teens approaching puberty and teenagers. 80% of teenagers suffer from acne, making the disease the most common skin disease. It is the most consulted skin condition among dermatologists. Acne is not confined to teenagers alone. Many adults also suffer from the it.

The most common location for acne is the face.

Acne is not harmful. It does cause discomfort but it is not life threatening. What is of concern with acne is that it may cause some psychological effects on patients specially with teens. Acne affects the person's self confidence, self image, and how he or she interact with the people around.

There are medical treatments of acne available. Some popular treatments are epiduo and doxycycline, which is an antibiotic.Epiduo Gel contains adapalene and benzoyl peroxide, a common treatment used for acne.

Other remedies for acne is thyme which is becoming a popular "organic" alternative. Thyme contains thymol which is an antispetic. Scientists are also looking at nanotechnology and coconut oil which contains lauric acid as another alternative treatment to acne. Lauric acid has antiviral, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties that can be used against the acne bacteria.

Could viruses be used to treat acne?

Scientists have isolated and studied the genomes of 11 viruses, known as phage, that can infect and kill the acne-causing bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, potentially paving the way for topical therapies that use viruses or viral products to treat this vexing skin condition. Their results are reported in the September 25 issue of mBio®, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

"There are two fairly obvious potential directions that could exploit this kind of research," says Graham Hatfull of the University of Pittsburgh, an author of the study. "The first is the possibility of using the phages directly as a therapy for acne. The second is the opportunity to use phage-derived components for their activities."

Research Addresses Wine Allergies Using Yeast and Genetic Sequencing

Wine allergies affect a small percentage of people in the world. This usually involves a headache accompanied by nausea and flushing that occurs in many people after drinking wine.

These allergies usually involves red wine but can still be caused by white wine.

Since the majority of wine allergy involves red wine, this condition is called Red Wine Headache (RWH). No one knows what causes RWH. There are studies involving histamines, tannin, sulfites and Tyramine that points to these as factors in RWH but results are still inconclusive.

Tannin is a chemical substance that comes from grape skins, stems, and seeds. Tyramine is an amine that is produced naturally from the breakdown of protein as food ages.

Winemaking goes high-tech at the University of British Columbia

For centuries, people made wine by stomping grapes with their bare feet. But now, the art of winemaking is going high-tech at The University of British Columbia's Wine Research Centre.

Have you ever gotten a headache or a rash from a single glass of wine? Has one glass of Merlot or Shiraz resulted in a painful hangover? If yes, you may be one of the 30 percent of people who are allergic to compounds that are in some of the world's most popular wines.

A team of researchers at UBC's Wine Research Centre – which has received funding from the Government of Canada through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) – is working to resolve the allergic reaction some people have to wine. The research team has created a strain of yeast that prevents allergic reactions, producing a wine that is hypoallergenic and can be enjoyed by everyone. The yeast developed at the Wine Research Centre is now being used by some of the most recognizable vintages produced in Canada and the United States.

Release and Free Access of The Pediatric Cancer Genome Project Data Valuable To Cancer and Other Disease Research

Credit: Pediatric Cancer Genome Project

Genomics is the study of the the DNA structure of living organisms.

DNA contained in a cell makes up a genome. The human genom is comprised of around six billion individual chromosomes.

The information in DNA is stored as a code made up of four chemical bases; Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G) and Thymine (T). Genomics studies these four bases and the sequence it takes in a DNA strand. It tries to see how each of these pass information to help each cell in the body work properly.

In cancer cells, changes in the dna sequence can cause the cell to behave erratically. It can produce a protein that can make cells grow quickly and cause damage to neighboring cells. By applying genomics to studying cancer cells, scientists can figure out what it is in the DNA structure would allow a cell to become cancerous.

The genome of a cancer cell can also be used to distinguish the different types of cancer. Studying and understanding the cancer genome can also help doctors in finding the best possible treatment for the patient.

World's largest release of comprehensive human cancer genome data helps speed discoveries

To speed progress against cancer and other diseases, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project today announced the largest-ever release of comprehensive human cancer genome data for free access by the global scientific community. The amount of information released more than doubles the volume of high-coverage, whole genome data currently available from all human genome sources combined. This information is valuable not just to cancer researchers, but also to scientists studying almost any disease.

The release of this data was announced as a part of a perspective published in Nature Genetics online May 29.

The 520 genome sequences released today are matched sets of normal and tumor tissue samples from 260 pediatric cancer patients. The Pediatric Cancer Genome Project is expected to sequence more than 1,200 genomes by year's end. Each sample is sequenced at a quality control level known as 30-fold coverage, ensuring maximum accuracy. St. Jude researchers are analyzing the genomic sequences to determine the differences between each child's normal and cancerous cells to pinpoint the causes of more than a half-dozen of the most deadly childhood cancers, an effort which has already produced a number of key discoveries reported in top scientific journals.

Heliconius Butterflies Survive By Acquiring and Sharing Genetic Data From Other Species

Common Postman (Heliconius melpomene)

A species is a group of organisms that can interbreed in nature to produce a fertile offspring. It is a unit of biodiversity or the degree of variation of organic life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet.

Within a group of species, new biological species may arise. This is called speciation. It is the splitting from a main branch of species to form an altogether new line.

One such such species being studied and used as models for speciation are the Heliconius butterflies. Hybrid speciation has been hypothesized to occur in this genus and may contribute to the diverse mimicry found in Heliconius butterflies. The species Heliconius Heurippa is said to be a hybridized version of two Heliconius species; Heliconius Cydno and Heliconius Melpomene. Hybrid speciation is a form of speciation wherein hybridization between two different closely related species such as the two heliconius butterfiles leads to a novel species; the heliconius heurippa.

This form of speciation is popular among plants but is considered extremely rare outside of the plant world.

Colorful butterflies increase their odds of survival by sharing traits

Bright black-and-red butterflies that flit across the sunlit edges of Amazonian rain forests are natural hedonists, and it does them good, according to genetic data published today in the journal Nature.

An international consortium of researchers at UC Irvine and elsewhere discovered that different species of the Heliconius butterfly are crossbreeding to more quickly acquire superior wing colors. They also have a surprisingly large number of genes devoted to smell and taste.

The use of color to attract mates and fend off predators is widespread in daytime-loving butterflies, while night-flying moths are famous for having large antennae to sniff out potential mates' pheromones. Thus, researchers predicted that because they're such visual creatures, the butterflies would not be able to smell or taste very well.

Older Than Estimated - Genome Show Polar Bear Existed 600,000 Years Ago.

The polar bear is the world's largest land carnivore. It is also the largest bear. An adult male weighs around 350–680 kiloggrams (770–1,500 lb),while an adult female is about half that size.

The polar bear is native to the Arctic Circle.

Compared to its close cousin, the brown bear, the polar bear has many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet.

Polar bears are born on land but spend most of their time in the waters hunting seal. Their scientific name (Ursus maritimus) means "maritime bear", and derives from this fact. Polar bears can hunt their preferred food of seals from the edge of sea ice, often living off fat reserves when no sea ice is present.

Polar bears older than previously thought

Polar bears diverged from their closest relatives about 600,000 years ago, according to a new genetic study published in the April 20 issue of the journal Science.

The findings suggest the cold adapted species is about five times older than previously thought, and may have had more time to adapt to arctic conditions than recently assumed. Previous studies of polar bears focused mainly on mitochondrial or mtDNA, which is passed on from mother to offspring and only comprises a very small portion of the entire genome.