Human-Pig Hybrid Chimera Study

Scientists have created more than 2,000 human-pig hybrids in the hopes of using the information gained to one day grow human organs inside of animals for transplants. The hybrid embryos were allowed to develop to 28 days before being removed. This short time frame allowed scientists to see how the human and pig cells mix together.The study has come under fire as ethical concerns from the US National Institutes of Health had put a temporary  ban on funding for this controversial experiment last year.  One ethical concern brought about during the ban was that hybrid creatures could theoretically have humanized brains,  and what that could mean if they were accidentally released into the wild. Although i understand the ethical dilemma faced with chimera research I feel as though there is many advantages that this research could bring that cannot be ignored. Not only is this study bringing us closer to understanding how different cells can interact it also allows us to learn the information that can one day lead us able to grow human organs ready for transplant.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jan/26/first-human-pig-chimera-created-in-milestone-study
http://www.counselheal.com/articles/31719/20170130/human-pig-chimera-embryo-development-grow-donor-organs.htm

"Junk DNA?" The differences between humans and chimps

In this article , a team of  researchers lead by a Georgia Tech Professor of Biology John McDonald at the Georgia Institute of Technology have made the determination that the insertion and deletion of large pieces of DNA near genes are highly variable between humans and chimpanzees and may account for major differences between the two. This was discovered because researchers sequenced their genomes, and were surprised to find their results: the DNA of humans and chimpanzee genes close to identical.  The team verified that the DNA sequence of genes between the two are indeed identical, however there are large gaps in adjacent area of genes that can affect which genes are turned on and which genes are turned off due to insertion or deletion of a sequence that is viral-like. This is called retrotransposons that have been known to comprise close to half of the genomes of both species.  

 I think it is wonderful what we can learn because of the new lab techniques that have been adopted over the past couple of years. Just goes to show you that not even science is permanente and forever.

Oh Snap! Reconstructive Genome oh the Black Death!

When I did not think the subject of pathogens could amaze me anymore then it has, up pops an intriguing article. During the 1300’s over 50 million Europeans died because of the bacteria Yersinia pestis. For those who do not know what that is, Yesinia pestis is simply the bacteria that the Black Death. Recently an international team of scientists decided to put their mind together, dig up the skeletal remains and find this particular pathogen. By extracting, purifying and specifically enriching the pathogens DNA, researchers were able to sequence the entire genome of the Black Death. By doing this scientists will determine how Y pestis has evolved through the centuries and see what makes it so deadly.

http://docp.edublogs.org/yersinia-pestis/ Another great link!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111012132653.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29 Where I got my source from.