Can The Blind See Blue

 How Do Blind Worms See the Color Blue?

    In an article from The New York Times, an author named Veronique Greenwoodwrites about how blind worms can see the color blue. One of the first things he mentions is how in a lab experiment the researchers place worms on top of different microbe species to see if the worms will devour the toxic species or if they will move away to eat the safe species for dinner. One of the microbe species that blind worms know are toxic is pseudomonas aeruginosa; scientists know that the worms know it is dangerous because they slither away furiously.

    The main researcher in this working theory was Dipon Ghosh, a graduate student from Yale University in Cellular and Molecular Physiology. One of his thoughts that lead him to think that worms could see blue was that pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bright blue shade. A way that he proved this hypothesis was that he conducted an experiment at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology using worms, patches of pseudomonas aeruginosa, and lights on a light switch. When he turned off the lights and placed the worms on the pseudomonas aeruginosa patches. Once he did this he could sense his hypothesis had some traction because when the lights were off the worm's reaction time to move away from the toxic microbes was much slower. 

    As more research was conducted Dipon Ghosh found out that the lifespan of a worm can be affected by light and that is where the next hypothesis formed. As the article continues and more experiments are performed researchers realized that worms do not move away because pseudomonas aeruginosa is toxic, they move away because of the bright light that it omits. The article "How Do Blind Worms See the Color Blue" was very interesting and something I have never heard about, when I saw it I had to jump on the opportunity to read it. 

Article: How Do Blind Worms See the Color Blue?

About Light Affecting A Worms Life Span: How Light and Heat Affect Worms

Blue Bullfrog

 

    We all know that most frogs come in a green color or a brown color, not to mention frogs are found all over the world. This frog that was found in Indiana in a residents pond. This specific color is due to a genetic condition called axanthism. This genetic condition is very rare to find in the wildlife, in which is widespread through other amphibians. The color for frog's skin comes from an combination of skin derived underlayer called structural color which is blue. As well as color from the neural crest located on the spine of the frog that gives rise to pigment cells. That neural crest produces xanthophores which is yellow pigment. In a normal frog the yellow pigment created from the neural crest is spread through out the body and combined with the blue pigment which will make the green color we all know. However, frogs afflicted with axanthism which have an absent of a neural crest does not produce the yellow pigment to merge with the blue, the phenotype that is expressed is the blue structural color. I found this interesting because when you think of frogs you believe them to be green. Finding one like this is very rare and is a site to see. I had an idea to do this article after viewing a YouTube video and it was very interesting.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH5KPgeZRpg&ab_channel=BraveWilderness     

Link:

https://www.earthtouchnews.com/in-the-field/backyard-wildlife/blue-is-the-new-green-rare-turquoise-coloured-bullfrog-spotted-in-indiana/#:~:text=The%20blue%20frog%20owes%20its,a%20genetic%20condition%20called%20axanthism.&text=Interestingly%2C%20in%20the%20case%20of,rather%20a%20lack%20of%20yellow.

There is A New Mum In Town

The color blue is found all over the earth from the sky to what we see on the ocean, though one place a true blue color is not found in abundance is in mums, being the flower. From a scientific breakthrough mums are finally able to truly grow blue as can be by the correct manipulation of their genes. Scientist Naonobu Noda who works at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization located in Tsukuba, Japan along with other colleagues has been credited this accomplishment. By taking a gene from the Canterbury bells and adding a gene from butterfly peas the manipulation in mums allowed an important enzyme to create the compound needed for a blue color. The compounds for natural blue colors in flowers that have now been activated in mums, which were not present before are known as delphinidin-based anthocyanin pigments. In the experiment a total of 19 out of the 32 mums treated bloomed into a blue color rather than their normal pinkish colors. These results made the experiment quite a success and will allow gardeners and flower lovers to lavish in blue mums in a true blue natural setting.

Inheritance of Eye Color

 More than one gene codes for eye color. It is uncommon, but it is now known that parents with blue eyes can have a child with brown eyes. Two separate genes OCA2 and HERC2 can lead to the inheritance of blue eyes. You need both genes to get a pigmented (brown) eye. Both of the genes work together, so it is possible to be a carrier of a dominant trait for brown eyes. So if both parents have blue eyes, but they are carriers for brown eyes, then the child can have brown eyes. Both genes are needed to work in order to have blue eyes (epistasis). Brown eyes are pigmented and blue eyes are not. OCA2 is one of the key genes in determining how much pigment is made, so this gene clearly plays an important role in blue eye color. A lot of pigment gives brown eyes, some gives green eyes, and none gives blue eyes. The HERC2 gene determines if the OCA2 is turned on. So both of these genes play key roles.
It is very interesting that more than one gene codes for eye color. It makes it even more interesting that hazel eyes are possible. The more of inheritance for eye color or more advanced that people used to think.

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Experts Back Actress in Choices for Cancer Prevention

           Angelina Jolie Pitt, an actress and filmmaker, made the decision to undergo a surgical procedure called laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which removes the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Jolie carried the genetic mutation, BRCA1, which dramatically increases the risk of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is typically detectable during its final and untreatable stages. 40 is the recommended age to have oophorectomy surgery for those with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. It is better to remove them early since there is no accurate method to test for ovarian cancer when affect. When detectable, it is too late, and the affected patient dies. The cancer scare pushed Jolie to be proactive about her decision since her mother, aunt, and grandmother died of cancer. Previously, Jolie removed both her breasts because BRCA1 also increases breast cancer risk. Generally, doctors recommend that breast surgery take place after oophorectomy surgery since breast cancer is detectable and treatable at early stages. The negative side effects to oophorectomy surgery are early menopause and inability to conceive. Therefore, oophorectomy surgery is ideal for women after they have had the desired number of children and before the cancer risk spikes.

            Testing for CA-125 protein monitors ovarian cancer possibilities; however, this test has been halted by some doctors since it is ineffective at detection and does not improve one’s chance at survival. There are also no evidence that BRCA mutation causes uterine cancer risk, so Jolie has decided not to remove her uterus. Jolie empathizes for those affected who want to get pregnant, and says that they might have the option to only remove the fallopian tubes. There is little evidence that fallopian tube removal is as effective towards ovarian cancer prevention. I think it is very inspirational that Jolie shared her decision with other women. She is a strong advocator that knowledge is power because while doctors give options based on diagnosis, they cannot make decisions for you. If affected women can relate to a strong icon like Angelina Jolie, it will help them take action to make an informed decision. Signs of ovarian cancer may be similar to other non-life threatening medical issues, so it is important to take any signs of precaution if at risk when possible. 

            

Original: Link1

Supplement: Link2