Your Health May Be Affected By Your Grandfather

Scientists from the University of Canada have conducted a research that has led them to think that a man's health habits may affect his grandchildren. More specifically, they studied proteins called histones, which are elements of sperm that are transported during fertilization. It is known that histones bind to DNA during cell formation so they could condense more efficiently to fit in a cell's nucleus.

In previous researches, it was found that alcohol and tobacco use can affect the health and development of the offspring even before conception. For example, in a study reported in Medical News Today, children with fathers that smoke are suggested to have an increased risk of asthma.

The researchers from the University of Canada modified the histones in mice and bred two generations. The result of this breeding is that the mice from both generations were found to be prone to birth defects and they had abnormal skeletal formation, which affects their chances of survival. The conclusion of this study is that histones may in fact be directly linked to inheritance. If further study was conducted, we may be able to find a way to genetically modify the histones so only healthy genes would be inherited by the offspring. I think this would be a great leap forward for the advancement of medicine and health.

New Test Can Predict a Man's Sexual Orientation

Researchers have recently developed a test that is said to be able to predict a man's sexuality with up to 70% accuracy. The test uses an algorithm that can identify patterns of DNA methylation, a molecular modification to DNA that controls gene expression, across nine regions of the human genome that researchers believe might be related to sexual orientation. DNA methylation occurs as a result of environmental factors, such as exposure to chemicals, stress, diet, and exercise.

The recent study of the process builds upon previous studies that have shown that a person's sexuality may be determined by the activity of certain genes and that epigenetic differences are one of the main reasons that identical twins who share all their genes can vary in homosexuality. In the study the team of researchers employed 37 pairs of identical male twins, where one was homosexual and one was heterosexual, and another 10 pairs, where both males were homosexual. They were then capable of pinpointing specific DNA methylation patterns that might be associated with sexual orientation utilizing an algorithm called FuzzyForest. From this, the researchers were able to identify these DNA methylation patterns in 9 specific areas of the human genome that could determine each twins sexuality with 70% accuracy. These areas were capable of being defined to the base pair level.

The researchers now say they are unable to explain how the DNA methylation in these specific areas of the human genome can actually influence a man's sexuality, but they plan to address the concept in further studies. Meanwhile, they will continue to test the accuracy of the algorithm in a larger population of men.

I find this study very interesting. Given that the genetic and molecular basis of our sexual orientation is not well known, the study is a huge step in helping us understand ourselves and why we are the way we are.

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Build a Bigger, Better Beagle

In China, researchers are using CRISPR/Cas9 to editing the genes of beagles to create dogs that have more muscle mass.  The altered gene, Myostatin, gives bully whippets and Belgian Blue cattle their bulky muscle without any known cause of health problems.  Liangxue Lai of the South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in Guangzhou, China injected the gene editor into 35 beagles’ embryos.  27 puppies were born of which only 2, a male Hercules and a female Tiangou, had the edited genes. The female has both copies of the myostatin gene mutated in all of her cells developed bigger thigh muscles by at 4 months but Hercules didn’t have the double mutation in all of his cells and didn’t develop as much by 4 months.  He did pack on more muscle as they matured.  Even thou only a low number of the puppies were born with the mutations Lai believe the editor is not very efficient in dogs but the process just needs to be optimized.  Next Lai and colleagues hopes to make mutations that mimic genetic changes like Parkinson’s disease and hearing loss in human. They also don’t plan on making designer pets for sale using this technique; it’s for biomedical research only since beagles are very close to human in terms of metabolic, physiological and anatomical characteristics.

I think it’s amazing that China and the US use dogs for research needs; I have heard about rats and other animals but not beagles.  Instead of making designer pets my first concern is that this process will eventually be used to give humans bigger and more efficient muscles.  I can imagine the next generations of athletes trying to be larger by having their genes edited with bull genes. The research need is perfect but we do not need to make altered humans to be us stronger or to gain animalistic abilities.

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Increased Risk of Heart Disease for Women

Heart disease is the primary cause of death in the US, where someone will have a heart attack every 34 seconds, and where a person will die from a heart disease-related event every minute. Scientists believe they have found a that is associated with an increased risk of heart attack or stroke in women, but not in men. The gene in question is called BCAR1, which is involved in many processes in the body that are affected by estrogen, the female sex hormone. The scientists, led by Prof. Steve Humphries of the British Heart Foundation, are from University College London and they studied a group of genes that have been linked to an increased risk of disease in the arteries. They looked at data from 4,000 men and women from across Europe, comparing their genes, artery thickness and artery health.

Two versions of the BCAR1 gene were examined and analyzed: the "GG" version, which is considered high risk for heart disease and a low risk "AA" version. 33% of the women studied had the high risk GG version of the BCAR1 gene. These women were found to have a 6.1% higher risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or diseased blood vessels, compared to the with those with the low risk version, who had a 2.5% risk of such an event. Men with the GG version did not seem to be affected. Dr. Shannon Amoils, of the BHF, recommends women to avoid smoking and eat healthily in order to reduce the risk of heart disease. 

I found this article to be very interesting and informative. I had no idea a single gene could play such a big part in such a harmful disease. I am most shocked about how this gene does not affect men, as it does with women. Men who have the GG version were not affected, but women were, which is very shocking. I hope these scientists carry on their research to develop a drug that combats this gene because having a disease in the most important organ of one's body is not good, and it could lead to death.

Original article here 

Synthetic Blood Development Could Be a Breakthrough for Trauma Patients 

Whales and other deep sea diving mammals can hold their breath and keep active for extended amounts of time on just one breath.  This is due to the vast amounts of myoglobin (a protein that helps to hold oxygen in the body) stored in the large mammals’ muscles.

Researchers from Rice University have done studies for quite some time on the myoglobin in the bodies of whales and other marine mammals to hopefully be able to come up with synthetic blood for human trauma patients.  Because the myoglobin in whales can hold so much oxygen, this in turn could be beneficial to humans.  “Whales and other deep-diving marine mammals can pack 10-20 times more myoglobin into their cells than humans can, and that allows them to ‘download’ oxygen directly into their skeletal muscles and stay active even when they are holding their breath” said biochemist, John Olson in a statement.

Whales have a large amount of myoglobin in their muscles which is why they can stay under water for so long.  Humans have less myoglobin in their bodies which is why it is difficult to hold their breath for extended amounts of time.  If synthetic blood were to be developed for trauma patients, it would provide hospitals with a larger blood supply.  This in turn would allow patients to receive blood quicker as well as have that blood “take up” oxygen more efficiently. 

I found this article very interesting.  Although there are many people that donate blood, having synthetic blood on hand could make it easier for patients to be matched for a specific blood type as well as make more blood if needed instead of waiting for a donation. 

To read more, click here and here 

New Clues To How Gene Affects Women's Body Shape

This article brought caught my attention as it describes how women with larger hips tend to have a
lower risk of type II diabetes. It's all linked to the gene KLF14. This gene seems to be master regulator of how and where a woman's body stored fat. Researchers have done some work and figured out exactly how the gene variant works. It regulates hundreds of other genes active in fat cells and changes the structure and function of those cells. Obviously obesity is linked to type II diabetes but this article describes the importance of body fat distribution. The KLF14 gene is linked to body fat distribution and not obesity which is why it provides a decreased risk. Genetics do play a big role in someone developing type II diabetes but there are many factors that you can control to prevent this disease. KLF14 is expressed in fat tissue which means the gene affects peoples sensitivity to insulin thus providing positive results. Further research of this gene could lead to treatments for diabetes or even better solutions to manage diabetes besides insulin shots and the harmful medicine out there today.



http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2015/10/10/new-clues-to-how-gene-affects-womens-body-shape-diabetes-risk

http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v15/n1/box/nrg3575_BX2.html

Genes and Parkinson's Disease

Researchers from King's College London have been able to identify a gene linked to nerve function which they believe could provide a treatment target for 'switching off' the gene responsible for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.  Their study was conducted using the larval stages of Drosophila.  The nerve cells were genetically engineered to create a green flourescent protein, which allowed these researchers identify nerves with damaged mitochondria.  "A gene called HIFalpha was found to regulate the nerve signals from damaged mitochondria and, when this gene was 'switched off' by the research team, nerve function in flies with Parkinson's disease was restored.  By deactivating the HIFalpha gene, the early failure of nerve cells caused by mitochondrial damage was prevented." (King's College London)  With these findings, researchers now have a greater understanding of how nerve cells work.

I really enjoyed this article and found it to be very promising for patients suffering with these 'incurable' diseases. With this new research I hope that scientists are able to create a drug that will give positive results and relief to patients.  Maybe with this research a cure for these diseases, including Parkinson's, will arise!

Check out the article here. To read more on Parkinson's disease click here.

Sorghum: Drought Superstar

With the recent drought in California, there is one plant that has been consistent in surviving the drought conditions: Sorghum. It is among some of the most drought-tolerant groups of plants in the world, and 12.3 million dollars of grant money went into researching why.

Currently, it is known that Sorghum can sense when it faces drought conditions and respond by using less water. For example, the wax of the cuticle will become thicker or their cells start to release less water. A genetic component to drought resistance has been connected.

Sorghums are related to other grasses.
Photo credit to Peggy Lemaux of UC Berkeley

Finding the genes that control drought tolerance would be a boon. Primarily because Sorghum seems to know when to switch the genes on and off, and the mechanism that controls it is still hypothesized with no evidence backing it. Researchers will grow two groups of sorghum, one under drought conditions, and the other in normal conditions to see if they can quantify and differences in the plants.

Learning how sorghums can conserve water can lead to new crop variants that will be more drought-tolerant. And if the world continues to warm, with harsher and less wet summers, the production of crops may be in peril. Anything that would aid farmers in keeping their yield up as the water table drops would be a boon.

Original Article: KVPR

Interested in Sorghum? It's genetic sequence was compared to other plants in 2009. You can read the findings here.