Hoxful Monsters

DNA ( Deoxy ribo Nucleic Acid) contains all the information required for a cell to survive and this is present in the form of four bases, represented by the letters A, C, G and T. These letters represent four Nitrogenous bases present in the DNA,which are Adenine,Cytosine,Guanine and Thymine. The order of bases on a DNA strand is the DNA sequence. The sequence of DNA constitutes the heritable genetic information in nuclei, plasmids, mitochondria, and chloroplasts that forms the basis for the developmental programs of all living organisms.Determining the sequence of DNA is vital for understanding any kind of research (applied and basic or fundamental) and latest techniques developed for sequencing revolutionized the field of biomedical sciences in finding suitable treatment for diseases. DNA sequencing is all about determining the exact order of the bases A, T, C and G within a piece of DNA. (more…)

Biomed central ,the Publisher of 196 peer-reviewed open access journals added a new journal ” Epigenetics and Chromatin to their excellent collection of open access journals.This new journal will provide novel insights into epigenetic inheritance and chromatin-based interactions.

“Epigenetics & Chromatin aims to understand how gene and chromosomal elements are regulated and their activities maintained during cell division, differentiation and environmental alteration. Epigenetic research is concerned with heritable changes that do not change DNA sequence, but rather involve stable modifications of chromatin, DNA or protein conformation. Epigenetics is a broad area of research that is important for understanding the basic processes of cellular life, and as such has implications for a wide range of disciplines.”

If you are for open access in science then help spreading the word to your friends and colleagues.

The latest edition of carnival of evolution is out on the other 95% ( Kevin and Eric).If you are looking for some nice stuff to read on evolution ,be assured this the place wont disappoint.I have already read couple of posts from the carnival ,hoping to complete the other interesting stuff soon. If you write something related to evolution submit your articles for the next carnival ,which will be hosted by Life before Death and last date for that will be before 15 Nov .2008

Image credit : Varun / Flickr

Sean Carroll, a name which needs no introduction in the field of evo devo.Recently PLos genetics published an interview with Sean B Carroll ,where he talks about his journey beginning from the lab of Matt Scott to a scientist and writer of evolution.

Gitschier: Were you the first person in Matt’s lab?

Carroll: Allen Laughon and I were there for day one in Boulder. Allen came from Ray Gesteland’s [lab] in Utah. We took over a lab from a microbiologist, and Boulder hadn’t bothered to clean it. So Al and I spent the first few days emptying reagents from old bottles and re-filling them with new ones.

We had a DNA map of the Antennapedia complex. The whole region, a few hundred kb, was cloned. Breakpoints of scr [sex-combs reduced] and ftz mutants were mapped.

I had an immunochemistry background, so I had a lot of experience in producing, purifying, and using antibodies. So I had something to bring to the table, but I had never worked on flies. The idea was to localize these gene products during development.

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Sarah palin somehow manages to make to the headlines for various reasons, on 24th October the Republican nominee for Vice President attacked scientific research done on fruit flies ,in a speech about her running mate John McCain’s policies on children with disabilities (you can read here)).Sarah Palin condemned “earmarks”, which are congressional mandates to spend money on specific projects.

“You’ve heard about some of these pet projects, they really don’t make a whole lot of sense and sometimes these dollars go to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good,” Palin said. “Things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I kid you not.” (more…)

Check this video from Helicos BioSciences showing their latest technology for DNA sequencing which promises to be a much cheaper than the conventional system.Many companies are trying to out do each other in terms of cost for sequencing.Applied Biosystems and relative new company Complete genomics might face a tough challenge from Helicos Bio sciences when it comes to Cheap DNA sequencing.

Just seven days remain now for the elections and the promises made by both John McCain and Obama before the economic drop of double funding to basic research looked a distant possibility till today. But speaking at the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing conference in Palo Alto, California, Obama science adviser and Stanford University plant biologist Sharon Long said she would advise that basic funding should survive the budget tightening of either candidate.Science adviser to Obama believes that science funding will not be compromised and will be a priority ,instead it will serve as means to strengthen dropping economy.The McCain campaign turned down an invitation to have a science adviser speak at the conference. (more…)

Gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) pathway is a well known phenomenon ,where in long double stranded is processed into small interfering RNAs and which in turn silence the genes in sequence specific manner. These micro RNAs are pretty much conserved throughout the Bilaterians, such as Humans,flies and worms,which play pivotal role in substantial fraction of transcription.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ~21-24 nucleotide RNAs ,derived from distinctive hairpin precursors ,bind with mRNA and brings post transcriptional repression.In performing this function micro RNAs use the basal pathway of Dicer endonucleases and Argonaute effector protein.
Micro RNAs present in plants and algae have a different gene structure,biogenesis and targeting properties from those of animals, and these miRNAs are not found in fungi. Based on the above facts its generally considered that miRNAs in plants and animals had independent origin. (more…)

It was absolutely shocking to hear Sarah palin’s views on Drosophila research going on in various parts of world.She is of the opinion that money should not be spent on small fruit flies ,which are of no use to public life and rather divert that money in curing the disabilities of children.

For many parents of children with disabilities, the most valuable thing of all is information. Early identification of a cognitive or other disorder, especially autism, can make a life-changing difference. […] We’ve got a three trillion dollar budget, and Congress spends some 18 billion dollars a year on earmarks for political pet projects. That’s more than the shortfall to fully fund the IDEA. Where does a lot of that earmark money end up anyway? […] You’ve heard about some of these pet projects they really don’t make a whole lot of sense and sometimes these dollars go to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good. Things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I kid you not. (more…)