Postdoctoral researcher in plant evolutionary genetics

This interesting position is At Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew

Fatty foods lead to heart disease

Eating fatty and protein-rich food cooked by grilling or frying causes dysfunctions in blood vessels leading to heart disease.

Mammoth DNA has been sequenced

Scientists have sequenced DNA rom several mammoths ,including one discovered in 1799.

Mitodronchial DNA has been recovered.

SBS was used to discovered the DNA ,sometimes with as little as 2.5 grams of material.

Prous Science acquired by Thomson scientific

Prous Science has been acquired by Thomson Scientific,based in Toronto.

Prous Science,based in Barcelona ,Spain markets 265,000 compounds to scientists.

Cuban ecomonic crisis was good for health.

Severe food and fuel shortages caused by lack of subsidies because of the collapse of the Soviet Union who provided the subsidies.

That meant people had to eat less and travel by eiher foot or bicycle.

Between 1997 and 2002,deaths from diabetes,coronary heart disease and stroke respectively all 51%, 35% and 20% respectively.

I wonder if it will have an epigenetic effect.

Ocean churning pipes could beat global warming

100-200 metre long pipes that would pump nutrient-rich water at the bottom of the ocean to the top so that algae could bloom on the ocean surface absoring CO2 before dieing has been proposed by Chris Rapley,newly appointed director of the Science Museum, London.

Some forms of exercise increase risk of miscarriage

Researchers from the University of South Denmark, Odense found that doing more than 7 hours a week during the eleventh to fourteen week of pregnancy had four times increased risk of miscarriage.

Those doing dancing,walking, jogging or ball games increased their risk of a miscarriage.

Science Museum smart toy of the year

The Electro Mag retro science kit has won this year's award.

It teaches children electronics,circuits and magnetics

New species discovered in Vietnam

In the Green Corridor of Vietnam's Annamites mountain range, about 10 newspecies have been found.

4 orchids, including 3 which are leafless and have no chlorophyll.

Discovered was also a snake, now called whitelipped keelback.

Two new butterlies were also discovered.

Allergies in UK

An estimated 1 in 3 people in the UK are allergic to something, which is one of the highest incidences in the world.

The FSA will consider what its guidance should be.

Borneo cave system provides clues to past climate

A study of stalagmites in the Gunung Bua cave system suggests that the Tropical Pacific has played a part in past climate.

El Nino is also recorded in these rock records.

US technology companies foreign workers woes

Some US technology companies say they need more foreign workers qualified in science etc, so they are saying immigration controls should be relaxed.

only 13% of US graduate degrees are science degrees leaving a shortfall.

University of Oregon $435,000 grant

This grant from the National Science Foundation over a 3 year period will help launch a consortium forming a network promoting new technology and startup companies.

It is hoped that the Oregon State Senate will pass a bill providing permanent funding.

Air travellers are 3 times more likely to get DVT.

People who are obese, tall and under-30s are more at risk.

However, shorter people are 6.3 times more likely to get DVT

Flu vaccine may be ineffective for over-65s

So say researchers from George Washington University.

Over-65s produce only a quarter or half the antibodies than younger people did.

The researchers said more research is needed

Deep voiced men have more children

A study of Hadza men in tanzania suggests that lower pitched men have more children.

Women seem to be attrached to such men.

In contrast, men are atrached to women who have higher pitch voices.

Projected shortage of Australian scientists

It has been suggested that there will be a shortfall of 50,000 scientists by 2012-13.

AIDS vaccine test fails

It failed after some of the 741 volunteers became infected with HIV.

Merck said it would stop trials of the vaccine.

Oman to make science a education subject

In accordance with the omani sultan wishes, science will be taught 2007/8 in schools.

Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase(ESBL)

This is drug-resistance strain of E-coli.

10-14% of those infected will die within 30 days.

Up to 4,000 a year may be dieing in Britain from this infection.

There are possibly 30,000 cases a year in Britain.

ESBL has been ound in many imported chickens.

Summer Science Exhibition 2008

Deadline for exhibits 5 November 2007

Exhibition 30 June-3 July 2008 at the Royal Society London

www.royalsoc.ac.uk/exhibition2008

Oncogenes and Human Cancer October 3-6 2007

To be held at the Palacate de los Duques de Pastrana, Madrid Spain

Translational approaches to cardiovascular research

This will be held at the Palazzo dei Congress di Capri,Capri Italy.

Nature conferences Jan/feb 2008

Nature chemical biology Symposium;chemical neurobiology

Symposium on chemical complexity;Genes,circuits and behaviour.

January 10-13 2008

Salk Institue,La Jolla California

Wellcome Trust biomedical Research proposals '07/8

The Wellcome Trust is looking to provide capital funding for suitable projects.

more details at www.wellcome.ac.uk/biomedcapital

Naturejobs:Ireland/Michigan Highlights

Ireland highlight; deadline;19 october 2007

Michigan;November 1 issue

Burroughs Wellcome Fund

2009 grant program(us/canada).

Funds biomedical sciences

www.bwfund.org

Carnegie Mellon University Lane fellows

Lane fellows application should be in by 1 October 2007.

visit http://Lane.compbio.cmu.edu

Emory University school of Medicine, Atlanta

This facility is looking for talented researchers and fellows.

visit http://www.med.emory.edu/postdoc for more details.

Samples from Lomonosov and Mendeleev ridges

Russia says samples from the Lomonosov ridge, a vast undersea mountain range and the Mendeleev ridge shows it is part of a contintental shelf.

The Russians are saying this backs their claim to part of he Arctic.

Hobbit is genuine separate human species

Scientists have examined fossilised wrist bones belonging to Homo Floresiensis and concluded the wrist bones are different from modern humans and Neanderthal wrist bones.

The Hobitt had a different shaped Trapezoid.

The wrist bones are similiar to Australopiths, gorilla and chimp wrist bones.

The Hobbit lived around 13,000 years ago.

Argon dating of some tools show that hominids were on flores by 880,000 years ago.

BBSRC

THE BBSRC are offering various scientific fellowships.

www.bbsrc.ac.uk

8 Annual meeting of advisory commitee on pesticide

Monday 12 November 2007 11am

Monk bar hotel York England

Discussion;UK Pesticide Strategy

www.pesticides.gov.uk/acp home.asp

Moon may have clues to early life on Earth

Comets and asteroids colliding with Earth billions of years ago, may have picked up rocks from Earth.some of which might have ended up on the Moon, finding such rocks might reveal tthe conditions under which life arose on Earth.

cancer healing immune cells

Granulocytes from people resistant to cancer are to be injected into cancer patients to help fight cancer.

There are possible fatal consequences.

Oxfordancestors

This company uses science DNA to trace maternal and paternal ancestry

Dmanisi fossils

It appears that some of the hominid fossils discovered might have more similiaries to Homo Habilis than Homo Erectus.

Some skeletons intermediate between Australopiths and modern humans.

Labs on a chip

Such chips could detect diseases in 15 minutes, so researchers believe.

Various US universities are working on these ideas.

Nature conferences and Naturejob; october 2007

Aging Conference;October 18-20 2007 La Jolla California.

Biomedicine;October 21-24;Park Hotel Villa Grazioli Rome Italy

Naturejob;Highlight on Francophone Countries

LifeGene Biobank project

In 2010. this project will start in Sweden enrolling 500,000 to study diseases and health problems.

The Wave Hub;September 17 2007

The British Government has announced that planning permission for the world's first large-scale wave farm.

The Wave Hub located 10 miles off the Cornish coast will produce enough electricity or over 7,000 homes by using the power of the sea.

The British Surfing association is worried that it could reduce wave size.

The Project will cover 2.5 by 1.25 miles and is expected to be up and runnuing by 2009.

GM crops to be grown in UK

Government ministers will back renewed efforts by farmers and industry to grow gm crops in the UK.

70% of the European public in recent polls remain opposed to GM foods.

The argument being put forward is you need drought-resistant crops.

Earlier this year BASF began trials of a blight-resistant potato(blight was the fungus that destroyed Ireland's potato crop and caused the 1840's famine).

The NFU has been lobbying ministers and believes it is time for the introduction of GM crops.

fast runner's mutation

A mutation causing a lack of a-actinin-3 appears to boost stamina,say some Australian researchers.

This mutation is often ound in Endurance athletes.

(Just a thought,perhaps Ethiopian and Kenyan runners are more likely to lack this protein)

prostate news;16 September 2007

The first genetic test for prostate cancer which causes the death of about 10,000 British men every year.

The new test which is called PCA3, willed be unveiled this week by an American company called Gen-Probe, which will market the product with the assistance of leading cancer campaigners and experts.

It searches for a gene in the urine, which if positive indicates the man has prostate cancer.

Injecting Botox into enlarged prostates reduces their size,so researchers in Portugal have concluded.

Google and Eon UK

Google has launched a $20million lunar competition.

It will go to first team to send a rover and sends back images before 31 December 2012.

-------------------------------------------------------
Eon UK plans to develope a giant battery that can store electricity.

It is possible a school could store generated power at weekends and use it during the week.

Non-stick chewing gum to be developed

Non-stick chewing gum which can be washed off the pavement and streets has been developed by Bristol university scientists.

£150 million is spend by British councils removing chewing gum off pavements and streets.

The non-stick chewing gum may be launched in lemon and mint flavours in 2008, provided the EU approves the use of polymer in the chewing gum.

X-rays to be used to read the Dead Sea Scrolls

Computer software which can read x-rays has been developed.

This will be used where the parchment cannot be unrolled because they are fragile.

The Pill causes a 12% fall in all types of cancer

The Pill protects against cancer so a study following 46,000 women since 1968 has concluded.

Cancers of the womb and bowel were less likely in women who took the Pill.

However it may not be a wise idea to take the Pill, sorely for this reason.

Diet can reduce children's risk of asthma and allergies

40 grams of fruity veg like tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans make children less likely to suffer from childhood asthma.

60 grams of fish make the children less likely to have childhood allergies.

The study involved over 400 children on the island of Menorca from the womb to six and-a-half.

Vitamins C and E are thought to reduce inflammaions of the airways.

Reed Elsevier will launch a free cancer website

Called www.oncologystat.com Reed Elsevier hopes to attract 150,000 doctors and health care professionals.

Registered users will get access to up to date articles from 100 Elsevier cancer-related journals and other related publications.

Blogs and electronic newsletter etc will also be avaible.

It may be some time before this is avaible

Achilles Heel

Achilles Heels properbly in't exist when Australopithecus was around,this would have prevented them from being hunters.

Evidence suggests Achilles Heels didn't evolve until about 2 million years ago, possibly in Homo Erectus.

The effects of smoking ban in Scotland.

The numbers of heart attack admission to hospital has fallen 17%,so a detailed study has concluded.

Bar staff had a 89% drop in respiratory problems.

MacKichan Software.Inc

This company produces various scientiic software.

Scientific Notebook

Scientific Word

Scientific Workplace

These software can do symbols and algebra.

3D to diagnose genetic disorders

3D photography could be used to diagnose rare disorders in children by analysing their facial
features.

About 500 genetic disorders cause subtle changes in facial features.

Among the conditions which those 3D images may help to diagnose are Fragile X Syndrome,Noonan Syndrome, Smith-Magenis Syndrome and Williams Syndrome.

Neanderthal DNA study may be flawed

A study that suggested that Neanderthals interbreed with modern humans may be flawed because of possible contamination by modern human DNA.

One study suggests Neanderthals separated from modern humans about 700,000 years ago.

Sudden Colony Collapse disorder

Sudden Colony Collapse disorder, where honey bees desert their hives may be caused by Israeli Acute paralysis virus(IAPV) first discovered in Israel in 2004, so a study published in Science suggests.

However,no one is sure.

Irraddiating hives seems to make the bees return to a hive and solve the problem.

Spanish scientists believe that it is an Asian parasite called Nosema Cerenae,which is related to Nosema Apis.

Recently(October 2007) there has been a new outbreak in Florida,USA

New Scientist specials;September/October 2007

There will be a Insider Cancer Research section on 22 September 2007.
(There will be a job section in this section).

New Scientist Graduate Careers Special to bepublished 27 october 2007

telephone 020 08652 4444

Medical abstract;9 September 2007

Higher salt intake in children risks heart disease and stroke later in life when they are older.

visit www.salt.gov.uk for more details

Depression does more harm to physical health than asthma,angina, arthitis and diabetes, so a study suggests.

How 4 out of 10 heart atacks could be prevented.

A report in the BMJ suggests tthat 4 out of 10 heart attacks could be prevented if relatives and partners of heart attacks victims were screened for heart disease.

Whereas genetic relatives may have a genetic disposition, partners may share same risky lifestyle eg. smoking,drinking and watching TV.

About 29 million adults in England and Wales are thought to be at risk.

25% are estimated to have a family history of heart disease.

Over 6,000 heart attacks,it is reckoned might be prevented if screening was introducted.

The British Heart Foundation supports the idea of screening.

Kite-generated Electricity

Electricity could be generated by kites attached to turbines, preferbly if the kites were in a figure of 8.

(Changing the subject slightly, I wonder if it is possibble to use air conditioners and/or fans to produce electricity)

Where Asteroid that killed off dinosaurs came from

The asteroid that supposedly killed off the dinosaurs has been traced to the Baptistina family of asteroids which are near Jupiter.

It is esimated that an asteroid broke away 160 million years ago,finally hitting in the Yucatan area about 64 million years ago.

The period is geologically marked by the K/T boundary.

200 metre spider web, Tawakoni Lake Park,TEXAS

The origin of this 200 metre web is puzzling the experts.

Huntingdon's victims less at risk of cancer

Levels of a protein called P53 which protects against cancer are higher in Huningdon's victims.
P53 regulates a protein called huntingtin, which is abnormal in Huntington's disease.
P53 also regulates cell death.

Chikungunya virus outbreak in Europe

Chikungunya virus spread by mosquitoes(mainly Asian Tiger Mosquitoes) has appeared in Europe.
Up to Mid-August, over 100 cases have appeared in Italy,initally in Ravenna.
In tropical areas, Asian Tiger Mosquitoes also carry Dengue Fever.
Chikungunya has infected over a million people in India and Indian ocean islands.
It is feared that if chikungunya gets established in Asian Tiger mosquitoes in Europe,so will Dengue Fever.

Binge drinking children at risk

Children who binge drink at 16 were 60% were more likely to be alcoholics at the age of 30.

Problems of illegal drugs, mental health problems,no qualiications,criminal convictions and homelessness were also higher.

Additives may affect children's behaviour

A study by scientists at Southampton University suggests hat additives in sweets,cakes and soft drinks may affect chilren's behaviour.

The Food Standards Agency will issue revised guidelines to parents recommending that products containing certain E-numbers shouldn't be given to chilren if their chilren are hyperactive or have ADHD.

The study will be published in the Lancet today.

The study involved 3 years olds and 8-9 years olds who drank mixtures of additives.

Additives E104,E110,E122,E124,E211 and sodium benzoate(found in soft drinks) are suspected.

UPDATE; THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19 2007 THE FSA WILL HOLD A MEETING ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.

The FSA has deceied it will wait for European Food Safety Authority to deceide if E-numbers should be banned.

FSA will give more clear advice to comsumers.

E221 has been linked by Lab tests at Shefield university to Parkinson's in later life.

Bloodgroup absracts;5 September 2007

People with group O are more susceptible to catching cholera and stomach ulcers

However group O appears to confer resistance to malaria.

Group A may confer resistance to plague(explaining why it is more common in Celtic area of Wales etc, because Celtic areas were devastated by plague in the 55os).

Group A,I think may be the bloodgroup that is 10% higher around stone circles.

Basques have highest Rhesus Positives(60%) of any populations.

Sciencecareers.com

This website is associated withAAAS(American assocation or theadvancement of Science) which publishes a magazine called Science.

There were about 3,600 jobs all over the world.

Ice-free Arctic in 23 years?

An area double the size of Britain has disappeared in the last week,raising fears by some scientists that by 2030,the Arctic will be totally ice-free.

The Northwest Passage off northern Canada is fully navigable, possibly in future years for shipping to pass.

Dogs can disturb vulnerable conservation areas

An Australian study suggests that dog walking can scare off wild birds in such areas, particularly ground-dwelling birds.

Conservation managers often ban dog walkers from such areas.

Adipose gene may be clue to obesity

The adipose gene, first found in fruit flies about 50 years ago appears to regulate fat accumulation.

Animals without a working adipose gene get obese and might get diabetes as a result.

Those with heightened adipose activity seem to stay thinner.

A drug affecting this gene could prevent obesity.

Cause of recent foot and mouth outbreak in Britain

An official inquiry has concluded that foot and mouth may have been spread by construction workers at the Pirbright who possibly carried the virus out on contamited car tyres.

In future , there may be a no-fly zone in affected areas.

September 18 2007;A third case has been discovered.

Endnotes and Google Sky

Endnotes is said to help people edit their research notes.

Google Sky will allow you to virtually visit aout 100 million stars.

United Kingdom Science Park Association

This is an association of 70 Science Park owners.

They have a website www.ukspa.org.uk

You can find avaible science Park spaces onthis website eg. Begbroke Science Park near Yarnton,Oxfordshire has four avaible buildings.

Gelatine tape

Researchers from Imperial College, London have developed a gelatine tape which can pick up traces of sweat and drug and explosive residue as well as work out the person's sex.

Human-animal embryos to be created in Britain

Tomorrow(5 Septemer 2007),it is expected that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will give he go ahead for human-aninal embryos.

Therapies for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are expected if this goes ahead.

Rock stars have shorter lifespans.

A study of rock stars has shown that they die at a younger age.

Average age for North American rock stars was 42,the age that Elvis Presley die at.

In Europe,the average age was 35.

Most deaths had a drug or alcohol connection.

British nuclear scientists pay rise;5 September 2007

Nuclear Scientists and technicians doing major decommissioning of nuclear faciliies won a almost 4% pay rise yesterday.

Apollo Astronauts

Buzz Aldrin and other apollo astronauts will be at the Radissonn Edwarian Hotel Heatthrow 13-14 October 2007.

Tickets £15

http://www.autographica.co.uk/

telephone 01959 573792

Science jobs;4 september 2007

Nature publishing are looking for editors or some of their journals(I read nature magazine).

Naturejobs has about 5,600 jobs I last looked.

totaljobs is another site with lots of scientific jobs.

newscientistjobs appears to have one job researching bird flu in indonesia.

Biotechnology jobs seem to be the largest scientific job section.

also see my post on upcoming science fairs.

Iger in aberystwyth arel ooking for plant geneticist

Archaeological and fossil abstract;4 September 2007

Mineral deposits seem to indicate increase rainfall in Negev desert area about 110,000 to 140,000 years ago.

Sites in Northern Israel were occupied by humans around that time.

The world oldest chewing gum was found at Kierrikki sone age site near Yli-li, Finland.

A 15-20 million years old fossil orchid preserved in Amber was discovered in the Dominican Republic.

Orchids may have originated 84 million years ago.

220-230 million years old dinosaur ossils were ound at Hayden Quarry,New Mexico.

Genetic Astract;4 September 2007

A gene called HMGA2 has been linked to tallness.

Tall people are more at risk of osteoporosis.

South Korean researchers claim that two genes make rice react to sounds.

8 Million SNPs have been identiied in Mouse Genome(Nature)

Medical abstracts;4 September 2008

Tea may protect men from prostate cancer,the cancer occurs at lower rates in men who had a cuppa a day.
(some time ago, they were saying drinking pomegranate juice did the same things.

A dark cholocate bar every day may keep the doctor away.

Statins appears to lower deaths from pneumonia.

Marbury virus has been detected in Gabonian fruit bats who live in caves.

Syrup in fizzy drinks is suspected to increase risk of diabetes.

Upcoming science fairs and Conferences

Science Career Fair

visit www.thesourceevent.com

Science Careers fair Wednesday 6 February 2008 email e.farrer@imperial.ac.uk

BA Festival of Science 9-15 September 2007 ,York England.

details at www.he-ba.net/festivalofscience
telephone 01904 433 281

There will be a talk on the discovery of a vast plain where the North sea once was.

British Pharmaceutical Conference;Manchester,England 10-12 September