New method of generating stem cells?

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have recently announced a new method of making stem cells from blood samples. This were then used to grow new blood vessels that could be used to treat vascular diseases like CHD studied in Topic 1.

http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/new-patient-friendly-way-to-make-stem-cells-for-fight-against-heart-disease/

Will climate change affect our food?

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21628924.300-climate-change-may-supersize-sweet-potatoes.html

Ct scanning

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20174883

In Topic 8 we learn about different types of medical imaging. In London a hospital is using CT scanning instead of Accident and Emergency.

Interesting BBC TV programme

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00zxmqd

There is an episode on extinction. This is on clickview and iPlayer.

Is climate change even worse than we thought?

http://www.newscientist.com/special/worse-climate

Ugly animals face extinction?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20323753

An interesting article looking at animals that might not get saved from extinction as they are too ugly!

Could cells from your nose cure paralysis?

Scientists in cambridge have had an amzing break through in treating paralysis in dogs. They used cells from the nose to regrow damaged spinal cords!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20365355 and watch the video to see Jasper walk again.

Interesting appliaction of DNA Profiling!

In Topic 6 in A2 you learn about DNA profiling and how it can be used to identify a dead body or who the father is.

Scientist have used this technique to investigate mating habits in tortoises! http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20318565

Antibiotic resistance

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20354536

Experts are now saying that resistance to antibiotics is one of the biggest threats to our health. We study this in Topic 6 but you will extract your own antibacterial substances from plants in Topic 4.

Genome sequencing and MRSA

In your AS year you will go on a trip to The Sanger Centre where a large amount of the human genome was sequenced.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22501-mining-mrsa-genetic-code-halts-superbug-outbreak.html

Here is a link to a story showing how work at this Centre has led to the halting of an MRSA outbreak at the special baby ward at the Hospital in Cambridge. MRSA is a strain of antibiotic resistant bacteria you study in Topic 6.

Genetics, research and the future of medicine

There is a great series of videos on the Guardian newspaper website about genetics and disease. These are relevant for Topic 2.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/video/2012/oct/13/genes-disease-video
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/video/2012/oct/25/breast-cancer-family-genetics-medicine-video?intcmp=239
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/video/2012/nov/09/brave-new-world-genomics-genetics-medicine-video

David Attenborough's Ark

This Friday at 9pm on BBC2 or on iplayer shortly after that David Attenborough chooses the 10 species he would like to save from extinction.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ntt8p

We learn more about the natural world everyday!

New polar bear sanctuary found.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20140188

Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy has had devasting effects in recent days. One effect you might not have thought of or heard in the news is the death of thousands of laboratory animals at New York universities.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20172256

In  Topic 8 we learn about the use of animals in science - what do you think?

Could easier identification of HIV be around the corner?

In Topic 6 we learn about HIV and how it affects the immune system - could there be a new cheap and easy test for this virus?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20084303

Stem cells to replace sperm in infertile men

One of the side effects of some cancer treatment is infertility but a new study shows that multipotent stem cells that produce sperm can be extracted before treatment and then reimplanted.

Read the paper here

http://download.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/pdf/PIIS1934590912004754.pdf?intermediate=true

Gene therapy

Gene therapy is a topic we cover in Topic 2 but is not widely available as a non experimental treatment. Now a gene therapy has been licensed in Europe. This is a therapy that uses a virus to infect muscle cells with a working copy of the gene lipoprotein lipase.

http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2012/07/news_detail_001574.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1

Thinking of having your genome sequenced?

Knowing the sequence of your genome would allow for personalised medicine but is it really something that is feasible now? Maybe... There is a new smartphone app that allows you to carry your genome around with you securely should you need it!

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21628896.300-want-to-keep-your-genome-safe-theres-an-app-for-that.html

Look who was in Cambridge yesterday....