Championing the ugly

Follow the links at the bottom of this page to find out about some ugly species needing help! These are part of the EDGE project you learnt about at your trip to the zoo.

http://www.zsl.org/conservation/news/championing-the-ugly,1030,NS.html

Cambridge to be involved in genome sequencing for the NHS?

David Cameron has annouced a  new programme of genome sequencing of 100,000 people who have cancer. This should help us deliver personalised medicine in the future.

He visited the Cancer Research UK Institute on the Addenbrookes to annouce this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20663090

CO2 and the Doha meeting.

There are global talks about climate change currently in Doha. This is producing a lot of data and discussion.

Information is beautiful (very cool website) has released this to help us make sense of it!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/dec/07/carbon-dioxide-doha-information-beautiful#zoomed-picture

(very cool TED talk about visualising data)
http://www.ted.com/talks/david_mccandless_the_beauty_of_data_visualization.html

How variable are our genomes?

The 1000 genome project aims to sequence one thousand people's genomes. An interesting paper has been published looking at how many mutations we have on average and whether or not they are harmful.

Tha full paper is available here http://download.cell.com/AJHG/pdf/PIIS0002929712005381.pdf?intermediate=true

It is good practice for those of you wanting to study Biology or Science at University to have a go at reading real science papers. Don't worry if there are bits you dont understand - try reading the abstract (a summary) and looking at the figures.

There is also a BBC article on this paper for those who prefer to read that
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20617312

Don't forget to use SNAB online to help you revise fro any exams

Check out the youtube tutorial in the links section.

Helpful snab online sections include...

Skills support to brush up your biochemistry
Skills support to help identify key question words in the exam
A-Z glossary
Links to all interactive tutorials
Bionews

For those of you interested in a career in Science...

...or even just studying science at University

The research journal Science is producing annotated versions of some articles to help students understand how professional research is done.

http://scienceintheclassroom.org/research-papers

Measuring the tiny forces involved in cell division

Scientists have used fluorescent beads to measure what force is generated as an amoeba cell pulls itself into 2 cells during division

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21628936.100-tiny-tug-of-war-in-cells-underpins-life.html

Good new for Giant Tortoises!

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21628935.200-giant-tortoises-bounce-back-in-the-galapagos.html

HIV

HIV is the example we study of a viral infection in Topic 6 of A2. Recent figures in the UK reveal that more people are being diagnosed with this condition and many people are infected but not aware.

See what David Cameron had to say for World AIDS Day

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20564277

But more positive news...

http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2012/november/20121120prresults/

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.