B Chromosomes Play a Role In Sex Determination of Fish

The B chromosome was originally discovered by E.B. Wilson in 1907, and in the past years it has been found in over 1000 organisms. Until recently the effect of the B chromosome on host organisms was not fully understood, and at one point it was believed that the chromosome had no effect on the body.

In the study, Scientists performed extensive research on cichlid fishes from lake Victoria to see the effect of the b chromosome to evolution of fishes. Through a karyotype analysis, it was found that one specie of the fish had a female exclusive b chromosome, implying that they have a role in determining sex. The study did not find the determining gene but did find that the b chromosome could potentially evolve into sex determining.

I think is an interesting study because it shows how different and specific things can get in the genetic area.

I chose to talk about this article because it is a good transition from genetics to sexual education, and a conclusion to genetics.

Sleep Vs. Cuddling: Study Looks at What Happens After Sex

A study at the University of Michigan and Albright College in Pennsylvania recently took place to take a closer look at the tendencies of falling asleep after sex and its meanings. They discovered that this is related to the desire to bond and show affection. They concluded that: The more likely the partner is to fall asleep, the stronger his desire for bonding is. 456 participants took part in this survey to help the scientists by answering questions such as "who falls asleep first after sex?"

The study also debunked a stereotype of who falls asleep first, man or woman?

The study found no difference in who will fall asleep first after sex, but they did find that no sex took place, women are more likely to fall asleep first.

Scientists also hinted that as a part of evolution, males may stay up longer to protect their mate.

Personally I enjoy reading about this type of study because I like that sex is not becoming something awkward for scientists to dig into and the fact that the ice has been broken opens a door for many discoveries that could lead to healthier sex lives for many people.

Examples of Bad Science and why it sucks.

Bad science is anything to do with science in movies, or other media that is unrealistic or impossible. We see bad science in movies on an everyday basis, and it ruins movie experiences for us.

Science is an incredibly wide term " something (as a sport or technique) that may be studied or learned like systematized knowledge science>".

So, where do we see bad science?

Starting from when we most likely see it, first on the list are action movies. Almost every action movie contains bad science. Every time a person is shot 25 times, but still manages to rumble out to a 50. sniper and shoot with one arm, you are witnessing bad science. Every time an explosion goes off and the actors fly away 10meters but their jackets, or briefcases are left unscratched, you are also witnessing bad science, and last, but not least, when you see a man jumping off a bridge into water as some sort of escape you are seeing bad science.

First off, no matter whether you are CIA, FBI or MI6, you cannot survive a bullet to the head and go on to shoot someone.

Second, if you are pushed 10 meters by an explosion, your suit does not stay nice and tidy.

Third of all, falling into water from high grounds is like falling onto concrete, you don't just swim away.

These are some examples you are most likely to see, but there are others that are much worse.

Although science fiction movies are allowed to be creative and unrealistic, many of their mistakes are not even for creative purposes, just downright wrong.

1. Many movies show lots of sound in the middle of space, ear piercing sounds in outer space. Sound cannot travel in space.

2. Explosions in space are also very popular in scifi movies, and are again not possible, without oxygen, there can be no explosion.

3. Crosses between aliens and humans are shown in movies such as star trek. These could never happen if aliens were to exist, because of the genetic differences.

Key Gene Function Against Cell Death Discovered

Recently there has been a discovery in the world of genetics and stem cells, a team of researchers found that two genes , TSC/Tuberin and PRAS40, are very important in the development of stem cells. When they are switched off, the stem cells die. The researchers published a paper in which they say that both these proteins are to be involved in the regeneration and differentiation processes in cells. The reason stem cells are so important is that they have the ability to turn into other cell types which makes them vital to rebuilding tissue. The two proteins TSC (tuberin) and PRAS40 are crucial for this development, deciding whether the stem cell develops correctly or undergoes apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death.

I think that this discovery is very important, not necessarily for the information that it brings but because it shows us the slow progress and knowledge we are gaining in the area of stem cell research. This could cure many sicknesses. This is only step one, next we have to learn how to fix these two proteins and make sure they function correctly.

Cracking the Code of Life

The movie Cracking the Code of Life is a movie about genetics, more specifically a movie that shows us the importance and process of the huge milestone we have lived to see which is the cracking of the human genome. This movie guides us through the process of decoding the genome and how the technology has improved. At first, scientists had to do this process letter by letter which would take many many years. The movie describes how important and helpful technology can be, scientists then found machines that could decode for them and that sped the process a lot. With this movie you get an inside look at the race to complete the human genome, and the problems that occured while doing so. The human genome is so important because it presents us with potential to prevent a countless number of genetic disorders and diseases.

This movie is also supposed to make you think a little bit about the side-effects that this extensive knowledge of the genome could bring. I honestly am not too keen about this and the things it could bring. I think that it is great that this could stop some sicknesses but it has bad sides too. I think that people would abuse this technology as we do every other technology. While the purpose might be to remove genes for sicknesses, it could advance into much less important things. I also believe that the government would manipulate this technology too and I dont think the government in the world is trustworthy enough to properly use this technology. In conclusion, I am not a huge fan of this because I think this could potentially bring much more bad than good to us and would just be a gateway to using information on genetics for things that are not vital or even important to us.

Gattaca

The movie Gattaca is set in the future, in the year that it is set, science and technology in genetics and DNA has improved incredibly. Scientists found ways to manipulate genes, and create the best possible child from the parents genes, with this technology they have also learned to eliminate a high probability of diseases or addictions or even aggressive tenancies. Parents in this time have a choice to make, having their baby the scientific way to have a perfect child or the natural way and have a "god child" which is rare at that time. Vincent's parents decided to have him the natural way and he was born with a high probability of heart disease, aggressiveness and a expected age of death of only 30. This crushed Vincent's dreams because since he was little he had wished of becoming an astronaut because space companies would only accept those with the best predispositions. When Vincent saw that the closest he would get with his DNA was cleaning the building he decided he would not settle with that and he would take the extreme route. Vincent finds a man with perfect genetics and becomes him. He does this by changing his eye color, hair etc to look like him, he then has surgery to add to his height. Every day Vincent scrubs off as much dna as he can and tries to leave no tracks of himself anywhere. Jerome, the man with the perfect genetics lives with Vincent and supplies him with blood urine etc. I think that this movie gives an interesting view on what could come in the future, it is a little bit exaggerated but has a realistic part to it. I think that the storyline is also good.