Sleep is necessary

Brains flush toxic waste in sleep, including Alzheimer’s-linked protein, study of mice finds:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/brains-flush-toxic-waste-in-sleep-including-alzheimers-linked-protein-study-of-mice-finds/2013/10/19/9af49e40-377a-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html

Possible new "missing link"

A newly discovered 1.8 million-year-old skull from former Soviet republic of Georgia may be the missing link that ties all of humanity together . . .

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57608080/newly-found-ancient-skull-could-rewrite-human-history/

High School Science Projects Make a Difference in the Real World

At age 15 a high school student, Jack Andraka, did what countless MD and PhD scientists have failed to do for years.  He developed a test to detect pancreatic cancer at an early stage. (Pancreatic cancer is so deadly because once it is detected in a person, it has usually already spread to other parts of the body and is therefore very difficult to treat.)

Watch a short 60 minutes news clip on Jack:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50157066n

Recent breakthrough in treatment of Down Syndrome (in mice)

In chapter one, we explained the importance of scientific research for expanding our knowledge of all areas of science, especially medicine.  New treatments usually begin on animals before being declared safe in humans and recently alterations in a biochemical pathway have "cured" mice of Down Syndrome.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-09/drug-cures-mice-down-syndrome-single-dose

A modern day Jurassic Park . . .

Scientists produce cloned embryos of extinct frog . . .

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130315151044.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fmost_popular+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Most+Popular+News%29

Cyanobacteria and their plasmids

As we discussed in Chapter 19, bacterial can contain extra circles of DNA called plasmids that are also transcribed and translated into proteins.   Here is an current example of how cyanobacteria expresses genes on a particular plasmid.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130315074607.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fmost_popular+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Most+Popular+News%29

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

Some bacteria can now resist even the strongest antibiotics . . .

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/nm/nightmare-bacteria-shrugging-off-antibiotics-on-rise-in-u-s