Surfaced.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

genannetics:

Tomato Genome Reveals How it was Able to Beat the Dinosaurs
The news everyone has been anticipating…that’s right, the tomato genome has been sequenced! Plant geneticists from 14 countries spent the last 9 years working on the tomatoes’ behemoth genome, which contains over 31,000 genes…that’s more than us humans.
Wait…how can Heinz 1706 (that’s the variety of tomato they sequenced, yes, the one used for ketchup) have more genes than us, and still be, well, tomatoes?
Tomatoes (of course) are not more complex than humans, they merely use a different strategy for managing their genetics. Whereas humans use alternative splicing (gene segments rearranged in different ways to make new products), tomatoes ended up simply tripling their genome, keeping one copy for day to day affairs, and using the other two to mutate and rearrange and delete, allowing for fast adaptation to harsh environments. A good strategy when one is trying to survive an extinction…

Usually the triplication of a genome would be a considerable handicap, saddling a plant with three times as much DNA as it needs. But this event occurred around the time of the catastrophe in which the dinosaurs perished, and the extra genetic versatility may have been a lifesaver. “It’s easy to think that in that period, with a lot of volcanic activity and little sunlight, the reservoir of a lot of additional genes would be useful to a plant,” said Jim Giovannoni, a plant geneticist at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research in Ithaca, N.Y., who led the American contribution to the tomato genome report.

So what else have we learned from the tomato genome? Turns out the potato is one of it’s closest living relatives, showing 92% genetic similarity. Scientist’s hope to use the tomatoes genetic code to help cultivate longer lasting, redder, juicier, better tasting tomatoes.

Tomato Genome Reveals How it was Able to Beat the Dinosaurs

The news everyone has been anticipating…that’s right, the tomato genome has been sequenced! Plant geneticists from 14 countries spent the last 9 years working on the tomatoes’ behemoth genome, which contains over 31,000 genes…that’s more than us humans.

Wait…how can Heinz 1706 (that’s the variety of tomato they sequenced, yes, the one used for ketchup) have more genes than us, and still be, well, tomatoes?

Tomatoes (of course) are not more complex than humans, they merely use a different strategy for managing their genetics. Whereas humans use alternative splicing (gene segments rearranged in different ways to make new products), tomatoes ended up simply tripling their genome, keeping one copy for day to day affairs, and using the other two to mutate and rearrange and delete, allowing for fast adaptation to harsh environments. A good strategy when one is trying to survive an extinction…

Usually the triplication of a genome would be a considerable handicap, saddling a plant with three times as much DNA as it needs. But this event occurred around the time of the catastrophe in which the dinosaurs perished, and the extra genetic versatility may have been a lifesaver. “It’s easy to think that in that period, with a lot of volcanic activity and little sunlight, the reservoir of a lot of additional genes would be useful to a plant,” said Jim Giovannoni, a plant geneticist at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research in Ithaca, N.Y., who led the American contribution to the tomato genome report.

So what else have we learned from the tomato genome? Turns out the potato is one of it’s closest living relatives, showing 92% genetic similarity. Scientist’s hope to use the tomatoes genetic code to help cultivate longer lasting, redder, juicier, better tasting tomatoes.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Tuesday Morning

7:01AM and I’m so lazy to go to my 8AM class. Today will be a coffee day indeed.

Exactly three more weeks until I am done with my undergraduate career. Sigh.

Monday, May 14, 2012

This seriously breaks my heart into little pieces. It’s upsetting to know that the person who filmed this didn’t help the poor child.

Here are articles on updates and news about this incident/video:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/324670
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/11/world/asia/malaysia-child-abuse-video/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Britney! Britney! Britney!!!!!! So excited for x-factor now!

(Source: britneyspears)

Thursday, April 26, 2012

genannetics:

Gina Glover, a photographer with a degree in Human Genetics, is the creator of these amazing works of art. “Chromosomal Stripy Socks” won the Medical Research Council/Novartis/Daily Telegraph Visions of Science award and appeared on the cover of Nature.

If you are interested in science photography or the intersection of art and science I highly recommend reading the interview!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Things I have realized this week:

1. I miss performing.
2. Writing my reflections for Psych of Eating Disorders is depressing and tough.
3. I have lost some respect for several people and gained respect for others.
4. Being an educator is a tough job.
5. Kids aren’t ALL that bad… Heh

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

There’s only a select group of people that I tell specific things about myself to whether it be my accomplishments or problems that I am going through. Don’t judge me or assume things when you do not know anything. You obviously do not know me well enough.

Saturday, March 31, 2012