Six-Pack Trout May Change Aquacultural Practices

In an article titled “Development of More Muscular Trout Could Boost Commercial Aquaculture” from Sciencedaily.com, scientist from the University of Rhode Island (URI) have created a transgenic trout that shows increased musculature. Professor Terry Bradley, a professor of fisheries and aquaculture, has inhibited the protein myostatin which is responsible for slowing muscle growth in many animals. Similar transgenic species have been produced, such as cattle, which demonstrate far more muscle mass than wild type cattle.

The research team injected 20,000 rainbow trout eggs with DNA types that stop the protein from forming. Much to their surprise 300 of the fish (most of the original 20,000 eggs did not hatch at all) showed increased musculature. The fish seemed to have six-pack abs and large shoulder muscles.

The research team is excited about the findings as they can lead to more efficient aquaculture practices. Now instead of meeting the increasing demand for fish by producing larger numbers of fish in hatcheries, instead the fish can be genetically altered and more mass will be produced. Also, these fish do not require more food than wild type fish so more food will not need to be wasted.

In my opinion this is a great idea! Over 500,000 metric tons of trout are produced each year in aquaculture plants. These are closed systems that simply produce the fish then send them off for commercial uses. By making this process more efficient, the high demand of fish can be accommodated without being wasteful. If these fish were released into the wild, though, I would be more concerned because I am not sure how these larger fish will disrupt the ecosystem they are placed into.

Posted by Matt Grazewski (7)

Neurogenesis

In high school we are taught that brain cells do not repair themselves once they are damaged no matter what, but now that I am taking upper level biology courses I have found this is not the case. Recently, I have begun learning that adults can grow new neurons and repair themselves in certain areas of the brain. Regulated by growth factors, neurogenesis develops new brain cells from multi-potent neural stem cells which divide in the brain into neurons or glia. These cells move away from the multi-potent cells to mature and those that survive make connections with neurons and are able to begin sending signals. This process has been shown to occur in both the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. Neurogenesis offers hope to those suffering from many neurological disorders including Parkinson’s, Alzheimers, and Huntingtons through the use of drugs that stimulate areas of the brain to replace its own cells.

A recent study on adult neurogenesis involved the possibility of preventing cocaine addiction and relapse by increasing neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Researchers used lab rats to test their hypothesis by demonstrating that decreasing neurogenesis by blocking new growth of certain nerve cells increases vulnerability for cocaine addiction and relapse. Those involved aimed to decrease the neurogenesis in the brain and believe it could potentially help those being medically treated with potentially addictive medications, as well as those who are recovering from addiction. The hippocampus is the center of memory and learning, and it makes sense that altering the part of the brain that forms drug-context relationships could help to prevent relapse by helping to forget associations previously made while using the drug. They tested their theory by first manipulating the grow of the neural cells through advanced radiation delivery techniques in order to prevent growth in the hippocampus. Researchers found that rats where more likely to self administer cocaine with a lever than those who did not receive radiation. A second test with the rats involved them first self administering cocaine with the lever, and a round of radiation while not ingesting the drug. Rats that were radiated, with decreased neurogenesis, took longer to realize when there was no longer cocaine attached to the lever. Because the addicted rats continued to push the lever even though there was no physical satisfaction or stimulation of receiving the drug, it supports the notion that decreased neurogenesis fueled the process of addiction rather than the actual drug changing the brain.

Do you think that manipulating a single part of the brain can really have a large impact on improving or curing addiction to drugs? Addiction is more than just a memory formed one region of the brain, the hippocampus. Addiction is physical and takes a toll on your body. Also, many drugs affect pleasure regions in the brain so one would think the neuron growth would need to be reduced in multiple places in order for this to be plausible.

Posted by Asia Barnes (7)

Leave No Gene Unturned

Not long has passed since scientists acquired the ability to map out the human genome. Since then people have been finding ways to put this costly procedure to good use. While some people have used this strategy to discover what genes determine what outcomes in an individual, some have are trying to implement a strategy that would try to pin point what genes cause certain heritable diseases. Imagine being able to find out exactly where in a person’s genome is the cause for giving rise to some of the harmful, inherited illnesses known to man.

In a recent Science article, some geneticists have stepped forward to have their own genomes in hopes of locating the sight from which their own personal illnesses have risen. As a result of searching James Lupski’s and his family’s genes, they were able to hone in on certain genes that were known for causing certain neurological diseases. They were even able to find a mutation that had not been reported before.

A lot of these advances bring many questions to mind. Though it would be beneficial to know in advance whether your genes are prone to transmit mutations or not, when will this be available to the average person. The article itself states that an average mapping cost around 50,000 dollars. Also, is there anyway to reverse any mutations found in your gametes as to reverse any harm before it can be done to your offspring? It would be one thing to be able to find the cause for certain diseases; it would be another to be able to correct the damage done and eradicating illness everywhere. Although I know we are far from it, the fact that such technology is in its crawling stages is astounding.

Posted by Charly Almonte (7)

Cattle Drug May Help Tackle River Blindness

River Blindness is a parasitic infection that afflicts 37 million people worldwide. People catch this infection when bitten by black flies that carry a nematode known as Onchocerca volvulus. The worm larvae mature and mate, producing up to 1000 offspring per day, which migrate to the surface of the skin and to the eyes. When the offspring die, they cause itchy lesions that can lead to blindness. The effects are severe, but according to the February 9th 2010 issue of Science, a veterinary drug that kills worms in cattle may also fight this infection.
Doctors previously treat river blindness with ivermectin, a drug that kills the offspring and lowers the fertility of the adult worms. The drug works fairly well, but doesn’t target the nearly-mature worms that cause new infections from a black fly’s bite. Instead the drug controls the symptoms until the worms eventually die out. Researchers stumbled upon the veterinary drug closantel, which kills live parasites in cattle. The enzyme in this drug, known as chitnase, breaks down and rebuilds the O. volvulus larvae's outer casing during the final molt before adulthood. If closantel has the same effect in humans, it could prevent infections from starting. And because it works in a completely different way from ivermectin, any strains of O. volvulus that show resistance to ivermectin in the future could be treated with closantel.
Many researchers are optimistic about working with closantel because it has already proven safe in farm animals. However, it binds strongly to a protein found in the blood, which could lead to side effects in humans. The research on closantel is still being worked on, but if it does prove successful it could end up helping a lot of people through out the world.

Posted by Ryan Brooks

Hope for Schizophrenics

This article I read was very interesting. It dealt the initial idea of exercise being able to stimulate neuron growth of the hippocampus in healthy adults. Why is this important? It is because the disease known as Schizophrenia is associated with a reduced volume in the hippocampus. A February article from Archives of General Psychiatry states that the brain retains the ability to adapt, this is also said to be true for people suffering with psychotic disorders. This increase was brought upon by exercise.
The study was conducted by taking eight Schizophrenics, and eight controls, and having them cycle for thirty minutes a day three times a week. They also took eight additional Schizophrenics and had them play table tennis, which is not an aerobic exercise. The study showed an increase in the volume of the hippocampus in the individuals that participated in the aerobic exercise by 12 percent for the afflicted, and 16 for the controls. The interesting part is the afflicted that played table tennis actually had a decrease of 1 percent.
There will of course have to be more research on the subject, but I can't hid the fact that this intrigues me I don't feel keeping yourself fit will cure all that could afflict you, but the research of late shows a healthy body with help give a healthy mind. This idea is not new, but now we have some hard data to go alone with the feeling that the idea was correct.

Ray Cliche Jr (7)

Dead Zones: Can You Hear Them Now?

Dead Zones, they are not just the scary cell phone commercials you see on T.V, they are the horrifying threat to our marine ecosystems. Dead zones are located in coastal areas where the oxygen concentrations are too low to sustain marine life. Dead zones are caused by excess nutrients, mainly phosphorous and nitrogen, seeping into the water system. These nutrients then fertilize algae blooms throughout the coast. After plants (microscopic plants) die and sink to the bottom, bacteria are fed. Bacteria consume the oxygen in the water which does not allow for fish and other bottom dwelling organisms to survive. Dead zones can be seasonal, usually appearing in the spring and fall, but can last year round if the nutrient levels stay high.

Throughout the world there are more than 400 dead zones today, compared to the 162 dead zones in the 1980's. The largest of these is the Baltic Sea. In National Gepgraphic's Daily News, the article starts out with the worry in the disappearance of the white-tailed eagle. The white-tailed eagle is a main focus for tourist attraction and is greatly affected by the algae blooms. Another species that is affected by algae blooms is the Baltic cod. The Baltic cod, however, has the effect on the sea's well being. The Baltic cod feeds on an organism that in turn, somewhere down the line eats algae. Overfishing is another problem that lessens the numbers of cod, which in turn increases the amount of algae.

Algae blooms are a huge problem. They affect the diversity and the sustainability of the coastal waters. Mainly, nutrients have the biggest impact on creating rapidly expanding blooms. These nutrients are from fertilizers and sewage, which are mainly human produced. Other factors increasing algae blooms are things like overfishing. Even though algae blooms, dead zones, have a major impact on the coastal marine life, other parts of the environment are affected. Surrounding food chains, such as the white-tailed eagle, are effected. Overall, dead zones are a huge problem that may not be able to be reversed and should be taken seriously since they cause a variety of environmental issues.

Websites and Pictures:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/02/100305-baltic-sea-algae-dead-zones-water/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/080814-dead-zones.html




Posted by Amanda Hostetter (7)

A prehistoric hominid meets a 16 foot long crocodile

I think crocodiles are fascinating and so had to stop and read more about a new species unearthed in skeleton form from Africa's Olduvai Gorge. It was found in an area that also contained fossil evidence of early hominids Homo habilis. Some of the bones found had bite marks which were determined to be consistent with a crocodile bite. Some poor hominid ancestor got to close to the waters edge where these creatures lay in waiting. According to the researchers the new croc is similar to the Nile crocodile although generally larger and with enough differing features to earn itself designation as a new species. According to the fossil evidence, the team predicted they could be up to 16 feet long. The best part of the article I found was the name they are giving the new crocodile. They are calling it Crocodylus anthropophagus. I was fortunate to take a year of ancient Greek in high school and can tell you anthropophagus means man eater. I love when comedy meets science. The orignal paper can be found here for anyone interested in more of the details of the find.

posted by Chris Bonci (1)