"Science and Biotechnology Books Made Simple" |
"Science and Biotechnology Books Made Simple" |
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FoxNews 12/29/00 Superbugs on the Rise New research show that germs responsible for many diseases are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Antibiotics protects only against bacterial infections and not viruses. Misusing antibiotics can kill off the normal bacteria that live in the body and replace them with drug-resistant germs or superbugs. Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta report and increase in the number of strep infections that are resistant to many antibiotics. They found that 25% of infections with strep strains responsible for meningitis (infection of the brain), pneumonia (infection of the lungs), or ear infections were resistant to penicillin- a powerful antibiotic that under normal conditions would protect patients from these same infections. Salmonella food poisoning is also on the rise. Many of the new strains of Salmonella are resistant to antibiotics that are commonly used to treat patients with severe Salmonella infections. Source- BBC
12/22/00 Discovery of Alzheimer gene Scientists at Wales have discovered a gene which may be responsible for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer causes memory loss and affects many elderly. The researchers examined blood and saliva samples from 400 pairs of siblings suffering from Alzheimer and found that more than two-thirds had a common gene. More than 64% of patients suffering from late onset Alzheimer shared a gene located on chromosome 10. Scientists are now working to identify the gene(s) involved. This could lead to new and better treatments for the disease. Source- Associated
Press 12/19/00 A Disease-Resistant Bull Scientists at Texas A&M University cloned a bull from a tuberculosis, salmonellosis, and brucellosis- resistant bull. These bacteria can be passed on to humans through undercooked meat or contaminated milk. Bull 86 Squared was cloned from the DNA of frozen Bull 86. That animal died in 1997 from old age. The bull was naturally resistant to infections by several bacteria. Bull 86 Squared will be tested for resistance to other diseases. Source- Yahoo News
Online 12/13/00 Completion of a Plant Sequence Scientists have deciphered the genetic makeup of the plant, arabidopsis. This plant is known as thale cress which grows along roadsides worldwide. Arabidopsis has 25,500 genes on five different chromosomes with only about 117 million base pairs (nucleotides) compared to corn that has 3 billion nucleotides. The plant's genes have already been tested for genetically engineered crops that grow faster, resist disease and withstand bad weather conditions. Scientists found that many genes in the plant are related to human genes involved in diseases, such as cancer. Source- BBC News 12/9/00 Gene Therapy for Diabetics Canadian Scientists delivered insulin-making genes into intestinal K cells in mice by genetic engineering. The animal model for diabetes was able to make insulin in its gut. Insulin is produced in the cells of the pancreas and helps control the body's sugar levels in the blood. Affected individuals cannot make insulin. Many patients have to inject insulin to control their blood sugar levels. The new discovery may help one day patients make their own insulin from cells other than the pancreas, and could be an end to the regular insulin injections. Source- San Diego
Union Tribune 12/4/00 A New Leukemia Drug Scientists at the Oregon Health Sciences University developed a drug, ST1571, that treats patients with chronic myelogenous leukemias (CML). 31 patients who took the drug went into compete remission. This year, over 90% of the 550 patients with CML had normal blood after six months treatment with the drug. CML causes a proliferation of white blood cells which later interferes with organ function. It affects 4500 Americans each year and is caused by a defect found in the chromosome. The drug may be available as early as next year. Source- BBC News 12/4/00 Designer Chicken to Help Produce Cancer Drugs The creators of Dolly, the first cloned lamb, have altered a hen's genetic make-up so that it can lay eggs containing important proteins that fight cancer. Britney, the hen, will have in her egg-white proteins that will be used as drugs to treat many illnesses, such as ovarian and breast cancers. ____________________________________________________ Send mail to
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