Health NewsCheck this one out - NEXT: A book by Michael Crichton
I’ve always liked non-fiction. When I’m in a bookstore, I spend my time in the science section. I do however like Michael Crichton’s books. I guess because they read almost like non-fiction. In fact, sometimes it is hard to figure out what is real, and what is made-up. And sometimes, what he has made-up is so close to reality that it does become real within a few years of publication. My first exposure came many years ago when, as a student, I had the opportunity to read his Andromeda Stain. At the time I was studying molecular biology and microbial genetics. I couldn’t believe how cool this book was, and how realistic it seemed to be.
Because of some of the adult content, I cannot recommend this book for schools or students; I do highly recommend the book for adults and teachers. I learned my lesson when I spoke of the movie “The Score”…….
Genomics? Why genomics?
More and more, scientists are relying on genomics to tackle complex research problems. One needs only to look at the advancements in medical research to see the power of a genomics approach. Other research fields are now building genomics resources to expand and complement current physiological data. Developing these resources takes significant time and effort, but will be well worth the investment at the end. However, why are we using genomics in the first place? What advantages can a genomics approach give us?
DNA Testing in Vogue
There couldn't be any more proof that personal genotyping has arrived. Vogue Magazine has a feature article titled Breaking the Code written by Rebecca Johnson in the May issue ( Can You Outsmart Your DNA? ).
Honest. First Navgenics opens up a store front operation in New York and now 23andMe is a Vogue feature. More importantly I purchased an issue of Vogue, and for anyone who knows me it is most certainly in my genes to be decidedly un-Vogue like.
Structure of DNA announced - 55 years ago
“We wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose
nucleic acid (D.N.A.). This structure has novel features
which are of considerable biological interest.”
So began a paper in Nature on April 25, 1953 perhaps becoming one of the greatest scientific understatements of all time.
You tell 2 friends and they'll tell 2 Friends and so on and so on ...
Remember the shampoo commerical many years ago? Little did the producers of the commercial or their unsuspecting audience know, but they were on to the secret of viral marketing.
The idea of course was that if you liked the shampoo you'd tell your friends. Word-of-mouth marketing tries to take the idea to the extreme.
We're relying on exactly that to tell the world about the science of genomics.
My Code
I've never been very good with spreadsheets. Setting up fornulas, numbering and ordering colums, or formatting rows is more X factor than it is Excel. You'll also recall that when I received my first test results from deCODE I was surprised there was not more information available. There is simply much more known than what seemed to be there.
I emphasize what SEEMED to be there.
About a beetle
I want to take some time and look at the biology of the mountain pine beetle (MPB) system. In any research, you need to review and understand the system in which you are working. As well, a good review will highlight present knowledge while identifying areas which require more information. This process paves the way for future research which can advance our understanding of the system. The MPB system is challenging in that an understanding of multiple organisms is needed. So let’s look briefly at the organisms involved, including the pine beetle, beetle-associated fungi, and the pine trees which are their hosts. I’ll start with the organism receiving so much attention, the MPB itself.
Looking for Giants - Part 2
In my previous blog, I wrote about the clues that DNA was the molecule which determined heredity in the last portion of the 19th century. By the beginning of the 20th century, scientists knew that enzymes were made of protein and that proteins were found in the nucleus. Proteins are more complex molecules than nucleic acids and therefore, it was speculated that there were example proteins in the nucleus to act as patterns for the making of new proteins for the cell.
Phoebus Levene used the idea that of four bases, a sugar and a phosphate group to come up with the first credible model for DNA in 1919.
Waiting and Studying
There is plenty to look at on my deCODE profile even though I have said I was expecting more information.
The first thing I am doing is collecting up some questions to ask directly to the folks at deCODE. One of those questions was posed in the office today by one of our Project Managers who also happens to have a professional background in Plant Genetics.
Looking for Giants - Part 1
While my colleagues are blogging about the very latest in genomic research, Mike on the results of his own DNA sequence and Mountain Pine Beetle scientists on the actual ongoing process of science, I wanted to explore the development of the concept that took us from the ‘simple model’ proposed in 1953 to the ability to decode Mike’s code just a little over 50 years later.
In my last blog, I wrote about The Race for the Double Helix, a movie based on James Watson’s book The Double Helix. I felt encouraged then to use my next few blog postings to further explore the scientists who made significant contributions to the development of our current understanding of genomics.
“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”
Isaac Newton (1642 – 1727)
Who were the giants for Watson and Crick, and who are the giants that followed?
Hair Today and Gone - Sometime
I just got back from doing an interview with CBC Radio that, like the conversation with Elmer Ghostkeeper I wrote about last week, gave me a little pause for thought.
My deCODE test says I am likely to go bald before age 40.
My Code is deCODEd
The first of my three reports has arrived.
deCODE genetics has the honour of being first past the post. All three the samples went out on March 17th and deCODE’s results arrived on April 6th. deCODE genetics was the only one to acknowledge the receipt of my sample and they clearly have an automated system to handle the administrative parts of the procedure. The e-mail saying my analysis was ready arrived quite late on Sunday. Even allowing for time zone differences (deCODE is based in Iceland) it was unlikely someone was tapping away at a keyboard in the middle of the night.
GET IN THE TRUCK - Half the fun of pine beetling is getting there
By Brad Jones – MPB field crew
One would think that beetling on the field crew would be a romantic and noble venture; trekking over mountain and muskeg to sample insects, trees and fungus. And many days there could be nothing finer than flying over the Willmore Wilderness, hiking through the Cypress Hills, or feasting on burgers at Rigs Café in Little Smoky. However, with over 30, 000 km on the truck since September, we have driven through half the burghs and backwaters in Alberta and a few more in eastern British Columbia.
The Race for the Double Helix
In 1968, James D. Watson published a book called “The Double Helix”. It became an instant best seller especially among students of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The cover notes indicated “being a personal account of the discovery of the structure of DNA, a major scientific advance which led to the award of a Nobel prize”. In 1987, the book was turned into a movie starring Jeff Goldblum. The movie, The Race for the Double Helix, is as topical today as it was over 20 years ago.
Implications of Personal Genomics
I expect to see some test results arrive soon. All three kits have arrived at their destination though deCODE was the only one to send me a note confirming the sample had arrived. The other 2 were confirmed only through the tracking information via FedEx and Canada Post.
23andMe gives you a prepaid FedEx pouch so that trace was easy.