Virus As Nano-building Block: Extreme Nature Helps Scientists Design Nano Materials

ScienceDaily (Oct. 16, 2008) — Scientists are using designs in nature from extreme environments to overcome the challenges of producing materials on the nanometre scale. A team from the UK’s John Innes Centre, the Scripps Research Institute in California and the Institut Pasteur in Paris have identified a stable, modifiable virus that could be used as a nanobuilding block.

Read Full Story- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081014092722.htm

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'Lost' Miller-Urey Experiment Created More Of Life's Building Blocks

ScienceDaily (Oct. 17, 2008) — A classic experiment proving amino acids are created when inorganic molecules are exposed to electricity isn't the whole story, it turns out. The 1953 Miller-Urey Synthesis had two sibling studies, neither of which was published. Vials containing the products from those experiments were recently recovered and reanalyzed using modern technology. The results are reported in this week's Science.

Full Story. Read Here- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081016141411.htm

-Vikrant

How to Extract DNA From Human Cheek Cells

Lab method for extracting DNA from human cheek cells.

Difficulty Level: Easy Time Required: 15 minutes
Here's How:
1) Gather together sodium chloride, liquid soap, 2 glass beakers, bottled and distilled water, 2 test tubes, test tube stoppers, glass rod, a plastic cup and rubbing alcohol.
2) Place 8 grams of sodium chloride in one of the beakers and dissolve with 92 milliliters of distilled water.
3) In a second beaker, combine 25 milliliters of liquid soap with 75 milliliters of distilled water.

4) Pour 1 milliliter of the sodium chloride solution into a large test tube.
5) Pour 10 milliliters of the bottled water into a plastic cup and swirl the water in your mouth for 30 seconds.
6) Spit the water back into the cup and pour the contents into the test tube containing the sodium chloride solution.
7) Add 1 milliliter of liquid soap to the test tube.
8) Cover the top of the test tube with a stopper and gently mix the contents by turning the test tube upside down and right side up.
9) Add 5 milliliters of the rubbing alcohol to the test tube making sure to pour it at an angle down the side of the test tube.
10) Wait for about 5 minutes and watch as the DNA floats to the surface.
11) Pour 1 milliliter of alcohol into the second test tube.
12) Use the glass rod to remove the DNA from the first test tube by twirling the rod in a circular motion.
13) Place the DNA into the second test tube containing the alcohol.

Tips:
If more DNA is desired, repeat the procedure making sure to wash your mouth more vigorously in step 5.

Reference http://biology.about.com/c/ht/00/07/How_Extract_DNA_Human0962932481.htm

New Strategy To Create Genetically-modified Animals Developed

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine have demonstrated the potential of a new strategy for genetic modification of large animals. The method employs a harmless gene therapy virus that transfers a genetic modification to male reproductive cells, which is then passed naturally on to offspring.

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