10 – 16 August 2015 This Week
Promoting Food Security between SAARC Countries
Board of SAARC Agriculture Centre decided to ensure regional food security by promoting joint programs and exchanging innovative technologies between the member countries. It is definitely a big step for the mutual benefit of these nations. Find source
Octopus genome sequenced
The genome of most intelligent invertebrate with 2.7 billion base-pairs, 33,000 protein coding genes and largest nervous systems among the invertebrates have been sequenced. Find source
Creating a more intelligent, less anxious and less fearful Mice
Lab mice showed enhanced cognitive abilities, faster learning and complex problem solving when researchers altered the function of an enzyme phosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B), present in brain. Work has begun on developing such drugs suitable for humans that can stimulate intelligence. Find source
What controls waking up and going to sleep got finally discovered
An animal’s sleep and wakeup biological clock have been discovered. High sodium channel activity leads to awakening and high potassium channel activity ultimately puts into sleep. Find source
Infections lead to diversification in next offspring’s genome
Fruit flies that get infected from parasites produce their offspring with greater genomic diversity as compared to healthier ones. Find source
Frederick Sanger
This week we commemorate the valuable achievements of Frederick Sanger, father of modern nucleic acid sequencing technology, born on 13th August 1918. His life’s work on protein structure and sequencing nucleic acids opened a new era of modern biochemistry. Find source
