Same Genetic Basis Found in 5 Types of Mental Disorders

Kolata, Gina. "Study Finds Genetic Risk Factors Shared by 5 Psychiatric Disorders." The New York Times. The New York Times, 28 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/health/study-finds-genetic-risk-factors-shared-by-5-psychiatric-disorders.html?hp>.    

This study focused on 5 different disorders: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, major depression, and attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Despite the great differences in their symptoms and manifestations, they all have the same genetic basis. The article does not detail what this basis is, but on in the original paper published by the scientists, they describe four different loci to surpass the cutoff for genome-wide significance. The study found that these loci held genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms conferring a small risk of psychiatric disorders. For two of them, it is not clear what genes are involved or what they do, but the other two, though, involve genes that are part of calcium channels, which are used when neurons send signals in the brain. Cross-Disorder Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, a group of scientists, conducted this research. These findings were all made possible by the increase in availability of genetic information databases. The researchers used genetic data generated by studies in 19 countries and including 33,332 people with psychiatric illnesses and 27,888 people free of the illnesses for comparison. The researchers labored over people’s DNA, looking for variations in a long stretch of genetic material containing three billion DNA bases.

            This research can have a huge impact on how we see mental disorders. Two of the aberrations discovered in the new study were in genes used in a major signaling system in the brain, giving clues to processes that might go awry and suggestions of how to treat the diseases. Scientists can now aim to make diagnoses based on the genetic aberrations underlying diseases instead of on the disease symptoms. This is a great leap forward and can have visible, substantial effects in the field of mental health disorders.

            I believe that the author did a very good job explaining the treatment and its implications. However, she sometimes explained things to vaguely, leaving several questions unanswered. At times, her progression of ideas was confusing as well. She did do a mediocre job explaining how the treatment works. One positive is that most scientific articles describing treatments are difficult to understand and follow, but her explanation was clear and comprehendible.

Getting to the Bottom of It All

Becker, Michael. "Getting to the Bottom of It All." Scientist at Work Getting to the Bottom of It All Comments. New York Times, 26 Feb. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.
<http://scientistatwork.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/getting-to-the-bottom-of-it-all/>

       Michael Becker’s article, Getting to the Bottom of It All could not have a more well-suited title.  Becker describes his experience on an adventurous scientific diving expedition at Lake Untersee in Antarctica this past November.  Preparation and safety are all important for the dive in this remote and frigid part of the world.  Chipping through 10 feet of lake ice requires the use of an industrial strength steam cleaner feeding boiling hot water through copper tubing over two days.   Essentials include intense diving gear, a couple of snowmobiles and the all important tether lifeline, which ferries him into the dive hole and hoists him to the surface post experimentation.  Recently, modern technology including the communication box has enabled dive messages to flow back and forth between the diver and the surface assistants who work the lifeline.  The lifeline ensures the surface assistants of having an idea of how far away the diver is and also so the diver knows where to return.  Becker stresses the importance of safety in this practice as the smallest error can result in death.  Divers suffering from disorders, sicknesses, or injury, often must go to a recompression chamber in which a pressure vessel is used to treat their symptoms.  Unfortunately, the nearest recompression chamber is nearly 2,000 miles away in Cape Town.  One may ask, what’s the point of all this?   Becker describes the exciting study of “microbial communities locked away from human history.”  Cores, or layers of the lake’s bottom, teach scientists about the lake’s history and its resident organisms.  Becker studies the evolution of these microbial communities by observing cross-sections of the cores, which grow in layers over time.  These layers are known as laminations.  More specifically, Becker observes cyanobacteria and how much light energy they are exposed to, enabling them to create their own energy.  Looking at bacteria and other life forms that live deeper in the Lake is done by two Russian scientists, Vladimr Akimov and Valery Galchenko.  They study oxygen-rich water nearer to the surface, and oxygen-poor water below, which give us a sense of two different worlds within the same lake. 

Diving deep below the surface of Antarctica to take water and other samples is a unique form of experimentation.   Becker is an adventurer searching to observe and better analyze the rarely visited underwater ecosystem of this continent.  Despite the blackness of existence below the ice surface, light permeates and organisms thrive.  Bacteria and viruses grow in different sections of the lake - some without oxygen and some oxygen-rich.  Only after the water samples are analyzed by Becker and his colleagues will we learn the potential impact to us as humans.  We may better understand the delicate balance of the ecosystem and how it affects climate change.  We may learn ways that oceans and underwater environments can grow new cures for viruses or antibiotics.

Becker did a good job at providing a vivid picture of exploring the Antarctica underworld.  This article could have been more descriptive in terms of the anatomies of the bacteria and viruses.   Becker focused too much on his diving routine, and had minimal information in terms of the actual species found in the lake and what these discoveries mean for the future.  However, this speaks to the reality that this scientific experimentation is fairly new and that at this point, the adventure of the diving experience itself may be more interesting than what is actually being discovered.  Over time, with scientific advancements and rapid innovations in technology, I am confident we will be hearing more about Lake Untersee and its amazing underworld sometime in the near future.

War of the Ants Intensifies in U.S.

Douglas, Quenqua. "War of the Ants Intensifies in U.S." The New York Times.

25 Feb. 2013. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/science/ant-species-losing-ground-to-venomous-kind.html?ref=science&_r=0

            The article “War of the Ants Intensifies in U.S.” explains the study and significance of ant species losing ground to a venomous kind in North America. Argentine ants, one of the species studied, dominate many parts of the U.S. through forming “super colonies,” which are groups of thousands of these ants. From this, they are able to swarm and conquer any prey in very large numbers, but now another species is pushing back: the Asian needle ant. This type of ant has a venomous stinger that kills its prey, making it a very powerful ant. Eleanor Spicer Rice, senior science editor at Verdant World, decided to take up a study on these two species after noticing the presence of the Asian needle ant in a North Carolina office park. She observed in 2008 that the Argentine ants populated 99% of sites in the park, whereas the Asian needle ants populated only 9%. Three years later, the Argentine ants only populated 67%, and the Asian needle populated 32%.

            This rapid increase of the Asian needle ant from this study is very important for scientists to take note of, considering the ant is dangerous towards humans. Its poisonous stinger can cause weeks of burning and itching after only one sting. Also, the venom can lead to much more severe reactions for victims who are allergic. Asian needle ants have an advantage over the Argentines and other ants because of their activeness in cool weather (most ants rest during this weather). From this, other ants and predators would have difficulty suppressing the ants rapid increase in population, which will prove to hurt people if nothing is done.

            The article was an interesting read, but had a few problems. For example, I wished there was more information on the study itself, like how Eleanor claimed those percentages of populations and/or other research she did on the subject. Also, the article was not structured to nicely, considering it switched back and forth between points. Other than this, I enjoyed the article.

"Connecting the Neural Dots"

Markoff, John. “Connecting the Neural Dots.” The New York Times. The New York Times. 25 February 2013. Web. 25 February 2013.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/science/proposed-brain-mapping-project-faces-significant-hurdles.html?hp&_r=1&>

The United States government is on the cusp of announcing a major project: the President plans on funding research that would, in the next decade, map the active human brain. As explained by John Markoff in the article “Connecting the Neural Dots,” this is not as easy as it sounds. Scientists say that they are far from being able to fulfill such a mammoth goal – not only have such projects not actually been undertaken and finished before, but they do not have the tools themselves to map the brain. The only exception to this has been the worm C. elegans, which is the only animal for which there is a connectome, or complete static map of brain activity. A paper published in Neuron, a professional scientific journal, stated that the Drosophila, or fruit fly, should be next, followed by several other organisms, before the mapping of the human brain is attempted. The issue is how to achieve such goals – some feel that the entire scientific paradigm needs to be changed before anything can happen. The shift in scientific thinking seems, so far, to have targeted systems biology, in that scientists want to map the simultaneous activity of millions of neurons. The technologies available today are crude by many standards, but even small steps create a huge difference. The proposed project, to be funded by the government, will involve computer scientists, neuroscientists, and nanoscientists in the creation of a map of human brain activity.

This project, if carried through, could have a significant impact upon our world. Not only would it affect science, but it would also change medicine, psychology, and many other fields. It could give people with medical problems new opportunities, as shown by a group from University of California, who aim to find out how the brain controls the larynx, tongue, jaw, lips, and face, in order to be able to give the ability of speech back to those who have been affected by paralysis and/or stroke. Such prosthetics are simply the beginning, but it is important to note that many ethical questions are aroused by these same potential advances. For example, could mind control become a reality? How far should science go? Such heavy topics are sure to permeate discussion as these projects progress.

Overall, I found this article to be well-written, concise, and interesting. My only qualm is that it skips around and veers from the point, so that though it does present interesting and enlightening information, the political connection is barely ever mentioned. I would have liked to have read why the government chose to undergo with such a project and what its political effects are. Despite this, I feel that I have learned a lot from reading this article and look forward to seeing new developments in the field of neurobiology.

Rat-Sized Ancestor Said to Link Man and Beast

AP Biology                                                                                                            Petey DeJoy           

Article Review                                                                                                2/11/13

Rat-Sized Ancestor Said to Link Man and Beast

Wilford, John Noble. "Common Ancestor of Placental Mammals Plucked From Obscurity." The New York Times. The New York Times, 08 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/science/common-ancestor-of-mammals-plucked-from-obscurity.html?pagewanted=2>.

            This article discusses the family tree of mammals, and at which point the distinction between man and animal is lost. This occupant of the fossil record is referred to as Protungulatum Donnae. This animal had several anatomical characteristics for live births that anticipated all placental mammals and led to many different kinds of species, from elephants to humans. This animal is thought to have been a rat-size animal that had a long furry tail and lived on insects. Researchers found some key similarities between this species and humans. For example, the Protungulatum was found to have a two horned uterus and a placenta in which the maternal blood came inc lose contact with membranes surrounding the fetus, as it is in humans. This is a very important discovery because it was discovered using a publicly accessible database called MorphoBank, which has software that can handle an extremely large compilation of data. Because they used this new technology, many other scientists are already signing up to use MorphoBank. This whole project was financed by the National Science foundation as part of its Assembling the Tree of Life Program.

            I found this article very interesting because it relates to what we are learning in Biology. We currently are discussing genetics, and this is an extremely significant discovery in this field. It ties into the hereditary history of all humans, and therefore it pertained to my contemporary life.

            This article was definitely not perfectly written. Although it is a scientific article, it was written at a very esoteric level, referencing techniques and devices that the amateur reader would not understand. Furthermore, they did not wholly address the absolute significance of this discovery; they seemed to just discuss the significance of different techniques used in finding it. It also was a little off-topic at points, digressing into different fields. In the end, I thought this article was definitely interesting.

Why Can Some Kids Handle Pressure While Others Fall Apart

In “Why Can Some Kids Handle Pressure While Others Fall Apart”, by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman they explain, using biology, the reasons why some students flourish under pressure while others flounder.  In addition, insight is provided as to the best ways for each type of student to build a better tolerance for stress and thus a better ability to perform.  Response to pressure is dictated by a number of factors, including a genetic component.  One gene, called the COMT gene is hypothesized to explain largely why some children are prone to worry while others are the opposite.  This gene “carries the assembly code for an enzyme that clears dopamine from the prefrontal cortex… Our brains work best when dopamine is maintained at an optimal level.  You don’t want too much, or too little.  By removing dopamine, the COMT enzyme helps regulate neural activity and maintain mental function.”  There are two variants of the gene, one of which builds enzymes that slowly removes dopamine, whereas the other builds enzymes that do the opposite.  In lab experiments focusing on cognitive tasks, it has been shown that under normal conditions, the people with the slow-acting enzyme gene have a cognitive advantage over those who have the fast-acting enzyme.  The catch is that those with slow-enzymes react much worse under stressful conditions and the advantage reverses itself.  Too much dopamine enters the prefrontal cortex as a result of the stress and the slow-acting enzymes work too slowly to remove enough dopamine.  The dopamine can’t be removed fast enough and cognitive ability suffers.  In a particular study on a Taiwanese national exam, students with the slow acting enzymes floundered on the exam in comparison to those with the opposite condition.  In spite of this, studies have also shown that those who have the “worrier” genes can learn to handle stress as long as they are experienced in such circumstances.  In such an instance, the cognitive advantage to having the slow-acting enzyme gene returns.

This article is incredibly important to many Bronxville High School students.  As I write this, countless kids across the country are preparing for the SAT or ACT.  Such exams put an incredible amount of pressure upon students, as many fear that without a certain score, they will never have the opportunity to attend the colleges of their choice.  In such circumstances, stress can potentially overwhelm and result in catastrophe.  This article dealt with the genetic component that allows some to flourish where others fail in these circumstances.  It is important to note though, that even those who have a tendency to collapse under pressure actually have a cognitive genetic advantage, and once they are acclimated to high-pressure situations have a greater chance to succeed. 

I thought this article gave incredibly in-depth look into a complex topic and was very well written.  Details of numerous experiments were divulged and no statistic or study was left out.  My only complaint about the article was that it was incredibly long and thus was difficult to process.  It contained a lot of information and thus had to be read and digested very slowly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/magazine/why-can-some-kids-handle-pressure-while-others-fall-apart.html?pagewanted=6&_r=1&ref=general&src=me

Previous Unknown Mechanism of Memory Formation Discovered

            The article “Previous Unknown Mechanism of Memory Formation Discovered” discusses the role of unique molecules known as microRNAs in memory formation. MicroRNAs were previously associated with protein production, but Courtney Miller’s researches have revealed their bigger roles. Miller’s research revolved around the rapid genetic testing on a large scale of a human while learning was occurring. Results revealed that the level of microRNAs decreased while learning was occurring. Such suppression of microRNAs is a main supporting factor in the formation of long-term memory in the amygdale of the brain and also in regulating protein synthesis during memory consolidation. More than half of all known MicroRNAs (specifically, miR-182) are found in amygdale of the human brain. The MicroRNAs are also significant in repressing (DNA binding) proteins that control actin, which is a major component of cytoskeleton. Cytoskeleton holds the cells together.

           

           This article reveals an interesting and important study about human memory. This research remains rudimentary at most, and the majority of the memory formation process remains a mystery to us. For instance, we are still not sure how the suppression of microRNAs formulates memory. However, this research still has immense medical significance. Miller has stated that she will look more deeply into the correlation between memory loss at old ages and accumulation of microRNAs. Overexpression is thought to prevent not only the formation of memory but also lead to a decrease in the ability to adapt to changes. Thus, finding the methods for regulating the amount of microRNAs could be a revolutionary step in the medical field.

            This article was overall well-written, but was confusing at some points. This was mainly because the author incorporated many specific, advanced medical terms without giving their definitions. The part about microRNA’s role in regulating cytoskeleton was especially confusing and seemed irrelevant to memory formation. 

The Scripps Research Institute. "Previously Unknown Mechanism of Memory Formation Discovered." ScienceDaily, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.

 

posted for E. Choi