Have you ever wondered why human faces are so diverse?

It's Thanks to Evolution That No Two Faces Are Alike, Study Finds....



In 2011, a team of researchers conducted a study on a species of insects known as the paper wasps. These individuals use their distinct faces and body patterns/colors for identification. This ultimately helps them identify their social hierarchy. This study has proposed a new question to our own species...is the reason for our evolved facial diversity used to help humans better recognize one another?
"The shape and configuration of a human face are much more variable, compared with other body parts, the study found. What's more, genes that have been linked to face structure vary more than DNA in other regions of the body. This suggests that the forces of evolution have selected for facial diversity, perhaps to make individuals more recognizable to other people, the researchers say."
This means an individual can actually benefit from having a different and unique facial structure. The new study conducted by a research team, analyzed a U.S. Army database that includes dozens of face and body measurements for thousands of its service members. Sheehan's team found that most body parts are internally consistent. Face parts, in contrast, are not predictable. The researchers then looked at the genome sequences for 836 people from all different ethnic and social backgrounds. They then looked specifically at 59 stretches of DNA previously linked to facial features. These DNA codes were more variable than the rest of the genome itself.
"To get a sense of when this diversity cropped up during human evolution, the researchers also compared the DNA of modern humans to that of a Neanderthal individual and of a Denisovan, another early human relative. In both the modern and ancient DNA, two genes—one related to the distance between the chin and bridge of the nose, and the other to nose shape—had similar levels of variability, suggesting that facial diversity evolved before modern humans did. That high level of genetic variability probably means that evolutionary forces are at play in shaping the diversity of faces, the authors say."

I find this article very interesting. Who knew that our faces were evolved to better help us identify each other. I think more research needs to be conducted, but it is still interesting and explains a lot about human beings as a species.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/09/140916-faces-evolution-cognition-social-recognition-genetics/
another article from the Washington post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2014/09/18/why-do-human-faces-look-so-different-evolution-made-us-that-way/

A new look at the Naked Mole Rat

At first glance this small mammal is not very appealing to the human eye but they are now playing a unique and significant role in upcoming scientific studies. Their social behavior and genetics are in the spotlight for more research, due to little known about this underground creature. Most scientists have thought that this mole rat has a unique social hierarchy with inbreeding tendencies.
"Why would this rodent have evolved to socialize and mate so differently from other mammals? From a natural selection standpoint -- where advantageous traits are passed down to succeeding generations -- what is gained by limiting genetic diversity by limiting the breeding pool?"
This specific type of mammal has a hierarchy similar to bees. They live in colonies or groups and have a head female (queen). Responsibilities of workers are assigned based on the ranking of the animal. The social structure is fragile and the loss of one animal can change the duties of many. This new study has identified that these creatures are in fact not inbred. The researchers conducted a study of different mole-rat populations from Africa, and compared them to the genetics of a long-studied mole-rat population. They found that the populations of mole-rats studied for decades are "inbred" only because they originally came from a small, genetically isolated population of naked mole-rats from south of Kenya's Athi River. This is a very specific and isolated population that was studied and used to determine the whole basis of naked mole rats and their breeding processes. This brings up another issue within the scientific community...
"It also suggests, she said, that laboratory animals, isolated and repeatedly re-bred for studies, might over time represent behaviors and genetics that are different from the diverse wild populations from which they originally came."

I thought this article was interesting because it made me research more about this unique mammal and their social structure. It is now critical for scientists to keep studying this animal due to its other interesting qualities we still have no idea about like their temperature regulations, social hierarchy, and their unique evolution.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151022141702.htm 

for more information about this species and their genome:

http://www.naked-mole-rat.org/

Support G.M.O. Free food

The question that most mothers and fathers are asking food companies is; are your products G.M.O. free? Genetically modified foods have been in the recent headlines with people wondering if the food that they are feeding their children is safe. A lot of people look for that specific stamp/certification that the food they are buying is G.M.O Free.

"Last year alone, Vermont passed a law requiring the labeling of foods that contain G.M.O.s (Connecticut and Maine have labeling laws that will go into effect only when surrounding states also pass them). And Whole Foods Market, with 410 stores in 42 states, Canada and Britain, announced that it would require all foods they sell with G.M.O.s to be so labeled by 2018."

So what is the big deal about G.M.O.'s? Humans have been genetically modifying food and feed for plants and animals for millenniums, until recently only by repeatedly crossing existing ones with relatives that have more desirable characteristics. Genetically modifying something by taking genetics into our own hands, allows humans to achieve their desired outcome within one generation. An example of a genetically modified food would be corn. Corn DNA is injected with a bacterial gene which helps the organism withstand drought. The F.D.A has approved G.M.O.'s which developers must test the product for toxicity and allergenicity as well as assure that its nutrient content is at least as good as its non-G.M.O. counterpart.

"A legitimate safety concern involves possible delayed deleterious effects of genetically modified products on consumers, the environment or the “balance” of nature. As with an organism’s natural genes, introduced ones can mutate or disrupt the function of neighboring genes. Thus, continued monitoring of their effects is essential."

This article caught my eye for multiple reasons. I am one of those shoppers that looks free non GMO products from what was being said on the news ect. I didn't do much research on the subject but  believe that organic is always better then non organic. Now reading this article I have decided to better research GMO products and better understanding the reasoning behind genetically modified foods.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/06/08/fears-not-facts-support-gmo-free-food/

here is another article pertaining to this subject:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/more-foods-boast-non-gmo-labelseven-those-without-gmo-varieties-1440063000

New venomous snake species found

 A new species of the highly venomous snake, the death adder, has been brought to attention of Australian scientists. The newly identified species looks very similar to other death adders, with the same brownish tan color and length of 21 inches long. In Australia, this snake is found in the Northern territory where many other adder species are located. This gave them the opportunity to hide in plain site with their similar patterns and size. The death adders are a unique species in how they hunt their prey. They lure small rodents, lizards or other small animals, by shaking their worm like tail. This makes the small animal think their is food but indefinitely their fate is sealed when the snake sinks in their teeth.

"Maddock made his discovery not by trekking through the Australian outback but by studying the DNA of various death adders, a group of snakes native to Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia that are among the world's most venomous."

Maddock and his team of scientists were gathering DNA from 8 different species of the death adder and found a strange finding. There were DNA samples that just didn't match the rest. He then analyzed 112 specimens in total, including 32 of the new death adder species. This finding came from a simple coincidence and shows the importance of DNA analysis to identify species. 
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/150929-death-adders-snakes-species-animals-australia/

I found this article very interesting and informing. It's exciting that this snake was hiding in plain sight identifying itself as the death adder even though its a subspecies. The technology we have today has made this possible and I'm sure there will be great discoveries within species identification.

Another link about death adders: http://www.factzoo.com/reptiles/snakes/australian-death-adder-worlds-deadliest.html

The Breast Cancer Gene

With breast cancer and many other hormonal cancers on the rise, people need to be getting routinely tested. The BRCA mutation can be identified through testing which will yield a positive or negative result. This is extremely important for women and men, who have a family history of breast cancer. Ashkenazi Jews in particular are at increased risk with studies showing, one out of every 40 individuals have a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. This is compared to one out of every 800 members of the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control. 

"I did not know I was a carrier because I do not fall within testing parameters. Most insurance companies cover testing specifically for Ashkenazi Jewish women only once we present with breast cancer. Before that doomed moment, testing is only for women who have a family history of BRCA or who have had breast cancer at a young age, or who have close relatives with the disease."
According to Force, an advocacy group concerned with hereditary breast and ovarian cancers, an estimated 90 percent of BRCA carriers do not know that they are. That means untold thousands of people in the United States don’t realize they are likely to get a bad case of breast cancer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/27/opinion/sunday/elizabeth-wurtzel-the-breast-cancer-gene-and-me.html

I think it is very unfortunate that women and men are not being tested routinely for these cancers especially in populations at high risk (like Ashkenazi Jewish women). This needs to be changed in all areas of health care for testing of high risk cancers.  

http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/suppl_1/i7.full.pdf- another link 

A Pregnancy Souvenir: Cells That Are Not Your Own

If you become pregnant does your body still carry your babies cells after birth?  

This new study was done on women who died during child birth to examine if women gain fetal cells during pregnancy.

“In the 1990s, scientists found the first clues that cells from both sons and daughters can escape from the uterus and spread through a mother’s body. They called the phenomenon fetal microchimerism, after the chimera, a monster from Greek mythology that was part lion, goat and dragon” (Zimmer, 2015). 

Before these recent studies this “phenomenon” was thought to be extremely rare but in all actuality very common. It is amazing that cells from one individual integrate into the tissues of another distinct person. These tissues are not just one particular area but tissues from all over the body including ones brain. These studies focused on the Y chromosome that is found in boys to more easily distinguish between mother and child. They found these cells in more than 60 percent of the brains and in multiple brain regions. 

"Fetal microchimerism has been found in a number of mammal species, including dogs, mice and cows. It’s likely that fetal cells have been a part of maternal life for tens of millions of years" (Zimmer, 2015). 

This article talks about further research into the subject of fetal microchimerism on the female biology which I think is very important and interesting. This could led to new discoveries in areas like postpartum mental health which can help us better understand this condition. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/15/science/a-pregnancy-souvenir-cells-that-are-not-your-own.html?_r=0

Another article: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/your-babys-leftover-dna-is-making-you-stronger/381140/ 

New Genetic test changes cancer patients prognosis

Would you want to know if you were dying?

This question is brought up time and time again throughout this article. Ocular melanoma is a rare type of cancer that develops in the cells that produce pigment. Just like developing melanoma on your skin you can also develop in within your eye. New technology used and created by Dr. J. William Harbour is exciting uplifting news for patients with ocular melanoma.  This type of cancer is classified into two classes, class 1 and 2. Class 1 patients, almost half, can be cured when the tumor is removed, leaving them with a bright future. Class 2 patients, almost 70/80%, will die within the next five years. The cancer reemerges in the liver and there is no cure. By removing the eye and biopsying the tumor, researches are able to see what type of genes it contains and what their patients future holds.

“The genes themselves were no different. But a group of several hundred genes that looked the same in cells from patients in Class 1 and Class 2 were acting differently in the patients who did poorly. The genes were churning out many more proteins in the cells of patients in Class 2." 

"Dr. Harbour found that he could look at the activity of 12 of those genes and predict how well a patient would do” (Kolata, 2012). 

I believe this new genetic testing is amazing and needs to be looked at and further researched for testing on different types of cancers and tumors.

Links:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/health/genetic-test-changes-game-in-cancer-prognosis.html

_{another link for more information on ocular melanoma: http://www.ocularmelanoma.org/}