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GENOMICS

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Hi Folks!! Follow our blog on  Instagram Introduction to Genomics Genomics is the branch of biology that studies the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. A genome is the complete set of DNA, including all of its genes, in an organism. This field of study, emerging rapidly over the last few decades, has revolutionized our understanding of biology and opened new avenues in fields like medicine, agriculture, and environmental science.  Development of Genomics The field of genomics can be traced back to the discovery of DNA as the genetic material of living organisms. In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick revealed the double helix structure of DNA, marking a milestone in biology. Following this, the development of DNA sequencing technologies in the 1970s by Frederick Sanger allowed for the identification of the precise order of nucleotides (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine) in DNA. These innovations laid the groundwork for the Human Genome Project (HGP)
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Real-Time Evolution: How Marine Snails Rapidly Adapted to a New Environment After Ecological Disaster

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Real-Time Evolution: How Marine Snails Rapidly Adapted to a New Environment After Ecological Disaster In 1988, a toxic algal bloom devastated populations of the marine snail Littorina saxatilis along Sweden’s Koster Archipelago, particularly impacting “wave type” snails known for their small size and adaptability to rocky, wave-exposed environments. Four years later, biologist Kerstin Johannesson reintroduced a different variety, the “crab type” snails, to one of these islands. Unlike the wave type, crab-type snails are larger, with thicker shells suited for predator-heavy areas rather than wave-battered rocks. This reintroduction set the stage for an extraordinary real-time evolutionary experiment. By observing the geographically isolated island population, researchers noted that within a decade, the crab-type snails began evolving to suit their new wave-heavy environment, changing in shape and behavior. This adaptation was made possible by pre-existing genetic diversity w
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Why is there no vaccines for HIV - yet.....

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Hi Folks!! Follow our blog on  Instagram . BECAUSE IT IS SHAPE-SHIFTING Most vaccines induce our body to make antibodies to fight different pathogens, but HIV disguises itself so that  even if we make antibodies, the virus changes to escape them.  Early vaccine candidates targeted the envelope protein that encapsulates the virus genome. When we found that antibodies against the envelope protein didn't work, then we thought, maybe we could target different parts of the virus that induce T cells, which kill infected cells. However because the virus integrates itself into the host genome, the T cells didn't recognize the viruses as separate from hosts.  LIMITATIONS OF CURRENT TECHNOLOGY Because the virus itself integrates into host DNA, it limits the vaccine platforms we can use. We traditionally have used live attenuated vaccines for different viral diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella, but we can't use that for HIV because of the concern that live attenuated virus could
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Proxima Centauri b: A Super-Earth Neighbor and the Quest for Habitability

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Hi Folks!! Follow our blog on Instagram  LAB IN THE BOX Proxima Centauri b: A Super-Earth Neighbor and the Quest for Habitability Proxima Centauri b, orbiting the star Proxima Centauri, stands as one of the most intriguing exoplanetary discoveries of recent times. Its proximity to Earth, a mere four light-years away, positions it as a prime candidate for further investigation into the possibility of life beyond our solar system. The planet, discovered in 2016, is categorized as a **super-Earth**, meaning it is slightly more massive than our home planet—about 1.27 times Earth's mass. However, the challenges to its habitability are as fascinating as its proximity. Orbital Characteristics and Proximity to Proxima Centauri Proxima b orbits Proxima Centauri , a red dwarf star of the M-type, much smaller and cooler than our Sun. Despite this, Proxima b is extremely close to its star, orbiting at just **0.0485 AU** (around 7.25 million kilometers)—a fraction of the Earth-Sun distance. It
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Honeybee venom - An Anti-cancerous Agent

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Hi Folks!! Follow our blog on  Instagram In 2020, Perkins researchers uncovered that honeybee venom could kill breast cancer cells while leaving normal healthy cells unaffected. This remarkable discovery showed that a specific concentration of honeybee venom can completely destroy cancer cell membranes within 60 minutes and induce 100% cancer cell death with minimal effect on normal cells. The researchers went on to synthesize a key component in honeybee venom, called Melittin , to continue their studies without impacting the honeybee populations. Currently, Dr. Edina Wang has enthusiastically taken on this project, striving to improve the melittin compound and make it more effective by the addition of components that will enhance the way it recognizes and targets cancer cells.   Dr. Edina Wang has also begun testing the targeted melittin on ovarian cancer cells and found that they are extremely effective with a six-fold improvement in anti-cancer outcomes over the melittin alone.   Th
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The Potential and Ethical Implications of 5D Memory Crystals in Long-term Genetic Preservation and Human Revival

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The Potential and Ethical Implications of 5D Memory Crystals in Long-term Genetic Preservation and Human Revival Scientists at the University of Southampton have stored the entire human genome on a 5D memory crystal, which could potentially revive humanity long after extinction. The crystal, created by the university’s Optoelectronics Research Centre, uses advanced laser technology to inscribe data in five dimensions, making it one of the most durable storage formats capable of surviving billions of years. This crystal, equivalent to fused quartz, can withstand extreme forces, temperatures, and cosmic radiation. Professor Peter Kazansky, who led the research, explained that the 5D crystal could preserve genetic information of endangered species, providing a "blueprint" for future restoration if technological advancements allow. The crystal has been stored in the Memory of Mankind archive, a time capsule in Hallstatt, Austria. Currently, it is not possible to create complex or
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