This is What the World Would Look Like if You Were Small: Click on the Picture and Zoom In

Snipe Fly
This might be the most detailed photograph I have ever seen. You can make out the reflections of the fly in the raindrops. I would really like to see this camera, its reflection is probably in one of the drops as well.

Kelly Mayo Seminar and Gulf War Syndrome

So, come to LR4 on Thursday @ 5pm! It'll be a sweet talk.

In sadder news, a new report announced that Gulf War Syndrome has officially been termed a real (and not simply psychological disease). Gulf War Syndrome probably affects 1 in 4 of the ~650,000 vets, with symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal problems, headaches, concentration difficulties, and other neurological problems. The prime suspects for this disease are pesticides and pills taken to provide protection against nerve gas.
Here's a link to the pills:
pyridostigmine bromide


Nerve agents work by blocking ACh-ase, slowing the breakdown of ACh in the synaptic cleft. The inability to breakdown ACh results in constant muscle contract, leading to death. PB works by preventing this blocking. It is taken in conjunction with other drugs to increase survival chances after exposure to a nerve agent, such as soman or sarin.
Read the CNN article: (article)

Drosophila Diseases

I spent a couple of hours today counting flies, so here's a cool article about them:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn15082-malekilling-bacteria-provide-a-surprise-benefit-.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news3_head_dn15082

Summary:
A bacteria known for its sex-regulation abilities has been found to confer protection against viruses in Drosophila. In some species, the bacteria ensures that infected and non-infected and non-infected flies cannot make viable young.

Implications:
Speciation?
Cool bacteria like that in humans? (Bacteria are pretty important in several of body systems).
A good excuse for having all your flies die in BioLab. Bonus points if anybody can type that fly.

Articles of the Week

Most of these are from NewScientist, because it is my favorite.

What's the best cruising speed for life?
Reference Note: Humans have a metabolic rate of ~4 W/kg

So exhausted from studying Orgo/Bio that you might've lost the ability to communicate with humans? Practice on this robot!

Desiring to be pessimistic about research?

Like to drink?

Think you are too vicious to be a bonobo? Think again.

And... new crabs!

Lethal Alleles and Cool Animals They Create

A lot of you (well, a lot of the few people who are bored enough to read this) are familiar with the Manx cat example of lethal alleles: in feline genetics, having one copy of the gene gives you no tail, having two copies means you have no cat. The picture shows another example, which I had not previously heard of: the Chinese crested dog. Again, one copy of the bald and ugly gene will result in an ugly dog. Two copies of the bald and ugly gene will result in an ugly expired dog fetus. That being said, here's a genetics problem I adapted from a classic probability problem:

Two Manx cats have 4 babies, of which dies at birth due to combination of fatal alleles. The 3 surviving kittens are placed into boxes by the owner, who noted whether each kitten had a tail or not. You really like cats with tails. In fact, Manx cats freak you out. The owner allows you to select one unopened box, and he selects another box that he knows contains a Manx cat. He opens the box and shows you the cat. Should you open the box you selected, or select another box?

Shirt Idea

So, I'm planning on distributing shirts at the Activities Fair and I need some help! The design is mostly plagiarized off of other shirts on the internet. So, PLEASE feel free to comment on the following:

Design:
Yea or Nay?
STAPH, Biology Students Association, or nothing on the back?
Color: should I go another color? Do we have too many purple n' white shirts? Maybe invert the colors?

Price:
What would you pay for the shirt on the range of $5-10? (Answer on the poll!)

Sizes:
What ratio of S, M, L, XL (XXL??) should I get?

Idea:
Is this even a good idea?

Obama/McCain Science Policies

For those folk who happen to be both politically- and scientifically-minded, here's a pretty thorough and even-handed look at McCain and Obama's records, plans, and opinions on science policy:
McCain: http://sharp.sefora.org/people/presidential-candidates/john-mccain-presidential-candidate/
Obama: http://sharp.sefora.org/people/presidential-candidates/barack-obama-presidential-candidate/

For European viewers, the map above shows how genetic markers can be used to find your ancestors' countries of origin. The accompanying article: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14631-human-geography-is-mapped-in-the-genes.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=specrt11_head_Gene%20geography