Week In Science

An article in Nature Reviews Genetics 8, 35-46 (January 2007), entitled 'Heterochromatin revisited' and authored by Shiv I. S. Grewal and Songtao Jia, deals with heterochromatin; a hot news item of late. An article in Nature Cell Biology around March of this year (Gwen Lomberk, Debora Bensi, Martín E. Fernandez-Zapico & Raul Urrutia) detailed data related to a possible subcode within a histone code. Modification of heterochromatic proteins HP1, HP1 and the pan-nuclear HP1 were noted for effects on silencing of gene expression.

An article in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (Evidence that microRNAs are associated with translating messenger RNAs in human cells) - 13, 1102 - 1107 (2006) indicates evidence of an important regulatory function for miRNAs.

'Genome-wide natural antisense transcription: coupling its regulation to its different regulatory mechanisms,' EMBO reports 7, 12, 1216–1222 (2006)doi:10.1038/sj.embor.7400857, addresses a matter that probably merits more attention- NATs or natural antisense transcripts.

Mystery Of How Largest Cellular Motor Protein Powers Movement Solved By UNC Scientists cites research revealing how a protein helps convert chemical to mechanical energy. Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill can be credited.

From time to time we read reports of evolution in action. Things like bird beaks getting longer or shorter as an adaptive response to environmental challenges appear in the news. Occasionally a change in the structure of a protein will be cited which confers some biochemical advantage. Fewer are the articles that address issues that are more problematic for origins theories.

An article by Sevinc Ercan and Jason D. Lieb is one of a few in recent months that serves as a reminder that there is much yet to discover about genetics (Nature Genetics - 38, 1104 - 1105 (2006) doi:10.1038/ng1006-1104).

A Yahoo news story this week provided information about a strong movement in Turkey opposed to Darwinism and the Theory of Evolution. It has taken the form of what is called an "Atlas of Creation." Many of them have been sent to schools and libraries within the country. They are filled with photos and are said to be easy to read. The message in them is that God created the world and the life in it.

A brief article from the linked site- 'Mass copying of genes speeds up evolution' indicates a mechanism that could accelerate adaptive responses to environmental conditions. The article refers to a more detailed article that appeared in PNAS. The mechanism is selective gene amplification or the mass copying of a specific gene.

The article 'Astronomers Gain Clues About Fundamental Physics' describes a project aimed at gathering data from the vast expanses of the universe in order to determine the behavior of some very small parts of the universe (atoms and molecules). This behavior is described by some well known physics theories containing what are known as mathematical constants. The goal is determining if nature's laws have changed over vast eons of time.

Some cancer cells have been proven to be unusually resistent to radiation treatment. It is now known why this is so. Researchers have learned that cancer stem cells, which are a type of brain cancer cell, activate what is called a repair switch, to enable continued, unchecked growth. A news release about this entitled 'Cancer Stem Cells Linked to Radiation Resistance' appeared at the Duke University School of Medicine website.