Monthly Archives: March 2019

Origin and evolution of strawberry (instead of one diploid genome, 7 chromosome-pairs, …. it has four subgenomes, 28 chromosome-pairs)

This GEITP topic has to do with how domestication and selective breeding of a wild fruit (foraged by our hunter-gatherer ancestors) has resulted in such a succulent, fragrant, and tasty fruit available in today’s grocery stores and supermarkets (i.e. the … Continue reading

Posted in Center for Environmental Genetics | Comments Off on Origin and evolution of strawberry (instead of one diploid genome, 7 chromosome-pairs, …. it has four subgenomes, 28 chromosome-pairs)

Molecular Support for Heterogonesis Resulting in Sesquizygotic Twinning

Today’s GEITP topic is an obstetric curiosity — sometimes found clinically during fertilization. Twins are traditionally classified as monozygotic (“identical”) or dizygotic (“fraternal”). Monozygotic twinning results in genetically identical (more or less identical, although many epigenetic differences between twin-pairs have … Continue reading

Posted in Center for Environmental Genetics | Comments Off on Molecular Support for Heterogonesis Resulting in Sesquizygotic Twinning

A single-cell molecular map of mouse gastrulation and early organogenesis

The present [attached] article is an example of the incredible advances in technology (single-cell transcriptomics, in particular) that can now be performed in the field of developmental biology, and especially early-embryogenesis. The 48-hr period of mouse embryonic development — from … Continue reading

Posted in Center for Environmental Genetics | Comments Off on A single-cell molecular map of mouse gastrulation and early organogenesis

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) — The trait being studied is “the well-being spectrum” (??)

There are several reasons these GEITP pages continue to share publications dealing with genome-wide association studies (GWAS). One, GWAS are becoming very common (due to lower costs, efficiency of carrying out). Two, GWAS are including much larger sample sizes (of … Continue reading

Posted in Center for Environmental Genetics | Comments Off on Genome-wide association study (GWAS) — The trait being studied is “the well-being spectrum” (??)

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) — trait chosen to be studied is “Insomnia”

As these GEITP pages continue to report, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) represent a screen of large portions of the entire genome (genotype), plus an attempt to find highly significant statistical significance (P < 5.0 x 10–8; also designated as P … Continue reading

Posted in Center for Environmental Genetics | Comments Off on Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) — trait chosen to be studied is “Insomnia”

Atheism Is Inconsistent with the Scientific Method

—Some of you might find this an interesting read. From the latest issue of Sci Am. Scientific American March 20, 2019 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/atheism-is-inconsistent-with-the-scientific-method-prize-winning-physicist-says/?utm_medium=social&utm_content=organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=SciAm_&sf209669857=1 Atheism Is Inconsistent with the Scientific Method, Prize-Winning Physicist Says By Lee Billings Marcelo Gleiser, a 60-year-old Brazil-born … Continue reading

Posted in Center for Environmental Genetics | Comments Off on Atheism Is Inconsistent with the Scientific Method

Scientists (sometimes) talk with one another; why can’t subcellular organelles do the same?

One of the most recent GEITP chats concerned the “possibility that genes talk to one another,” and the “likelihood that cells in any tissue talk to one another.” This editorial article [attached] is a semi-layman’s story about subcellular organelles (various … Continue reading

Posted in Center for Environmental Genetics | Comments Off on Scientists (sometimes) talk with one another; why can’t subcellular organelles do the same?

Selfish genetic elements (or “selfish DNA”)

Thanks, S…… I’ve ALWAYS been fascinated with the idea of the “genome as a community.” When scientists knock out one gene — in one cell-type (or globally) — this loss is somehow “sensed.” Then the genome “sets up a committee,” … Continue reading

Posted in Center for Environmental Genetics | Comments Off on Selfish genetic elements (or “selfish DNA”)

Distinguishing genetically between the germlines of male monozygotic twins

There are intriguing differences in the rate of human twinning worldwide — with less than eight per 1000 live births in Asia to greater than 18 per 1000 live births in Central Africa. Such geographic variations are mainly due to … Continue reading

Posted in Center for Environmental Genetics | Comments Off on Distinguishing genetically between the germlines of male monozygotic twins

The Linear No-Threshold (LNT) dose response model: A comprehensive assessment of its historical and scientific foundations

An entire issue of Chemico-Biological Interactions (published 1 March 2019) is devoted to the topic of the Linear No-Threshold (LNT) Model. [Attached] is the contribution by Ed Calabrese, who says this “represents my most comprehensive assessment yet, of this topic.” … Continue reading

Posted in Center for Environmental Genetics | Comments Off on The Linear No-Threshold (LNT) dose response model: A comprehensive assessment of its historical and scientific foundations