Exploring evidence based scientific news in emerging scientific fields
A study published in Genome Biology in August 2016 supplies the first analysis of the epigenetic clock across different racial groups. By analyzing blood, saliva, and brain samples, epigenetic aging rates were compared among seven different racial groups and in men and women. As discovered in the study, rates of […]
Long-term exposure to artificial light weakens the body’s 24-hour circadian rhythm, says a new study published in Current Biology in July 2016 by Eliane A. Lucassen et al. In addition to disrupting the biological clock, continuous light deteriorates muscle strength, bone microstructure, and innate immune response. Allowing the body […]
Learning and memory are acquired in the brain by long-term synaptic potentiation, a process consisting of consecutive, long-lasting increases in synaptic strength. Usually, this process results in runaway excitation of synapses and leads to imbalance and instability in neural network dynamics. After years of research on the acquisition of […]
This September 13, 2016 the United Kingdom experienced the hottest day of the year with temperatures reaching 34.4C (93.9F). The BBC reported the temperature was recorded in Gravesend, Kent and it is the warmest September since 1911. In this article we exam the current stats on climate change, how the UK […]
According to a new study published in Aging Cell in August 2016, methylation changes in skin DNA can be used to accurately predict age. Aging is a complex phenomenon, and scientists can now identify factors of aging and epigenetic drift from the epidermis. Methylation patterns in human skin become more […]
“The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well.” Science, in many ways, is a self-contained enterprise. It has […]
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry in May, “Poverty linked to epigenetic changes and mental illness“, reports that children who grew up in poverty are more likely to develop depression rather than those who grew up in wealthier environments. Stressors and Trauma of Poverty Environmental stressors during development can […]
The human genome is never stagnant. Like checks and balances, internal regulation mechanisms constantly tweak gene expression levels to ensure that bodily function does not go awry. Deviation from standard regulation patterns can be devastating, but defining “normalcy” in terms of gene regulation has proved to be somewhat difficult. […]
It is easier to target a known physiological phenomenon than an emotional state with uncertain biological ties. While conventional treatments for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) focus on promoting serotonin neurotransmitter levels, much about the mental illness’ origin remains shrouded in obscurity. However, in August 2016, Nature and Genetics journal […]
Recent technological advances and moves toward hyper-specialization have led to the emergence of several new scientific fields and sub-fields. As these nascent fields have developed, they have been subjects of immense scrutiny. A primary threshold for true emergence is ‘scientific maturity’—a term that is given a considerable amount of weight, […]