Sexy Space Geckos

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The Mission

I bet you didn’t know that Russia launched a satellite into orbit a little over half a year ago. The satellite contained five geckos. Scientists hoped to study the behaviors of the lizards in microgravity, specifically the reproductive activities. However shortly after obtaining orbit, contact was lost with the space craft.

The satellite was called Foton-M4 and was launched on July 19 of 2014 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, according russianspaceweb.com. The Russian space agency that launched the ship was called Roscosmos.

The mission focused on one male and four female Mauritius ornate day geckos and their reproduction, fertility, and the development of their offspring. However, the satellite also contained other organisms such as mushrooms, fruit flies, seeds, and microbes. Despite losing control of the craft, the equipment was still sending data to the ground.

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In 2013, Roscosmos sent a different spacecraft into orbit with various organisms on it. Most of these creatures died during the flight and the scientists wished to learn how to ensure the safety of the crew of spaceships.

During the two month operation, it was hoped that the geckos would successfully mate, and lay eggs. However, this isn’t as easy as it sounds.

As biologist Athena Andreadis of the University of Massachusetts Medical School put so delicately, "Sex is very difficult in zero gravity, apparently, because you have no traction and you keep bumping against the walls."

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When the Russian scientists had no control over the craft, their biggest fear was that the geckos would run out of food and starve to death.

According to ZMEScience.com, the satellite was traveling about 357 miles above the Earth’s surface. Contact with the spacecraft was thought to have been lost because of interaction with space junk.

Human Space Flight

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By studying the effects of zero gravity on reproduction the scientists hoped to apply it to future human space flights.

It has been suggested that when humans first engage in space travel, to explore the galaxy and study planets, that the offspring of the humans who left Earth would be the ones actually conducting studies. As of now, space travel is very slow, taking many months for a ship to even get to Mars. Space journeys to farther reaches of the stars would take multiple human lifetimes.

One of the actual lizards used in the experiment.
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So, regardless of the absurdity of geckos having sex in space, the research did have practical applications.

Contact Reestablished

Thankfully, the scientists were able to regain control of the satellite and it continued its mission until the planned ending point. However when the craft returned to the surface, it was found that the geckos had frozen to death. Poor little geckos, at least they went out doing something they loved.

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It was rather disappointing that the craft was not lost in space. It would have been amazing for the geckos to land on another planet and populate the surface.

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Glowing Cats

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We’ve all heard of genetically modified organisms. When most of us think of GMOs we think of plants and strains of crops resistant to pests and disease. However, genetic modification is not limited to plants. Scientists have studied the expression of genes in sheep, cats, and pigs, cloning and modifying their DNA to produce different effects.

In South Korea, kittens were altered genetically. As eggs, these cats had jellyfish genes inserted into their genome.

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The genes allowed the cats’ skin cells to produce proteins that glow under ultraviolet light. So why would researchers do this? Inserting these genes into cats allowed scientists to determine whether it was actually possible for organisms to express genes not normally found in their bodies. However, the fluorescent gene was used as a marker and was inserted into the cats along with DNA that had other functions.

The main reason scientists produced these cats was to study diseases. There are many illnesses that are genetic. More insight on how genes work can be provided through the cats.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Genetic Engineering

Scientists hoped to study FIV, or feline immunodeficiency virus, the equivalent of HIV in cats. By experimenting on cats, scientists could find a cure for FIV. Since the diseases are so similar the cure could be directly translated into human medicine.

I would love to have a glowing cat.

According to BBC News Science & Environment, cats don’t have resistance to FIV since their bodies don’t make the necessary proteins to fight it. However, rhesus macaques are immune to the disease. The genes that code for these proteins and fluorescence protein genes from jellyfish were inserted. The cats that displayed the glowing gene under a black light were known to have successfully taken in the gene for FIV resistance.

In Korea, the gene was inserted into the cats using a technique that involved cloning, according to CNN International News. Eggs from a female cat were removed, modified with the new genes, and then implanted back into the same cat. The cats created were glowing clones.

Glowing cats!
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DNA was isolated from jellyfish cells and inserted into the cat genome. DNA was fused with cat DNA using viruses. Viruses inject their DNA into host cells and force the cells to create more proteins based on the DNA, usually these are viral proteins. This process can also be carried out without cloning the cats.

Scientists can also perform gene insertions in bacteria by replacing strands of DNA in a plasmid, a small ring of DNA separate from the main genes that allow bacteria to carry out functions not vital to life. The ring of DNA is then forced back in to the bacteria, often with a bacteriophage, or a virus that affects bacteria. This can also be performed with restriction enzymes and DNA ligase.

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Anyone who has taken a biology class has some experience with this. In one of my lab classes we isolated DNA from food products to see if the item contained modified genes.

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is the future of medicine. The study of genes could help millions of people suffering from HIV and other genetic diseases, saving lives.

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According to the United States National Library of Medicine gene therapy, although experimental, may be able to help people with various kinds of diseases. DNA beneficial to the battle against certain illnesses can be inserted into patients. Mutated genes can be turned off or replaced with functioning genes. Doing so could help treat "inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and certain viral infections."

Currently there are many countries, including the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia, where human cloning and human genetic engineering are illegal.

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Many people question the morality of genetically modifying animals. Yet the benefits are potentially much greater than the costs and the cats are not physically harmed. The lives of many people could be saved thanks to genetic engineering and gene therapy. Do you think it’s right to modify life? What about changing people’s DNA to fight disease?

One of the glowing cats created in Korea.

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Chemistry of Love

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Chemistry of Love

Love

No one wants to be alone on Valentine’s Day. However, many of us have difficulties communicating our feelings and trying to determine if our crush shares those feelings. Wouldn’t it be great to actually get inside the head of a potential lover?

Love is often depicted as a process of the heart. In February, stores are filled with heart-shaped boxes, chocolates, and teddy bears for purchase as gifts to display affection to one’s significant other. However, the process of love takes place in the brain and is driven by hormones. A few of the major chemicals involved are testosterone, estrogen, dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.

Oxytocin
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According to Helen Fisher, PhD, love occurs in three stages, each stage being associated with certain hormones. The first stage is lust, followed by attraction, and attachment. 

Many relationships start as lust. This is where testosterone and estrogen play the major role by increasing libido. Dopamine and serotonin are released when we feel pleasure and make us happy. These are the “feel good” hormones. Interestingly enough, dopamine is also released when certain drugs are ingested, leading to addiction. The “cuddle hormone” oxytocin helps solidify bonds and build attachment. Without oxytocin, long lasting relationships would not exist.

When you’re in love, your brain looks similar to someone who is mentally insane. Love is simply a combination of chemicals being released. The same chemicals that are released when we feel happy are important in maintaining the body. People with low dopamine levels are often depressed. Whereas, according to Jessica Jacobs of livestrong.com, too much dopamine is a symptom of schizophrenia.

 

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Spend Valentine’s Day with Someone

Subconsciously, humans find other individuals attractive based on features that would make them a good mate. Our brains are still wired for survival of the fittest. Strong males can protect offspring from predators. Wide hips and breasts indicate a female will be able to bear children. Love helps us survive as a species. It was built into our evolution. It helps ensure two adults will look after weak newborns and increases the chances of the continuation of the species.

If you're  interested in someone try some pickup lines with references to things they find enjoyable. You can’t just approach an attractive potential lover and press A. It wouldn’t be best to approach someone who has no knowledge of chemistry with elemental puns. Find a cute chemistry major in your class and ask take them out for coffee.

And of course, there's always presents. Give the person you’re interested in a gift. Food items work well, especially if you’re looking to increase his or her dopamine levels. Chocolate, the stereotypical Valentine’s gift, is one such food. Other foods that help raise dopamine production are meat products from animals, apples, bananas, berries, and cheeses.

Of all the relationships I’ve witnessed, the best ones, the longest lasting, seem to be between people who think similarly and have know each other for a long time. Have a long conversation with someone you thought you didn’t find interesting, you never know what you’ll learn about them. Your valentine could be the person next to you.

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Have a lovely Valentine’s Day. If you know any good pickup lines, leave them in the comments :)