Seven Evolutionary Leftovers in Your Body

This article talks about seven structures in humans that have over many years become vestigial structures.  It talks about what the structures were used for in the past and why they are no longer used by humans today.  It talks about evolution and why these structures are important in evolutionary discoveries.  

http://www.divinecaroline.com/22120/104573

beauty sleep isnt the only thing that can make you beautiful

i came across this article via facebook!
turns out that eating fruits and veggies make us more attractive to the opposite sex, researchers did tests that show men and women find the opposite more attractive when they have a natural glow and rosy cheeks. this happens when we eat fruits and vegetables due to the carotenoid pigment that is present it is a natural anti-oxidant which makes the skin look healthier.
this makes me wonder if the use of GMO's would change this effect? would it help? or hurt?

stem cell research and cancer

I found this article on Google Scholar and i thought it made a really good and yet brief connection between our stem cell debate and cancer lectures/activities. it describes how these stem cells have the genetic make up that will help us detect cancers that may develop. they hope that these cells will help develop new therapies to help people who obtain these cancers. and lastly it talks about the constant battle of religious and political beliefs when it come to using stem cell research. this doesnt branch out to much more then where we got in class however i feel its important to keep us updated in these studies, it helps those who are giving to the development of these research support

How Using Antibiotics In Animal Feed Creates Superbugs

The topic of 'super bugs' was brought up in a debate about genetically modified organisms, or GMO's. This article talks about the indirect creation of super bugs from not necessarily GMO's, but simply antibiotics being put into farm animal's feed. These super bugs are called at one point in the article "antibiotic-resistant germs" that they say can cause harm to humans, even though they are caused by antibiotics in the animals feed. There is discussion in the article about how the problem could originally be traced back to only people with direct livestock exposure, but now it is definitely spreading to people who have never been near any livestock at all.

Can You Be Fired for Your Genes?

This article from Time Magazine brings up an example for something discussed in class during the genetic testing debate. A woman in the article claims to have been fired from her job for having a gene predisposing her to cancer. It discusses a Genetic Information Nondisclosure Act, also known as GINA. It makes it illegal for people to be fired based on information found in genetic testing. The article discusses the advances in genetic testing which are making more and more know just by a test. It does not discuss whether genetic testing should be done, it just seems to assume that it is becoming more prevalent; what it discusses is more of the rights people should have after the information has been found.

 

MyHeritage Brings DNA Testing to the Global Community

This article is  about one website called MyHeritage, which can be used to track your family history and be a resource to connect with distant family online. It is more specifically about the addition of DNA Testing to the site. The DNA testing gives very detailed information about the person, and can be used to connect one person to a past ancestor, in a very different way then simply remembering, or unreliable word from your mother, for example.