Monthly Archives: February 2020
Toucan Play That Game
How Ancient Humans Became Domesticated
Scientists have long theorized that, in addition to domesticating our beloved dogs and cats, humans domesticated themselves. Many point to the changes in our modern facial features and disposition, as compared with Neandertals; humans today have softer facial features and … Keep Reading
Frog Friday – Metamorphosis
The Life Cycle of a FrogImage from Wikimedia Commons
Living in Limbo
Is it possible to pause the aging process? The African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) is able to do just that. The African turquoise killifish is a native African species of fish that is found in and around the ephemeral pools … Keep Reading
Is “BPA-Free” Good Enough?
Remember the times in the early 2010s when we would go through our cabinet and throw out the old water bottles that had BPA in them. We were told that the BPA that was in the plastic had negative effects … Keep Reading
How do Genes Play a Role in Rare Diseases?
There are more than 68,000 rare diseases that have been discovered, affecting between 25 and 30 million Americans. What classifies a diagnosis as a rare disease? A rare disease is a condition that impacts fewer than 200,000 people. It might … Keep Reading
What is the Cause of Hiccups?
Many people have experienced the feeling of getting hiccups. Many have gotten them and tried lots of different ways to make them go away. For instance drinking a lot of water, trying to get scared, or hanging upside down; but … Keep Reading
Mammal Monday – You Go, Colugo!
Sunda Flying Lemur (Galeopterus variegatus)Image from Wikimedia Commons The Sunda Flying Lemur is also known as the “Colugo.” The video below demonstrates this species’ unique abilities.
Cor-oh no-a Virus
The coronavirus (2019-nCov) has sparked fear all across the world in a new pandemic coming out of Wuhan, China. Symptoms of this deadly disease include those of the common cold or influenza such as: fever, cough, shortness of breath, running … Keep Reading
Frog Friday – Hiding Out
Edible Frog (Pelophylax esculentus)Image from Wikimedia Commons
Crispr-Cas9 and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
DMD, or Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, is a recessive genetic disorder caused by a mutation on the X chromosome, causing it to predominantly affect young males. The mutation, to the DMD gene, affects the production of the protein dystrophin, which is … Keep Reading
Is Intelligence Inherited?
The nature versus nurture debate continues with the dispute surrounding the origins of human intelligence. This crossover between psychology and biology overlaps in more ways than one would expect. One way to study intelligence and learning is to look at … Keep Reading
A Mutation Among the Amish
For almost fifteen years, an Amish couple in the eastern United States were living in confusion following the sudden deaths of four of their children over the span of about ten years. On multiple occasions, this couple saw their seemingly … Keep Reading
Winged Wednesday – Red Postman
Red Postman (Heliconius erato)Image from Wikimedia Commons Read more about this species here.
What Do We Know About the Coronavirus?
Illustration of the 2019 novel CoronavirusImage from Wikimedia Commons News of the coronavirus has taken over the internet, leading many people to worry about their fate as the disease spreads throughout the world. The specific strain of coronavirus that has … Keep Reading
