Four suggestions for addressing public concern regarding synthetic biology

The following essay was written by Mr. Alex Hatch, a junior undergraduate student majoring in Biological Engineering at Utah State University. Mr. Hatch submitted a 1000-1200 word essay to the 5^th Annual Bioethics Contest sponsored by the Institute of Biological Engineering (IBE). A group of professionals in Biological Engineering assessed and ranked the essays in a blinded process. Five semi-finalists were invited to present their essays at a session at the annual meeting of IBE in Cambridge, MA on March 6, 2010. Five judges scored all the presentations and selected Mr. Hatch's contribution as the overall winner (first place).     

Respiratory effects of non-tobacco cigarettes.

Data from the Tucson epidemiological study of airways obstructive disease on smoking of non-tobacco cigarettes such as marijuana were analysed to determine the effect of such smoking on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function. Among adults aged under 40, 14% had smoked non-tobacco cigarettes at some time and 9% were current users. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was increased in smokers of non-tobacco cigarettes. After tobacco smoking had been controlled for men who smoked non-tobacco cigarettes showed significant decreases in expiratory flow rates at low lung volumes and in the ratio of the forced expiratory volume in one second to the vital capacity. This effect on pulmonary function in male non-tobacco cigarette smokers was greater than the effect of tobacco cigarette smoking. These data suggest that non-tobacco cigarette smoking may be an important risk factor in young adults with respiratory symptoms or evidence of airways obstruction.     

The multifactorial basis for plant health promotion by plant-associated bacteria

On plants, microbial populations interact with each other and their host through the actions of secreted metabolites. However, the combined action of diverse organisms and their different metabolites on plant health has yet to be fully appreciated. Here, the multifactorial nature of these interactions, at the organismal and molecular level, leading to the biological control of plant diseases is reviewed. To do so, we describe in detail the ecological significance of three different classes of secondary metabolites and discuss how they might contribute to biological control. Specifically, the roles of auxin, acetoin, and phenazines are considered, because they represent very different but important types of secondary metabolites. We also describe how studies of the global regulation of bacterial secondary metabolism have led to the discovery of new genes and phenotypes related to plant health promotion. In conclusion, we describe three avenues for future research that will help to integrate these complex and diverse observations into a more coherent synthesis of bacterially mediated biocontrol of plant diseases.     

The neuronal basis for consciousness.

Attempting to understand how the brain, as a whole, might be organized seems, for the first time, to be a serious topic of inquiry. One aspect of its neuronal organization that seems particularly central to global function is the rich thalamocortical interconnectivity, and most particularly the reciprocal nature of the thalamocortical neuronal loop function. Moreover, the interaction between the specific and non-specific thalamic loops suggests that rather than a gate into the brain, the thalamus represents a hub from which any site in the cortex can communicate with any other such site or sites. The goal of this paper is to explore the basic assumption that large-scale, temporal coincidence of specific and non-specific thalamic activity generates the functional states that characterize human cognition.     

香烟白酒浸出液对Wistar大鼠身体健康影响的探究

通过学生自己设计实验探讨香烟的白酒浸出液对Wistar大鼠体重变化、毛色、肝指数（肝重占体重的百分数）、肝脏病变、对外界刺激的反应、嗜睡情况、死亡情况、血清总胆固醇（TC）、血清总甘油三酯（TG）、天门冬氨酸氨基转氨酶（AST）、丙氨酸氨基转氨酶（ALT）等方面的影响,激发学生创新意识,培养学生创新能力,帮助他们寻求科学的探究方法。并对全校学生进行戒烟戒酒的宣传教育。     

A structural basis for variegating position effects

Variegating position effects in Drosophila result from chromosome rearrangements where normal genes, having been placed next to heterochromatin, are inactivated in some cells but not in others, thereby producing a variegated tissue. We have determined that the euchromatic breakpoints for three variegating white mutants are clustered and lie approximately 25 kb downstream of the white structural gene. In each case the white locus is adjoined in the heterochromatin to a mobile genetic element. Satellite sequences are not involved. We also demonstrate that revertants of the variegating mutant, wm4, are reinversions that leave the initial wm4-heterochromatic junction intact so that some heterochromatin-derived sequences remain joined to white at its new location. These results suggest a simple model for understanding the structure of heterochromatic domains and how variegating position effects may arise.     

Cause for concern. Dealing in brucella-infected cattle

The practice of selling Brucella-infected cattle in the open market appears to be widespread in Britain and is increasing. The introduction of an infected cow into a herd can cause serious economic loss to the farmer and often compels him to resell despite the risk of spreading the infection. It is suggested that markets should be more closely controlled by veterinary surgeons; certificates of freedom from brucellosis should accompany animals for sale; and some compensation should be paid to prevent infected animals from being sold.     

The molecular basis for tropomyosin isoform diversity.

The tropomyosins are a family of actin filament binding proteins. In multicellular animals, they exhibit extensive cell type specific isoform diversity. In this essay we discuss the genetic mechanisms by which this diversity is generated and its possible significance to cellular function.     

Identified and unidentified challenges for reproductive biotechnologies regarding infectious diseases in animal and public health.

The aim of the present paper is to review the known and theoretical risks for in vivo derived and in vitro produced embryos as well as for nuclear transferred or transgenic embryos in terms of animal diseases or diseases of public health consequence. For in vivo derived embryos, a considerable number of experiments and scientific investigations have resulted in recommended guidelines and procedures that ensure a high level of safety. The effectiveness of these measures has been validated by field experience with the safe transfer of several million embryos over the past three decades. In vitro produced embryos have several characteristics that differentiate them from the former, in particular a structure of the zona pellucida that results in a more frequent possible association of pathogens with the embryo. However, the guidelines prescribed by the IETS, the international standard setting body (OIE) and existing national regulatory frameworks are in place to minimize the risk of disease transmission. No specific public health risks have been identified to date with respect to in vivo or in vitro derived embryos. In regard to nuclear transferred and transgenic embryos, theoretical risks have been identified in relation to the potential effects on some intrinsic viruses such as endogenous retroviruses but very little targeted experimental work has been carried out on infectious diseases that could have adverse consequences on animal or human health. Although there has been no report of such adverse consequences associated with the limited number of animals produced to date by such reproductive technologies, a precautionary approach is warranted given the potential negative impacts and it would be prudent to restrict at this stage, the international movement of such "manipulated" embryos.