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Statements posted on this blog represent the views of individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Center for Law Science & Innovation (which does not take positions on policy issues) or of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law or Arizona State University.

Tuesday Triple Trivia for January 27, 2015

TTT53 Questions. 3 Hints. 3 Answers. Every Tuesday.

1. What do you get when you cross a parachute with biology and a sisal?

Hint:

Answer:  parabiosis involves conjoining two live entities to form a single circulatory system.  Why do such a thing?  For years scientists have experimented with lab rats to determine whether there are benefits to be gained by infusing young blood into separate systems — especially one old and one young.  The practice has had its ups and downs popularity-wise but its recent resurrection has quite a few researchers paying close attention as joining the circulatory systems of an aging mouse to that of a youngster has yielded impressive restorative results.  Examined tissues show that the blood of young mice appears to bring new life to the organs and tissues of older mice, rejuvenating them as a whole.  A few months ago, with the backing of successful lab results, a California-based clinical trial began testing the circulation of young blood in persons with Alzheimer’s disease.   That is always the bottom line: will it work and is it safe for human beings?  Imagine the great possibilities resulting from bringing new life into an aging heart, brain, liver and so forth.  A testament, perhaps, to the old saying that blood is thicker than water.  Read the details here.

2. What recent upload is the first of its kind?

Hint:

Answer: a recent study’s data is now part of a first upload of  ∼1,000 autism genomes to the Autism Speaks MSSNG portal.   Autism Speaks is making the data globally available for research to promote expedited understanding and personalized treatments for autism.  The study’s leader emphasized the importance of the upload, stating “[t]his is a historic day, as it marks the first time whole genome sequences for autism will be available for research on the MSSNG open-science database. This is an exemplar for a future when open-access genomics will lead to personalized treatments for many developmental and medical disorders.”  The largest-ever autism genome study itself revealed autism’s complexity in that most siblings with autism have unique autism-linked genes requiring different types of therapeutic treatment, highlighting that one size does not fit all.  While known autism-risk genes showed up in 42 percent of the families participating in the study, given the recorded differences, a complete assessment of each individual’s genome is necessary in order to prescribe more effective treatments.  Read more here.

3. Under what circumstances does an eye-dropper come in handy?

Hint:

Answer: contrary to misguided information, farmers growing genetically modified (GM) crops do not “drown” them in herbicides and pesticides.  As one Iowa farmer points out, “next time you’re at Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks picking up an extra large of your favorite coffee, that’s approximately the amount of herbicide we spread on a football field sized area of a field.”  When it comes to his corn crop, that farmer applies the equivalent of 1/3 of a drop per square foot.  On soybeans it’s about  1/12 of a drop.   So next time you see an anti-GM story accompanied by an image of a plane flying over a field, giving the impression it is chemically drowning the crops below, think of that eye dropper.   Read the story here.