3 Questions. 3 Hints. 3 Answers. Every Tuesday.
1. What scientific procedure has given new meaning to “surf & turf”?
Hint:
Answer: meet the land version of the cowfish. Although isolated from a worm, not a fish, the fat1 gene, involved in the production of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (i.e. omega-3s), was successfully inserted into fetal cells of cattle. Omega-3 oils, typically found in fish, combat heart disease, obesity and neurodegenerative disorders. The fat1 gene is responsible for increasing omega-3 dietary levels by five times the average amount, resulting in a higher nutritional value per serving. Nonetheless, of the 14 animals receiving the fat1 gene, only 3 survived past the age of 4-months. The animals’ demise is said to be predominantly due to inflammatory disease and a common cattle infection. However, more research is required to determine whether the genetic manipulation played a role in the cattle’s fate. Read the details here.
2. What is another reason to abide by the “look but don’t touch” (or snort) motto?
Hint:
Answer: fingerprint-based mass spectrometry chemical analysis can determine whether cocaine use was limited to touching the substance or whether it was also ingested. The process has the opportunity to become more practical and is less invasive than current drug-testing techniques. Read more here.
3. What novel differentiation process may help crime-busters to no longer see double?
Hint:
Answer: Wrong HRMA. Rather, the HRMA in question (high-resolution melt curve analysis) refers to a technique used by scientists to detect differences among DNA. HRMA is attractive because it is less expensive and time-consuming than whole genome sequencing (WGS). The technique comes in especially handy when scientists, prompted by law enforcement, are tasked with distinguishing one identical twin from another. The process allows for the identification of DNA differences that are the result of environmental factors. Unless identical twins experience the exact same things at exactly the same time, throughout the course of their lives, they will leave different DNA “fingerprints” behind — subtle differences that scientists have identified through both WGS and the potentially more practical HRMA method. However, scientists do caution that time lapses between when samples were obtained can affect accuracy as can sample variations — so samples should always come from the same bodily fluid. Read the story here.