Evolutionary increase in size of the human brain explained

Friday, August 17, 2012

Researchers have found what they believe is the key to understanding why the human brain is larger and more complex than that of other animals.

The human brain, with its unequaled cognitive capacity, evolved rapidly and dramatically.

"We wanted to know why," says James Sikela, PhD, who headed the international research team that included researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and the National Institutes of Mental Health. "The size and cognitive capacity of the human brain sets us apart. But how did that happen?"

"This research indicates that what drove the evolutionary expansion of the human brain may well be a specific unit within a protein ? called a protein domain -- that is far more numerous in humans than other species."

The protein domain at issue is DUF1220. Humans have more than 270 copies of DUF1220 encoded in the genome, far more than other species. The closer a species is to humans, the more copies of DUF1220 show up. Chimpanzees have the next highest number, 125. Gorillas have 99, marmosets 30 and mice just one. "The one over-riding theme that we saw repeatedly was that the more copies of DUF1220 in the genome, the bigger the brain. And this held true whether we looked at different species or within the human population."

Sikela, a professor at the CU medical school, and his team also linked DUF1220 to brain disorders. They associated lower numbers of DUF1220 with microcephaly, when the brain is too small; larger numbers of the protein domain were associated with macrocephaly, when the brain is too large.

The findings were reported today in the online edition of The American Journal of Human Genetics. The researchers drew their conclusions by comparing genome sequences from humans and other animals as well as by looking at the DNA of individuals with microcephaly and macrocephaly and of people from a non-disease population.

"The take home message was that brain size may be to a large degree a matter of protein domain dosage," Sikela says. "This discovery opens many new doors. It provides new tools to diagnose diseases related to brain size. And more broadly, it points to a new way to study the human brain and its dramatic increase in size and ability over what, in evolutionary terms, is a short amount of time."

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University of Colorado Denver: http://www.ucdenver.edu

Thanks to University of Colorado Denver for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/122713/Evolutionary_increase_in_size_of_the_human_brain_explained_

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Video: Rage Against the Machine rages against Paul Ryan

Walter White sought for meth crimes in Alabama

A man by the name of Walter White is wanted in Tuscaloosa County, Ala., for violating the conditions of his probation related to manufacturing and possessing methamphetamine. No, you're not reading a recap for the latest episode of "Breaking Bad."

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/48707367#48707367

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This is not the Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Android Central

The blurry-cam photo above is doing the rounds today, claiming to show Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note successor. The image comes from Know Your Mobile, which was given the image anonymously. It supplies the shot along with a familiar spec sheet -- a 5.5-inch screen, quad-core CPU, etc., etc.

As much as we hate to burst anyone's bubble, there's a problem with that photo. The problem is we’ve seen it before --Samsung fan artist Daniel UY published an almost identical looking creation yesterday on Twitter, with the same front panel configuration and silver trim. Daniel’s image wasn’t leaked from Samsung, but a creation of his own. He's followed up today with the full-sized original version of his "Note 2" mock-up. Check 'em out below.

Android CentralAndroid Central

They're mighty impressive, but they're just fan-made images rather than the real thing. Repeat: This is not the Galaxy Note 2. So hold your horses, Internet. We’ll see the real thing in a couple of weeks in Berlin, Germany.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/69wmlow7DDs/story01.htm

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Wreckage of polar explorer's ship found

A research vessel testing its underwater mapping equipment recently made a remarkable discovery: the wreck of the Terra Nova, the famed ship that took British explorer Robert Falcon Scott on his fateful voyage to Antarctica a century ago.

The ship was discovered off the coast of Greenland on July 11. A crew aboard the Falkor, a research vessel operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute (as in Eric Schmidt of Google fame), was testing the ship's acoustic sonar, when they spotted something unusual emerging from the seafloor data ? a long, narrow shape that resembled a ship's hull.

A quick check of the length revealed it matched that of the Terra Nova: about 190 feet (57 meters), said Victor Zykov, Schmidt Ocean Institute's director of science.

"It was extremely exciting," Zykov told OurAmazingPlanet.

Although it was a surprise, the find wasn't a total accident. Researchers and crew aboard the ship chose the ocean region near Greenland because the exaggerated seafloor topography offered just the sort of challenge needed to test the ship's equipment.

One of the Falkor's crew knew quite a bit about Terra Nova's history, and suggested they cover the area where the storied ship disappeared in 1943.

The three-masted ship, with a single funnel rising from the wooden deck, was built in 1884. It ferried Scott and his men to Antarctica in 1910, and remained there for nearly three years, sailing away from the continent without Scott ? and the four men who died at his side ? in 1913. [Images from Scott's Last Expedition]

Three decades later, the Terra Nova was being used as a work ship by a seal fishery. In September 1943, it began to take on water.

All the men on board were saved, but the ship disappeared into the frigid sea.

The Falkor crew sent a camera overboard to take a closer look at the wreck, and the images sent back from the seafloor further confirmed their suspicions.

A video revealed a single funnel, a bridge and masts that appear to match the build of the Terra Nova.

Zykov said his organization has been asked to keep the exact location and depth of the Terra Nova secret for now, to prevent anyone from disturbing the wreck.

Scott's ill-fated attempt to become the first man to reach the South Pole, a trek that claimed his life, is known as the Terra Nova expedition, named for the ship that carried him there.

Reach Andrea Mustain at ?amustain@techmedianetwork.com, or follow her on Twitter @AndreaMustain. Follow OurAmazingPlanet on Twitter? @OAPlanet.? We're also on? Facebook? andGoogle+.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48695729/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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MetaLab Relaunches A Sexy New Ballpark, Officially Becomes A ?Design Capital? Investor

Screen shot 2012-08-14 at 4.06.35 PMYou may not be familiar with MetaLab, but you've probably seen their work, as the Canadian design firm has designed for Google, Disney, TED, NBC, CBS and many more. Fluid, the company's Tumblr theme, has become one of the most popular themes on the platform, for example. The company initially started out doing web development and design consultancy, but, over time, has diversified into digital goods and software. Its task management tool, Flow, launched last March and was a near-instant success. And today, MetaLab finally announced a return to its first product, Ballpark, completely redesigning the app from the ground up with some cool new features and a spiffy new iPhone app.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/yAHPR20Lfvk/

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Pool Builders Magnolia TX - ?Aqua Scapes pools and spas?: One ...

If you are looking for spa service providers, then your search ends at Pool Builders the Woodlands TX. You can have standalone spa or spa associated with pool. We will build the one you want in your premise.

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Tweet This Pool or spas adds elegance and charm to your living premise. Moreover, getting pool or waterfall build up in your campus will enhance the utility of the waste yard. If you are in search of any credible swimming pool constructor, then your hunt ends at "Aqua Scapes polls and spas".

We are in this business from a long period and have good knowledge of pool building. The services offered by us are:
* Swimming pool construction: We construct traditional pool along with customized pool.
* Remodeling of pool: We will remodel your existing pool and spa.
* We offer pool loans: We provide pool loans with genuine amount of equity.

We are one of the best Pool Builders Magnolia TX. The pool build by us are of good quality and known for architectural excellence. You can have the concrete pool with several customized features. We will add several additional features to your pool and make it more glamorous. Having a customize pool is best idea to enhanced the beauty of your resort.

If you are looking for spa service providers, then your search ends at Pool Builders the Woodlands TX. You can have standalone spa or spa associated with pool. We will build the one you want in your premise. There is unlimited design for the spa, our website is flooded by the various pattern of spas. You can have your choice from there or you can give your ideas too.

Besides, if your existing pool needs renovation services, then also we are the best one to serve you. Pool Remodel Houston services is for remodel your old and damaged pool or spa. We will give a new look to your waterfall or spa. The remodeling services are offered by us for the following:
* Tile: We will check your dirty or cracked tile.
* Coping: We will cope up the irrigation system constructed in the yard.
* Plaster: If plaster of the pool get chip off, then also we are here to get it fixed.
* Decking: the flooring of the swimming pool or waterfall will be redone by us.
* Fountains: Any services regarding the fountain look or obstruction in oozing of water is checked and remodeled by us.

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PYT's Shark Week Burger Will Make Playing With Your Food Almost ...

According to PYT?s Facebook page:

Shark Week is here, and so is PYT?s new Burger of the Week?The WILD SHARK BURGER!
A grilled fresh Mako Shark patty, topped with pineapple jalape?o salsa and a delightful avocado crema. Served with Old Bay & cheddar Goldfish fries and some always irresistible Swedish Fish for dessert.

How do you feel about that, Richard Dreyfuss?

Source: http://www.phoodie.info/2012/08/15/pyts-shark-week-burger-will-make-playing-with-your-food-almost-okay-again/

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Lawyer: S. Africa slaying defendant very ill

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) ? A defense lawyer for the South African man accused of being hired to kill a Swedish bride says the defendant suffers from blackouts and seizures. The newlywed's British husband is accused of arranging the killing.

Lawyer Qalisile Dayimani told journalists Monday outside a Cape Town courtroom that her client Xolile Mngeni also has problems remembering things. Mngeni had surgery to remove a brain tumor in June 2011.

Mngeni faces charges in the November 2010 shooting death of 28-year-old Anni Dewani. Judge Robert Henney said Mngeni's trial on murder, robbery, kidnapping and illegal gun possession charges will start Wednesday.

Last week, Mngeni's alleged accomplice pleaded guilty to charges over the slaying and received a 25-year prison sentence.

Dewani's husband, Shrien Dewani, remains in the United Kingdom pending an extradition hearing.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lawyer-africa-slaying-defendant-very-ill-111111216.html

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Garden State: Earth-Friendly Food and Drink Wrap

Plastics packaging is a nightmare for the environment. Taking hundreds of years ? if at all ? to degrade, plastic wrappers and plastic-lined juice boxes clog landfill sites, choke wildlife and eventually leach dangerous chemicals into groundwater. Cities including San Francisco, Toronto and Mexico City have gone so far as to ban plastic bags, and savvy consumers are seeking better alternatives.

Tired of nagging her kids to bring home their used food packaging and cans for recycling, Israeli computer-engineer-turned-entrepreneur Daphna Nissenbaum hired expert consultants in biopolymers to search the world for a fully compostable packaging material. They found nothing to fit the bill.

Because Nissenbaum couldn?t find this green wonder material on the shelf of any chemist?s lab she approached, she started a green packaging company, Tipa. The idea was to create a package from which you can eat or drink and then throw it into the organic waste stream to fully decompose ?? to go back to nature in the compost bin.

The material had to be made to decompose under certain conditions ? with the right heat and bacteria, for instance ? and not in the kitchen cupboard. The packaging would have to have a nice touch, yet be flexible enough not to break. It couldn?t be noisy. It would have to be transparent, yet create a barrier against oxygen and water. Plus it would need to be sealed well and it would need to be able to hold food with a six-month shelf life, at least.

There are biodegradable films out there, but they cannot be used for food packaging. Israeli and US experts at Tipa created a patentable solution based on new and different green materials that can be used for all kinds of food packaging.

To ensure that no new equipment would be required for adopting Tipa?s packaging, the new solution was continuously tested on existing machinery in working factories.

Tipa captured a first place at Israel?s Cleantech 2012 out of 50 promising companies and also won a prize at Anuga Foodtec, a leading food industry packaging conference in Germany.

With the marketing environment ripe for Tipa?s packaging solution, new material based on plant and plant derivatives will go on sale shortly.

Source: Israel21c

Source: http://gardenstateisrael.blogspot.com/2012/08/earth-friendly-food-and-drink-wrap.html

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