Neurognosis - Crobar's Blog - Victoria Advocate http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar Science in general will be the majority of my work here but much focus will be on neuroscience, psychology, neurobiology, evolutionary biology, and palaeoanthropology. There will also be ample dose of personal adventures and trials posted. Science in general will be the majority of my work here but much focus will be on neuroscience, psychology, neurobiology, evolutionary biology, and palaeoanthropology. There will also be ample dose of personal adventures and trials posted. en-us Neanderthal mtDNA genome sequenced http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/8481 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/8481 In the August 8th edition of the journal <em>Cell</em>, a team of researchers published a landmark paper - the first complete Neanderthal mtDNA genome sequencing.&nbsp; As other previous research into this area found, the Neanderthals were not within the range of what could be classified as Homo sapiens - at one time Neanderthals were thought to be an extinct sub-species, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis.&nbsp; Now there is unequivocal evidence to support the separate but closely related classification of Neanderthals as Homo neanderthalensis.<br /> <br /> A paragraph from the paper sums this up nicely, stating:<br /> <br /> <em>&quot;The complete Neandertal mtDNA genome confirms and extends previous insights into the genetic history of Neandertals. First, it confirms that the Neandertal mtDNA falls outside the variation of extant human mtDNA variation. Second, it shows that the Neandertal mtDNA diverged from the extant human mtDNA lineage on the order of 660,000 years ago. Thus, the most recent common ancestor of human and Neandertal mtDNA lived more than two or three times as long ago as the most recent common ancestor of extant human mtDNAs&quot;</em> (Green et al., 2008).<br /> <br /> So much for the Neanderthals were humans with rickets argument that so many palaeoanthropology opponents like to utilize.<br /> <br /> Green, R., Malaspinas, A., Krause, J., Briggs, A., Johnson, P., Uhler, C. et al. (2008). A complete Neanderthal mitochondrial genome sequence determined by high-throughput sequencing.&nbsp; <em>Cell, 134</em>, 416-426. Farewell George... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/7844 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/7844 For those who didn't already know, George Denis Patrick Carlin died yesterday.&nbsp; He will be missed.


Title: George Carlin
Caption: George Carlin May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008
Credit:


Title: George Carlin
Caption: George Carlin May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008
Credit:

George Carlin George Carlin May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008 I learned something just now... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/7637 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/7637 Apparently if you take a while to type your blog and go to preview or post it, you automatically get logged out and lose everything you've written.&nbsp; Great. Platypus Genome http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/7512 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/7512 I've had a couple of people ask me if I have or read the paper on the sequencing of the platypus genome.&nbsp; Well, I do have the paper but I haven't had a chance to read it yet.&nbsp; So, I can't really write much about it.&nbsp; As soon as I can get around to reading it I'll post a blog about it...whenever that may be.&nbsp; I've been up to my eyeballs in papers about salivary cortisol lately so I haven't had time for reading much else. Wow, so, it's been a busy time... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6980 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6980 <p>I did not abandon my poor blog, I've just neglected to update it for a while.&nbsp; These past few months have been hard.&nbsp; For those who aren't aware, I'm a graduate student at Texas State in San Marcos.&nbsp; This semester we were required to take 12 hours of classes (normal full time for a grad student is 9).&nbsp; Add those classes with all their projects and homework on top of working as well and you have the makings for a very busy schedule.&nbsp; It's been a bit stressful but it will get better very soon.</p> <p>Going into April also means going into the last month of the semester.&nbsp; I also have my idea for my thesis lined out, the equipment I need is on its way and I have my committee chosen.&nbsp; And over the summer I'll be working with a grad student in the biology department to learn to use the equipment and help out with some lab work - it'll be good experience and I'll make a few extra bucks for summer.&nbsp; Maybe I could sweettalk my way into a TA position for one of the undergraduate neurobiology courses....maybe.</p> <p>Anyhow, I still have a lot of things on my plate but I hope to blog much more when the semester is over and summer rolls around.&nbsp; We shall see.</p> ...it's been a while... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6677 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6677 <p>...since I update my blog.&nbsp; With school and work bearing down on me I've been quite busy.&nbsp; It also hasn't helped that a serious relationship I was in was quite abruptly ended by the other party.</p> <p>I hope to return soon to post more of the great sciency stuff you all dig...or at least I hope you dig.</p> <p>One quick note though - some friends of mine have started an independent film production company.&nbsp; They will start filming their first full length work this summer.&nbsp; They've already entered a contest recently in Austin to do quick remakes of blockbuster movies.&nbsp; They also hope to film some shorts between now and summer, one of which I've been requested to write the script for.&nbsp; So if you or anyone you know wants to be in an independent film, I'll see what I can do for ya.</p> Busy, busy... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6521 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6521 <p>It's been some time since I posted a new blog here.&nbsp; And, yes, I really have been busy.&nbsp; The start of the new semester has occupied much of my time during the week along with work in the mornings.&nbsp; My weekends have been spent doing homework for the following week - taking 12 graduate hours is not something you should do if you want plenty of freetime...maybe this weekend won't be too bad.</p> Pre-Cambrian Explosion? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6217 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6217 That's right folks, sometime during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ediacaran">Ediacaran</a> period a diversification is evident in the fossil record.&nbsp; This is reported in a new article in the journal <em>Science</em> by Shen et al. (2008)*.&nbsp; The event the authors are calling the &quot;Avalon Explosion&quot; closely mirrors the later <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambrian_explosion">Cambrian explosion</a>, being &quot;a rapid evolution of body plans followed by taxonomic diversification within the limits of a predefined morphospace (pp. 84)&quot;.<br /> <br /> This finding is important as it suggests &quot;that the decoupling of taxonomic and morphological evolution is not unique to the Cambrian explosion (pp. 84)&quot;.&nbsp; This shows that other events of rapid diversification have taken place.&nbsp; The authors do not delve into the possible causative agents for the &quot;explosion&quot; but they do suggest it as a definite avenue for further research.<br /> <br /> *Article:&nbsp; Shen, B., Dong, L., Xiao, S., and Kowaleswski, M. (2008).&nbsp; The Avalon explosion: Evolution of Ediacara morphospace.&nbsp; <em>Science, 319</em>, 81-84. Insight into the neurobiology of Boderline Personality Disorder http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6133 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6133 A <a href="http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/164/12/1832">new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry</a> has given some insight into the biological underpinnings of BPD.&nbsp; For those who do not know what BPD is, I'll go over it quickly.&nbsp; BPD is characterized by <em>&quot;a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal realationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts (APA, 2000, pp. 706)*&quot;</em>.&nbsp; BPD can have difficult diagnostic considerations since some of the aspects of BPD also fit with other disorders such as schizotypal personality disorder and it often is co-morbid with another personality disorder.<br /> <br /> For those who are curious, the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for BPD are as follows:<br /> <br /> A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impuslivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the follow:<br /> <br /> (1)&nbsp; frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.&nbsp; NOTE: Do not include suicidal of self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.<br /> <br /> (2)&nbsp; a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.<br /> <br /> (3)&nbsp; identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self<br /> <br /> (4)&nbsp; impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating).&nbsp; NOTE: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.<br /> <br /> (5)&nbsp; recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior<br /> <br /> (6)&nbsp; affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days)<br /> <br /> (7)&nbsp; chronic feelings of emptiness<br /> <br /> (8)&nbsp; inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physcial fights).<br /> <br /> (9)&nbsp; transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.<br /> <br /> Okay, still with me?&nbsp; Good.&nbsp; Within the criteria a pattern of inability for inhibition of emotions, especially negative ones, seems to be present.&nbsp; This is explained in the paper by Silbersweig et al. as a dysfunction in key areas of the prefrontal cortex.<br /> <br /> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefrontal_cortex">prefrontal cortex</a>, along with other tasks, performs what is called the &quot;executive function&quot; - it filters, so to speak the signals from other areas of the brain, especially the limbic system (the seat of our emotions).&nbsp; Silbersweig et al found decreased activity in a portion of the PFC called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.&nbsp; This area has been associated with inhibition of emotional responses in particular situations that would normally elicit an emotional response.&nbsp; In a group of BPD patients, the researchers found disinhibition in that area when compared to healthy controls.&nbsp; They also say increased activity in limbic areas, especially the amygdala - the limbic structure associated with fear and aggression.<br /> <br /> This study is important as it provides specific anatomical areas to focus on for further study and may lead to more effective treatments for those who suffer from this disorder.<br /> <br /> <em>* American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., Text Revision).&nbsp; Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association</em> Kiss and run and Festivus for the rest of us... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6092 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/Crobar/6092 I have my pole ready to put up in the living room, a long list of grievances to air and I've been working out in preparation for the feats of strength.&nbsp; Yes folks, it's that time of year again, time for <a href="http://www.festivusbook.com/">Festivus</a>.&nbsp; Time to shine that pole.<br /> <br /> So...did ya know that there were two popular competing theories for vesicular recycling at <a href="http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/synapse.html">neuronal synapses</a>?&nbsp; Well there are, you'll just have to take my word for it.&nbsp; One of the popular theories and one which seemed logical to most was nicknamed the &quot;kiss and run&quot; theory.&nbsp; It proposed that a vesicle would fuse with the membrane, release its contents and then reform and go on its merry way to be reused.&nbsp; Well, along come a couple of scientific upstarts from the Weill Cornell Medical College to squash that theory.&nbsp; They utilized fluorescence tagging to follow vesicles and watch them work in real time.&nbsp; What they found was that the vesicles definitely didn't kiss and run.&nbsp; The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesicle_(biology)">vesicles</a> fused with the membrane then would breakdown.&nbsp; They have to be rebuilt by enzymes in the cell to be used again.&nbsp; The researchers published their findings in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)</a>.<br /> <br /> Now, when you're shining that pole and drink that nice <a href="http://static.flickr.com/41/76430246_05c14c9acf_m.jpg">cup of eggnog</a> and it tastes so good, remember the poor vesicles.<br /> <br /> Happy Holidays Folks.