How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rise in daily temperature leads to rise in kidney stones: Study

LONDON: Climate change - synonymous to rising temperatures and sea water levels has now been found to be doing serious harm to human health.

For the first time, increase in daily temperatures has now been found to rocket the number of patients seeking treatment for kidney stones.

A research team has now found a link between hot days and kidney stones in 60,000 patients in several US cities with varying climates.

"We found that as daily temperatures rise, there is a rapid increase in the probability of patients presenting over the next 20 days with kidney stones," said study leader Gregory E Tasian from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

The study team analyzed medical records of more than 60,000 adults and children with kidney stones between 2005 and 2011 in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, in connection with weather data.

As mean daily temperatures rose above 50 F (10 C), the risk of kidney stone presentation increased in all the cities except Los Angeles.

The delay between high daily temperatures and kidney stone presentation was short, peaking within three days of exposure to hot days.

Tasian said: "Higher temperatures contribute to dehydration, which leads to a higher concentration of calcium and other minerals in the urine that promote the growth of kidney stones."

A painful condition that brings half a million patients a year to US emergency rooms, kidney stones have increased markedly over the world in the past three decades. While stones remain more common in adults, the numbers of children developing kidney stones have climbed at a dramatically high rate over the last 25 years.

The study team also found that very low outdoor temperatures increased the risk of kidney stones in three cities: Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia. The authors suggest that as frigid weather keeps people indoors more, higher indoor temperatures, changes in diet and decreased physical activity may raise their risk of kidney stones.

The researchers argue that the number of hot days in a given year may better predict kidney stone risk than the mean annual temperature. Atlanta and Los Angeles share the same annual temperature (63 F, or 17 C), but Atlanta has far more hot days than Los Angeles, along with nearly twice the prevalence of kidney stones.

The authors note that other scientists have reported that overall global temperatures between 2000 and 2009 were higher than 82% of temperatures over the past 11,300 years. Furthermore, increases in greenhouse gas emissions are projected to raise earth's average temperatures by 2 to 8 F (1 to 4.5 C) by 2100.

"Kidney stone prevalence has already been on the rise over the last 30 years, and we can expect this trend to continue, both in greater numbers and over a broader geographic area, as daily temperatures increase," concluded Tasian adding "With some experts predicting that extreme temperatures will become the norm in 30 years, children will bear the brunt of climate change."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Gregory E Tasian,united states,Philadelphia,Hospital of Philadelphia,Environmental Issue

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rise in daily temperature leads to rise in kidney stones: Study

LONDON: Climate change - synonymous to rising temperatures and sea water levels has now been found to be doing serious harm to human health.

For the first time, increase in daily temperatures has now been found to rocket the number of patients seeking treatment for kidney stones.

A research team has now found a link between hot days and kidney stones in 60,000 patients in several US cities with varying climates.

"We found that as daily temperatures rise, there is a rapid increase in the probability of patients presenting over the next 20 days with kidney stones," said study leader Gregory E Tasian from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

The study team analyzed medical records of more than 60,000 adults and children with kidney stones between 2005 and 2011 in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, in connection with weather data.

As mean daily temperatures rose above 50 F (10 C), the risk of kidney stone presentation increased in all the cities except Los Angeles.

The delay between high daily temperatures and kidney stone presentation was short, peaking within three days of exposure to hot days.

Tasian said: "Higher temperatures contribute to dehydration, which leads to a higher concentration of calcium and other minerals in the urine that promote the growth of kidney stones."

A painful condition that brings half a million patients a year to US emergency rooms, kidney stones have increased markedly over the world in the past three decades. While stones remain more common in adults, the numbers of children developing kidney stones have climbed at a dramatically high rate over the last 25 years.

The study team also found that very low outdoor temperatures increased the risk of kidney stones in three cities: Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia. The authors suggest that as frigid weather keeps people indoors more, higher indoor temperatures, changes in diet and decreased physical activity may raise their risk of kidney stones.

The researchers argue that the number of hot days in a given year may better predict kidney stone risk than the mean annual temperature. Atlanta and Los Angeles share the same annual temperature (63 F, or 17 C), but Atlanta has far more hot days than Los Angeles, along with nearly twice the prevalence of kidney stones.

The authors note that other scientists have reported that overall global temperatures between 2000 and 2009 were higher than 82% of temperatures over the past 11,300 years. Furthermore, increases in greenhouse gas emissions are projected to raise earth's average temperatures by 2 to 8 F (1 to 4.5 C) by 2100.

"Kidney stone prevalence has already been on the rise over the last 30 years, and we can expect this trend to continue, both in greater numbers and over a broader geographic area, as daily temperatures increase," concluded Tasian adding "With some experts predicting that extreme temperatures will become the norm in 30 years, children will bear the brunt of climate change."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Gregory E Tasian,united states,Philadelphia,Hospital of Philadelphia,Environmental Issue

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Washington State University,united states,Charles Benbrook,Cancer

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rise in daily temperature leads to rise in kidney stones: Study

LONDON: Climate change - synonymous to rising temperatures and sea water levels has now been found to be doing serious harm to human health.

For the first time, increase in daily temperatures has now been found to rocket the number of patients seeking treatment for kidney stones.

A research team has now found a link between hot days and kidney stones in 60,000 patients in several US cities with varying climates.

"We found that as daily temperatures rise, there is a rapid increase in the probability of patients presenting over the next 20 days with kidney stones," said study leader Gregory E Tasian from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

The study team analyzed medical records of more than 60,000 adults and children with kidney stones between 2005 and 2011 in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, in connection with weather data.

As mean daily temperatures rose above 50 F (10 C), the risk of kidney stone presentation increased in all the cities except Los Angeles.

The delay between high daily temperatures and kidney stone presentation was short, peaking within three days of exposure to hot days.

Tasian said: "Higher temperatures contribute to dehydration, which leads to a higher concentration of calcium and other minerals in the urine that promote the growth of kidney stones."

A painful condition that brings half a million patients a year to US emergency rooms, kidney stones have increased markedly over the world in the past three decades. While stones remain more common in adults, the numbers of children developing kidney stones have climbed at a dramatically high rate over the last 25 years.

The study team also found that very low outdoor temperatures increased the risk of kidney stones in three cities: Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia. The authors suggest that as frigid weather keeps people indoors more, higher indoor temperatures, changes in diet and decreased physical activity may raise their risk of kidney stones.

The researchers argue that the number of hot days in a given year may better predict kidney stone risk than the mean annual temperature. Atlanta and Los Angeles share the same annual temperature (63 F, or 17 C), but Atlanta has far more hot days than Los Angeles, along with nearly twice the prevalence of kidney stones.

The authors note that other scientists have reported that overall global temperatures between 2000 and 2009 were higher than 82% of temperatures over the past 11,300 years. Furthermore, increases in greenhouse gas emissions are projected to raise earth's average temperatures by 2 to 8 F (1 to 4.5 C) by 2100.

"Kidney stone prevalence has already been on the rise over the last 30 years, and we can expect this trend to continue, both in greater numbers and over a broader geographic area, as daily temperatures increase," concluded Tasian adding "With some experts predicting that extreme temperatures will become the norm in 30 years, children will bear the brunt of climate change."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Gregory E Tasian,united states,Philadelphia,Hospital of Philadelphia,Environmental Issue

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

How good you are in solving complex mathematics could be in your genes

LONDON: Around half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists from University of Oxford and King's College London who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown.

Scientists looked at the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) to analyze the influence of genetics on the reading and mathematics performance of 12-year-old children from nearly 2,800 British families.

Twins and unrelated children were tested for reading comprehension and fluency, and answered mathematics questions based on the UK national curriculum.

The information collected from these tests was combined with DNA data, showing a substantial overlap in the genetic variants that influence mathematics and reading.

Dr Oliver Davis from UCL Genetics said: "We looked at this question in two ways, by comparing the similarity of thousands of twins, and by measuring millions of tiny differences in their DNA. Both analyzes show that similar collections of subtle DNA differences are important for reading and Maths."

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London who leads the TEDS study said,"This is the first time we estimate genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone. The study does not point to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggests that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, is caused by many genes of very small effect size."

The study also confirms findings from previous twin studies that genetic differences among children account for most of the differences between children in how easily they learn to read and to do Maths.

Scientists said that children differ genetically in how easy or difficult they find learning and we need to recognize and respect these individual differences. Finding such strong genetic influence does not mean that there is nothing we can do if a child finds learning difficult - heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone - it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University said,"We're moving into a world where analysing millions of DNA changes, in thousands of individuals, is a routine tool in helping scientists to understand aspects of human biology. This study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and Maths ability in children. Interestingly, the same method can be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=University of Oxford,Robert Plomin,Professor,Oxford university,Oxford and King's College London

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Organic foods may help prevent cancer: Study

WASHINGTON: Organic foods and crops have a suite of advantages over their conventional counterparts, including more antioxidants, fewer, less frequent pesticide residues, and properties that may help prevent cancer, a study suggests.

Without the synthetic chemical pesticides applied on conventional crops, organic plants tend to produce more phenols and polyphenols to defend against pest attacks and related injuries, the findings showed.

In people, phenols and polyphenols can help prevent diseases triggered or promoted by oxidative-damage like coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds, the study said.

"This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits," said co-author of the study Charles Benbrook, a researcher at Washington State University in the US.

The team found that organic crops have several nutritional benefits that stem from the way the crops are produced.

A plant on a conventionally managed field will typically have access to high levels of synthetic nitrogen, and will marshal the extra resources into producing sugars and starches.

As a result, the harvested portion of the plant will often contain lower concentrations of other nutrients, including health-promoting antioxidants.

The study looked at an unprecedented 343 peer-reviewed publications comparing the nutritional quality and safety of organic and conventional plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The researchers applied sophisticated meta-analysis techniques to quantify differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Pesticide residues were three to four times more likely in conventional foods than organic ones, as organic farmers are not allowed to apply toxic, synthetic pesticides.

Consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables, and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

The study appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Washington State University,united states,Charles Benbrook,Cancer

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Scientists find gene to slow ageing of flowers

The author has posted comments on this articleIANS | Jul 5, 2014, 09.15PM IST

Page 1 of 4

LONDON: Your bouquets could now remain fresh for much longer as researchers have found a technique that could slow down ageing of flowers by up to half, a finding that could lead to unravelling secrets on how to prevent cell decay in other organisms.

Researchers at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation in Japan said they found a gene believed to be responsible for the short shelf-life of flowers in one Japanese variety of morning glory.

'Morning glory' is the popular name for hundreds of species of flowering plants whose short-lived blooms usually unfold early in the day and are gone by nightfall.

By suppressing the gene - 'Ephmeral1' - the lifespan of each flower was almost doubled, said Kenichi Shibuya, one of the lead researchers in the study carried out jointly with Kagoshima University in Japan.

"Unmodified flowers started withering 13 hours after they opened, but flowers that had been genetically modified stayed open for 24 hours," he said.

This means the plant has fresh purple flowers alongside the paler blooms from the previous day, Shibuya added.

Article continues

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Nasa builds world's first flying observatory

The author has posted comments on this articleIANS | Jul 6, 2014, 04.59PM IST

Page 1 of 4

NEW YORK: Nasa has fitted a 17-tonne telescope with an effective diameter of eight feet on a modified Boeing 747 jetliner that the US space agency is using as a flying observatory to study stars.

The infrared telescope called "Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy" (SOFIA) is mounted behind a sliding door that reveals it to the skies.

The jet can stay airborne for over 12 hours and its range is up to 6,625 nautical miles (7,624 miles).

According to Nasa, "The data provided by SOFIA cannot be obtained by any other astronomical facility on the ground or in space."

SOFIA is mobile, so it can better spot transient space events like supernovae and comets.

The telescope, built with the help from German Aerospace Centre (DLR), can easily be repaired or reprogrammed when necessary.

Nasa plans SOFIA — now in Germany for its last extensive maintenance and refitting leg — to launch in 2015 which will keep flying for another 20 years, wired.com reported.

Article continues

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Rise in daily temperature leads to rise in kidney stones: Study

LONDON: Climate change - synonymous to rising temperatures and sea water levels has now been found to be doing serious harm to human health.

For the first time, increase in daily temperatures has now been found to rocket the number of patients seeking treatment for kidney stones.

A research team has now found a link between hot days and kidney stones in 60,000 patients in several US cities with varying climates.

"We found that as daily temperatures rise, there is a rapid increase in the probability of patients presenting over the next 20 days with kidney stones," said study leader Gregory E Tasian from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

The study team analyzed medical records of more than 60,000 adults and children with kidney stones between 2005 and 2011 in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, in connection with weather data.

As mean daily temperatures rose above 50 F (10 C), the risk of kidney stone presentation increased in all the cities except Los Angeles.

The delay between high daily temperatures and kidney stone presentation was short, peaking within three days of exposure to hot days.

Tasian said: "Higher temperatures contribute to dehydration, which leads to a higher concentration of calcium and other minerals in the urine that promote the growth of kidney stones."

A painful condition that brings half a million patients a year to US emergency rooms, kidney stones have increased markedly over the world in the past three decades. While stones remain more common in adults, the numbers of children developing kidney stones have climbed at a dramatically high rate over the last 25 years.

The study team also found that very low outdoor temperatures increased the risk of kidney stones in three cities: Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia. The authors suggest that as frigid weather keeps people indoors more, higher indoor temperatures, changes in diet and decreased physical activity may raise their risk of kidney stones.

The researchers argue that the number of hot days in a given year may better predict kidney stone risk than the mean annual temperature. Atlanta and Los Angeles share the same annual temperature (63 F, or 17 C), but Atlanta has far more hot days than Los Angeles, along with nearly twice the prevalence of kidney stones.

The authors note that other scientists have reported that overall global temperatures between 2000 and 2009 were higher than 82% of temperatures over the past 11,300 years. Furthermore, increases in greenhouse gas emissions are projected to raise earth's average temperatures by 2 to 8 F (1 to 4.5 C) by 2100.

"Kidney stone prevalence has already been on the rise over the last 30 years, and we can expect this trend to continue, both in greater numbers and over a broader geographic area, as daily temperatures increase," concluded Tasian adding "With some experts predicting that extreme temperatures will become the norm in 30 years, children will bear the brunt of climate change."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Gregory E Tasian,united states,Philadelphia,Hospital of Philadelphia,Environmental Issue

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Scientists find gene to slow ageing of flowers

The author has posted comments on this articleIANS | Jul 5, 2014, 09.15PM IST

Page 1 of 4

LONDON: Your bouquets could now remain fresh for much longer as researchers have found a technique that could slow down ageing of flowers by up to half, a finding that could lead to unravelling secrets on how to prevent cell decay in other organisms.

Researchers at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation in Japan said they found a gene believed to be responsible for the short shelf-life of flowers in one Japanese variety of morning glory.

'Morning glory' is the popular name for hundreds of species of flowering plants whose short-lived blooms usually unfold early in the day and are gone by nightfall.

By suppressing the gene - 'Ephmeral1' - the lifespan of each flower was almost doubled, said Kenichi Shibuya, one of the lead researchers in the study carried out jointly with Kagoshima University in Japan.

"Unmodified flowers started withering 13 hours after they opened, but flowers that had been genetically modified stayed open for 24 hours," he said.

This means the plant has fresh purple flowers alongside the paler blooms from the previous day, Shibuya added.

Article continues

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Nasa launches carbon satellite after 2009 failure

The author has posted comments on this articleAP | Jul 2, 2014, 04.23PM IST

Page 1 of 4

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, California: A rocket carrying a Nasa satellite lit up the pre-dawn skies on Wednesday on a mission to track the chief culprit behind global warming.

The Delta 2 rocket blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base along the central California coast and speeded toward low-Earth orbit. It was to separate from the global warming satellite about an hour after liftoff.

The launch was canceled on Tuesday morning because of an equipment failure.

Nasa tried in 2009 to launch a satellite dedicated to studying carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas caused by the burning of fossil fuels. A satellite plunged into the ocean off Antarctica after a hardware failure with the Taurus XL rocket.

After the loss, Nasa spent several years and millions of dollars building a near-identical twin.

Like the original, the satellite known as Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, or OCO-2 for short, will sniff for carbon dioxide from 438 miles (705 kilometers) above the Earth's surface.

About 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide are released yearly from factories and cars. About half of the greenhouse gas is trapped in the atmosphere, while the rest is sucked up by trees and oceans.

The goal of the $468 million mission, designed to last at least two years, is to study the processes behind how the environment absorbs carbon dioxide.

Nasa spent more money on the new mission, mainly because it's using a more expensive rocket. Engineers also had to replace obsolete satellite parts, which drove up the price tag.

Article continues

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Nasa builds world's first flying observatory

The author has posted comments on this articleIANS | Jul 6, 2014, 04.59PM IST

Page 1 of 4

NEW YORK: Nasa has fitted a 17-tonne telescope with an effective diameter of eight feet on a modified Boeing 747 jetliner that the US space agency is using as a flying observatory to study stars.

The infrared telescope called "Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy" (SOFIA) is mounted behind a sliding door that reveals it to the skies.

The jet can stay airborne for over 12 hours and its range is up to 6,625 nautical miles (7,624 miles).

According to Nasa, "The data provided by SOFIA cannot be obtained by any other astronomical facility on the ground or in space."

SOFIA is mobile, so it can better spot transient space events like supernovae and comets.

The telescope, built with the help from German Aerospace Centre (DLR), can easily be repaired or reprogrammed when necessary.

Nasa plans SOFIA — now in Germany for its last extensive maintenance and refitting leg — to launch in 2015 which will keep flying for another 20 years, wired.com reported.

Article continues

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nasa builds world's first flying observatory

The author has posted comments on this articleIANS | Jul 6, 2014, 04.59PM IST

Page 1 of 4

NEW YORK: Nasa has fitted a 17-tonne telescope with an effective diameter of eight feet on a modified Boeing 747 jetliner that the US space agency is using as a flying observatory to study stars.

The infrared telescope called "Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy" (SOFIA) is mounted behind a sliding door that reveals it to the skies.

The jet can stay airborne for over 12 hours and its range is up to 6,625 nautical miles (7,624 miles).

According to Nasa, "The data provided by SOFIA cannot be obtained by any other astronomical facility on the ground or in space."

SOFIA is mobile, so it can better spot transient space events like supernovae and comets.

The telescope, built with the help from German Aerospace Centre (DLR), can easily be repaired or reprogrammed when necessary.

Nasa plans SOFIA — now in Germany for its last extensive maintenance and refitting leg — to launch in 2015 which will keep flying for another 20 years, wired.com reported.

Article continues

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nasa launches carbon satellite after 2009 failure

The author has posted comments on this articleAP | Jul 2, 2014, 04.23PM IST

Page 1 of 4

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, California: A rocket carrying a Nasa satellite lit up the pre-dawn skies on Wednesday on a mission to track the chief culprit behind global warming.

The Delta 2 rocket blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base along the central California coast and speeded toward low-Earth orbit. It was to separate from the global warming satellite about an hour after liftoff.

The launch was canceled on Tuesday morning because of an equipment failure.

Nasa tried in 2009 to launch a satellite dedicated to studying carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas caused by the burning of fossil fuels. A satellite plunged into the ocean off Antarctica after a hardware failure with the Taurus XL rocket.

After the loss, Nasa spent several years and millions of dollars building a near-identical twin.

Like the original, the satellite known as Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, or OCO-2 for short, will sniff for carbon dioxide from 438 miles (705 kilometers) above the Earth's surface.

About 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide are released yearly from factories and cars. About half of the greenhouse gas is trapped in the atmosphere, while the rest is sucked up by trees and oceans.

The goal of the $468 million mission, designed to last at least two years, is to study the processes behind how the environment absorbs carbon dioxide.

Nasa spent more money on the new mission, mainly because it's using a more expensive rocket. Engineers also had to replace obsolete satellite parts, which drove up the price tag.

Article continues

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More

Scientists find gene to slow ageing of flowers

The author has posted comments on this articleIANS | Jul 5, 2014, 09.15PM IST

Page 1 of 4

LONDON: Your bouquets could now remain fresh for much longer as researchers have found a technique that could slow down ageing of flowers by up to half, a finding that could lead to unravelling secrets on how to prevent cell decay in other organisms.

Researchers at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation in Japan said they found a gene believed to be responsible for the short shelf-life of flowers in one Japanese variety of morning glory.

'Morning glory' is the popular name for hundreds of species of flowering plants whose short-lived blooms usually unfold early in the day and are gone by nightfall.

By suppressing the gene - 'Ephmeral1' - the lifespan of each flower was almost doubled, said Kenichi Shibuya, one of the lead researchers in the study carried out jointly with Kagoshima University in Japan.

"Unmodified flowers started withering 13 hours after they opened, but flowers that had been genetically modified stayed open for 24 hours," he said.

This means the plant has fresh purple flowers alongside the paler blooms from the previous day, Shibuya added.

Article continues

22.10 | 0 komentar | Read More