New mutant genes linked to rheumatoid arthritis

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100509/hl_nm/us_arthritis_genes_defective

A study conducted in Europe has found seven new groups of defective genes which may be cause rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful and disabling disease that affects the joints. The findings of the European study have been compared to a study conducted in Japan, which identified one of the seven genetic groups as possibly causing the chronic inflammatory disease among Japanese. Researchers will use the findings to better understand the biology of RA and use this information to develop new treatments. The information will also be used to develop better genetic tests for people at risk for RA, such as arthritis patients or relatives of patients with autoimmune disorders. RA affects about 1 percent of the world's population and also affects the skin, heart, lungs and kidneys as well as the joints.

This article is of particular interest to me because RA has had a huge impact on my family. Several of my family members have RA or some other autoimmune disorder, including my Grandmother, Aunt and Mom. My Great Aunt died from complication of RA right after I was born. With such a strong family history I worry that I may be affected by RA at some point. I think that it is really great that research is being done to find more information for this horrible disorder, the more that is know about the disorder the better. Hopefully, researchers will be able to use this new information to come up with a cure or at least better treatments. I have seen first had the suffering this disorder caused and hope that a cure will be found soon.

Largest Ever Tornado Study Begins

www.livescience.com/environment/tornado-study-vortex2-100430.html

The largest ever study of tornadoes started the first weekend in May and will continue till June 15th. Over 100 researchers will be involved. The researches hope to surround tornados with mobile radars and other tools to examine in detail how tornadoes form and the patterns of damage they cause. Tornadoes are among the most destructive weather events on Earth and the researches hope to learn more about how they develop so that better warning systems can be implemented. Researchers are going to be using enhanced mobile radars and other new weather-sensing tools to gather data from the zone within supercells where tornadoes develop. They will be looking for fast changes in wind and temperature in this zone. The changes are what can cause a tornado to form within minutes. This happens in only a small number of supercell storms, so they may have to study several storms before they actually get tornado to study.


I have always been fascinated by tornados and hope that this project provides scientist with useful information. Tornados are so dangerous it would be good if better early warning systems could be developed. The article says that not all superscells produce tornados. Hopefully, after the project is complete they will be able to determine which supercells will produce tornados and which will not. Once they are able to make this determination this information could be used to warn people if a dangerous storm in headed there way. Earlier warning would allow people to take cover and secure property resulting in lower loss of life and damage.

Many endangered turtles dying on Texas Gulf Coast

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100430/ap_on_sc/us_turtle_die_off

More than 30 dead turtles have been found on the Texas gulf coast this month. The high number has puzzled researchers, because most of the turtles are so decomposed that it is hard to tell how they died. The number of dead is double what scientists usually see during the say time frame. What is causing particular concern is that most of the dead turtles are Kemp’s ridleys which are an endangered species. There are usually more turtle deaths this time of year because they are coming on shore to lay eggs. Many of the turtle’s have propeller wounds from boats or have gotten caught in fishing lines. Others where killed by parasites. Researchers are also concerned about the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana and the effects it might have on the endangered turtles. If the oil were move toward Texas many Kemp's ridleys swimming in to nest would be right in its path.


I think that it is awful that all these turtles are being killed or dying. It looks like these turtles are most at risk when they come into the sallow water on their way to the beaches to lay eggs. Perhaps there needs to be more regulations on boating in the shallow water during this time to help keep the turtles safe. It may be an inconvenience but if it would save the endangered turtles it would be worth it. I really hope the oil spill does not cause more issues with the turtles. I am really concerned about the environmental issues the oil spill is going to cause. Even if the turtles are not affected other marine life will be.

Coast Guard considers lighting oil spill on fire

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100428/ap_on_bi_ge/us_louisiana_oil_rig_explosion

The Coast Guard is thinking about setting fire to a large oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. They want to do this to try and keep the oil away from shore as efforts to cap a spewing well fail. There is still oil spilling in to the Gulf from the April 20th explosion that sank the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. They Coast Guard says that the controlled burns would be done during the day far from shore and that marine life and people would be protected. They also say that they are unsure if the burns would work. Ed Overton, a professor at Louisiana State University says "It can be effective in calm water, not much wind, in a protected area," but "When you're out in the middle of the ocean, with wave actions and currents pushing you around, it's not easy." This has been tried before in Newfoundland in 1993 and the burn eliminated 50 to 99 percent the oil. However, burning the oil also creates air pollution, and the effect on marine life is unclear.


I am not sure what the best way to clean the oil spill would be but I do not think setting it on fire is the best way. I think the fire would be too unpredictable and hard to control. There is also the issue of the pollutants the fire would put in the air. Then we would be dealing with two problems instead of on. Officials also say they are not ever sure if burning the oil would work or not. I think that this should be the last thing they try so more damage will not be done to the environment.

Deadly New Fungus Emerging in Oregon Expected to Spread

http://www.livescience.com/health/deadly-new-fungus-oregon-100422.html

A new airborne strain of fungus has been found in Oregon. It has killed nearly one out of four affected so far and is all so making animals ranging from dogs to dolphins sick. Researchers fear that it is likely to spread. The new fungus is called VGIIc of the fungus Cryptococcus gatti. The Fungus is spread by inhaling spores released by trees that are infected and can not be spread from animal to animal. Scientists are not sure how infectious the fungus may be, they caution the new strain will most likely expand to California and other neighboring areas. What worries Scientist the most is that this fungus appears to be a threat to otherwise healthy people. Treatment for the fungus is months to years of antifungal medications, and even surgery, and there is no vaccine.


This is just another sign of how the world around us continues to change. Not only do we continue to find new species of animals and plants but also things that are not so good like deadly fungi. It is really scary to think that this fungus is transmitted to humans from trees. You may not even realize that you have came in contact with it until you get sick. Hopefully a vaccine will be found before too many people loss their lives.

New Killer Whale Species Proposed

http://www.livescience.com/animals/killer-whale-species-100426.html

Scientists think that more than one species of killer whale have existed for some time. They believe this because of differences in behavior and physical variations of the whales. They believe that each species, at least four, each have their own prey, live in there on kinds of groups and even communicate in distinct ways. This is all according to new genetic research. In the North Pacific alone, there are three types of killer whales the resident orcas that eat fish and squid, the transient orcas that eat seals and dolphins, and the offshore orcas that eat schooling fish and sharks. Scientist say that knowing how many species of killer whales there are can be used to determine their role in the oceans and will help with conservation of them. If you look at Killer Whales as a global species, their numbers are strong, but if you looking at them as many species they could be endangered.


I think that scientists classifying different killer whale species will be a good thing for the whales and the ocean. I think that dividing up the killer whale population will allow scientist to concentrate on the problems that the whales face more easily because they will be able to pin point where the problems occur. It will also help governments provide better protection to the whales with more specific laws. Killer whales are one of the top predators found in the ocean and play a large roll in keeping the ocean’s ecosystem in balance. Anything that helps keep the killer whale population and the oceans health is a good thing.