Science Chicago – LIFE’S A LAB!

After a short hiatus, the Friday Five is back!

As I was typing in the title, I was reminded that today is the 8th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the United States.  Along with the thousands of families who lost friends, spouses, parents, siblings and children, my own family is remembering Uncle Charles today, a man who loved life and family to the fullest, and had one of the best smiles ever. Sending thoughts and condolences to all in mourning and remembrance, this day and everyday.

And, without further adieu, this week’s roundup:

5) Getting a handle on the wildfires. For the past two weeks, the Angeles National Forest in California has been ravaged by out-of-control wildfires, which authorities declared last week were intentionally set.  The arson has killed two firefighters and burned nearly 200,000 acres of forest near Los Angeles.  California is known for its wildfires, especially later in the fall when the dry Santa Ana winds pick up and make 200+ fires that occur each year far more difficult to control. Firefighters seem to have gotten the Station Fire, as it’s been named, under control this week, with an estimated 70% of the fires put out or contained.  My boss sent me a cool video last week from a California resident who set up a camera for time-elapsed recording of the fires. Scary stuff, but worth checking out.

4) From saddlebags to stem cells. It seems like at least a couple times a month, I’m writing about fat or stem cells, doesn’t it? Well today you’ve got both, as researchers announced this week that human fat can be converted into stem cells. Recently, skin and other types of cells have been used to create stem cells, but the new finding from Stanford University School of Medicine shows that fat cells left over from liposuction surgeries were efficiently reprogrammed (with the help of a virus) into induced pluripotent stem cells, meaning that scientists engineered (induced) the cells to enter a state where they can become many other types of cells (pluripotent).  I’m too chicken to get liposuction, but I’ll admit it would be tempted if asked to donate some of my chubbiness for the good of science.  I’m all about helping my fellow scientists….

3) And we can snort them, too? Without surgery or other invasive procedures, it’s incredibly difficult for drugs to enter the brain, due to the blood-brain barrier, a tightly-regulated separation of the central nervous system from the rest of the body. The barrier is awesome at keeping bacteria and other yucky stuff out the body’s central computer, but it poses a big problem for drug research, because scientists must figure out how to get treatments to the brain in the first place. Preliminary research out this week suggests that snorting (yep, right up the nose) can effectively introduce stem cells into the brain of lab mice. How cool is that?

2) Happy Anniversary, DNA fingerprinting! Thursday marked the 25th anniversary of the discovery that led to the DNA fingerprinting technology popularized on the Maury Povich Show.  In the 2 1/2 decades since British professor Sir Alan Jeffreys’ first discovery, DNA fingerprinting has been used around the world to prosecute and exonerate accused criminals, establish familial relationships. But the uses extend far beyond human identity, as the process is also used for routine scientific research and even helped identify restaurant fraud. Interestingly, Sir Jeffreys is adamantly opposed to maintaining DNA databases of non-criminals – I completely agree; it’s why I refuse to put my regular hand fingerprints on file with the police – the potential for error and false crimination is far too high. Job well done, Sir Jeffreys.

An early image of DNA fingerprinting, a technology that turned 25 this week.

1) Human-Avian-Swine H1N1 flu vaccine success. Australian scientists announced this week (and will discuss at a news conference scheduled for this afternoon) that their H1N1 vaccine seems to be working even better than expected. After only 1 dose, the immune systems of over 95% of the vaccine recipients were producing high enough levels of antibodies to protect from the flu. This could be very exciting, since it was previously believed that 2 shots are needed, given the lack of natural immunity that humans have to non-human flus.  The CDC continues to update its H1N1 page with information and recommendations – we should all pay attention to the national and local guidelines as we move into the winter flu season.

On a related note, I am officially boycotting the use of H1N1 to describe the 2009 pandemic flu – it lacks specificity. If you’ve ever had the regular old flu, it was probably of the H1N1 subtype of viruses, that’s just how common H1N1 is. I propose calling it Human-Avian-Swine H1N1 Flu, to reflect the human, bird and pig genetic components that comprise this new strain. HAS-H1N1 for short…you heard it here first.

Have a great weekend!

-Rabiah