Health

A new “Science” magazine covers, T-shirts is a map the human genome, the human genome difference of the top ranks of scientific progress.

The authority of the United States “Science” magazine has selected this year’s top 10 scientific developments in the human genome difference of the top ranks. This research component of gene targeting, than in recent years often hear of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, that is, genes) further studies, be of immense help to understand the disease, in addition to four the list of scientific progress and Gene or medical related. According to Hong Kong “Wen Wei Po”, “Science” magazine Outlook for next year’s scientific development, and many are related to genetic engineering, is expected to more human longevity.

Differences in the human genome research is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) form the basic unit single-nucleotide differences between the bases. This analysis method to determine gene which will have slight differences in disease risk. Responsible for judging the “Science” magazine editor-Mainz on the study of the heavy like to say: “Over the years, people talk about how we have been similar, or even how similar people and apes. Forefront of a number of 2007 gave us the first study one that exists between people of DNA differences are also high. ”

10 scientific progress this year in the first two ranks, stem cells are used to imitate the GM technology. US-Japan Study Group on the two reports, respectively, to make use of this technology will transform human skin cells into “pluripotent stem cells” that can change on stem cell research moral issues.

“Science” magazine also predicted the 2008 popular areas of scientific research, small molecule ribonucleic acid (RNA) research is one of them. RNA studies will help the medical profession to understand how the disease is the human feel sick, can promote the development of pathology.

“Science” magazine also expects the mysteries of the human body will be solved one by one. The most complex human organ brain, neurons in its internal operation process will be colored with the neural network research and floating on the surface, the pace of mental disintegration of mankind into the first step.

American magazine “Science,” on the 20th decide the 2007 top ten scientific advances, but also the practice decide the most disappointing year of scientific events: the Bush Administration in dealing with the issue of climate change is still to take intransigent attitude.

The editorial said that it was disappointing that, in addressing the issue of climate change, the Bush administration is still holding stubbornly resist attitude, for a long time, the Bush administration failed to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The United States is the only major developed countries have not signed the “Kyoto Protocol” country.

Ten scientific breakthroughs in 2007:

1. Study of human genetic variation

Human gene map published almost seven years since the genome of many achievements, scientists discovered that human genes in a human pattern between race and ethnicity and even the difference between places 15 million. As at the end of this year, scientists have identified one of 3 million. Chanyu this year, scientists have confirmed 50 kinds of genes and their variants and several dozens of diseases related. Differences in the human genome research is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) formed the basic units of single-nucleotide differences between the so-called single-nucleotide polymorphisms.

2. Stem cells and skin cells

Scientists in the United States and Japan announced in June of mouse skin cell gene, will be transformed into embryonic stem cells as a function of pluripotent stem cells, research progress very quickly thereafter, the United States and Japan two teams in November, reported the use of cells made from human skin “pluripotent stem cell” research, or previous address on stem cell research moral issues.

3. Tracking cosmic ray source

The researchers found that the Earth’s atmosphere regular presence of cosmic rays, are likely to come from active galactic nuclei. Active Galactic Nuclei is at the centre of galaxies close, which are usually large black holes, the eruption will be huge plasma jet to the space between the galaxies.

4. Operation of the mystery of human senses

Human five senses known, but the actual operation of sensory science has been no answer. This year, researchers identified the human beta 2 - adrenergic receptor structure, and solved puzzles. Beta 2 - adrenergic receptor is an important G protein-coupled receptors, through transfer of hormone in the body, serotonin, as well as other elements of information to the management of human internal systems.

5. Transition metal oxides

Research on transition metal oxides may预示progress on the material under a revolution. 2007, and materials physics research team to two metal oxide growth together to create a series of useful properties of the electromagnetic potential interface structure.

6. Molecular control

Chemists developed a series of highly efficient, low-cost manufacturing of drugs and compounds of the new electronic technology.

7. Quantum rotation, “Hall Effect”

Quantum physicists realized rotation, “Hall Effect” forecast, Hall effect electronic flow through some materials, in the applied electric field under the peculiar phenomenon. If the room temperature environment to generate the Hall effect, it may be hastening the production of new low-power “spin electronics” computing equipment.

8. Immune cell division

The researchers found that the human body against viruses and tumor T cells “immediate protection” and “long-term protection of the” division of labour. Research staff to just catch differentiation of T cells, T cells found in the polarization generated by the two different types of protein, a class of a “fighter” molecular markers, and the other showed that the “memory cells” characteristics, can lie dormant for many years to prepare for the next invasion.

9. Study memory and fantasy

And mice for scientists to study, the results showed that memory and imagination from the brain’s hippocampus, the area is a key memory center. So scientists speculated that the brain’s memory may rearrange through past experience, as Greek mythology general, to generate future scenarios.

10. Crack Western checkers

Canadian researchers completely solve Western checkers and found that as long as “not bad at the game,” each will have a game regardless of the outcome. Scientists to design artificial intelligence procedures “Chinook” and any human player chessboard, it would not be defeated. Western sophistication to human checkers player, not step in the wrong circumstances, and only “Chinook” labeled as leader.

In the United States magazine “Science,” the world’s top ten scientific advances of this year, the “Human Genome differences,” the study were classified as the most important scientific advances.

The so-called “differences in the human genome,” the study is not DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), a genetic significance of the clips - genes, but the basic DNA of units - single nucleotide difference between the base, the so-called single - nucleotide polymorphisms.

“Science” magazine editor responsible for judging Robert hole Mainz said: “Over the years, people talk about how we have been similar, or even how people and apes similar 2007 study of several frontier gave us that the first time , and also between the people of DNA is very different. ”

Hole Mainz said this is a conceptual leap in the understanding, treatment will be from the doctors that we look at ourselves and the protection of individual privacy, and many other events have an impact.

This year, there were more than 10 research projects using a whole genome association study analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism, this analysis is by comparing the health of the patients and DNA, to determine which will have slight differences in disease risk.

“Science” magazine, this analysis method causing people to a new understanding of many diseases. On this basis, scientists found with atrial fibrillation, autoimmune diseases, manic depression, breast cancer, colon cancer, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, etc. disease-related genes.

In addition, this year the birth of a new industry, that is, the individual genome sequencing. May of this year, the double helix structure of DNA discoverer Danmushiwosen become one of the world’s first possession of such patterns people. This, however, the cost of sequencing between 300,000 to 1 million US dollars between, for most people, or too expensive.

However, as technology advances, sequencing costs in the near future is expected to greatly reduced. When that day comes, many people will have their own individual genome, which will enable them know that they are susceptible to the disease.

  Appeal to the World Health Organization, in order to prevent the virus spread from animals to people, and all countries should strengthen the animals, especially birds in the control of avian flu, at the same time make people aware of the prevention of avian flu knowledge, enhance their ability to protect themselves. 　

Myanmar and Pakistan have recently discovered the first human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus in China’s financial mayor will be

The World Health Organization on Monday (December 17), Myanmar and Pakistan have recently discovered the first human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. To prevent the virus from animals to human transmission, countries should strengthen the animals, especially birds in the control of avian flu, at the same time make people aware of the prevention of avian flu knowledge, enhance their ability to protect themselves. 　

According to the United Nations web site reported, the WHO pointed out that in mid-November, some areas in Shan State of Myanmar poultry bird flu, health personnel during routine monitoring, she found a 7-year-old girl infected with bird flu signs, and then girls be arranged for hospital treatment, has been recovered. Girls more than laboratory testing blood samples confirmed that the avian influenza virus.

At present the World Health Organization jointly with the Government of Myanmar has sent staff to conduct surveys to confirm girls infected way. Preliminary investigations revealed that the girl was home sick poultry near death. At present, all the girls had contacts with the staff in good health, found no new cases.

On the other hand, Pakistan Ministry of Health confirmed that the Peshawar (Peshawar) regions of eight cases of suspected human bird flu cases, of which one has been recovered, and two cases of suspected patients died. Pakistan National Laboratory on the patients blood samples were tested and found that the bird flu virus, WHO is the samples for further analysis in order to further confirm the results.

The World Health Organization is currently Pakistan Ministry of Health to provide epidemiological investigation of the technical assistance, and the country’s bird flu surveillance, prevention and control measures audit.

The World Health Organization said that as the bird flu virus is often transmitted to humans by animals, so strengthening the avian flu in animals in the spread of fundamental control and cut off the transmission of the virus is very important. At the same time, human beings should also step up preventive measures, such as enhancing the hospital in cases of respiratory disease monitoring; training for medical workers, so that they understand how to better protect themselves as well as the detection of cases; on farm workers and other possible contact with poultry staff training, so that they know how to prevent themselves are infected.

Friday, the World Health Organization (21) said that although bird flu virus spread from person to person in the situation is still rare, but still can not rule out the recent Pakistan by the bird flu spread from person to person by the .

According to the United Nations web site, the first time in Peshawar, Pakistan found eight cases of suspected human bird flu cases, two of which were fatal. Pakistan National Laboratory on the patients blood samples were tested and the discovery of the bird flu virus.

WHO said that Pakistan since there were no new cases, WHO is currently investigating cases of infection have been found ways.

WHO pointed out that, as long as the H5N1 avian influenza virus is still spread in the world, we can not rule out the possibility that the virus mutates and restructuring leading to the possibility of an influenza pandemic. Due to the lack of sufficient information is not possible to determine how such risks.

Pandemic Influenza generally enable a new human disease caused by influenza virus. Because the human immune system does not have stored their immunity, infection and the prevalence rate much higher than the ordinary seasonal flu. Experts believe that the H5N1 avian flu virus is a kind of potential pandemic strains.

The current global store 100 million 50 million influenza vaccine to prepare for a worldwide influenza outbreak needs.

Global bird flu prevention and control situation is not optimistic
Since entering June, bird flu in Europe, Asia, Africa, a number of countries is tending to increase. This shows that the avian influenza virus in poultry in many parts of the emergence of short-term, the eradication of avian flu is very difficult, the global bird flu prevention and control situation is not optimistic.
In the new round of the avian flu epidemic, the situation in the EU concern. Germany on the 24th that the southern state of Bavaria, at least three dead wild swans were tested positive for the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. This is the first time this year in the EU found birds infected with H5N1 bird flu virus.

In addition, East Bohemia in the Czech recent death of a large number of poultry was also infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. This is the first time in poultry in the country found the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Czech State Veterinary Authority officials said the bird flu virus outbreak is the source of the reservoirs near the bushes. Bird droppings pollute the bushes, resulting in exposure to these bushes poultry infected with avian flu virus.

In Asia, entered June, the bird flu outbreak in Indonesia has been a serious person died, and a 3-year-old girl infected with the avian flu virus.

Vietnam is another serious outbreak of avian flu in Asia, the country’s two died in June, and several people infected with the avian flu virus, the outbreak of avian flu has risen to the provinces 18. Since the 2003 outbreak of the avian flu epidemic, Vietnam has nearly 100 people infected with the avian flu virus, including 44 deaths.

In West Africa, Togo capital Lome about 45 kilometres east of a farm this month also found that the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak. Togo as Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria, the first seven in the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak of West African States.

In North Africa, Egypt contact with dead birds a 4-year-old boy in June confirmed infected with avian flu virus. Egypt has so far found 37 cases of individuals infected with avian flu, which killed 15 people.

Experts believe that the global fight against bird flu action will be a protracted war.