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A new study shows that while the size of climbing animals increases, so does the proportion of the amount of their bodies covered with adhesive footpads. This sets a limit on the use of this climbing strategy, as a larger animal would require impossibly large footpads. Mites use approximately 200 times less of their body area for adhesive pads than geckos, and a human would need around 40% of his or her total body area to be able to scale walls like Spiderman. This translates to 80% of the front side of a human body, or a US shoe size of 114. Smaller animals have a larger ratio of body surface area to volume, whereas bigger animals have much more volume for the small amount of body surface area they have. This is a problem for larger animals attempting to climb, as they are too heavy and can only have a certain amount of their body surface actually be adhesive. It turns out that geckos appear the to be about the limit size for animals to have adhesive footpads. One solution for larger animals to perhaps make sticky footpads even stickier, which is what some frogs have done. I find this issue of particular importance because now I can never grow up and be Spiderman, which is somewhat disheartening, given that we are told from an early age that we can be whatever we want to be. Ah, but there may in fact be a way to fulfill the dream of being super-heroic: even stickier adhesive pads. With such sticky pads, people would be able to scale walls or windows with ease, rather than have to use some sort of scissor-lift or crane. Since scissor-lifts and cranes require some sort of energy input (usually electrical), being able to use adhesive human power instead could be a way to save some electricity. The idea also reminds me of a scene in Mission Impossible where Tom Cruise has to climb up a skyscraper with similar footpads that work with suction instead of adhesive. So, if sticky footpads can help a spy assassinate a dictator or villain that has some environmentally destructive plan for running his or her domain, then sticky footpads can help alleviate the problem of further harm to the planet. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160118184359.htm
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At the University of Kansas Cancer Research Center, researchers have been studying a reoccurring protein found in many types of cancer(especially colorectal): Mushashi. It is believed that Mushashi causes abnormal cells to divide and develop into tumors. Studies have been undertaken to observe the relationship between Mushashi and APC, a tumor-suppressing protein. It appears as though APC regulates Mushashi and keeps it from being overexpressed. In this fashion, APC indirectly helps to stop the tumor-creating pathways of Wnt and Notch, which both encourage cancer cell multiplication. In reality, both Mushahi and APC regulate each other, with an effect of keeping either of them in check. Work is being done to find an inhibitor of the Mushashi protein. However, this proves to be a particularly difficult task, as the Mushashi protein is an RNA-binding protein, making a smaller target for the drug researchers are trying to create. Researchers have found a naturally occurring compound derived from cotton called gossypol. Gossypol directly binds to the RNA-binding pocket found on Mushashi, thus inhibiting Mushashi from expanding tumors. Gossypol works by stopping cells from dividing, as well as causing cell death in colon cancer cells. When gossypol binds to Mushashi, it stops Wnt and Notch from signaling and encouraging cancer cell multiplication. I find this article of particular importance because it may be a some type of cure for cancer, or at least some type of cancer. Many people, including children, are dying because of cancer, so any type of cure, even if it may be limited, is helpful to the generic research and goal of curing all types of cancer. Biochemistry such as this also interests me, as it deals with the some of the smallest imaginable things that are within each one of us. What seems remarkable to me is that such infinitesimal, apparently distant objects actually are the necessary building blocks for life, and actually make the biggest differences in life, including death. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160112144649.htm |
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April 2016
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