Nerdy Science Blog

According to University of New South Wales (UNSW) researchers, some people are more likely to suffer severe and prolonged illness due to their gene combinations.  The research focused on cytokine (protein hormone messengers of the immune system) genetic variants.  The cytokines involved are tumor necrosis factor–α, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and interferon-γ which play an important role in early immune response.  The study examined the duration of patients after infected by Epstein-Barr virus, Coxiella burnetii (the causative agent of Q fever), or Ross River virus.  People with certain gene combination are more likely to have an intense illness during infection.  The study is published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.  It is suggested people with these vulnerable gene combinations will be given vaccination first.

(news [journal])

Just read this news:

By tweaking genes to disable certain functions of the olfactory bulb — the area of the brain that receives information about smells directly from olfactory receptors in the nose — the researchers were able to create a “fearless” mouse that does not try to flee when it smells cats, foxes and other predators.

Maybe cats can also be modified not to ‘hate’ mouse too. I always think that if science and technology is not used for the right purpose, it can bring disastrous results to earthlings. Maybe this finding of ‘fearless’ gene will be used to create fearless spies and armies.

Note: the gene is just making the mouse not to fear of the scent of cats, we don’t fear things by the scent TV programmes give out.

(link)