#daily dose of science

[science-sculpt]

Epigenetics: A Journey Through Inheritance Beyond Genes

For centuries, scientists have been fascinated by the mysteries of heredity and how traits are passed down from generation to generation. DNA, the molecule that stores our genetic code, was once thought to be the sole determinant of our characteristics. However, a new frontier in biology, revealing a captivating layer of complexity beyond the DNA sequence itself: Epigenetics.

What is Epigenetics?

The term "epigenetics" was first coined in the 1940s by British biologist Conrad Waddington, but it wasn't until the late 20th century that its significance truly blossomed. Epigenetics, literally meaning "above genetics," refers to the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without alterations to the DNA sequence itself. Imagine DNA as the musical score, but epigenetics are the conductor and musicians who determine how the music is played. Through chemical modifications and adjustments to the proteins around DNA, epigenetics dictates which genes are turned on or off, influencing how cells function and ultimately shaping our health, development, and even behavior. Think of your DNA as the hardware: it contains the basic instructions for building and running your body. But epigenetics acts like the software, fine-tuning those instructions and determining which genes get turned on or off at specific times and in specific cells. These modifications, like chemical tags or changes in the packaging of DNA, don't alter the underlying code itself, but they can have a profound impact on how it's read and interpreted.

The Key Players:

DNA methylation: This process involves adding a methyl group to DNA, essentially silencing the gene it's attached to. Imagine it like putting a dimmer switch on a light bulb.

Histone modifications: Histones are proteins that package DNA, and changes in their structure can make genes more or less accessible to the cellular machinery needed for expression. Think of it like adjusting the curtains around a window - open wide for full light, slightly closed for filtered light.

Non-coding RNAs: These are molecules that don't code for proteins but can regulate gene expression in various ways. They're like the backstage crew in a play, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

The Power of Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic regulation plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including:

Development: During embryonic development, different cell types emerge from the same DNA blueprint by activating or silencing specific gene sets through epigenetic modifications.

Cellular differentiation: Specialized cells like muscle or nerve cells have unique functions due to differences in their active genes, controlled by epigenetic mechanisms.

Learning and memory: Epigenetic changes in brain cells are thought to be essential for learning and forming memories.

Aging: As we age, our epigenome accumulates changes that can contribute to age-related decline and disease.

Environmental influences: Diet, exercise, stress, and exposure to toxins can leave epigenetic marks on our genes, potentially impacting our health and even the health of future generations.

Epigenetics reminds us that we are not simply products of our genes. Our environment, choices, and experiences leave their mark, shaping who we are and potentially influencing our children's health. This deeper understanding of ourselves opens doors for self-awareness, empowerment, and potentially reshaping our narratives – not just as individuals, but as a species with the potential to leave a healthier legacy for generations to come.

[aro-culture-is]

quick note - this blog is gonna be sparse again for at least this week. trying new medications and tbh initial side effects are not super pleasant + actual effects build up. as a result: currently as if unmedicated for mental health, with anxiety+ side effect, extra fatigue, dizziness, and fatigue. it's uh, sure something.

totally recognize that most of y'all know we're absent at times due to health things, just wanted to give a heads up that this one is at least anticipated.

[eye-of-yelough]

before the day ends: today i chopped firewood and screamed until i pulled muscles in both my legs while my dad and cousin stared at me like i’d lost my mind and it felt fucking fantastic.

happy tdov 👍

[robynqueenofstuff]

polite reminder that my annual end-of-year good news report is available to download for free.

[daily-dose-of-space]

DAY 2: Venus

(This image shows Venus with its cloud layer removed)

info under the cut

Planet: Venus

Star: Sun/Sol/Sól/Helios

Class: Hot Arid Terra

Diameter: 12104.00 km (0.94993 DEarth)

Mass: 0.815 MEarth

ESI (Earth Similarity Index): 0.410

Semimajor Axis: 0.72 AU

Orbital Period: 224.697 Days

Rotation Period: 243.018

Solar Day: 116.749 Days

Age: 4.570*10^9 Years

Gravity: 0.90318 g

Atmosphere Composition: CO2, N2

Atmosphere Pressure: 92 atm

Average Temperature: 463.26 C

Images taken in Space Engine.

[vesiclesalt]

Daily latin-biology #2

Evolution came from the latin word "evolvere" which means to unroll, usually a scroll.

It was used in science before Darwin, but typically more in the sense of the development of an idea or individual. In the Theory of Evolution, means the development of an entire species.

Funnily enough, the word was only used once (the closing paragraph!) in Darwin's "Origin of Species". He prefered calling it descent with modification.

The term was popularised by biologists such as Herbert Spencer.

[kledface]

Only the best people look at rocks (and other pretties) and experience the insatiable desire to chomp down on that bad boy

[sonicscrewdriverstantz]

Headcanons, Being Ray Stantz's Child

gender neutral!reader, child!reader

Being born during the groups college days, and just adding a dose of daily chaos to their otherwise uneventful studies.

Three men and a baby. Enough said. It's absolute pandemonium.

Ray being the mother hen. Egon being the irresponsible father, and Peter being the fun uncle.

You have an entire family, even if not by blood.

Ray bringing you to college with him, and multitasking because he can't afford childcare.

Him using you as someone to rattle off all his theories about the occult and paranormal to before you can even crawl.

Peter uses you as a 'mini wing-man'. Women flock to him because they think you're his child and find the fact that he's a seemingly decent single dad attractive. (GIRL, IT'S THE BARE MINIMUM) Peter being himself, of course, doesn't bother to correct them.

Constant compliments being directed towards you by women, to which Peter's reply is always the same.

'Mhmmm, yeah, they get their looks from their father' *insert cocky, arrogant smirk*

Ray then reminding him that he's not actually the father.

'Oh, no, I know, I was complimenting you, honey' *cocky, arrogant smirk still in place, this smug guy knows exactly what he's doing*

Ray immediately becoming quiet and turning a bright, red colour, stumbling, tripping, collapsing over the English language, of which he's usually quite eloquent with. Then picking you up in his arms, and walking off muttering variants of profanities and insults directed at Peter

This section was greatly inspired by a ficlet my friend, @xraylovers wrote for me :) Thanks for letting me use your idea bestie.

Egon views you as a science experiment... problems ensue.

Days spent leaning over old occult books, the dusty aroma worn like a birthday badge as a testament to the age of the journal drifting into his child's face as Ray carefully reads each line.

Him having no concern as to whether this is proper bedtime story material for a 5 year old, as long as their happy, which, judging from the small inquisitive smile and plethora of questions asked, they most definitely are.

Ray is so excited to have a mini replica of him, just as interested in the occult as he is, someone to share his special interest with and experience the excitement and wonder of it all for the first time through their eyes.

Peter looking upon Y/N as his niece/nephew and calling them 'Baby Stantz' or 'The Littlest Ghostbuster' or variations upon. All the while, Y/N constantly complaining about wanting to be a Ghostbuster now.

Naturally, Peter buys a mini Ghostbusters suit with 'Baby Stantz' custom inscribed as the name tag, as well as a toy replica proton-pack. Which Egon promptly turns into a miniature, but fully-working proton-pack... until Ray confiscates it, sharing some harsh words with Egon about children's safety.

'Ray, I was merely teaching Y/N the proper way to operate a proton pack to prepare them for when they become a Ghostbuster'

'EGON! You can't give a child an unlicensed nuclear accelerator!'

Winston becoming the only semi-normal parental figure you have: Egon knows nothing about children, your dad is an extreme mother hen, and Peter is... himself.

Your dad would often take you out in the Ecto-1, wheels spinning, sirens blaring (after you begged ro have the sirens on, and every time he agrees because he has no backbone when it comes to you). You roll down the window and hold your hand out, letting the air rush through your fingers in quick succession as you take in the sights of New York City.

Despite his initial protest, when you became a little older and he realised how serious and passionate you were about following in his footsteps, your dad taught you how to use a proton pack and ghost trap (while supervised of course!) in the basement. While others your age were playing sports or video games, you were being taught how to wrangle ghosts and spirits.

Despite the dangers and challenges of being a Ghostbuster, you've always been proud of your dad and your family. They're not just heroes to the world, they're heroes to you, too.

[roxxiies]

First time ever requesting something haha

I've been in the MLBB fandom for years now but I never knew that there was a fanfic fandom for it??? I've been missing out for so long!

I'm attracted to so many MLBB men but I find myself being so into Yin personality wise, so I'm here to kindly ask for more fics about him.

I'm thinking suggestive but not necessarily smut. Just a dose of reader making him extremely flustered and worked up because she just read something interesting and she wanted to test it out and poor Yin goes along with it until he's hard and aching but he's too shy to ask for help from the oblivious reader who's treating the whole thing as a science experiment lol. At the end, she finally notices his pout and finds him adorable before giving him a hand job or something to help him out?

If you're not into that kind of thing, I would love a cute story from Yin's pov about how he gradually falls for reader and how she heals his trauma through the affection she shows him?

Thanks!!!

𝐘𝐈𝐍 𝐗 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑

TW: NSF(W), MASTURBATION. MNDI

a.n.: back and alive

To Yin's surprise, you took his debt joke a little too seriously, as he was now forced to come to your house immediately. The sun was yet to set when he made himself walk up to your house, his movement a bit sluggish from the intense training he just did as he lifted himself inside your window.

His eyes, although seemingly tired, couldn't mistake the mat on the floor as you carefully laid them.

“Hi, what are you—”

“Yin! I'm so glad you came!” You beamed as you noticed him and gently ushered him to lay on the mat. You then continued, your voice betraying your excitement, “I’m trying something out! I'll be proposing yoga exercises to my patients whenever they experience strains in their body. And since you owe me a favour and quite a regular, you'll help me!”

Yin wouldn't deny his frequent visits, he claims that he's helping you practice your healing skills. He would then often try to cause trouble or injure himself during trainings just to have your attention solely back to his.

But this was different, you were the one asking his presence now... and that made his heart flutter in his chest despite how tired he was with his earlier training. Of course, he agreed on the spot.

He carefully sat on the mat and his exhausted mind tries to comprehend your suggestion. He sheepishly chuckles at your last sentence, “But... I barely know yoga.”

“Don't worry, it’s similar to your training but more… relaxing, I guess?” You sort of assured him and lifted a paper with the listed exercises you had readied earlier. “And maybe you'll finally stop having daily trips to my house just because you have strains.”

For the last few hours, it was thanks to Yin's training that most of the exercises were finished and now suggested for your yoga plan. Then there was the ‘upward dog’ where he let out a chuckle at the name.

You scolded him immediately and he quickly frowns as you ordered him to lie on his stomach, his face showed scepticism as you moved to crouch just a few feet away from his head.

“Then, place both of your hands, laid flat on the surface, parallel to your chest below it. Then, lift your head—like, with your shoulders,” You gently guided his chin to raise until you were satisfied with his position as he let out a grunt at the effort. You smiled and moved to his side while crouching and placed a slight pressure on his back. “Does that feel good? Did you feel something on your back?”

Yin’s hands faltered briefly as he felt your gentle touch on his back, his tone barely relaxed, “Back feels nice…”

You stood up and scribbled on your notes with a hum, “Alright, next position: the plank pose. I'm sure you're familiar with this one.”

He nods as he gently shifted his position. His movements were much more shaky beneath your gaze compared to when he does it alone. He lifted his body just a few inches from the floor, and you quickly noticed the slight arch.

You slipped your hand below him and carefully made his stomach area lift up to have his back straight, his breath hitching as he shakily followed your guidance and quietly whimpered.

"Hmm, are you sure you do this daily?” 

“Yeah…” he murmurs in a shaky tone.

You only hummed and just proceeded to do more exercises. However, whenever you guide him to a pose from a pose, he reluctantly denies your help because he knows you'll notice it right away. Because one after the other, his body feels hot and hotter.

“Yin. Yin, are you listening? I said, lift your hips higher—like, push your hips outward.” 

“I… c-can’t.” He grunts. Of course, he can't do it, it'll obviously leave a mark.

You let out a frustrated sigh as you had to press his back more outward for his lower back to stretch. But once he felt your touch again, his eyes widened, and he let out a surprised gasp. He was afraid you'd see it from up close— The thought itself made the strength in his arms waver and made him fall down on the mat.

You gasped as worry took over your expression. You immediately sat beside his scrunched form and gently massaged his hips where most took the damage. He let out a quiet whimper at the touch as he tried to weakly push your shoulders, afraid that you'd see his hard on.

“Yin, I'm trying to help—”

“P-please—I can't take it anymore…”

You frowned. “I mean, we'll take a break. But why so sudden— Oh.”

Yin swallowed as he trailed where your gaze was, and he immediately tried to cover himself, his tone shaky in embarrassment. “S’rry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. It's just that you're so close and—” and I need you badly.

It took a lot in you to not back away and disappoint your favourite patient. Even if Yin was a headache to deal with everyday, you can't deny you've taken a liking of him recently. And maybe it's the reason you've specifically called him and not your other friends. But it's like, your day wouldn't be complete without his beaming face looking at your way.

You swallowed and let out a soft sigh, “I see… do you want me to...”

You trailed off and Yin's eyes shot up at you, his expression weary as he shakes his head, “It’s fine... I won't force you to do anything.”

But once he heard your soft giggle and your reassuring words, he let out a sigh and finally let his urges take him over completely. He captured your lips in a passionate manner as you shifted to straddle his legs. Your own lips match his fervour as you briefly gasp to take a breath and back again.

He groans once on your lips as he feels your hands roam around his hips. He fumbled to open his pants and brought down his boxers. He sighs in relief as he finally lets it free.

Your hand gently wraps over his, and he groans from the touch. You admired his length and gave it a few jerks.

He moved his hands to your hips as he pulled you closer and nuzzled his face on your neck, he breathed a low sigh, “You could just give me this— I'll be, Ill be fine.”

You gave it a few more pumps as he felt his body getting warmer. You gently lifted your palm to tease his tip, and he whimpers as you feel him hug you tighter. You smeared the precum you collected from his tip across his cock as you felt its pulses under your touch, he let outs a gasp again.

Your chest was flush against his now, and you whispered, your voice sultry but soft, “Your cute sounds make you irresistible, baby. Try to slack that pretty mouth more f’me, ah?”

Yin's flustered face looks up at you briefly and his lips finds your lips once again, his breath shaky as he intertwines your tongue with his. He groans as he feels you hastening your movement, he hides his face again.

You giggled at the sight of the current state of Yin and couldn't help but remember his usual playful and carefree attitude you fell in love with. You preferred him this way, you thought.

You sped up as your other hand caressed his toned abdomen, your fingers roam around his abs and you gasped as you felt him suddenly jerk his hips to meet your hand. He muttered a quiet sorry as you licked your lips and you stilled his hips and your movement. He groans in frustration, but you only chuckled and couldn't help but tease your pretty boy, “You're close, aren't you?”

He frantically nods as his face is still nuzzled on your neck, and he shakily whimpers, “Y-yes, baby—please, keep moving.”

You huffed, continued to pump his cock again, and hastened your movements. He gasps as he feels that knot inside of him about to snap, and his abdomen tightens as he holds you tighter. His breathing quickened, and with a last jerk of his hips, he shoots pretty white strings, and he groans loudly. It coated up your hand and some on his chest. He tried to calm his breathing but whimpered as he heard your giggle again.

“You sound so angelic when you come, Yin. Makes me want to do it again.” Your soft tone made him huff in embarrassment as you gently pulled him away from your chest to see his flustered expression.

He frowned, his face still heated and he swallowed, “Don’t.. don't just casually say that.” He grunts as he feels you put himself back in his pants and wipe his waste off of him and on your hand with a napkin.

“How can I? It makes me want to keep you all to myself.” You grinned, your tone teasing as you tossed the napkins away in your trashcan. But you won't deny, keeping him to yourself is indeed such a dream.

His heart flutters but still embarrassed by the whole situation. You looked at his expression, and you hummed as if thinking, then you smiled cheekily and said, “How about it, Yin? Will you be my boyfriend?”

back to all my work . . .

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive (Daily updates!)

mRNA vaccines and infection miss the mark with your long-lived plasma cells (Aka the library of the immune system). That means you need to 1. keep up to date on your mRNA shots for best protection 2. switch to a protein-based shot (such as novavax) if you can. The protein delivery method seems to not have this same issue with long immune memory.

By Jon Cohen

Neither vaccinations nor immunity from infections seem to thwart SARS-CoV-2 for long. The frequency of new infections within a few months of a previous bout or a shot is one of COVID-19’s most vexing puzzles. Now, scientists have learned that a little-known type of immune cell in the bone marrow may play a major role in this failure.

The study, which appeared last month in Nature Medicine, found that people who received repeated doses of vaccine, and in some cases also became infected with SARS-CoV-2, largely failed to make special antibody-producing cells called long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). “That’s really, really interesting,” says Mark Slifka, an immunologist at the Oregon Health & Science University who was not involved with the work. The study authors say their finding may indicate a way to make better COVID-19 vaccines: by altering how they present the spike surface protein of SARS-CoV-2 to a person’s immune cells.

Durability is an age-old bugaboo of vaccine designers. Some vaccines, particularly ones made from weakened versions of viruses, can protect people for decades, even life. Yet others lose effectiveness within months. “We really haven’t overcome this challenge,” says Akiko Iwasaki, a Yale University immunologist who is developing a nasal COVID-19 vaccine she hopes can be given often enough to get around the durability problem.

Just how long a shot can protect against SARS-CoV-2 is hard to assess because variants of the virus, able to evade existing immunity, frequently emerge. And new infections muddle attempts to assess vaccine durability because they provide a “boost” that keeps immunity from waning. Multiple immune actors also provide protection, including antibodies, T cells, and natural killer cells.

To get a clearer picture, the new study examined LLPCs, which are responsible for durable immunity to some other viruses. These cells, the offspring of B cells, primarily reside in the bone marrow. For some viruses, vaccination or infection generate LLPCs that can survive for decades, steadily producing “neutralizing antibodies” that can thwart new infections.

But not so with SARS-CoV-2, the new work indicates. Emory University immunologists Frances Eun-Hyung Lee, Doan Nguyen, and their colleagues enrolled 19 people who agreed to have their marrow aspirated, a procedure that carries little risk but can be painful because it means piercing bone. All had received between two to five doses of messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines—which code for SARS-CoV-2’s spike—during the preceding 3 years. Five reported having had COVID-19, as well. The study subjects had also been vaccinated recently against influenza and had booster shots for tetanus, a bacterial disease.

Lee and her colleagues found that nearly all participants had LLPCs in their bone marrow that secreted antibodies against tetanus and flu. But only one-third had plasma cells generating the same defense against SARS-CoV-2. Even in those subjects, just 0.1% of the antibodies generated by their LLPCs were specific for SARS-CoV-2, an order of magnitude less than for tetanus and flu. “The paper is very informative,” Iwasaki says.

An earlier study of bone marrow from 20 people who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 but never vaccinated against it also found that they were “deficient” in LLPCs specific to SARS-CoV-2 compared with those for tetanus. The new results “were really consistent with what we found,” says Mohammad Sajadi of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, whose team reported the data in the 25 July issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases. “The big question is why?”

SARS-CoV-2’s surface features may offer an answer, Lee and her co-authors say. LLPCs emerge after “naïve” B cells encounter a virus or a piece of it, such as the spike protein. As B cells mature, they make more refined antibodies that better bind to the invader. After the initial infection, memory B cells continue to patrol the blood and a subset differentiates into plasma cells. Some of those cells migrate to the bone marrow, which provides safe haven for their long-term antibody production.

B cells carry Y-shaped receptors that attach to viral surface proteins when they identify a pathogen. If both branches of the Y bind to the same pathogen proteins, they trigger a phenomenon called “cross-linking,” Which spurs B cells to transform into LLPCs. But electron microscopy of SARS-CoV-2 shows its spikes are about 25 nanometers apart, too distant for a single B cell receptor to readily bind to two at once.

Spike doesn’t just appear on the virus itself; it also protrudes from infected cells and cells stimulated by mRNA vaccines. Electron micrographs don’t show the proteins and their spacing, but immunologists suspect the SARS-CoV-2 molecules are widely spaced on these cells, as well. As a result, Lee and her co-authors suggest, B cells don’t become cross-linked, and LLPCs don’t develop.

Other kinds of vaccines might present spike more effectively. Slifka points to an approved vaccine against human papillomavirus, which consists of a “viruslike particle” (VLP) made from surface proteins of that pathogen. Those proteins self-assemble into something that resembles a soccer ball. “That’s a very rigid structure with great spacing and it induces incredibly durable antibody responses,” Slifka says.

Martin Bachmann, an immunologist at the University of Bern, has argued that VLPs for SAR-CoV-2 could space spike molecules more closely—about 5 nanometers apart—than the virus itself. “I am personally convinced that viruslike particles are the best platform,” says Bachmann, who published his proposal in a 2021 npj Vaccines paper.

Given the dominance of current shots, bringing a new one to market won’t be easy. Indeed, Medicago made a spike-based VLP vaccine for COVID-19 that regulators in Canada authorized for use in February 2022, but the company stopped making it a year later because it lacked a market and went out of business.

The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine approved in the United States and some other countries uses insect cells to produce spikes that link together and form “rosettes,” which might offer tighter spacing of the protein and therefore durability benefits, but Bachmann doubts the rosettes work as well as VLPs. “Such poorly organized structures are clearly inferior to highly organized surfaces,” he says.

Lee would like to study the bone marrow of Novavax recipients for the long-lived plasma cells, “but there weren’t a large number, and it’s very hard to get patients to donate marrow,” she says.

Other COVID-19 vaccines in development use nanoparticles that display tightly spaced portions of spike. Neil King, a University of Washington biochemist whose team has developed one such COVID-19 vaccine now in human trials, says they do not have data on LLPCs or durability. “Spacing definitely matters, but it’s very difficult to set up controlled experiments,” King says.

Structural biologist Pamela Bjorkman at the California Institute of Technology, who has a similar nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine in development, is more skeptical that spacing has a significant impact on vaccine’s durability. Influenza virus has tightly spaced surface proteins, she notes, and infection with it doesn’t lead to durable immunity.

Nguyen, however, thinks his team’s sobering findings require follow-up. “The bad news is the failure of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines themselves—with or without natural infections—to induce LLPCs in the bone marrow,” he says. “The good news is this failure itself provides a research opportunity to find a way to change the fate of short-lived vaccines.”

[science-sculpt]

A snip, a splice : Power of rDNA Technology

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the blueprint of life, holds the secrets to the intricate workings of every living organism. But what if we could manipulate this blueprint, adding, removing, or tweaking its code? This revolutionary concept forms the core of recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology, a powerful tool that has transformed biology and medicine.

The story starts in the early 1970s with two brilliant scientists; Stanley Cohen at Stanford University and Herbert Boyer at the University of California, San Francisco. Cohen, a microbiologist, had been studying plasmids – small circular DNA molecules found in bacteria. Boyer, a biochemist, was an expert on restriction enzymes – molecular scissors that could cut DNA at specific sequences. Their collaboration proved groundbreaking. They envisioned combining these tools to create the first ever recombinant DNA molecule. Cohen provided the plasmids, which would act as vectors to carry foreign DNA into host cells. Boyer, on the other hand, used restriction enzymes to cut both the plasmid and the desired foreign DNA, allowing them to be pieced together. Through meticulous experimentation, they successfully created the first recombinant DNA molecule, forever altering the course of biology.

Cohen and Boyer's work wouldn't have been possible without the earlier discoveries of restriction enzymes. These "molecular scissors" were independently identified by three separate research groups in the 1960s. Werner Arber in Switzerland, along with Hamilton Smith and Daniel Nathans in the US, unraveled the role of restriction enzymes in bacterial defense mechanisms. These enzymes helped bacteria defend against invading viruses by cutting up their foreign DNA. Recognizing the potential of these "genetic scalpels," the groundwork was laid for their application in rDNA technology.

Here's a simplified breakdown of the rDNA process:

Isolation of DNA: The journey starts with isolating DNA from a donor organism.

Cleavage with Restriction Enzymes: Specific enzymes cut the DNA at defined sequences.

Selection of Vector: A carrier molecule (often a plasmid) is chosen to transport the recombinant DNA.

Ligation: The DNA fragments and vector are stitched together using DNA ligase, an enzyme.

Transformation: The recombinant DNA enters a host cell (usually bacteria or yeast).

Selection and Expression: The transformed cells are selected, and the gene of interest is expressed, leading to the desired protein production.

Since its inception, rDNA technology has played a pivotal role in several groundbreaking advancements. Let's take a whirlwind tour through some of the most significant moments in R-DNA history:

1978: Birth of Insulin on the Factory Floor: Scientists achieved a feat of genetic engineering by using R-DNA to produce human insulin in bacteria. This marked a turning point for diabetics, offering a readily available and more consistent source of this life-saving hormone.

1980s: Gene Wars and the Rise of GMOs: The 1980s saw the development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Plants were engineered with genes for insect resistance or herbicide tolerance, sparking debates about the safety and ethics of this technology. R-DNA research continues to be at the forefront of discussions regarding genetically modified foods.

1990s: The Human Genome Project Sets Sail: This ambitious international project aimed to sequence the entire human genome. R-DNA techniques played a crucial role in deciphering the 3 billion letters of our genetic code, opening doors for personalized medicine and a deeper understanding of human health and disease.

2000s: Gene Therapy Takes Center Stage: The first successful gene therapy trials for inherited diseases like severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) took place. R-DNA technology offered a glimmer of hope for treating genetic disorders by introducing healthy genes to replace defective ones.

2010s and Beyond: CRISPR Takes Over: The emergence of CRISPR-Cas9, a revolutionary gene editing tool based on R-DNA principles, has ushered in a new era of genetic manipulation. With unprecedented precision, scientists can now edit genes in various organisms, holding immense potential for gene therapy, crop improvement, and even the eradication of diseases.

But with great power comes great responsibility, and R-DNA raises a host of ethical concerns.Tinkering with the building blocks of life carries the risk of unintended consequences. Engineered genes could escape and disrupt ecosystems, or modified organisms could have unforeseen health effects. The ability to edit human genes opens the door to designer babies, raising questions about social equity and the potential misuse of the technology for eugenics.

Who Controls the Tools? Access to R-DNA technology could be restricted to wealthy nations or corporations, exacerbating existing inequalities. Biosecurity is also a concern, as the technology could be misused for bioterrorism. Creating entirely new organisms forces us to confront what it means to be "natural." Should we modify plants and animals for human benefit, or preserve their original forms? R-DNA technology is a powerful tool, and we must have open discussions about its ethical implications. Scientists, policymakers, and the public all need to be involved in shaping the future of this technology. As we move forward, open dialogue and collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and the public are crucial to ensure the safe and ethical application of this powerful technology.

The journey of rDNA technology is a testament to human ingenuity and its potential to reshape our world. From decoding the secrets of life to creating solutions for healthcare, agriculture, and beyond, rDNA technology continues to evolve, promising a future filled with exciting possibilities.

[eloquentcoconut]

TWST Magicam Usernames

°‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･︵👻°

This post is just for fun.

I have stylized their handles based on Instagram.

Irl a lot of their handles would just be their name, and their bio and posts would be filled with relevant info, or they simply wouldn't have a magi account lets be ffr.

I wanted to include magicam/texting in my 'TWST Upon A Time' fic (ao3/wattpad/quotev) and I didn't want the usernames to be mundane, I'm sharing the list early.

I'd love to hear your headcannon about what their magicam usernames could be, comment or tag me in your post!

°‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･︵👻°

🌹 Heartslabyul

🌹 Riddle - @ riddle.rule025

Riddle's bio would be one of the queen's rules, and would change based on what he's feeling that day, like if MC brought Grim to a festivity it would read: "Queen's rule 023."

(Initially Riddle made a magi account to help Cater study, I picked what I thought could be his fav rule: have a tea party on the 5th of every month. It's the funnest rule, probably.)

🌹 Trey - @ experimentswclover

(Trey is too modest to call himself a scientist or a baker, the 'w' stands for 'with'. Trey would post his baking and the science club's experiments.)

🌹 Cater - @ caterd.updates

Cater's bio would read: "Your daily dose of vitamin C."

(I'm surprised the game never states Cater's magi ID, but Idia's gamer handle is fair game. 'Caterd' as in 'catered' and 'Cater Diamond' and since Cater isn't a magicam monster I put 'updates' instead of 'vlogs'.)

🌹 Deuce - @ magicalwheels4lifer

(Deuce really enjoys his magical wheels, '4life' was already taken so he added an 'r' to show he's more passionate about the magical wheel lifestyle. if Deuce wasn't so straight forward, he could have a handle like 'hotwheelsluvr')

🌹 Ace - @ ace.of.the.court

Ace's bio would read: "Ace'd it!"

(Ace enjoys and is good at basketball; he's the teams ace - his name is a pun.)

🐾 Savanaclaw

🐾 Leona - @ ambitiousoutlier1

('Ambitious' is referencing 'Be Prepared' lyrics: 'our teeth and ambitions are bared.' And 'outlier' in short means 'to stand apart from other members of a group' Sounds familiar huh? 🤧 I also added a number to match with Vil and Malleus.)

🐾 Ruggie - @ bucchiiena

(There was no graceful way to incorporate donuts without running into a nut joke. Ruggie's name looks Italian, BUT 'buchi' in Japanese is referencing 'buchi hyena' meaning 'spotted/speckled hyena' Following this, iena in Italian means 'hyena')

🐾 Jack - @ moonlitxtrack00

(Jack is on the track team, his UM in EN server is called 'unleash the beast' but in the JPN server it's called 'howl to break the moonlit night.' )

🌊 Octavinelle

🌊 Azul - @ azzurrpod

(Azul means blue, Azul in Italian can be written 'azzurro' and 'pod' is from 'cephalopod' I don't know what type of octopus Azul is so cephalopod covers that.)

🌊 Jade - @ shiiock.ing

((Although he is a moray eel, Google has just informed me these eels are not electric but will bite)) (Shocking + shiitake. Referencing his UM 'shock the heart' and his fav mushroom, or at least a reference to his mushroom hobby.)

🌊 Floyd - @ whimsqueeze

Floyd's bio would read: "Nice argument. One small problem. I am inside your walls @ username"

(Floyd tags a new person in his bio to tease every once in a while, it's usually Riddle.)

(Floyd changes his mind on a whim, and likes to squeeze people, and altogether it sounds like 'whimsy')

🦜 Scarabia

🦜 Kalim - @ kalimthesun.x

('In the sun' is a phrase used to describe a favorable position. BUT that's not why Kalim picked it, he just likes the sunshine. Trying to highlight how he means well but his ignorance can make it look otherwise.)

(Kalim would unironically post motivational captions with his posts, and all of his parties/festivities.)

🦜 Jamil - @ strategicurry

(Jamil's fav food is curry, but also the phrase 'to curry favor' suits him - it means 'praising someone in order to benefit oneself' i.e. to be insincere. He's also strategic.)

💜 Pomefiore

💜 Vil - @ xfairest1oax

(Matching x's with Rook just bc. Quoting the Evil Queen "who is the fairest one of all.")

💜 Rook - @ xchausseur.d.amourx

(Rook calls himself the 'chasseur d'amour' and the x's are tone indicators that elicit "?" His feed is like his dorm room, I will not eleborate.)

💜 Epel - @ muscles.n.apples

(This speaks for itself, Epel wants muscles to be seen as the manliest man ever and is an apple farm boy. Epel would post about his manly injuries and manly sports like making the magishift team, and his apple dishes/creations.)

🦋 Ignihyde

🦋 Idia - @ gloomurai

(Idia's gamer/streamer (?) handle in the game is gloomy + samurai. He would use his account to promote his gamming channel.)

🦋 Ortho - @ cheerinja

(The opposite of Idia's handle yet one can see the similarities, siblings fr. Cheery + ninja.)

🍵 Diasominia

🍵 Malleus - @ gaogao2tsunotarou

(Call back to gao gao drgaon, and MC's nickname for Malleus: Tsunotarou. Malleus probably made a secret account with the help of MC and posts about gargoyles and the abandoned places he likes to visit. Malleus would like all of his friends' posts, even if not all of them have figured out it's him.)

🍵 Lilia - @ rougebat

Lilia's bio would read: "My follower count is the number of bats currently in my pocket."

(Rouge the bat lol, but his gamer name in twst is 'Muscle Crimson' - but I figured he'd use different handles for different interests. Rouge is from his surname Vanrouge and he's got like a vampire/bat aesthetic thing going on.)

🍵 Silver - @ swordsmansilver

Silver's bio would read: "A mirmir? A mirmir."

(His bio is a "Fault in our Stars" reference and 'a mirmir' is a cute baby way of saying 'a dormir' which means 'to sleep' You think sleepyhead is awake long enough to keep up with all the online trends?)

(Silver trains with a sword and is quite proficient, so swordsman.)

🍵 Sebek - @ number1.malleus.draconia.stan

Sebek's bio would read: "If my liege has a million admirers, I am one of them. If my liege has 1000 admires, I'm one of them. If my liege has 1 admirer, it's me. If my liege has 0 admirers, it means I have left this world. If the world is for my liege I am with the world. If the world is against my liege, then I am against the world. "

(This is the best he could do so he wouldn't hit character count.)

(He would post stuff like: "Waka-sama took a sip of tea today. Effervescent.")

☁️ Misc.

☁️ Thorn (TWST OC/MC) - @ alienprotag

(Alien + protagonist. Thorn calls themselves an alien, and protagonist is a nod to their role. They'd make their own memes and take aesthetic photos of nature, seldom themselves.)

☁️ Grim - @ thegreatgrimsorcererextraordniare

(Grim calls himself "The great Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire." Grim shares a phone with MC, not sure how literate/techy he would be. If Grim posted photos of himself, he would have 2 followers: MC and Idia.)

☁️ Che'nya - @ mischat.vous

(Mischievous with the word chat (cat) in the center. He's just a little mischievous cat guy.)

☁️ Neige - @ daydreaminsnow

(I had 'Daydreamin' by AG stuck in my head when I wrote this, Neige is naive, and wistful, I think it suits him. And of course Neige means snow.)

☁️ Skully - @ jackskellingtonsama.fan001

(Return of the fanboy, watch out Sebek! My info on Skully. J. Graves is from snippets I see online, what's the "J" stand for?)

☁️ Rollo - @ devotedsolace

(There isn't religion in the game, but with his vaguely religious wording, and guilt, c'mon now. He's devoted to his beliefs and that bell.)

☂️ Staff

☂️ Dire Crowley - @ corvidaee

Is he a raven? Is he a crow? I guess we'll never know. Loves falling for those fake/scam posts that read "like/follow/tag/share/post for your chance to win x prize" Hello 'my strange addiction' 🫠

☂️ Divus Crewel - @ creweltobekind

Fashion critic blog, posts his wardrobe, his dogs, and savage/funny fashion roast videos (that a lot of people agree with.) Also a micro influencer in that sense.

☂️ Mozus Trein - @ m.train

Bio: Husband & Father 👧👧👧🐱 | History Buff 📚 | Retired World Traveler 🌏

(He has 3 daughters?) His kids set up his account since facebook is for oldies. He only uses it to interact with their posts or talk to them. Extra: (idk if his daughters names are revealed in game, but I'm calling them: Desireea, Anneliese, and Ellery.)

☂️ Sam - @ mysteryshop.yretsympohs

Mystery shop mirrored ^ A businessman through and through. He's the opposite of Taylor Swift (BEAR with me now! 🧸) As in if you don't interact with select posts the price of eggs will coincidentally go up. Also posts cryptic ways to save on his wares.

☂️ Ashton Vargas - @ aton.ofweights

Micro fitness influencer. Like a decade ago would post 5x a day typical gym shark/gym bro selfies and workout videos, before working at nrc. He thought he'd get popular with women, but his audience is 90% men and brand deals. Only posts now if its sponsored or he remembers he has an account, and a bit of nrc coaching/games - can't give away the secret training regimen to lossing - what if rsa saw!?

🔮 This post is subject to change.

°‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･︵👻°

[darkmaga-returns]

The Overlooked Importance of Vitamin D

For years, mainstream health authorities have downplayed the role of Vitamin D in overall health. But as I’ve come to understand, maintaining optimal Vitamin D levels is crucial for bolstering immunity and preventing disease. This isn’t a fringe idea; it’s supported by robust scientific evidence. Adequate Vitamin D levels—around 60 nanograms per milliliter—can significantly reduce the risk of illnesses, including infections, cancer, and autoimmune conditions.

Unlike the meager 400 IU daily recommendation set decades ago, many individuals need much higher doses to achieve these levels. For instance, I take 10,000 IU daily, and others may need even more, depending on their unique biology and environment. Testing your Vitamin D levels is key to tailoring your intake. Don’t let outdated guidelines or dismissive attitudes from healthcare providers deter you. Vitamin D is an accessible and effective way to enhance your health.

[andy-wm]

Park Jimin really stimulates my vagus nerve.

That's not what you think it is.

Well yes, I'm only human too...

but that's not what I'm talking about here...

I'm talking about AWE.

Different from joy or admiration, awe is an emotional response to something - or someone - vastly impressive or beautiful or inspiring (or all of the above in the case of Park Jimin).

Awe is that "oh, wow" feeling.

Sometimes it's inspired by a feat of courage or a grand performance. Other times it's something so beautiful it makes you breathless (or both in the case of Park Jimin).

The key is that it is triggered by something that is outside of the everyday experience, maybe beyond understanding. It has to be mesmerising, remarkable, wonderful (or all of the above ...yeah you know where I'm going with this).

So what does this have to do with my vagus nerve?

I'm glad you asked!

The vagus nerve (no, thats not it. It means wandering) is the nerve that links your brain basically to the rest of your body. It reaches from your brain stem all the way through your abdomen.

The vagus nerve controls your automatic responses. This is the nervous system that's responsible for that swooping feeling in your belly (when you when you look at pictures of Park Jimin) as well as the racing of your heart (when you watch Park Jimin dance).

Your vagus nerve is active in both directions. Your brain will send messages to your body via the vagus nerve (fight or flight as an example) but you can also use it to reduce stress and anxiety. You can engave your vagus nerve to down-regulate your stress response.

How can you do that? One way is by experiencing awe.

I'm not making this up.

Scientific studies have proven this. Besides the rush of endorphins when you have that "oh wow' response, awe reduces the focus on yourself and shifts your perspective. That's good for your physical and emotional health for a bunch of reasons.**

So, looking at pictures of Park Jimin and watching him dance can improve your health?

Yes, that's right!

Ask your GP to prescribe a daily dose of Park Jimin for continued good health. Or take matters into your own hands and make him part of your daily self-care routine.

You can thank me later.

** https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-athletes-way/201705/awe-engages-your-vagus-nerve-and-can-combat-narcissism

https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2023/08/23/awe-sciences-answer-to-your-search-for-happiness

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9301262/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10018061/#:~:text=Awe%2C%20then%2C%20is%20associated%20with,benefit%20mental%20and%20physical%20health

[copperbadge]

Hey Sam, any chance you can talk a bit more about saffron at some point? I've not encountered it as a possible ADHD treatment before and am curious what you meant about finding it not helpful at higher doses. Does it just not work, does it kinda work but have an annoying side effect or two, etc etc. Thinking I might give it a go, but I'm on 60mg of rubifen a day (2 pills in morning, one early afternoon) and want to have an idea of where to place my expectations :)

The saffron thing is pretty new overall as well as new to me, and I tend to side-eye "natural" cures because generally when natural cures work they, you know, become medicine. There's also very little regulation on natural remedies/vitamins so it's always a toss-up as to what's actually in the capsules; when I went looking for saffron pills, all of them seemed sketchy, made and sold by the kind of place that'll sell you gunpowder tea for weight loss. (I ended up going with Nootropics simply because they put most of the info on the bottle.)

I heard about saffron as an ADHD treatment from a woman I was speaking to who's got three kids with ADHD, all under 15, and was having trouble getting their meds. We originally started talking because I was offering tips on how to find pharmacies that might have larger stocks of Adderall during the shortage, and she tuned into the conversation since trying to get three 30-day scrips for Adderall filled at once really sucked. She told me she'd tried saffron after hearing about it on an ADHD Parenting community, and that it was helping her kids with the hyperactivity element, though she wasn't sure if it was helping them with focus and executive function. The study here seems to be the main source of data on it, and it's admittedly a small study, but the fact that it is being studied by actual scientists is somewhat reassuring.

The recommended dosage is 30mg/day of the saffron, which I've been taking for a couple of weeks on top of the first dose of Adderall (and daily vitamins). I really only have my own experience to go on but it seems to me to act as an enhancer for the Adderall; gives it a little kick, at least it feels like. It doesn't seem to do much on its own for me. On the one hand, the placebo effect can be mighty, but on the other, I'm a reasonably skeptical person who hasn't been subject to placebo effect during drug trials in the past, so I think what I'm feeling is a real effect, it's just very mild. (A while back I tried Rhodiola, which is another commonly-recommended herbal supplement for ADHD, and didn't feel like it did anything.)

On top of 10mg of Adderall, the 30mg Saffron works pretty well, seems to intensify it a bit. I do take 20mg of Adderall on occasion but unless I'm super tired or stressed, it's too much -- it pushes me through productive and back out into scattered -- so the saffron intensifying 20mg is way, way too much, even if I need the 20mg. If I'm taking both doses at once I leave the saffron capsule in the pill box.

Overall, the science is still a bit shaky, but less shaky than a lot of non-prescription cures out there, and Saffron's pretty safe to use. Even if it's not doing anything, the only real consequence is I'm out $22 for the bottle. I might go off it for a bit once the bottle's done and see if I notice a downswing. All my data is pretty highly subjective, so all I can recommend is trying it out for yourself.

[daily-dose-of-space]

DAY 1: Mercury

info under the cut!

Planet: Mercury

Star: Sun/Sol/Sól/Helios

Class: Warm Airless Subferria

Diameter: 4880.00 km (0.38299 DEarth)

Mass: 0.05528 MEarth

ESI (Earth Similarity Index): 0.538

Semimajor Axis: 0.39 AU

Orbital Period: 87.950 Days

Rotation Period: 58.646 Days

Solar Day: 175.939 Days

Age: 4.570*10^9 Years

Gravity: 0.37688g

Average Temperature: 155.27 C

Images taken in Space Engine.