“A unified genetic theory for sporadic and inherited autism”
Thursday, February 21st, 2008“Transposable Elements” by Swivelchair, all rights (if any) totally waived. This work was inspired by the work of Dr. Barbara McClintock.
Here’s today’s research paper:Zhao, X., Leotta, A., Kustanovich, V., Lajonchere, C., Geschwind, D.H., Law, K., Law, P., Qiu, S., Lord, C., Sebat, J., Ye, K., Wigler, M. (2007). A unified genetic theory for sporadic and [...]
Anger management: Dopamine Receptor Allele and Nuclear Receptor Genes Are Associated with Anger and Aggression
Sunday, February 10th, 2008Everyone knows someone whose “default” emotion is anger. They are like a one-trick pony, they are sad, so they express anger. They are scared, so they act angry. They are frustrated, so they are angry. When in children, it is painful to watch. When in adults, it is scary.
World’s Most Dysfunctional Inspirational Poster [...]
Envy and Gloating Are Not Recognized Well By People With Aspergers and High Functioning Autism
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008
Envy and gloating (Schadenfreude). Can you recognize them in other people?
People with ventromedial prefrontal brain lesions have trouble recognizing envy and gloating in others.
And, here is a new report, people with autistic spectrum disorders don’t recognize envy and gloating in others. From Shamay-Tsoory, SG, at the U of Haifa:
. . .Individuals with [Asperger's] and [...]
Face perception in monkeys reared with no exposure to faces — Sugita, 10.1073/pnas.0706079105 — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008Face perception in monkeys reared with no exposure to faces — Sugita, 10.1073/pnas.0706079105 — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Toddler monkeys who have never seen a human or a monkey face prefer to look at faces in photographs.
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Fragile X is possibly fixable!
Thursday, December 20th, 2007Neuron — Dölen et al.
New report: Potential relief for Fragile X sufferers.
Fragile X can be simulated in a mouse if you knock out a gene (FMR1). If you further block a receptor — called mGlu5 (metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 or MGR5) — the behavioral symptoms can altered. In the mouse model, the could genetically [...]
Daylight savings time ends November 4 unless you have CLOCK gene polymorphism rs1801260
Monday, October 22nd, 2007For 2007, November 4 is when we (in the US ) set our clocks back an hour so we get an extra hour sleep. But, whether or not you actually go to sleep is another matter. One genetic polymorphism correlates with being a “night owl” as well as other conditions.
As far as standard time, [...]
Abuse x genes = “pronounced psychopathological manifestations”
Saturday, October 13th, 2007Nature, nurture, nature, nurture.
Nature x nurture is really the thing. If you are genetically loaded, and your mother drank while pregnant with you, or had genital herpes while pregnant with you, or if you were abused after you were born, your behavior will be more extreme than if you just had the genes or [...]
The meanest grandmothers live the longest
Wednesday, October 10th, 2007
Ernst Haeckel, Nepenthaceae (click to enlarge and print)
Nepenthaceae are meat-eating plants — they seduce a fly and then drown it. The latin term “nepenthe” means without grief .
And this brings me to the point: sometimes people get so mean over their lifetimes that no one grieves for them when they’re dead. Is [...]
De-evolution or D-E-V-O was right
Saturday, October 6th, 2007Protein mis-folding is really a problem — it can be the basis for devastating disease.
Now, from an evolutionary perspective, the more specific the protein structure, the more highly evolved the purpose of the protein. Or, the more generic the protein structure, the less-evolved.
And this is the point of this post: Researchers figured out that [...]
Neurological Correlates: Going on Anti-Depressants and Thinking “I’d rather be dead”
Saturday, September 29th, 2007
Cruickshank, George, “Suicide”
“A young woman has jumped from a bridge; two onlookers are standing on the bridge in upper right corner; ship masts are visible in lower left beneath the arch of the bridge through which shines a full moon.”
Regarding suicide - from the US CDC:
• Among young adults ages 15 to 24 years [...]