Brief Bio

I was born and raised in Kalamazoo MI. I earned my bachelors of science in biology from Western Michigan University. I met and fell in love with a big goof of a man named Cliff. I have a fat lazy cat named Kerby and a dog named Bear.

One Species’ Genome Discovered Inside Another’s

August 31st, 2007 at 7:26 pm (Genetics, Microbiology)

from Physorg.com, the sequencing of a species of fruit fly turned up something quite interesting. The DNA of Wolbachia that had been incorporated into the fruit fly’s DNA. Also this DNA is trans-scribed to make proteins. Now two things have to be considered: One, that bacterial “contamination” maybe part of the organism’s DNA. Two, how does this integrated DNA function in the host’s cell? And how does this influence evolution?

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‘Death by Chocolate’ cookies are recalled

August 30th, 2007 at 9:23 pm (Chocolate)

From Physorg.com, Bella Cucina Inc. has recalled their chocolate cookies because some have walnuts. As a connoisseur of chocolate, I find this story to be amusing, but then I have a dark sense of humor.

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Genome Analysis of Minibacterium massiliensis

August 30th, 2007 at 9:03 pm (Evolution, Microbiology)

From Scientist Live, obviously from the name this is a very small bacteria taken from filtered water. The interesting bit is that it is related to water-living bacteria and this is where genes for metal tolerance and antibody resistance come from.

Journal article

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