Article Title Discipline Rele- vance News- worthiness Topotecan Weekly Versus Conventional 5-Day Schedule in Patients With Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer: a randomized multicenter phase II trial of the North-Eastern German Society of Gynecological Oncology Ovarian Cancer Study Group. J Clin Oncol Oncology - Gynecology 6 5 Knee arthroplasty with a medially conforming ball-and-socket tibiofemoral articulation provides better function. Clin Orthop Relat Res Surgery - Orthopaedics 7 7 Wireless pulmonary artery haemodynamic monitoring in chronic heart failure: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Cardiology 6 7 Treatment for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Cochrane Database Syst Rev Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 6 6 Surgery - Neurosurgery 5 4 Usefulness of the myocardial performance index determined by tissue Doppler imaging m-mode for predicting mortality in the general population. Am J Cardiol General Practice(GP)/Family Practice(FP) 5 3 General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US) 5 3 Cardiology 4 6 Strategies for the withdrawal of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev Pediatric Neonatology 6 5 Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Is More Effective in Women Than in Men The MADIT-CRT (Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial With Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol Cardiology 6 6 Surgery - Cardiac 5 6 Antidepressants for agitation and psychosis in dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev General Practice(GP)/Family Practice(FP) 6 5 General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US) 6 5 Improved glycemic control without hypoglycemia in elderly diabetic patients using the ubiquitous healthcare service, a new medical information system. Diabetes Care Geriatrics 6 5 General Practice(GP)/Family Practice(FP) 5 3 General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US) 5 3 Intermittent pneumatic compression for treating venous leg ulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev General Practice(GP)/Family Practice(FP) 5 6 General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US) 5 6 Surgery - Plastic 5 4 A comparison of active management and expectant management of the third stage of labour: a Swedish randomised controlled trial. BJOG GP/FP/Obstetrics 6 4 Trimetazidine: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials in heart failure. Heart Cardiology 5 5 Food supplements for body weight reduction: a systematic review of systematic reviews. Obesity (Silver Spring) General Practice(GP)/Family Practice(FP) 5 4 General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US) 5 4 Vitamin E for neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev Psychiatry 6 4 Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev GP/FP/Obstetrics 7 4 Improved corticosteroid treatment of recalcitrant de quervain tenosynovitis with a novel 4-point injection technique. Am J Sports Med Rheumatology 6 5 Diuretic strategies in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. N Engl J Med Hospital Doctor/Hospitalists 7 7 Internal Medicine 7 7 Cardiology 6 5
经典分类学的时代契合——纪念林奈诞辰300周年 何家庆 自1735年《自然系统》(Systema Naturae)一书出版始,自然科学有了经典的分类学。该书作者林奈(C.von Linné)的贡献在于,建立了人为分类体系和双名法则。《自然系统》的内容涉及植物、动物、矿物,历经270多年使用至今。 林奈生平与分类学史 15—17世纪的地理大发现,让欧洲人开阔了视野。许多学者从亚洲、非洲和美洲各地采集了大量植物、动物及矿物标本运至欧洲。因没有一个统一的命名规则,采集者仅根据自己的喜好来取名或描述所发现的东西,致使研究工作困难重重,突出反映在三个方面:(1)命名上出现同物异名、异物同名的混乱现象;(2)动植物名冗长;(3)语言、文字上的隔阂与混乱。时至1600年,植物学家们大约了解6000种植物,100年后,又发现了12 000个新种。到18世纪,在那个生物学信息空乏的时代,研究者们渴望解决问题的途径,对生物物种进行科学的分类变得极为迫切。 在这种历史背景下,在瑞典南部斯莫兰省斯腾布罗胡尔特教区的南雷舍尔特村,林奈(1707—1778年)出生了。他的父亲N.林奈(N.Linnaeus)是个路德派乡村牧师,极爱好园艺,善于管理花草树木,他的园圃是全瑞典收集植物种类最多的园圃之一。母亲布罗德森(C.Brodersonius)也是个牧师的女儿。林奈自幼对其父母让他继承父亲和外公做教士的愿望极不感兴趣,但却受到父亲业余爱好的影响,对花草树木有着异乎寻常的爱好。他把大部分时间和精力用于在野外采集各种植物、动物和矿物标本,以及阅读植物学著作。小时候的林奈在校成绩总体较差,虽然生物学、逻辑学的成绩表现突出,但其他科目只处于中等偏下的水平甚至不及格,因而被迫退学。林奈对上学的印象是:“处罚,不断地被处罚,教室是最令人坐立不安的地方……如果能够有间教室,是在森林中漫步,是在小草中打滚,不知道有多好!”他在植物学方面的兴趣和知识引起了罗特曼(J.Rothman)博士的注意。在这位老师的劝说和努力之下,1727年其父以仅有的40克朗将林奈送到隆德大学。一年后林奈转入乌普萨拉大学。林奈在乌普萨拉大学医学院学习,但他仍无法改变致力于植物学的兴趣。 1730年他曾在《植物婚配论》一文中将植物的雄蕊和雌蕊比拟为一对夫妻,生动有趣地描述植物的繁殖过程,因此受到学者们的好评。不久,林奈通过自己的观察与研究给出了“植物性别”的概念,在当时科学界也是对植物研究的重要贡献之一。1731年,林奈出版《植物辞典》(Botanical Dictionary)。1732年获得乌普萨拉科学院资助,随探险队到瑞典北部拉普兰地区野外考察,在方圆4600平方英里(约7400平方公里)的荒凉地带,他发现了100多种新植物,调查结果发表在他的《拉普兰植物志》(Flora Lapponica)上。1735年7月,他在荷兰哈德维克大学以《间歇热病因新论》的学位论文获得医学博士学位,后去德、法、英等国旅行考察,结识了许多第一流科学家,并得到了原本在国内所没有的一些植物标本。 在国外的三年是林奈一生中最重要的时期,是他学术思想成熟、初露锋芒的阶段。在荷兰期间他完成了不少重要著作,著名的《自然系统》一书就是在此期间著成的。尽管该书当时只有14页,但首先提出了以植物的生殖器官进行分类的方法。到1758年,该书第10版计1384页,为4235种动物命名,无疑已经成为一部巨著。1737年《植物的属》(Genera of Plants)出版。1738年10月,林奈返回祖国,定居于斯德哥尔摩,并回到母校乌普萨拉大学任解剖学、植物学、药物学、博物学教授,他重建了该校植物园,栽培植物达1600种。1739年,他与一位著名医生的女儿伊利莎白(S. Elisabeth)结婚,以行医与教学为生。两年后,他在乌普萨拉大学获得一个医学教授职位,但他很快就将这个职位转换成了一个植物学教授职位。 1751年,林奈的《植物哲学》(Philosophia Botanica)出版,这是他最有影响的工作。书中阐述分类的自然系统源于上帝的创造,并永远不变。在书中,作者证明了植物的有性繁殖现象,并依雄蕊和雌蕊的类型、大小、数量及相互排列等特征,将植物分为纲、目、属和种等分类阶元。这些不同层次的分类概念是林奈的首创。他采用拉丁文双名制(binomial nomenclature)命名法定植物学名。拉丁文是当时欧洲知识界流行的书面文字,变化少,比用英、法等文字记述物种更容易被各国科学家接受。用拉丁文给不同物种定名,并要求在使用诸如希腊文或其他文字时先把它们拉丁化。这一创举强制了物种名称的统一,便于交流,有利于学术发展。1753年,林奈出版《植物种志》(Species Plantarum),该书从1746年开始写作,1752年脱稿,历时7年。书中使用双命名法给7300种左右的植物命名。 由于大量的野外调查与整理工作,林奈认识到:“知识的第一步,就是要了解事物本身。这意味着对客观事物要具有确切的理解;通过有条理的分类和确切的命名,我们可在认识客观物体时将其区分开来……分类和命名是科学的基础。”林奈能产生这样的真知灼见,还在于他重视研究与总结前人的工作,虚心汲取前人之长并加以发展。如在1729年,林奈读到一位法国植物学家著的《花草的结构》一书受到启发,嗣后,他根据植物的雌蕊和雄蕊的数目进行植物分类。其实,早在古希腊时期的亚里士多德所建立的动植物命名法已具有双名制法则的萌芽,只是到了林奈才将双名制加以完善和推广。他感叹自己建立的分类体系是“上帝创造,林奈整理”。确切地说林奈不是双名法首创人,但可以肯定,他完善了物种命名法则,使之标准化并被各国生物学家所接受,植物界的混乱局面也因此被他的命名法则调理得井然有序。他的工作促进了植物学的发展,林奈无愧是近代分类学的奠基人。 林奈一生所从事的自然科学研究很广泛,对植物分类学、动物分类学、昆虫学、医学及矿物学都做过大量研究,收集的植物标本达14 000号,昆虫标本7000号,很多动、植物都是林奈第一次命名的。他根据植物花的特征,把植物分为24纲、116目、1000多属和1万多种。如此浩瀚的科学工程由他独自一人完成,所以人们称呼他为“植物学之王”。对于动物分类,林奈也很有建树,他把动物分成6个纲,即四足动物纲、鸟纲、两栖动物纲、鱼纲、昆虫纲和蠕虫纲。将鲸、人、大猩猩、猴等都列入四足动物纲,这就是后来人们所说的哺乳动物纲。 他认为物种是真实存在的,并可以归入被称为属的更高分类阶元。由此,他建立的分类系统以属作为分类基础,把向下分类法严格限制在属的水平。他强调的是“发现”属而不是“设置”属。林奈在确定属时,首先根据植物的外形,随后再详述其本质。属就最好不过地代表了他的本质论思想,一切的属都被严格的不连续性分隔开。因此,他划分的许多属符合自然分类。现代分类学家把属看作是最低级的集合阶元,是具有某些共同性质的种的集群。这并不是遵循逻辑分类的早期关于属的概念。他们认为属是具有一定本质并可依据特异性划分成种的一个独立阶元。 由于林奈生活在“神创论”占支配地位的时代,他的分类方法必然受到流行的“物种不变论”思想的影响。他曾说,混沌初开时,万能的神创造了多少物种,到现在就还有多少物种。对于不同的物种,林奈不持生物进化观念,他认为物种不会改变,物种彼此之间不存在亲缘关系,因此他的分类系统是不能反映不同生物类群在进化上的地位的人为分类系统。到了晚年,林奈对物种不变的信念有所动摇,在1768年出版的《自然系统》第12版中,他删去了有关物种不变的论述。另一方面,他鉴定物种所选用的性状大多是有同源关系的,是可以比较的,因此他的分类系统至今仍是有意义的,给生物所定的名称至今大多也仍是有效的。林奈一方面是经院哲学逻辑的追随者和坚定的本质论者,另一方面他又承认强调连续性的完满原则(Principle of Plenitude)。他发现,许多生物之间有从属的关系,因此他首先将自然物分成三个界;在界的下面,是如阶梯般排列的5个阶元:纲、目、属、种、变种。林奈将世界上的所有生物(甚至包括矿物)统一在自己的分类体系之中,建立了经典分类科学。 林奈给出的分类学阶元属、目、纲、界的定义完全是他独自完成的。他采用这些高级阶元好像不是为了学术原因而完全出于实际理由。他曾说纲和目不如属那样“自然”。他在《植物哲学》中写道:“纲是几个属在它们的结实(fruitifications)方面按自然和艺术原则取得的一致……目是为了防止把超过易于处理的许多属放在一起而将纲再细分一次。”可见林奈的纲在一定程度上是人为的,但是他又暗示当植物所有的属都被发现并描述之后它们将会被“自然纲”代替,“目”则更是为了选择方便。对林奈来说,很明显高级阶元只是一个方便的信息检索器。 林奈一生出版著作多达180余部,对后世影响很大的有《自然系统》、《植物哲学》、《植物学基础》、《性别分类法》、《植物种志》和《植物属志》。他不仅认真从事科学研究,还是一位不容忽视的教育家。林奈知识广博,他还编写了一部有关瑞典民俗、重点介绍瑞典民间舞蹈的书籍,为民俗学研究作出贡献。他对生物地理学和生态学也给予广泛关注。他讲课生动且富于幽默感,来自对大自然广泛观察和深邃思考之后的见解颇为新颖,因而吸引了大批学生听他的课。在乌普萨拉大学,每次听他课的学生多达200~400人,还有许多校外学生,不少是来自欧洲各国的学生。 鉴于他的学术成就与贡献,林奈生前获得了极高奖赏,如瑞典国王于1757年授予他骑士的贵族头衔。1761年林奈退休,他的姓氏也由平民的Linneaus改为贵族的von Linné。 分 类 学 现 状 分类学家认为分类学的发展可分为两个时期:林奈以前的时期,人为地根据植物的用途或一个至几个明显的形态特征进行描述分类,称为人为分类;林奈以后的时期,依据最能反映不同植物类群之间亲缘关系和系统演化的主要性状进行分类,称为自然分类。通过长期不懈的努力,至今对自然界已知物种数目的统计约在140万~180万种,其中每个类群已被记录的数目与估计数目都有一定差距。 已被鉴定和描述的物种大多数为昆虫和高等植物,大量的昆虫、蜘蛛、线虫、藻类、细菌、病毒和真菌尚未被描述,而且定名种的最终数目可能达到500万种或更多。 研究生物学所涉及的首要问题,在于正确阐明每一种被研究对象的系统位置,明确它与其他物种的亲缘关系。经典分类学以植物体的形态特征,尤其是花部的特征为分类基础,所获得的上述结果不仅局限于鉴定物种,确定其等级,建成分类系统,而且还用于研究植物种间亲缘关系及整个生物界系统发育的演化过程,使人们对分类学的概念从静态的创造论转变为动态的进化论。 在宏观植物学领域,分类学不仅建立起一个个植物自然进化系统,还一直活跃在生态系统学研究领域,如今已经应用于关注生物丰富度的生物多样性研究,鉴定大量从野外采集的物种标本,实现对群落生态学的研究,阐述环境变化与植物之间的相互关系。试想没有明确的物种基础知识,这些相关研究会处在何等窘迫的状态! 分类学的发展 生物分类的习惯是根据个别的模式标本作为种的鉴定,因而把个体当作基本的分类单位。1940年代赫胥黎(J.Huxley)在他的《新系统学》中,以种群分类概念代替模式分类概念,使分类学除用形态特征作为分类性状外,还引入了生态、行为、生理、生化、地理等方面的资料作为分类依据,以生物学概念替代纯形态概念。 1963年斯尼兹(P.Sneath)和索卡尔(R.Sokal)联合出版《数值分类学原理》,提出用数学方法来划分种和高级阶元。对所研究的生物类群的许多性状加以数值化,再用计算机运算、对比和统计分析,根据它们之间的相似程度来分类。 应用细胞学特征进行染色体核型分析,如其数目、形态和大小,染色体的类别,染色体着丝粒的位置及其臂长,染色体的带型(染色体经染色在一定部位显示出不同的条带)等特征,被称为细胞分类学(cytotaxonomy)。 蛋白质电泳分析技术已成为现代分类学的标志之一。分子生物学家发现,两个物种的蛋白质分子长链的氨基酸排列相同的部分愈多,它们之间的差异就愈少,其亲缘关系也愈近。将待检物种的提取液进行聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳或淀粉凝胶电泳,或等电点聚焦电泳,用溴酚蓝等蛋白质染色剂染色,得出条带电泳图。计算样品中相同移动率的条带数与最大条带数之间的比值,得出物种的相似系数。 在生物大分子水平上比较细胞色素c(具有104~112个氨基酸的多肽分子)。从进化角度看,细胞色素c是很保守的分子。据估计, 它的氨基酸顺序每200万年才发生1%的改变。不同生物的细胞色素c中氨基酸的组成和顺序反映了这些生物之间的亲缘关系。 从描述生物学发展到分子生物学,生物学的信息浩瀚如海地涌来,进一步敦促经典分类学在前期积累的基础上继续发展。瑞典林奈学会的雅可布松(C.O. Jacobson)在纪念林奈诞辰300周年的庆祝活动结束时介绍说:“林奈依然不会过时,原因不光在于他的林奈双名命名体系。林奈认为,人类对其生活的世界负有责任,人类是整个世界平等的一部分,而不能主宰世界。因此,在气候转变的时代,林奈也可以被看作是环境保护的思想先驱。” 分类学是千万不能在信息时代落伍的。自然科学中的每一门学科都以能最有效地衔接大众为其成功与价值的标志之一,分类学亦不例外。20世纪中期遗传物质DNA的结构被揭示,生命科学的研究拉开了新序幕,也给分类学注入了活力。嗣后,研究者建立起以鸟类DNA相似度为基础的系统树。由此,物种测序研究也进入高潮。事实说明分子生物学技术是经典分类学研究的“提速器”,能用于更加精确地验证物种间的系统特征。以标本为分类依据的研究,只能从形态上“推测”物种间的亲缘关系,“可能”与“不可能”同时存在;采用生化、遗传、生理等实验方法才有可能确定,然而需要克服耗时较长的弱点。分子生物学技术的引入点明了分类学的时代特征,近期有人提出用DNA区分不同物种的方法。赫伯特(P.Hebert)采用了一种特定的基因片段(类似条码)来分类各种生物,而不需要测定整个基因组的序列。这个“条码”基因会反映出不同物种的COI(细胞色素c氧化酶),基因“条码”就应该有所不同。尽管目前COI基因仍不能完全把不同种的植物或动物区分开,但能做到让大家都来参与,即便是外行也可以通过小型的DNA条码“扫描”装置来鉴定物种。分类学只有伴随时代发展引入新思路和技术并予以传播,才能形成该学科未来发展的动力。 在林奈诞辰300周年之际,各国植物学家高度关注如今的分类学能不能与网络时代契合,这对该学科的未来非常关键。在已经获得大量信息的基础上,整理所有已知植物类群的信息,诸如形态学、发育生物学、生态学、环境适应与胁迫、种群动态及其资源价值等,将已知的各类相关信息整合到诸如DNA序列测定的新技术中来。这样是否能最终实现如同扫描条码一样鉴定不同的物种呢? 胡先骕. 卡尔 · 林奈对近代植物分类学的贡献. 科学史集刊,1958,(1):15. 汪振儒. 卡尔·林奈事略. 科学史集刊,1958,(1):10. Takhtajan A. Diversity and Classification of Flowering Plants. 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Article Title Discipline Rele- vance News- worthiness Comparison of Sirolimus with Azathioprine in a Tacrolimus-based Immunosuppressive Regimen in Lung Transplantation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med Surgery - Thoracic 5 4 Bisphosphonate use and the risk of subtrochanteric or femoral shaft fractures in older women. JAMA Geriatrics 7 6 Psychological interventions for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev General Practice(GP)/Family Practice(FP) 5 4 General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US) 5 4 Thoracic epidural anesthesia for cardiac surgery: a randomized trial. Anesthesiology Surgery - Cardiac 6 5 Feeding interventions for growth and development in infants with cleft lip, cleft palate or cleft lip and palate. Cochrane Database Syst Rev Pediatric Neonatology 6 5 Congestive heart failure risk in patients with breast cancer treated with bevacizumab. J Clin Oncol Oncology - Breast 5 5 Shengmai (a traditional Chinese herbal medicine) for heart failure. Cochrane Database Syst Rev General Practice(GP)/Family Practice(FP) 4 4 General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US) 4 4 Cardiology 3 3 Parotid-sparing intensity modulated versus conventional radiotherapy in head and neck cancer (PARSPORT): a phase 3 multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncol Surgery - Head and Neck 7 5 Induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and fluorouracil alone or in combination with docetaxel in locally advanced squamous-cell cancer of the head and neck: long-term results of the TAX 324 randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol Surgery - Head and Neck 6 6 Antihypertensive Treatment and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Events Among Persons Without Hypertension: A Meta-analysis. JAMA Hospital Doctor/Hospitalists 7 6 Internal Medicine 7 6 Cardiology 5 4
To view this email in your browser: www.the-scientist.com/daily1/2011/03/02/ 02 March 2011 News and Features The latest in biology and medicine Best Places to Work for Postdocs, 2011 Setting up your own lab is no easy task, but this year’s respondents are using their postdoc experiences to prepare for the challenge By Cristina Luiggi Behavior brief A round up of recent discoveries in behavior research By Jef Akst Editor's choice in immunology Researchers discover a mechanism of antibody action that works inside cells, providing a "last line of defense" against infection By Richard P. Grant Fig share Mark Hahnel, a PhD student at Imperial College London, describes a new scientific figure-sharing site he released in beta today By Richard P. Grant New mechanism for dementia? The voracious clearing of injured and dying cells that could have otherwise recovered may contribute to neurodegenerative disease By Cristina Luiggi Eye evolution questioned Invertebrates with vertebrate-like vision challenge the idea that the two groups of organisms have distinctly different visual receptors By Amy Maxmen Top 7 in molecular biology A snapshot of the most highly ranked articles in molecular biology and related areas, from Faculty of 1000 By Megan Scudellari News in a nutshell Postdoc protests; cell phone disturbs brain; Japanese university unrest By Jef Akst Capsule reviews A selection of top-notch science books By Bob Grant The forum Dip into The Scientist's mailbag to see what readers are saying about recent stories By The Scientist Staff Mad science? A documentary about the research of neuroscientist Robert White goes beyond his macabre head-transplant experiments to highlight his contributions to science By Hannah Waters Puzzle me this Why are placebos so mysterious? By Graeme Stemp-Morlock The evolution of credibility A new book on the practice of science explores the winding path of discovery, and much more By Frederick Grinnell
Article Title Discipline Rele- vance News- worthiness Single or double-level anterior interbody fusion techniques for cervical degenerative disc disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev Surgery - Orthopaedics 5 4 The effect of melatonin, magnesium, and zinc on primary insomnia in long-term care facility residents in Italy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Am Geriatr Soc General Practice(GP)/Family Practice(FP) 5 4 General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US) 5 4 Rifaximin Improves Psychometric Performance and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy (The RIME Trial). Am J Gastroenterol General Practice(GP)/Family Practice(FP) 6 5 General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US) 6 5 Interventions to enhance return-to-work for cancer patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev GP/FP/Mental Health 4 5 Oncology - Genitourinary 4 5 Evaluation of the diagnostic and prognostic value of plasma D-dimer for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Eur Heart J Surgery - Vascular 5 7 Noninvasive ventilation for respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics Pediatric Neonatology 6 6 Respirology/Pulmonology 5 5 Transparent cap colonoscopy versus standard colonoscopy for investigation of gastrointestinal tract conditions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev Oncology - Gastrointestinal 5 4 Gastroenterology 4 3 Identification of Patients With Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Who Benefit From the Addition of Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin: Results of the MRC AML15 Trial. J Clin Oncol Oncology - Pediatric 6 6 Randomized study of basal-bolus insulin therapy in the inpatient management of patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing general surgery (RABBIT 2 surgery). Diabetes Care Hospital Doctor/Hospitalists 6 5 Internal Medicine 6 5 Endocrine 6 5 Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Left Ventricular Function and Functional Capacity in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol Cardiology 6 6
The UCMP website contains thousands of pages of content about the history of life on Earth. Our main exhibit sections include: History of life through time This enormous collection catalogs life on Earth, focusing on the ancestor/descendant relationships which connect all organisms, past and present. Tour of geologic time Journey through geologic time to see how the Earth has changed since its debut 4.5 billion years ago. Understanding Evolution The Understanding Evolution site includes discussion of evolutionary theory, evidence for evolution, the relevance of evolution to our daily lives, and the history of evolutionary thought. The Paleontology Portal The Paleontolgy Portal focuses on the fossil record of North America, including state-by-state U.S. paleontology, fossil photo galleries, and resources for the North American paleontologist community. Education resources Activities and lessons specifically for K-12 teachers/students, as well as information on paleontology education at Berkeley. Field notes Accounts from UCMP faculty curators, staff, and students of their adventures and findings in the field. Research profiles Take a look at some of the exciting work happening at UCMP. These profiles give a glimpse of science in action. The world's biomes Explore our planet's biomes — environmental divisions defined by the community of organisms adapted to live within them. This includes forest, desert, tundra and more. Mystery fossil Perhaps it was photographed from a different viewpoint or from up close. Maybe it's odd-looking or simply uncommon. Can you identify the monthly mystery fossil? Special exhibits A collection of miscellaneous exhibits that UCMP has put together over the years. Dinosaurs, coelacanths, mantis shrimp and more! http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/index.php The mission of the University of California Museum of Paleontology is to investigate and promote the understanding of the history of life and the diversity of the Earth's biota through research and education.
February 17, 2011 Trading resistance via nanotubes? Bacteria may be able to exchange large molecules -- including those that confer antibiotic resistance -- via microscopic tubes, but some researchers are skeptical By Edyta Zielinska Contaminated genomes Human DNA sequences are found in nearly a quarter of the publically-available non-primate genomes, emphasizing the need for better quality control measures By Hannah Waters Light therapy, circa 1939 Before the damaging effects of UV radiation were widely appreciated, physicians saw the sun mostly as a source of healing By Cristina Luiggi Nothing new on the grasslands To understand biodiversity and its effects on the environment we can’t simply measure single, key ecosystem functions By Richard P. Grant Opinion: When the wells run dry The practice and funding of science may change drastically when humanity enters an era of energy crisis, in which cheap oil is but a distant memory By John Day Impure genius Lewis Cantley has made a career of turning chemical contaminants into groundbreaking discoveries By Karen Hopkin Top 7 from F1000 A snapshot of the highest-ranked articles from a 30-day period on Faculty of 1000 By Megan Scudellari Skin wounds trigger tumors Researchers show how stem cells in hair follicles can transform into cancer while helping to heal an injury By Carrie Arnold Top 7 in cell biology A snapshot of the most highly ranked articles in cell biology and related areas, from Faculty of 1000 By Bob Grant Scientist to watch Anne-Claude Gingras: perfecting proteomics By Jef Akst The mouse is not enough Early embryonic development differs between mice and cows, suggesting mice may not reflect mammalian development as well as scientists had believed By Hannah Waters News in a nutshell Publically funded drugs; misconduct closure; shrunken brains at Chernobyl By Megan Scudellari Genome digest Meet the species whose DNA has recently been sequenced By Hannah Waters
February 16, 2011 Opinion: When the wells run dry The practice and funding of science may change drastically when humanity enters an era of energy crisis, in which cheap oil is but a distant memory By John Day Impure genius Lewis Cantley has made a career of turning chemical contaminants into groundbreaking discoveries By Karen Hopkin Top 7 from F1000 A snapshot of the highest-ranked articles from a 30-day period on Faculty of 1000 By Megan Scudellari How to handle dwindling funds Cutting costs can kill employee morale; those who invest in long-term income will emerge as the winners By Morgan Giddings Skin wounds trigger tumors Researchers show how stem cells in hair follicles can transform into cancer while helping to heal an injury By Carrie Arnold Top 7 in cell biology A snapshot of the most highly ranked articles in cell biology and related areas, from Faculty of 1000 By Bob Grant Scientist to watch Anne-Claude Gingras: perfecting proteomics By Jef Akst The mouse is not enough Early embryonic development differs between mice and cows, suggesting mice may not reflect mammalian development as well as scientists had believed By Hannah Waters News in a nutshell Publically funded drugs; misconduct closure; shrunken brains at Chernobyl By Megan Scudellari Genome digest Meet the species whose DNA has recently been sequenced By Hannah Waters Researchers are punks The fields of science and punk rock share some surprising similarities, according to the people who love both By Alison McCook Cellular chaos fights infection Blocking RNA degradation in bacteria could help treat Staph infections by overcrowding the microbe with a surplus of transcripts By Hannah Waters Cell division with a twist Scientists discover a key mechanism in the final stages of human cell division By Megan Scudellari
Two-faced proteins? Proteins that both hinder and spur cancer progression may not be as uncommon as previously thought Opinion: Training home and away China’s graduate stipend programs offer great opportunities for students and host institutions, but some of the programs’ publication requirements may need amending Gene swap key to evolution Horizontal gene transfer accounts for the majority of prokaryotic protein evolution The iPSC-ESC gap Human cells reprogrammed into multipotent stem cells display fundamental differences from true embryonic stem cells New mosquito identified With distinct genetics and behavior, a novel subgroup of mosquitoes encourages scientists to rethink the fight against malaria Gut microbes influence behavior Mice lacking normal gut bacteria show differences in brain development and behavior New circadian timer? A metabolic pathway that maintains its own 24-hour cycle challenges the traditional view of a purely transcription-driven biological clock Opinion: Torments of tagging Is marking the wild animals we study skewing our results? And if so, what can we do about it? Amoeba agriculture Some slime molds transport and farm the bacteria they eat Model worm susceptible to virus Researchers discover the first virus that can infect Caenorhabditis elegans Fighting noise with noise Pairing tones with electrical stimulation of the brain may reverse the constant ringing caused by exposure to loud sound Cancer pilfers cell powerhouse An atypical form of contagious canine cancer may steal its host’s mitochondria when its own succumb to DNA damage Above a troubled planet A film that takes a bird’s eye view on the effects of climate change debuts in the United States New metastasis marker found A new molecular predictor of cancer-spread adds to a growing list of biomarkers that could improve treatment QA: Alzheimer’s trial disconnect While preclinical studies identify ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in animals, human trials test these same therapies in symptomatic patients—long after they are most likely to be effective
Cover story: Face to Face with the Emotional Brain Amygdala responses to the facial signals of others predict both normal and abnormal emotional states. BY AHMAD R. HARIRI AND PAUL J. WHALEN The Genes of Parkinson’s Disease The minority of Parkinson’s cases now known to have genetic origins are shedding light on the cellular mechanisms of all the rest. BY BOBBY THOMAS AND M. FLINT BEAL Opening a Can of Worms A father’s determination to help his son resulted in an experimental treatment for autism that uses roundworms to modulate inflammatory immune responses. BY BOB GRANT To Err is Human This is your brain on emotions. BY SARAH GREENE Do Fruit Flies Dream of Electric Bananas? Visualizing neuronal activity in small brains over four dimensions BY BJRN BREMBS At the Tipping Point Data standards need to be introduced—now. BY H. STEVEN WILEY Impure Genius Lewis Cantley has made a career of turning chemical contaminants into groundbreaking discoveries—including novel lipids, potent inhibitors, and kinases involved in cancer. BY KAREN HOPKIN The Evolution of Credibility The winding path that an interesting result takes to become a bona fide discovery is just one of the topics covered in this new book on the practice of science. BY FREDERICK GRINNELL When Stress Is Good Fast blood flow protects against atherosclerosis: implications for treatment. BY CHRISTINA M. WARBOYS, NARGES AMINI, AMALIA DE LUCA, AND PAUL C. EVANS One on One: Parasites Unite! Gabriele Sorci discusses how invaders can band together to more effectively infect hosts. BY CRISTINA LUIGGI F1000 Hidden Jewel: Down but Not Out Cells on standby are surprisingly busy. BY RICHARD P. GRANT
Scientific smear campaign? An anonymous agitator upsets a German misconduct investigation Opinion: 6 impossible things Why biomedical research is stressful, and how it can be slightly less so Normal today, cancer tomorrow Researchers discover how cancer can develop overnight Arctic mismatch threat? A new report suggests that hybridization between species may put future Arctic populations at risk Opinion: Success! The astonishing secret to getting jobs, grants, papers, and happiness in biomedical research New gut bacteria regulate immunity A commensal microbe that affects host immunity may hold implications for treating autoimmune diseases Fewer mutations in kids’ cancer The first genetic map of pediatric cancer reveals important differences from adult tumors Model organisms up close New research from the frontlines of the modENCODE Project reveals the most comprehensive genomic picture of the worm and the fruit fly Tears dampen arousal Women’s tears contain a chemical signal that reduces men’s sexual excitement Malaria parasites synch with host Plasmodium microbes that cause malaria coordinate with the internal clocks of their hosts to increase their chances of survival New compound disrupts clock A high-throughput chemical screen could identify new drug candidates for circadian diseases Opinion: 5 ways to save antibiotics Here’s what we need to do to create new antibiotics and extend the life of those that already exist African elephants: 2 for 1 deal Savanna and forest elephants in Africa are two distinct species, according to new genetic data, settling a long-standing controversy Musical pleasure Drugs, sex, and food aren’t the only sources of pleasure—music activates the brain’s reward circuitry as well Behavior brief A round up of recent discoveries in behavior research