Human Genetic Variation Alters Anthrax Toxin Sensitivity
Martchenko, Candille et al., PNAS
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine show that genetic variation affecting capillary morphogenesis gene 2, or CMG2, dramatically alters toxin sensitivity in humans. In its analysis, the team reports on "a CMG2 single-nucleotide polymorphism occurring frequently in African and European populations [that they found] independently altered toxin uptake." The group goes on to suggest "testing of genomically characterized human cell populations may offer a broadly useful strategy for elucidating effects of genetic variation on infectious disease susceptibility."
It's Going to Get Nippy
February 05, 2010
To close its $150 million budget gap, Yale University will be cutting staff, freezing salaries, and limiting the number of graduate students, reports the New York Times. A memo from Yale’s president and its provost, Richard Levin and Peter Salovey, said these steps were needed because the school's endowment dropped from $22.9 billion in June 2008 to $16.3 billion in June 2009. The Times adds that the memo did not say how many positions would be cut, though the reduction in gradates students will be between 10 and 15 percent. Also, Yale will be turning its heat down, setting thermostats to 68 degrees.
Yale's mission of advancing
Yale's mission of advancing human knowledge and training leaders in all fields will continue despite the temperature of the classrooms and number of grad students. Yale is actually becoming skilled in he art of efficient education. The online resources are exemplary.