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."
The Next Curie
July 06, 2009
The most inspirational female scientist is Marie Curie, according to a poll conducted by the New Scientist and L'Oréal. Curie received a quarter of the votes, coming in ahead of Rosalind Franklin who received 14.2 percent of the votes. According to Scientific Blogging, the vote coincided with the announcement of the 2009 winners of the L'Oréal UNESCO UK and Ireland For Women In Science Fellowships, who are the University of Oxford's Nathalie Seddon, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute's Elizabeth Murchison, Oxford's Jennifer Bizley, and University College London's Patricia Alireza.