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."
Science in America
July 10, 2009
A new poll's out from the Pew Research Center on how researchers and the public view American science. After polling about 2,500 members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and 2,000 lay people, the data show a gap between what scientists and the public believe. About half of scientists say that American research leads the world, and they largely accept both evolution and anthropogenic global warming. Seventeen percent of the public say that American researchers are world-leaders, a third say that humans have always been in their current form, and half say that people are the cause of climate change. The public still hold scientists in high esteem, but, as the New York Times says, "the feeling is hardly mutual" as 85 percent of scientist say that public ignorance is a large problem.