Tag: Animal

Enzyme that Reverses Sun Damage Discovered

Post author By Mukul
Post date August 18, 2010
No Comments on Enzyme that Reverses Sun Damage Discovered

[amazon_link asins=’B0063G9BRI,B014PV3LOG,B00071RMJ4,B00OPDAVOI,B00OPDATMM,B00OPDAST6′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c3f47a80-f5be-11e7-8441-9d6bd629d861′]

Humans lack a key enzyme found in many animals and plants that reverses severe sun damage. For the first time, researchers have witnessed how this enzyme works at the atomic level to repair sun-damaged DNA.
click & see
Scientists were able to observe the enzyme, called photolyase, inject a single electron and proton into an injured strand of DNA. These subatomic particles healed the damage in a fraction of a second.

According to Physorg:
“[Researchers] synthesized DNA in the lab and exposed it to ultraviolet light, producing damage similar to that of sunburn, then added photolyase enzymes. Using ultrafast light pulses, they took a series of ‘snapshots’ to reveal how the enzyme repaired the DNA at the atomic level.”

Resources:
Physorg July 26, 2010
Nature July 25, 2010 [Epub ahead of print]

Tags Animal, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, DNA, Enzyme, Human, Photolyase, Subatomic particle, Sunburn, Ultraviolet

Herbs & Plants

Aspidistra

Botanical Name :Aspidistra elatior
Family: Convallariaceae/Ruscaceae
Genus : Aspidistra
Synonyms : Aspidistra lurida – Ker-Gawl.
Common Name : Cast-iron Plant
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asparagales
Species: A. elatior

Habitat :Although sometimes thought to be of Chinese origin, the species is in fact native to islands in southern Japan including Kuroshima, Suwanosejima and the Uji Islands. It occurs in association with overstorey species such as Ardisia sieboldii and Castanopsis sieboldii E. Asia – Japan – Kuroshima, Suwanose, and Uji Islands. An understory plant, found growing in forests beneath Ardisia crenata and Castanopsis sieboldii. Woodland Garden; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Ground Cover;

Description:
Aspidistra elatior is a rhizomatous perennial. It is a stemless plant to 1 metre in height with dark green leaves. Small, solitary purplish flowers may appear at the base of the plant in spring.
It is hardy to zone 7. It is in leaf all year, in flower from January to April. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Slugs, snails.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Aspidistra elatior is a staple of the shade garden. It has wide, evergreen leaves that rise up from tough, rhizomatous roots. The lance shaped leaves are dark green and leathery, and around 12-20 in (30-50 cm) long. The aspect of cast-iron plant is decidedly vertical. Some types of aspidistra are variegated with creamy streaks or dots; some are shorter than the species. The plants spread in clumps, vigorously but at a moderate enough rate not to be invasive or even troublesome. The flowers are borne close to the ground and never even seen unless one deliberately searches for them.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Medicinal Uses
Febrifuge; Styptic; Tonic.

The roots, stems and leaves are febrifuge, styptic and tonic. Strengthens bones and muscles. A decoction of the root, stems or leaves is used in the treatment of abdominal cramps, amenorrhoea, diarrhoea, myalgia, traumatic injuries and urinary stones.

Other Uses:
Ground cover.
Aspidistras can be grown as a ground cover in a shady position.

Aspidistra is often grown in a container as a porch or patio plant, or as a house plant. In landscapes, it can be used as a border or be planted in a drift around trees, or to fill a planter under an overhang. In his North Florida garden, Steve has a stand of them growing in almost total shade at the base of a large live oak tree. Florists use the leaves in arrangements, where they lend drama and provide an excellent background for flowers. The leaves of cast-iron plant are especially long lasting in arrangements.

Cultivation :
Prefers a shady position in a rich well-drained soil. Tolerates poor soils and drought. Almost hardy in Britain[1], plants can withstand temperatures down to about -15°c if they are well sited. A plant growing under shrubs in Worcestershire has survived in the garden for over 30 years. This plant used to be commonly grown as a house plant, it tolerates considerable neglect.

Propagation:
Seed – sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for at least their first winter in the greenhouse. Plant them out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Division as the plant comes into growth in the spring. Suckers. Best removed in the autumn and grown on in the greenhouse for the first winter.

Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Aspidistra+elatior
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidistra_elatior
http://www.floridata.com/ref/a/aspi_ela.cfm
http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week078.shtml
http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week078.shtml

Tags Agriculture, Ambrosia beetle, Amino acid, Animal, Aspidistra elatior, Bacteria, Banyan, Bayan Muna, Evergreen, Flower, Forest, Garden, Kingdom (biology), Plant, Rhizome, Soil, Watt

Herbs & Plants

One-Leaved Onion (Allium unifolium )

Post author By Mukul
Post date March 28, 2010
No Comments on One-Leaved Onion (Allium unifolium )

[amazon_link asins=’B01C299XJK,B01LY2MJA6,B01NCWJ4NL,B01C01MP5Y,B01MXLV0Q1,B01L7R5KEU,B017C8S4M8,B01JPF8FNE,B01KBFR2QS’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’20c7172d-0f78-11e7-984e-5da1200f13d7′]

Botanical Name: Allium unifolium
Family : Alliaceae
Genus : Allium
Synonyms : Allium grandisceptrum – Davidson.
Kingdom:: Plantae
Order : Asparagales
Species: A. unifolium

Habitat: South-western N. America – California and Oregon. Moist soils in pine or mixed evergreen forest in the coastal ranges of California. Cultivated Beds;

Description:
Bulb growing to 0.6m by 0.1m.
It is hardy to zone 8 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, insects..

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Cultivation:-
Prefers a hot dry sunny position in a light, rich well-drained soil[90, 200]. This species is difficult to maintain under cultivation in Britain, our weather is probably too wet and cool for it to really thrive. The plant has a summer resting period when it should be kept dry and so it is best grown in a cold greenhouse or bulb frame . Placing a cloche over outdoor-grown plants in the summer, especially after flowering, will help to ripen the bulbs . Most members of this genus are intolerant of competition from other growing plants . This species is not fully hardy in Britain and is unlikely to survive in the colder parts of the country. It is only marginally hardy in N.W. England. A new bulb is formed annually, the old one withering away. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.

Propagation:-
Seed – sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle – if you want to produce clumps more quickly then put three plants in each pot. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in spring once they are growing vigorously and are large enough. Division in spring. The plants divide successfully at any time in the growing season, pot up the divisions in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing well and then plant them out into their permanent positions

Edible Uses:-
Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves; Root.

Bulb – raw or cooked. The bulbs are 10 – 15mm in diameter. Together with the young shoots, they are fried and eaten. Leaves – raw or cooked. Flowers – raw. Used as a garnish on salads.

Medicinal Uses :-
Although no specific mention of medicinal uses has been seen for this species, members of this genus are in general very healthy additions to the diet. They contain sulphur compounds (which give them their onion flavour) and when added to the diet on a regular basis they help reduce blood cholesterol levels, act as a tonic to the digestive system and also tonify the circulatory system .

Other Uses:-
Repellent.

The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellent. The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles.

Known Hazards : Although no individual reports regarding this species have been seen, there have been cases of poisoning caused by the consumption, in very large quantities and by some mammals, of certain members of this genus. Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible.

Resources:-
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Allium+unifolium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_unifolium
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Allium_unifolium
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Allium-unifolium/
.

Tags Allium, Animal, Bacteria, Beneficial insects, Britain, Bulb, Burlington, California, Carbon, Carl Linnaeus, Central America, Christmas, Flower, Garden, Plant, Soil, Species, Vermont

News on Health & Science

Can Your Pet Get Swine Flu, and Do They Really Need a Flu Shot?

Post author By Mukul
Post date December 2, 2009
No Comments on Can Your Pet Get Swine Flu, and Do They Really Need a Flu Shot?

[amazon_link asins=’B0013UCJFA,B00YUTTK94′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6f6f8b62-c625-11e7-b853-29b62cc485c1′][amazon_link asins=’B06WD84Q6L,B01MSVHHPY,B073CYL5DG,B00UTJMG5O,B0767M4F3N,B06XRVNB25′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’04f7d68e-c625-11e7-a097-330e6cd9f777′]

The Iowa Department of Public Health reported the first confirmed case of H1N1 in a house pet, a 13-year-old domestic shorthaired cat.
The animal likely contracted the virus from its owners, veterinarians say, since two of the three family members living in the cat’s household had recently suffered from influenza-like illness.

When the cat came down with flu-like symptoms — malaise, loss of appetite — its owners brought it to Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment. The family mentioned to the vet that they had also recently battled illness, which led to testing the pet for H1N1.

It’s not yet clear how vulnerable cats, dogs and other household animals may be to the new virus, but the Iowa cat’s case reinforces just how different H1N1 is from seasonal flu viruses.

“There has never been a report of human seasonal influenza affecting cats or dogs,” says Dr. Julie Levy, director of Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Florida.

“In theory, cats could infect humans, but there is no evidence for that yet,” added Torres, former chief veterinary officer of the United States who is now associate dean for public policy at Cornell University‘s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Among animals, the virus does not appear to spread easily, which may further suggest that pets are not ideal reservoirs for influenza.

The cat seems to be recovering well from its bout with H1N1, by the way.

Resources:
Time November 4, 2009 :
Ecoworldly November 6, 2009:

Cat in Iowa the First to Catch Swine Flu (abcnews.go.com)

Tags Animal, Health, Influenza, Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Public health, United States, Veterinarian

WHY CORNER

Why Do Ants Work 24/7?

[amazon_link asins=’B07C94182Y,B07D51ZJGR,B07CNWQJVN,B07F8WLKV1,B072KJNM72,B07F77R9SX,B07F8XFWBR,B00GL4A0TA,B07F8HHV5T’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’128fdc42-8a98-11e8-bb2d-2b552f9c5743′]

[amazon_link asins=’B07DJ1DM6D,B07BFDVK6W,B0751LQQ7N,B07BVQD83H,B01KS9OW7E,B018N8241S,B001EGOVTU,B01NBK9GPA,B07DX7T825′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’e9a48c83-8a97-11e8-8a42-c150e4330fc8′]

You think they are working 24 hours a day because you see them working at every wakeful hour. And all the workers look the same. But no one knows whether ants “sleep”. They don’t have eyelids, so they can’t close their eyes. But they do have periods of rest, where the brain and biological functions slow down and they stop moving. Though not well documented and possibly varying from species to species, it is generally accepted that most ants have periods of dormancy akin to sleep.

……………………….…..CLICK & SEE

As workers, ants have to respond to the colony needs. Ants seen foraging for food work from sunrise to sunset. Others inside the colony do other chores like tending to the queen and raising the larvae. The whole colony does not ‘sleep’ at the same time. They have “shifts” — one ant takes up the responsibilities, relieving another which can then tend to its own needs like sleep and feeding itself. Once inside for the night, ants reduce their activities. They fall in a sleep-like idleness with reduced biological functions. Each ant rests (a way of preserving resources) when necessary and “wakes up” when the colony needs it again, but the ants need time to get to normal functioning, resulting in a sluggish movement.

Sources: The Telegraph (Kolkata, India)