Multicellular Life Evolves In Months, In a Lab

I suspect it's not "evolution" at all, but subtly bad science (i.e. a scientist gunning for more grant money). DNA can express in many ways given varying environmental conditions, without the mutations that characterize true evolution -- and artificially forcing genetic drift by selecting for the bottom-clumpers is certainly VERY DIFFERENT from having gravity serve as the "selection pressure."

It's well known DNA can express in many different ways without true evolution. We've come a long way from the theory of Lamarckian evolutionary theory (evolution of acquired characteristics). One is example: exons, which can express differently across generations based on environmental conditions-- without actual change to the DNA.

I'm thinking this great discovery will get pounded upon by other biologists pretty quickly -- and put in its proper place as an interesting science experiment that really does not advance the field much if at all. INTERESTING evolution would be a group of mutations that lead to a multicellular outcome. That's NOT what these guys 1) demonstrated happened (multicellular DNA base-pair-causing mutations) or 2) proved was the actual genetic cause at the molecular-biology level.

IAAMBP (I am a molecular biophysicist) and I actually just finished discussing this article at work before seeing it on/. The parent post is an odd mix of insightful comments and flamebait so I'll respond to the former. BTW the actual research article itself is free for everyone to read, thanks to the authors shelling out an extra 1K$ to allow public access. I'll link it below:

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/01/10/1115323109.full.pdf+html [pnas.org]

If you would prefer having to pay 10-30$ for the privilege of reading what your tax dollars already paid for instead of this commie "open access" stuff, please call your congressman and tell him/her to support HR bill 3699.

To contextualize this work: the path that led from single-celled eukaryotes to multicellular organisms is one of those $64,000 questions in evolutionary biology, that weird crossover from outright competition to coordinated teamwork. The advantages of being multicellular really pay off for big, complex organisms, but why on earth would it have been advantageous for a small group of a few dozen cells? This paper does not answer the question by any stretch, but it does provide a few interesting, unexpected clues. Most groups asking this question focus on Volvocine algae, which evolved multicellularity so recently such that you can compare them side by side with their nearly identical single-celled cousins in the very same pond. But these are not the most convenient organisms to work with; they have a very complicated life cycle, and have a monster-sized genome for their diminutive size (~140 million bases) and doing genetics on such beasties is still quite difficult and tedious.

Yeast, on the other hand, are really easy to work with and are actually pretty boring in most respects; ~12 million base pairs which have all been sequenced many times over. You can actually custom order them with any gene you want deleted just to see what happens, it's that well characterized. So the observation that artificially selecting for clusters in boring yeast leads to weird snowflake-shape colonies with something that resembles "programmed cell death" in higher organisms is completely unexpected an novel. "Programmed cell death" literally means that the colony has found a way to promote what's good for the colony over what's good for the individual, even though these are only 60 days removed from being a pretty ordinary yeast.

Is this how it happened billions of years ago? Probably not, this is just boring yeast after all, and I can't think of a scenario where sinking to the bottom is a life-or-death advantage. In the case of the algae, it would in fact be suicidal to sink beyond where the

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/1dnl9L12OjA/multicellular-life-evolves-in-months-in-a-lab

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Big Brother Brazil participant probed for rape (Reuters)

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) ? A participant in the Brazilian version of reality TV show "Big Brother" is being investigated for suspected rape of a fellow housemate while she apparently was asleep during the program.

Police on Tuesday questioned male model Daniel Echaniz, 30, who was shown in live images in bed with 23-year-old Monique Amin apparently having sex under the covers.

"The young woman denies she was raped and has not pressed charges," Rio police spokeswoman Edileide Macedo said. "We continue to investigate the case because it is a public matter."

Television network Rede Globo expelled Echaniz from the program on Monday after a seven-minute video of the bed scene was posted on the Internet and police were called in to investigate.

Police collected possible evidence from the set of the reality show, including the bed sheets, the police spokeswoman said.

"Big Brother" is a television show in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but are continuously watched by television cameras. Housemates try to win by avoiding periodic evictions from the house. Localized versions run in countries around the world.

It was not clear from the images taken with a night camera whether Amin was asleep. In the video, she barely moves. Brazilian media reported she had passed out from drinking alcohol at a party before going to bed.

Her mother was sure she was out of it. "Without any doubt, my daughter was asleep," Claudia Amin told a local newspaper.

(Reporting by Pedro Fonseca and Anthony Boadle; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120117/tv_nm/us_brazil_bigbrother_rape

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Carnival and cruise sector count cost of disaster (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? The cruise ship industry faces an uphill task to restore confidence among customers spooked by images of the stricken Costa Concordia flipped on its side in Italian waters on Monday and could suffer a hit to sales in a key booking period.

Carnival, the owner of the cruise ship that capsized off Italy's west coast, said it alone expected to take a hit of around $90 million from Friday's accident just as a result of the boat being out of use for the rest of the year.

"The long-term consequences for the cruise industry could be significant. This accident could have a significant impact in terms of trading because we're in the peak-season for reservations," said Natixis analyst Geoffrey d'Halluin.

The first quarter is a critical booking period across the tourism industry and the images are unlikely to encourage holidaymakers already facing tough economic headwinds to opt for a cruise.

"I think it's going to be horrid, short term," Numis analyst Wyn Ellis told Reuters. "There will be a definite short-term impact because it's a key booking period and many people will be put off cruising in the short term."

Travel industry analyst Mark Murphy said since cruise ship vacation industry is still in its infancy in the United States with only 20 percent of Americans having been on a cruise.

"The problem is this could impact the other 80 percent who are yet to try cruises," said Murphy.

He said the cruise industry was already forecasting cheaper fares for 2012 to help counter the impact of the soft U.S. economy and an imminent European recession.

"I think they'll get cancellations in the short term but they'll recover nicely. It's a great cash flow business."

Ellis also believes the industry will recover in the long-term.

"I think people have very short memories. This summer's going to be awful but in terms of the long term valuations and the fundamentals of the industry I think the impact will be marginal," he said.

Carnival had already warned in December that it had lowered its prices for 2012 cruises because of weaker demand in Europe as the euro zone crisis took its toll.

Shares in Carnival were down 16.5 percent to 1,856 pence by the close of trading, knocking nearly 700 million pounds ($1.07 billion) off the company's value. Rival Royal Caribbean Cruises' Oslo-listed shares ended the day down 7.7 percent.

Carnival said the Costa Concordia is expected to be out of service for at least the remainder of its financial year.

"For the fiscal year ending November 30, the impact to 2012 earnings for loss of use is expected to be approximately $85-$95 million or $0.11-$0.12 per share."

That impact is from loss of use of the ship alone and does not take into account the likely impact on bookings. Carnival said it anticipated further costs to the business that it was too early to determine.

Costa Concordia is insured for 405 million euros ($513 million) by insurers including XL, RSA and Generali, with specialist marine insurers providing extra cover for potential injury claims, industry sources said.[ID:nWLA1403]

An RSA spokesperson said the company's exposure to the disaster was below 10 million euros, while a spokesperson for Generali said the impact on the company would be small. XL could not immediately be reached.

Market expectations for Carnival's earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) currently range between $2.36 billion and $2.64 billion with the average at $2.47 billion, according to a Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S poll of 11 analysts. The average forecast for earnings per shares stands at $2.67.

Carnival and Royal Caribbean account for around three-quarters of the global market.

Europe's two biggest travel companies by sales, TUI Travel and Thomas Cook, also have sizeable cruise ship businesses. Shares in TUI Travel were up 3.2 percent to 166.9 pence with Thomas Cook unchanged at 15.25 pence.

Global demand for cruises almost doubled from 9.7 million passengers in 2000 to 18.8 million in 2010 and the industry generates annual revenue of over 35 billion euros ($44 billion)in Europe alone.

Carnival's Chairman and Chief Executive Micky Arison said the company was prioritizing the safety of its passengers and crew.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and our hearts go out to everyone affected by the grounding of the Costa Concordia and especially to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives."

Rescue workers searching the ship for missing passengers and crew recovered a sixth body on Monday.

($1 = 0.7895 euros)

($1 = 0.6542 British pounds)

(Additional reporting by Kate Holton and Philip Baillie in London; Yinka Adegoke in New York; Editing by Hans-Juergen Peters)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120116/bs_nm/us_carnival

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Spanish judge who charged Pinochet stands trial (AP)

MADRID ? The Spanish judge who became an international human rights hero by indicting former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet went on trial Tuesday over his handling of a domestic corruption probe in a case that could end his career.

Baltasar Garzon was to take the stand as a criminal defendant at Spain's Supreme Court. He is charged with overstepping his jurisdiction by ordering wiretaps of jailhouse conversations between three defendants and their lawyers.

The trial launches a grueling judicial ordeal for Garzon, who enjoys superstar status among rights groups for championing cross-border justice but has many political enemies at home.

Next week he faces another, bigger trial for probing right-wing atrocities during the 1936-1939 Spanish civil war. The crimes were covered by an amnesty passed in 1977 as Spain moved to restore democracy after decades of dictatorship under Gen. Francisco Franco, whose side won the war. Franco died in 1975. That trial is expected to take a month or more. Just three days have been set aside for the one that started Tuesday.

Some 50 supporters cheered outside as Garzon arrived at the ornate 18th-century palace that houses the Supreme Court. As he stood outside the chamber before the trial began, colleagues of his from the National Court ? from which he was suspended in 2010, over the civil war case ? hugged him, patted him on the back and kissed him on the cheek.

With his trademark slicked-back graying hair, the barrel-chested Garzon spoke with a hoarse voice, saying he was overcoming a cold and fever but was otherwise in good shape. "Fine, just fine," he told The Associated Press.

Later, as a seven-judge panel heard a clerk read out the charge and the background of the case, Garzon sat quietly with his lawyer, reading papers and taking notes.

The corruption case centers on a network of business people who are accused of paying off members of the conservative Popular Party ? now in power in the central government ? in exchange for lucrative government contracts in the Madrid and Valencia regions.

Spanish law allows the bugging of jailhouse conversations between terrorism suspects and their lawyers. But it is vague on non-terror cases, saying jailhouse wiretaps can be ordered by a judge if he or she believes the conversations will yield evidence germane to an investigation.

Garzon has argued that he ordered the wiretaps in 2008 because he thought people visiting the three suspects were acting as couriers to receive money-laundering instructions.

Lawyers for those three detainees argue that, since the law does not specifically allow for bugging of conversations between detainees and their lawyers in non-terror cases, Garzon acted illegally. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of removal from the bench for 17 years. He is now 56, and judges in Spain tend to retire at 70.

The case has been brought because of a complaint by those lawyers, even though prosecutors say Garzon did nothing wrong and should be acquitted. This is a quirk of Spanish penal law ? private citizens can seek to bring criminal charges against someone even if prosecutors disagree.

The same circumstances exist in the civil war case.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120117/ap_on_re_eu/eu_spain_judge_on_trial

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Pets Bowl ? Give Your Pets Total Comfort! | Brooklyn Dog Runners ...

A pet bowl is an asset in your pets happiness and a tool of convenience for you while feeding the same. The errand of choosing a proper pet bowl isn?t tough but a little daunting. With huge varieties of pets bowl available in the pet supply stores, sometimes pet owners may get confused on what to zero in on. There are a plethora of plastic bowls, ceramic bowls and steel bowls to choose from.

If youre thinking about purchasing a new pet food bowl or pet water bowl, you might want to consider all the alternatives that are available today. Many pet supply stores offer a wide variety of pet bowls that are known for their variety of designs and patterns. These bowls are manufactured using quality raw materials and are best suited for the pets. However, some bowls are made of materials that are chemically treated and so, unsafe for daily use. The pet owner should always pay attention to the material of the bowl.

Here are some popular types of pet bowls. Lets take a look on some of them:

Ceramic bowls: Many pet supply stores offer a wide range of ceramic bowls which are designed in a host of shapes and sizes to offer the pet full comfort. These types of bowls are quite attractive but a little costly at the same time. These bowls do not easily get knocked over because of their level bottoms. They are not only very easy to clean but also dishwasher approved.

Stainless steel pet bowls: Bowls made of stainless steel are very popular in the international market. Steel bowls are the ideal type of bowls used for feeding pets. They are environment friendly and easy-to-clean. Known for their durability and superior finishes, these bowls are available in various sizes and designs at market leading prices. They are constructed in a way to conceal any mark of chewing and scratching.

Today, from variety of pet bowls to pet mats and other pet accessories, everything can be purchased online. You can also check out stockiest page for retailers and distributors near you.

Source: http://www.brooklyndogrunners.com/pets-bowl-give-your-pets-total-comfort-2.html

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Mexico presses US House speaker on arms traffic (AP)

MEXICO CITY ? Mexican President Felipe Calderon has asked U.S. House Speaker John Boehner to crack down on weapons trafficking that has fueled drug violence in Mexico.

Calderon's office says the president stressed the importance of stopping illegal trafficking of weapons and cash into Mexico.

The government says Mexico's drug cartels import much of their weaponry from the United States.

Boehner and Michigan Rep. Dave Camp visited Mexico on Friday along with other members of Congress to discuss security and economic and political issues with Mexican officials.

Calderon's office says the U.S. delegation praised Mexico's five-year offensive against drug cartels.

The U.S. delegation previously visited Colombia and Brazil.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120114/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_mexico_us_house_speaker

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IPad Frame Bag Clamps to Your Bike

I have given up trying to mount an iPad up on my touring bike’s handlebars. While having heads-up maps displayed would be handy, the things just too darn big, and too hard to secure safely. A frame-bag, on the other hand, is almost as convenient and has the advantage of better security and not acting [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/VXDe22N9WLI/

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