Archive for July 27th, 2008
Children concerned over global warming - Udayavani
Children concerned over global warmingUdayavani, India - 2 hours agoMangalore, July 27: When a fifth standard student KC Ninada expressed apprehensions abut the future of the earth during a road show on global warming …
Le Quartier - Notre Environnement Quotidien
Le Quartier - Notre Environnement Quotidien
Unknown length - Jul 27, 2008
A documentary about the Montreal Urban Ecology Centre's sustainability plan for the neighbourhood of Milton-Parc.
Prochlorococcus MED4
Prochlorococcus MED4
FerdiHellweger
30 sec - Jul 27, 2008
Several viruses infecting marine cyanobacteria carry photosynthesis genes (e.g. psbA, hli) that are expressed, yield proteins (D1, HLIP) and help maintain the cell's photosynthesis apparatus during the latent period. This increases energy and speeds up virus production, allowing for a reduced latent period (a fitness benefit), but it also increases the DNA size, which slows down new virus production and reduces burst size (a fitness cost). How do these genes affect the net ecological fitness of the virus? Here, this question is explored using a combined systems biology and systems ecology ("systems bioecology") approach. A novel agent-based model simulates individual cyanobacteria cells and virus particles, each with their own genes, transcripts, proteins and other properties. The effect of D1 and HLIP proteins is explicitly considered using a mechanistic photosynthesis component. The model is calibrated to the available database for Prochlorococcus ecotype MED4 and podovirus P-SSP7. Lab- and field-scale in silico survival, competition and evolution (gene packaging error) experiments with wildtype and genetically engineered viruses are performed to develop vertical survival and fitness profiles, and to determine the optimal gene content. The results suggest that photosynthesis genes are non-essential, increase fitness in a manner correlated with irradiance, and that the wildtype has an optimal gene content. Hellweger, F. L. Carrying photosynthesis genes increases ecological fitness of cyanophage in silico (in review)
Podovirus P-SSP7 Evolution
Podovirus P-SSP7 Evolution
FerdiHellweger
2 min - Jul 27, 2008
Several viruses infecting marine cyanobacteria carry photosynthesis genes (e.g. psbA, hli) that are expressed, yield proteins (D1, HLIP) and help maintain the cell's photosynthesis apparatus during the latent period. This increases energy and speeds up virus production, allowing for a reduced latent period (a fitness benefit), but it also increases the DNA size, which slows down new virus production and reduces burst size (a fitness cost). How do these genes affect the net ecological fitness of the virus? Here, this question is explored using a combined systems biology and systems ecology ("systems bioecology") approach. A novel agent-based model simulates individual cyanobacteria cells and virus particles, each with their own genes, transcripts, proteins and other properties. The effect of D1 and HLIP proteins is explicitly considered using a mechanistic photosynthesis component. The model is calibrated to the available database for Prochlorococcus ecotype MED4 and podovirus P-SSP7. Lab- and field-scale in silico survival, competition and evolution (gene packaging error) experiments with wildtype and genetically engineered viruses are performed to develop vertical survival and fitness profiles, and to determine the optimal gene content. The results suggest that photosynthesis genes are non-essential, increase fitness in a manner correlated with irradiance, and that the wildtype has an optimal gene content.
Hellweger, F. L. Carrying photosynthesis genes increases ecological fitness of cyanophage in silico (in review)
HELP SAVE THE EARTH!!!
HELP SAVE THE EARTH!!!
Kibar4Life
3 min - Jul 27, 2008
This is serious! Dont laugh. Plz dont. I am 100% the type of person to ignore this too. Unitl i relized that it was really important. So please help doing this. Read everything and plant a tree!!!!
GO GREEN!!!!!
Flatland Escape
Flatland Escape
approachdo
6 min - Jul 27, 2008
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Smoke from Wildfires May Reduce Global Warming - KCBS
KCBSSmoke from Wildfires May Reduce Global WarmingKCBS, CA - 2 hours agoSAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — A new study finds that wildfires–which some scientists believe may be intensified by global warming–may actually cool the warming …
CONVERSATION TOPIC: Global warming: Do we have 50 years to wait? - The Daily Advertiser
CONVERSATION TOPIC: Global warming: Do we have 50 years to wait?The Daily Advertiser, LA - 3 hours agoNASA scientist James Hansen officially declared in June 1988 that global warming is a problem. Hansen's papers delivered to government a…
Systems BioEcology
Systems BioEcology
FerdiHellweger
20 sec - Jul 27, 2008
Systems BioEcology is a new approach that combines systems biology and systems ecology. Intracellular states and mechanisms (gene expression, protein function) of microbes are explicitly resolved and the microbe behavior emerges (systems biology). Individual microbes are simulated using agent-based methods and the population and ecosystem behaviors emerge (systems ecology).
Making Environmental Issues Relevant
Making Environmental Issues Relevant
Unknown length - Jul 27, 2008
Environmentalism and climate change are hot topics; yet they're still often imagined as the territory of scientists, expert activists, and those who can afford to be environmentally conscious. Biologist and Evangelical Christian is transforming the ecology of his immediate world in Dunn, Wisconsin. The Speaking of Faith production staff made a road trip to Cal DeWitt's home to give you a more visual perspective of the marshes and wildlife that surround his lands. We asked DeWitt how he approached his neighbors when moving forward with his ideas of preserving the natural beauty of Dunn. He told a series of stories that speak to Majora Carter's point about making environmental issues relevant to people's daily lives. Produced by Trent Gilliss and Colleen Scheck