Your Genes Decides Your Moods After Drinking Alcohol

Scientists can now explain why some people get so happy and silly by drinking alcohol and why others get depressed and angry. It all comes down to our genetic make up.

The study is done by University of Chicago on 200 subjects aged 21-35 years and is published in Archives of General Psychiatry. It reveals that those who get high from alcohol often get addicted. None of the subjects knew the study was on alcohol consumption. They described their moods through a survey.

Alcohol on its own has stimulants that can make one excited or down. However, the study showed that light drinkers were more sensitive to the effects of drinking and they felt sedated while the heavy drinkers felt happy and positive cause of alcohol consumption.

Though the blood alcohol concentration curves for both types of subjects were similar but their effect of alcohol was drastically different. Their brains responded very differently to alcohol and so their moods were completely in contrast. So, whenever you next see somebody all tipsy keep in mind the role of genetics. And just in case if you don't get depressed or crazily high after drinking, remind yourself that the credit goes to your genes.

Genetically Modified Cows Will Give Us Human Milk

Scientists have created genetically modified 300 dairy cows to produce what they call 'human milk' with the same nutritious properties as human breast milk.

In comparison, human milk has always been far more healthier as it contains key nutrients to boost the immune system of babies and reduce the risk of infections.

They used cloning technology to introduce human genes in to the DNA of Holstein dairy cows before the genetically modified embryos were implanted into surrogate cows.

Scientists believe that with this research they could provide an alternative to human breast milk and formula milk for babies (which is an inferior substitute). But they feel, it would take at least 10 years to bring such a product in the supermarkets. Currently, GM food is only sold in UK and Europe only if they pass extensive safety tests.

However, critics of genetically modified foods and animal welfare groups are not happy with this research. They are questioning the safety of milk of genetically modified animals. Also cloning leads to too many animal deaths, still born babies and health problems of most cloned animals, which is not acceptable by every one.

It is true that GM foods if produced in the best manner can be of huge benefit to consumers and to manage the resources of the world but many critics are questioning the move of making cows that provide 'human milk' because they ask what is it going to give us that we don't already have.

Honestly speaking, once upon a time I was quite excited about cloning but when I followed Dolly's life and Ian Wilmut's later response on cloning and its results, I felt that this is not really needed. Cloning in it self has too many issues. The cloned animal or person can never be as good as the real person I feel. It is never going to be the same experience as the original one. Also, we can't forget all these experiments are at the expense of the deaths of so many animals. I don't support that.

Genetically modified foods is one thing but making cows who give 'human milk' is not such a darn necessary of our life. Our lives or humanity does not depend on it, so to speak.

Royal Couple Doesn't Want Any Wedding Gifts

Prince William and his soon to be bride Kate Middleton have asked their wedding guests and well wishers for donations for a special charitable fund instead of giving them any wedding gifts. St. James Palace has announced this news.

The couple thought about it and have selected 26 charities falling in five different categories - children, arts and sports, conservation, service personnel, help and care at home. The guests can donate to any charity they like through the website: www.royalweddingcharityfund.org/.

Most of the charities are very small and they need donations to operate well and continue their noble cause. The list of charities includes anti-bullying group, a dance group, a charity for army widows and Earthwatch - a community of scientists and environmentalists. Some of them work with disadvantaged young people while some are based in Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

It seems William has taken this compassionate side from his late mother, Princess Diana who despite of her troubled life always went out of her way to help the unfortunate and less privileged beings around the world. It is said that both Kate and William have been associated with charity work before. This was something different and I didn't really expect a kind announcement of the sort from the royal family. And I guess with Prince Andrew's shameless history, such kindness and consideration would be quite a delightful thought for the Britain and the royal family members.

Snow Falling more than 20 Hours in the Capital of Romania

 Extreme weather and living of people.

Scientists Use Stem Cells To Create Mice With Two Genetic Fathers

Using stem cell technology, scientists have produced male and female mice from two fathers, a breakthrough that could conceivably allow same-sex couples to have their own genetic children.

The multi-generational technique combines genes from the chromosomes of two male mice and uses surrogate mothers, according to researchers at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas.

The team said their results are a new form of mammalian reproduction, and that it could be used to combine genetic traits from two males without having to involve any women. It could even be possible to produce sperm and eggs from one male, the researchers say.

One day, they might even be able to produce human eggs from male stem cells in a living male. This would eliminate the need to produce XO chimeras, the researchers say.

But don’t worry, fellow XXers: We're not obsolete, because women will still be necessary to carry the two-father pregnancy to term. At least until they develop a robotic uterus.

Source:

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-12/scientists-create-mice-two-genetic-fathers

My comment:

Science can do wonders. So far as endangered species are concerned, I think it’s a good idea to reproduce them. But don’t we have too many human babies who need to be adopted. What’s the point of producing babies? Gay couples can always adopt these babies who are left behind owing to a variety of reasons.

And just like clones, these genetic kids will have problems. Here in this world, we are unable to understand the problems of others who are just like us; how would people understand genetic children? Everyone doesn’t accept such kids with an open mind. We always have psychos who might harm these kids & may never accept them. And why do we have to compete with nature? I find it amusing how they mentioned robotic uterus.

Men don’t get pregnant. It would be really nice if they start getting pregnant. No surrogate mother will be required & they may also have to drop the idea of robotic uterus.

But yes I’m really impressed with this scientific development.

All men watch porn, scientists find

Scientists at the University of Montreal launched a search for men who had never looked at pornography - but couldn't find any.

Researchers were conducting a study comparing the views of men in their 20s who had never been exposed to pornography with regular users.

But their project stumbled at the first hurdle when they failed to find a single man who had not been seen it.

“We started our research seeking men in their 20s who had never consumed pornography,” said Professor Simon Louis Lajeunesse. “We couldn't find any.”
Although hampered in its original aim, the study did examined the habits of those young men who used pornography – which would appear to be all of them.

Prof Lajeunesse interviewed 20 heterosexual male university students who consumed pornography, and found on average, they first watched pornography when they were 10 years old.

Around 90 per cent of consumption was on the internet, while 10 per cent of material came from video stores.

Single men watched pornography for an average of 40 minutes, three times a week, while those in relationships watched it 1.7 times a week for around 20 minutes.

The study found that men watched pornography that matched their own image of sexuality, and quickly discarded material they found offensive or distasteful.
Prof Lajeunesse said pornography did not have a negative effect on men's sexuality.

“Not one subject had a pathological sexuality,” he said. “In fact, all of their sexual practices were quite conventional.

“Pornography hasn't changed their perception of women or their relationship, which they all want to be as harmonious and fulfilling as possible,” he added.