Technabob » genetic http://technabob.com/blog Cool Gadgets, Gizmos, Games and Weird Science Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:42:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Dna 11 Puts Your Genetics on the Wall http://technabob.com/blog/2010/11/19/dna-11-wall-art/ http://technabob.com/blog/2010/11/19/dna-11-wall-art/#comments Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:44:56 +0000 Chris B. http://technabob.com/blog/?p=43361 It’s not uncommon to see a portrait of a person hanging their wall, right? What about a picture of their DNA?

DNA 11

It’s likely that you haven’t encountered anyone with a giant picture containing their genetic code, however, you might in the future. DNA 11 has decided to offer a service where they will take a sample of your DNA, and send you a large piece of “augmented artwork” to hang on your wall. Anyone can then scan the image with their smartphone, and be taken to a page that displays your genetic lineage.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

I have to admit, it is an interesting concept. If you’re someone that is really interested in your ancestry, then having a picture on your wall that essentially traces your genetics back over thousands of years would be pretty cool. Of course with a price s tarting at $440 (USD), you’re going to need some deep pockets to afford one.

[via BornRich]

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2010/11/19/dna-11-wall-art/feed/ 0 Rare Disease Causes Elfin Facial Features, Erases Racial Bias http://technabob.com/blog/2010/04/18/rare-disease-causes-elfin-features/ http://technabob.com/blog/2010/04/18/rare-disease-causes-elfin-features/#comments Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:05:28 +0000 Lambert Varias http://technabob.com/blog/?p=31613 “mild to moderate mental retardation, elfin facial features and gregarious social behavior;” a recent study published in the journal Current Biology …theorizes that children with Williams Syndrome also have no racial bias. Maybe we should call it Legolas Syndrome. Seriously though, it]]> A rare genetic disease called Williams Syndrome causes “mild to moderate mental retardation, elfin facial features and gregarious social behavior;” a recent study published in the journal Current Biology theorizes that children with Williams Syndrome also have no racial bias. Maybe we should call it Legolas Syndrome.

legolas lotr

Seriously though, it turns out that parts of our brain – specifically the amygdala and the fusiforn face area (FFA) – are responsible for “encoding race information” and as a side effect, make us biased towards our own race. It seems that Williams Syndrome causes “reduced activity and… impaired interactions” between these two parts. It’s sad that we’re kind of inclined to be racists by nature, but I’m pretty sure we can easily outgrow it. Maybe in the future scientists can pluck that racist gene from our DNA. (Or at least let us choose to be elves – Ed.)

[via Science Blogs via Neatorama]

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2010/04/18/rare-disease-causes-elfin-features/feed/ 0 Size-Controlling Dog Gene Identified: Could This Mean Permanent Puppies? http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/06/the-size-controlling-dog-gene-could-this-mean-permanent-puppies/ http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/06/the-size-controlling-dog-gene-could-this-mean-permanent-puppies/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:39:11 +0000 Technabob http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/06/the-size-controlling-dog-gene-could-this-mean-permanent-puppies/ A group of scientists working with the National Human Genome Research Institute claim to have identified the specific gene that controls the size of dogs.

evil puppies

Without getting into all of the scientific details (I flunked biology,) the researchers screened a group of almost 500 Portuguese water dogs (a breed with lots of size variance,) and sequenced their DNA to identify the differences. They saw that differences in a specific gene had a strong correlation to the size of the dogs. Later, they studied additional breeds, and saw similar patterns. The gene, known as IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor 1,) has also been identified in humans and mice as being a determinant in body size.

Now that this gene has been identified, it’s only a matter of time before some evil genius figures out a way to develop permanently miniaturized versions of large breed dogs that we can carry around in our pocket.

[via arstechnica]

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/06/the-size-controlling-dog-gene-could-this-mean-permanent-puppies/feed/ 1 Stop Sneezing With a Custom-Built Hypoallergenic Cat http://technabob.com/blog/2006/09/28/stop-sneezing-with-a-custom-built-hypoallergenic-cat/ http://technabob.com/blog/2006/09/28/stop-sneezing-with-a-custom-built-hypoallergenic-cat/#comments Thu, 28 Sep 2006 23:36:53 +0000 Technabob http://technabob.com/blog/2006/09/28/stop-sneezing-with-a-custom-built-hypoallergenic-cat/ If you ever wanted a little feline fluffball of your own but couldn’t deal with the sneezing and itching, your worries are over.

cat fruit hat

For the low, low price of $4000, you can pick up a hypoallergenic cat from San Diego biotech firm, Allerca. These cats are bred exclusively from litters that don’t carry the Fel D1 glycoprotein, the cause of most common cat allergies. There’s about a one-year waiting list for these critters, so maybe you can just save the $4000 and buy yourself a crapload of Claritin.

[via MedGadget via SlashGear]

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