Children of mothers who ate more fish and other seafood while pregnant are smarter and have better developmental skills

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Children of mothers who ate more fish and other seafood while pregnant are smarter and have better developmental skills than kids of women who ate less or none, researchers said on Thursday in findings they called surprising.

The study, sure to be controversial, sought to assess whether it is wise, as some experts and the U.S. government have recommended, for pregnant women to limit their seafood intake to avoid mercury, a toxin that can harm the nervous system of developing foetuses.

Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, a U.S. National Institutes of Health researcher who led the study in The Lancet medical journal, said seafood is a key source of omega-3 fatty acids, important for fetal brain development.

The researchers said limiting pregnant women's weekly intake to 340 grams (12 ounces) of fish and seafood, as advised by the U.S. government, did not protect their children from developmental problems. Women who avoid seafood, they said, may actually be harming their babies by depriving them of essential nutrients needed for the developing fetal brain.

"It was very surprising," Hibbeln said in a telephone interview. "We did not expect such clear-cut results of the harm of low seafood consumption." The study looked at the children of more than 8,000 British women tracked by the University of Bristol to determine how kids fared if their mothers ate more than 12 ounces -- about two average meals.

These children, compared to those whose mothers ate lesser amounts, were more advanced in developmental tests measuring fine motor, communication and social skills as toddlers, behaved better at age 7, and earned higher verbal IQ scores at age 8, the study found. The differences were striking when looking at kids whose mothers ate no seafood. They were 48 percent more likely to have a relatively low verbal IQ score at age 8 compared to children whose mothers ate the higher amount of seafood


Via

Big Bird dinosaur found

Fossil of new species scientists named Gigantoraptor discovered in the Gobi Desert

David Perlman, Chronicle Science Editor

Xu Xing, a Chinese paleontologist, puzzled over the thigh bone of a monstrous new dinosaur he and his partners had discovered in the rich fossil beds of the Gobi Desert.

The bone was so big, he said in an e-mail to The Chronicle, that he thought he and his colleagues had merely found another of those familiar plant-eating, long-necked, semi-aquatic creatures called sauropods, well known in the evolutionary past of the dinosaur world.

Then he thought the bone most likely had come from a tyrannosaur -- perhaps the voracious and towering T. rex, the prime predator of fright movies.

But no, it wasn't T. rex at all; it was a fossil from the largest birdlik

e creature ever seen, Xu said. More than 26 feet long and 16 1/2 feet tall, it was a young adult that must have weighed at least a ton and a half when it was alive more than 70 million years ago, he said. It thrived in the late Cretaceous period only a few million years before all the dinosaurs on Earth became extinct.

"When I went back to my geologist colleague Lin Tan's lab to check the skeleton, I was shocked," Xu wrote in his e-mail. "I said to Tan, 'It is not a sauropod, it is not a tyrannosaurus, it is a tyrannosaurus-sized oviraptor. We have a gigantic chicken!' "

And that's the report the journal Nature is publishing today: the discovery of a creature Xu's team has named Gigantoraptor erlianensis, a giant birdlike dinosaur from the Gobi's Erlian basin, long known to science for its famous fossils and to prospectors for its vast oil reserves.

From the fossil record, the world's leading paleontologists are now sure that all modern birds are descended from the dinosaurs; in fact, the scientists often term birds "modern dinosaurs." And paleontologists, studying the fossils marking the evolution of birds during the age of dinosaurs, have observed that as the birdlike dinosaurs approached birdness, they seem to have evolved into smaller and smaller types.

So what's an enormous beast like Gigantoraptor doing among the avian world's ancestors?

It's a curious twist in the long up-and-down saga of evolution that has intrigued science ever since the Cambrian explosion of 500 million years ago, when the ancestors of countless familiar life forms emerged -- in the short span of 10 million years.

Said UC Berkeley's Kevin Padian, a leading expert on dinosaur evolution and curator of the university's Museum of Paleontology who has seen the report from Xu and Tan:

"We have dwarf sauropods, so why not giant oviraptors (the term means 'egg thief')? If resources are available, all animals will take the opportunity to increase their size. Dinosaurs can get small, and dinosaurs can get big, and the bigger ones grow faster than the little ones, because getting bigger fast can reduce the number of predators around.

"It all goes to show that when it comes to the diversity of dinosaurs, we're still just scratching the surface."

The details in the report by Xu and Tan are fascinating: "Growth lines" in one bone showed that the creature grew to adult size in only seven years -- faster than most other two-footed, meat-eating dinosaurs and "probably died in the eleventh year of life."

The animal had no teeth in its beak so its diet is a mystery, Xu said, because it had the relatively small head and long neck typical of plant-eaters, and the sharp claws of many meat-eaters.

And while the fossil-hunters found no evidence of feathers -- as many dinosaur species show -- the beast could well have had feathered arms and feathers on its tail, most likely for sexual display.

Finally, although most two-footed dinosaurs had stout legs to carry their weight, and short arms, Gigantoraptor's legs were relatively long and slender, and its arms were unusually long -- "more birdlike than its small relatives in many features," Xu said.

Mark Norell at the American Museum of Natural History has hunted dinosaur fossils with Xu in the Gobi Desert in the past but was not involved in this discovery. He studied the Gigantoraptor's fossil bones last year at Xu's Institute of Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing.

"It was really a surprise when I first saw it," Norell said in a telephone conversation. As dinosaurs evolved toward birds, they got smaller and smaller, their fossils show; until now, birdlike dinosaurs were at most 10 or 11 feet long -- certainly not 26 feet.

Paul Sereno, a paleontologist at the University of Chicago who read the report, called it "a big find, really exciting -- a class act."

"But what kind of environment on Earth was this animal adapted to?" he wondered. "It's off the charts, and with no teeth what did it eat? Did it use those long legs to escape from predators? It's clearly a pre-flight bird, but no one would have predicted its evolution, so the door seems open to a new way of living for a new kind of dinosaur."

E-mail David Perlman at dperlman@sfchronicle.com.

Source : http://www.sfgate.com

LISTS OF HERBAL-MEDICINE FROM JAVA

Following is a plant lists which is often used as traditional drug materials in Indonesia :


A
Adas (Foeniculum vulgare L.),Adem Ati (Litsea glutinosa (lour) C.D.),Akar Manis (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.),Asam Jawa (Tamarindus indica L.) , Alang-alang (Imerata cylindrica L.B.),Alpukat (Persea americana Mill.),Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus Willd.)


B
Belimbing Wuluh (Averrhoa bilimbi L.),Bandotan (Ageratum conyzoides), Bawang Putih (Allium sativum L.),Bawang Merah (Allium cepa L.), Bayam Duri (Amaranthus spinosus L.),Bengle (Zingiber purpureum Roxb.),Baru Cina (Artemisia vulgaris L.), Beluntas (Pluchea indica L.), Beringin (Ficus benjamina L.), Belimbing Manis (Averhoa carambola L.) ,Bambu (Bambusa sp.), Bangkoang (Pachyrrhizus erosus L. Ex), Bayam (Amaranthus sp.), Benalu (Loranthus sp.), Buncis (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), Buah Nona (Annona reticulata L.),Brotowali (Tinospora crispa Miers. Hook. & Thems), Bunga Pukul Empat (Mirabilis jalapa L.),Bungur (Lagerstroemia speciosa Auct.)


C
Cabe Jawa (Piper retrofractum Vahl.),Cincau (Cyclea barbata), Cakar Ayam (Selaginella doederleinii Hieron), Ceremai (Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels), Cengkih (Syzigium aromaticum L.), Cabai (Capsicum anuum L.)


D
Daun Dewa (Gynura procumbens),Dadap Ayam (Erythrina orientalis),Daun Inggu (Ruta angustifolia), Daun Kentut (Paederia scandens), Duwet (Eugenia cumini), Daun Duduk (Desmodium triquetrum DC.), Daun Encok (Plumbago zeylanica L.), Daun Madu (Barleria cristata L.), Daun Sendok (Plantago major), Daun Wungu (Graptopohyllum pictum (L.) Griff), Daun Jintan (Plectranthus amboinicus),Delima Putih (Punica granatum L.)


G
Gandarusa (Justicia gendarussa Burm.), Gude (Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp.), Gadung Cina (Smilax china L.), Gambir (Uncaria gambir (Hunter) R.), Garut (Maranta arundinacea L.)


H
Handeuleum (Daun Wungu) (Graptophylum pictum Griff), Hangjuang


I
Iler (Coleus atropurpureus L.), Iles-iles (Tacca palmata),Inggu (Ruta angustifolia)


J
Jahe (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), Jambu Biji (Psidium guajava L.),Jeruk Nipis (Citrus aurantifolia),Jambu Monyet (Anacardium occidentale),Jagung (Zea mays L.), Jambu Klutuk (Psidium guajava L.),Jintan Hitam (Nigella Sativa L.), Jati (Tectona grandis L.f.)


K
Katuk (Sauropus androginus [L.] Merr.),Kecubung (Datura metel L.),Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.), Kunyit (Curcuma Domestica Val.), Kaki Kuda (Centella asiatica), Kaca Piring (Gardenia augusta), Kamboja (Plumeria acuminata), Keji Beling (Hemigraphis colorata), Kembang Sepatu (Hibiscus rosa sinensis), Ki Urat (Plantago major), Kemuning (Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack), Kompri (Symphytum officinale L.),Kacang Hijau (Phaseolus radiatus L.),Kapulaga (Amomum cardamomum Wild.),Kedelai (Glycine max L.),Kelapa Hijau (Cocos nucifera L.),Kembang Pukul Empat (Mirabilis jalapa L.),Kumis kucing (Orthosiphon aristatus Bl. Miq.),Kangkung (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk),Kapas (Gossypium sp.), Kayu Manis (Cinnamomun burmani),Kedawung (Parkia roxburghii G. Don.), Kemeyan (Styrax benzoin Dryand),Kemiri (Aleurites moluccana L. Willd), Ketapang (Terminalia cattapa L.),Ketumbar (Coriandrum sativum L.),Kopi (Coffea sp.)


L
Lempuyang Gajah (Zingiber zerumbet SM.),Lengkuas (Languas galanga), Lidah Buaya (Aloe vera sp.), Lidah Ayam (Polygala glomerata),Landep (Barleria prioritis L.), Landik (Barleria lupulina Lindl.), Lempuyang Wangi (Zingiber aromaticum) , Lada (Piper nigrum L.), Lamtoro (Leucaena glauca L. Benth.), Lobak (Raphanus sativus L.)


M
Melati (Jasminum sambac L.),Mangkokan (Nothopanax scutellarium Merr.),Murbei (Morus alba L.),Mentimun (Cucumis sativus L.),Mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia L.), Manggis (Carnicia mangostana L.),Meniran (Phylanthus niruri L.)


N
Nangka Sabrang (Annona muricata),Ngokilo,Nangka (Artocarpus integra Merr. (Thumb.)),Nenas (Ananas cumosus L. Merr.),Nilam (Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.),Nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum L.)


O
Oyong (Luffa acutangula L. Roxb.)


P
Pegagan (Centella asiatica L. Urban),Pepaya (Carica papaya L.),Pule Pandak (Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Bentham ex Kurz),Pace (Morinda citrifolia), Putri Malu (Mimosa pudica L.),Pacar Cina (Aglaia odoranta Lour),Padi (Oryza sativa L.),Pandan Wangi (Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.),Prasman (Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl.),Pulai (Alstonia scholaris R. Br.),Pare (Momordica charantia L.),Pala (Myristica fragrans Hout.),Pasak Bumi,Petai cina (Leucaena leucocepohala de Wit),Pinang (Areca catechu L.),Pisang (Musa paradisiaca L.),Pisang Batu (Musa brachycarpa Back), Pulasari (Alyxia reinwardtii Bl.)


R
Randu (Ceiba pentandra L. Gaertn)


S
Sambang Darah (Excoecaria cochinchinensis Lour.), Sirih (Piper betle L.), Saga (Abrus precatorius L.), Secang (Caesalpinia sappan), Sembung (Blumea balsamifera [L.] DC.),Singkong (Manihot utilissima Pohl. atau Manihot esculenta Crautz.), Sosor Bebek (Kalanchoe pinnata), Senggani (Melatoma candidum D. Don), Senggugu (Clerodendron serratum [L.] Spr.) ,Som Jawa (Talinum paniculatum (Jacq) Gaertn), Srigading (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.), Seledri (Apium graveolens L.),Selada Air (Nasturtium officinale L. R. Br.), Salam (Syzygium polyanthum (Wigh) Walp),Sawi (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.), Selasih (Ocimum basilicum L.),Sledri (Apium graveolens L.),Serai (Cymbopogan nardus L. Reandle),Sirsak,Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata Burm.)


T
Tapak Dara (Catharanthus roseus L. G. Don),Tempuyung (Sonchus arvensis L.), Temu Hitam (Curcuma aeruginosa. Roxb.),Temu Kunci (Boesenbergia pandurata Roxb.S.),Temu Lawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.),Teh (Camellia sinensis L. atau Thea sinensis L.),Tomat (Solanum Lycopersicum L.),Teki (Cyperus rotundus L.),Tanjung (Mimusops elengi L.), Tembelekan (Lantana camara L.),Temu Giring (Curcuma heyneana Val. & V),Turi (Sesbania grandiflora L. Pres.)


U
Ubi jalar (Ipomoea batatas Pir. atau Batatas edulis Chois., atau Convolvulus batatas L.) Urang-aring (Eclipta alba Hassk.)


W
Wortel (Daucus carota L.), Waru (Hibiscus tiliaceus L.)

Source : http://iptek.apjii.or.id

Music Made From Genetic Patterns

Tracy Staedter, Discovery News

Even if you've never picked up an instrument, music is in your blood. Scientists have discovered a way to convert the DNA patterns that code for proteins into rhythmic piano notes that sound pleasant to a musician's ear.

The conversion method could not only make the otherwise daunting field of genomic coding more approachable to the general public and even children but could also provide scientists — including those who are vision-impaired — an entirely new way for analyzing proteins.

"It's a great teaching tool because everyone is familiar with music and it's a universal language," said research assistant Rie Takahashi, a microbiologist who studied classic piano for 14 years.

Takahashi developed the Gene2Music technique with microbiologist Jeffrey Miller at the University of California, Los Angeles, and published their results in the latest issue of Genome Biology 2007.

The team's initial study focused on the human thymidylate synthase A (ThyA), a protein involved in making and repairing DNA. Knowing the genetic pattern of a protein's amino acids (there are 20) is essential to understanding its function.

For example, some proteins have a pattern that causes them to repel water, while others attract water. That information that can ultimately help bioengineers develop more effective drugs.

It was too much to assign each of the 20 amino acids a unique note (the range would be two-and-a-half octaves), so Takahashi paired amino acids together into chords according to their water attracting or repelling capabilities. The result was 13 base notes, with the higher chords represented by the water-attracters and the lower keys represented by the water repellers.

Rhythm is determined by the three DNA letters that code for each amino acid in the protein. The more abundant the sequence of the three letters, the longer the duration a chord is played. So in the end, the chords and the rhythm say something about the protein's structure.

"Previous efforts have sought either to create works of art, and were directed primarily to the artistic community, or tried to evoke in the listener a sense of the 'music of the spheres' inherent in DNA," said Neil Smalheiser, assistant professor in psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

"In contrast, the Gene2Music project shares the sensibility and mindset of the bioinformatics community, which seeks to create public, open source tools for discerning biologically meaningful patterns within protein and DNA sequences."

But there are many different ways of assigning amino acids to notes and rhythm, said Smalheiser, and the software is still at the demo stage.

"Right now their software converts arbitrary nucleotide sequences to amino acid sequences, and thus to music, regardless of whether the result is biologically accurate or not," he said.

Takahashi and Miller are working to improve upon the software so that different instruments could be assigned to unique sections of the genome as way to distinguish their function. Free software developed by team member Frank Pettit can be downloaded from the Gene2Music Web site: (http://www.mimg.ucla.edu/faculty/miller_jh/gene2music/home.html).