by Captain Skellett | Feb 5, 2010 | Just for Fun, Sex and Reproduction
A new brand of “scientific” dating has sprouted up. It draws on an idea wrote about in the Chemistry of Kissing – basically, you have more snap, crackle and pop with someone who has an immune system very different to your own. Through your genes...
by Captain Skellett | Jan 12, 2010 | Science Communication, Unethics
When we work with cell lines in the lab, we often work with HeLa cells. They can live in a vial of nutrients, and from a small sample you can grow a large quantity to use in cancer research, in vitro fertilisation research, stem cell research, virus research, pretty...
by Captain Skellett | Dec 3, 2009 | Jibber Jabber, Just for Fun, Sex and Reproduction
I studied biochemistry at University, and I remember spending hours copying pathways, reading and rereading textbooks, then summarising, checking, drawing, testing, making mnemonics, in short EVERYTHING I could do to help me memorise things. There is a lot to remember...
by Captain Skellett | Sep 16, 2009 | How Things Work, Sex and Reproduction
Todays installment of Reproduction Wednesday is about having too many chromosomes. The scientific term for this is aneuploidy, and the pirate term for this is “thar be too many etchings on yer peg leg!” Peg leg being a euphemism, in this case, for genetic...
by Captain Skellett | Jun 22, 2009 | How Things Work
Following on from the theme of biological errors and the noise of life, I thought I’d talk about sickle cell anemia, quite a common ailment inherited Mendelian fashion through recessive genes. If you’re new (very new) to genetics, then check out a picture...
