Got Biology? This List Does!

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed important biological, genetic or other life sciences information quickly? Sure, you can Google the topic but it takes time to wade through all of the search results until you find the right one!

Carol Brown from Onlineuniversities.com sent me a list of the “100 Best Reference Sites for Science Students.” The list contains information for chemistry, environmental science and even geology.  I extracted the life sciences websites from the list and posted them below.  

  1. Biology Online: On this site you can post questions in a forum, look things up in a bio dictionary, and read all kinds of informative articles and tutorials.
  2. Everything Bio: Check out this resource to find a glossary, textbooks, images and a range of other online biology tools.
  3. Life Science Dictionary: Try out this dictionary to look up life science terms and identify their meanings.
  4. Molecular Biology Glossary: Students of molecular biology will appreciate this valuable research tool.
  5. National Biological Information Infrastructure: Want to know and read about the research being done in the life sciences? Check out this site.
  6. Biology Reference: You can look up loads of helpful biology terms in this online encyclopedia.
  7. Biology Nation: From finding the best biology grad programs for looking up biology terminology, this site is a one-stop resource.
  8. Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology: Search through this online dictionary to refresh your memory on the parts of the cell.
  9. BioScience: With a dictionary, encyclopedia, links, software, and custom search tools, you’ll find more reference material than you could ever need on this site.
  10. All Experts: Biology: Have a biology question you just can’t seem to find the 
  11. Amino Acids Repository: Use this site as a reference on amino acid properties alone and in proteins.
  12. Table of Standard Genetic Code: This site is a great reference when trying to remember which part of DNA goes where.
  13. Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: Don’t know how to say a particular term? No worries, this glossary will tell you and more.
  14. Human Genome Acronym List: Don’t have a clue what the ASHG is? This site can help you look it up.
  15. Genetics Resources on the Web: Search through this site for the best genetics resources the web has to offer.
  16. National Human Genome Research Institute: This site offers a number of helpful educational resources for students young and old.
  17. Genetics Virtual Library: Search by organism or topic to find the genetic information you need to do your homework.
  18. Genetics Home Reference: Those studying genetic disorders will appreciate this quick online reference for conditions.
  19. GeneTests: Even if you’re not in medicine, you’ll be able to find interesting and compelling information on this site.
  20. Gene Cards: You’ll find a collection of concise information on just about every gene out there on this site.

While I can’t vouch for the quality of the  list, it looks to be pretty informative.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Studying!!!!!!

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A Big MOOve--The Cow Genome is Sequenced

The long sought after cow genome has been sequenced. Heralded as a milestone in animal genetics, unraveling the cow genome will provide scientists with “tantalizing clues to explain the essence of bovinity.” Two papers describing the results of the project will appear in today's issue of the journal Science. 

The cow who donated its DNA for sequencing was a Hereford named LI Dominette 01449 and is one of the estimated 94 million bovines in the US. The project, led by researchers at National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was a gargantuan effort that spanned six years and involved more than 300 scientists from 25 countries and cost only $53 million. Based on sequence analyses, cows haver 22,000 genes as compared with 20,000 to 25,000 for humans. Some of the other findings include: 

  • Cattle and humans have about 80 percent of their genes in common

  • The organization of human chromosomes is closer to that of domestic cattle than to those of rats or mice, which are often used in lab tests of drugs intended for people.

  • Cattle chromosomes, like those of humans and other mammals, contain segmental duplications, which are large, almost identical copies of DNA present in at least two locations in a genome.

  • In domestic cattle, there are duplications related to immunity, metabolism, digestion, reproduction and lactation. Such duplications in humans have been related to a variety of disorders.

Researchers hope that elucidating the bovine genome will help them find ways to improve milk and meat production, develop new strategies to treat and prevent diseases and to reduce the carbon foot print of cows that release large amounts of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Great news to receive on National DNA Day! 

Science rocks.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!