Working Title

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n17/steven-rose/how-to-get-another-thorax
This is an article from The London Review by Steven Rose on Epigenetics, which has to do with influences beside the genotype on phenotype, such as environmental influences. This topic is quite controversial as there are strict "fundamentalists" who believe in the overriding nature of the gene. Epigenetics might explain differences between genetically identical twins. Epigenetics is also providing a way for Developmental Biologists and strict Geneticists to have a conversation. Siddhartha Mukherjee wrote a piece in the NYer on Epigenetics that is inciting many corrections and responses. In any case, the issue is by no means settled.


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/science/ancient-dna-human-history.html?_r=0
This is an article from the NYT about an article published in Nature recounting the discovery of a single mutation in the DNA indicating that all non-Africans trace their lineage to a single population emerging from Africa from 50,000 to 80,000 years ago. This would have been one dispersal, although there were more, but these are our ancestors. Three research teams sequenced the genomes of 787 people, including Basques, African pygmies, Bedouins and others.


http://healthjournalism.org/blog/2016/09/confusion-persists-over-timing-of-flu-shots-for-older-adults/
This is an article from the American Society of Health Care Journalists about the timing of flu shots for older adults (65 and older). It also addresses the different vaccines that are available. It may be more advantageous to wait until the flu season starts to get full protection.




http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/health/birth-of-3-parent-baby-a-success-for-controversial-procedure.html?_r=0 This is an article from the NYT describing  the birth of a 3- parent baby. What this means actually is that the genetic material of a donor is in the genetic make-up of the offspring in addition to the genetic material of the two conceiving parents.  The mother had mutated mitochondria so the nuclear DNA of the mother was moved to the egg of a healthy donor after removing the donor's nuclear DNA.  This method was tried in China 30 years ago.




https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/may/24/why-women-leave-academia  Article in the Guardian Professional about the consequences of women leaving academia for industry. At the start of their careers 72% of women want to pursue an academic career but by the the end of their first year the numbers have decreased to 37%. By the third year 21% of men can be compared to 12% of women seeking academic jobs.

Whither Goeth Hermine?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/04/opinion/sunday/youre-how-old-well-be-in-touch.html?_r=0  This is a column in the Sunday Review opinion section of the NYT about age discrimination in the workplace. According to this article 20% of Americans 65 and older are working. Why are people over 50 unable to find work? The column says a network of attitudes and institutional practices is to blame.




http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/04/technology/goodbye-ivory-tower-hello-silicon-valley-candy-store.html  This NYT article is about economists moving from academia to private companies to help analyze data and improve sales.


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/03/business/is-epipen-a-brand-name-or-a-generic-drug-mylan-casts-it-both-ways.html An article in the NYT about the profiteering in selling the Epipen by Mylan pharmaceuticals, which has exclusivity.  Mylan has been saying it is a generic, resulting in Medicaid overpayment. Mylan has raised the price six-fold since 2007. Shares of Mylan have dropped 15% in the weeks since the attention to Epipen's overpricing has been publicized.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/04/business/at-mylan-lets-pretend-is-more-than-a-game.html



http://healthjournalism.org/blog/2016/09/modifying-use-of-some-prescription-drugs-may-reduce-fracture-risk-in-older-adults/ The JAMA Internal Medicine published a study about how changing the drug regimen of older adults may lessen the likelihood their sustaining fractures. The study was done at Dartmouth U. 21 drug classes were associated with increased fracture risk.


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/13/science/south-african-mine-life-on-mars.html?_r=0 This article from the Science Times is about microbes in a South African mine. A Princeton-led team is examining a methane-fed community of microbes which could be similar to the community on Mars. There is a theory that life originated on Mars then traveled to earth by way of meteorites. This is called the earth's deep biosphere.