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The article discusses issues surrounding synthetic biology. Despite the advances in the field, including the creation of a synthetic cell, researcher Alistair Elfick claimed that the synthesis of whole bacterial genomes are unlikely. James Collins of Boston University pointed out the high cost of developing synthetic genomes.

The article discusses the impact of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on mental health. It has been found that DBS seems to tune an array of brain regions, not just the area around the electrode. It explains that DBS involves continually delivering high-frequency pulses of weak current to a particular region via stimulators that are surgically inserted into the brain. Researchers proved that DBS is effective at reducing some symptoms of bipolar disorder and Tourette's syndrome.

The article reports on a discovery that young carriers of epsilon 4, a variant of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene which increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, are smarter, have sharper memories, and are more educated than their counterparts. It discusses the research conducted by Duke Han and his colleagues to 78 American soldiers with traumatic brain injuries which shows that epsilon carriers are in better cognitive shape. Studies about epsilon 4's benefits to the young are also discussed.

The article focuses on the implications of mind-reading technology development. It states that there are concerns that are being raised towards the development of mind-reading technologies which might be exploited by advertisers or oppressive governments. However, it indicates that the technology can have powerful benefits which include gaining a better understanding of the brain and improved communication with people who cannot speak or write. INSET: THE RISKS OF OPEN-MINDEDNESS.

The article discusses the ways on how to reduce pain in animals such as chickens, pigs and rodents. It cites the insight of Adam Shriver, a philosopher at Washington University, on the reduction of animal suffering in factory farming. Studies that focus on the manipulation of genetic and molecular bases of animals such as one on anterior cingulated cortex damage in rats that affected their behavior towards pain. Works of Zhou-Feng Chen on identifying the genes that affect pain are discussed.

The article discusses research on the potential of a longevity scan based on genetic markers published in an issue of "Science," by Paolo Sebastiani and Thomas Perls of Boston University in Massachusetts. Upon comparing the genomes of centenarians and people who have died before reaching the age of 100 years, 150 single nucleotide differences have been identified by researchers. It is concluded that genetics has a significant role in extended longevity among humans.

The article provides information on the gene that produces pheromones emitted by female European corn borer moths as highlighted in a study conducted by Jean-Marc Lassance and Christer Löfstedt at Lund University in Sweden.

The article reports that the discovery of evidence that chimpanzees kill their rivals to gain territory could help explain the evolutionary origins of the cooperative behaviour in humans. John Mitani, a primatologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and his colleagues, have witnessed the lethal attacks led by Ngogo males on smaller group of chimpanzees. According to Michael Wilson of the University of Minnesota, there is an existing relationship between cooperation and competition in both chimpanzees and in humans.

The article discusses the effects of losing a loved one on the immune system. A research study led by Janet Lord, an immunologist at the University of Birmingham in Great Britain revealed that increased cortisol levels due to stressful events like bereavement worsen the situation. According to the article, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) boosts the immune responses, while cortisol dampens them.

The article discusses research study done one a new vaccine virus that contains exactly the same proteins as the flu strain it targets by Steffen Mueller and colleagues, published in "Nature Biotechnology."

The article reports on the discovery of fossils of butchered aquatic animals like catfish, turtles and crocodiles in the banks of Lake Turkana in Kenya, providing support to speculations that early humans preferred to get their meat from aquatic animals rather than hunt on land.

The article focuses on a research study, which revealed that early humans interbred with Neanderthals. It also showed that early Homo sapiens not only mixed with Neanderthals but probably with other Homo species. Results of the study indicate that the genome of modern humans contain Neanderthal genome of about 1% to 4%.

The article discusses research which found a differentiation mutation in the gene called DCC in a family in which mirror movement disorder is common, with reference to a study by Guy Rouleau and colleagues published in a previous issue of the journal "Science."

The article reports on an experiment being conducted by Kevin Campbell of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg which is dedicated to resurrecting wooly mammoth blood protein using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from a 43,000-year old mammoth from Siberia.

The article focuses on the agreement of the Arizona State University in Tempe to pay 41 members of a Native American tribe 700,000 dollars after using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for purposes it was not allegedly donated for.

The article reports on a study on the cognitive gains of people who play mind-boosting games and enjoy web surfing. The study found that both groups show modest improvements in cognition, and people who enjoy mind-boosting games have the same cognitive gains with those who enjoy web surfing. Researcher Adrian Owen concludes that brain-testing software makes people better in the tasks they are practising.

The article reports on the findings of a study that sense of smell likely shorten the lifespan of organisms including humans. According to molecular biologist Scott Pletcher, eliminating the sense of smell of fruit flies makes them live longer compared to flies with an intact sense of smell. It further states that specific smell or tastes that stretches the lifespan in humans has the potential to prevent age-related disease.

The article presents background on the study by Sara Mednick and colleagues of the University of California in San Diego on the implication of lack of sleep on drug use among teenagers in the U.S. It reveals that the lack of sleep has caused teenagers to use cannabis and marijuana. It also shows that the poor sleep habits among the subjects were due to social networks, cell phone use, and the Internet. In addition, it affirms that this behavior can be passed on to their colleagues.

The article focuses on study conducted by behavioural biologist Péter Pongrácz's team at Eötvös Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary in which they recorded the growls of dogs during a tug-of-war game, competing with other dog for a bone, and at an approaching stranger to analyse the different vocalisations of the dogs.

The article discusses the study conducted by Litsa Lambrakos and her colleagues regarding the health risks of sugary soft drinks and fatty foods highlighting their conclusion that a price hike for such food and drinks will lessen their consumption.

The article reports on the medical study conducted by neuroscientist Olivia Carter regarding the link between pupil dilation and human cognition in Australia. It notes that pupil dilation triggers noradrenalin release resulting to an outward sign of decision making. According to physician John-Dylan Haynes, pupil dilation reveals a person's thoughts and perception.

The article reports on the visualization of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on dopamine which is released during sexual activity in the U.S.

The article discusses the utilization of mathematics in film production in order to catch the attention of the audience. According to James Cutting, a psychologist at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, movie makers were using Fourier transform as depicted in his observation of 150 Hollywood movies. In addition, Tim Smith of University of Edinburgh in Great Britain, stresses that the attention theory concurs with Fourier transform as a sign that audiences are more attentive to the film.

The article focuses on the cannibalism of Bonobos in Salonga national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It states that Bonobos were caught doing cannibalism by a group of primatologists headed by Gottfried Hohmann who studied Bonobos in the said national park. It says that team member Andrew Fowler saw an ape named Olivia that seems was killed by her members and was later eaten by her members. Fowler believes that the main driver of cannibalism among Bonobos is their nourishment. INSET: WHEN PRIMATES EAT THEIR OWN.

The article focuses on the analysis of Laura Fortunato of the University College London and Marco Archetti of Harvard University on the emergence of social monogamy in the U.S. The authors found out that the advent and spread of agriculture 10,000 years ago are one of the factors that fueled the emergence of social monogamy. Hence, they contend that the extant scarcity of land and its intense cultivation will form socially monogamous pairs among men and women in future generation.

The article focuses on the study led by Myra McClure which failed to find xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus (XMRV) in 186 people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in Great Britain.

The article offers information on the discoveries for the extinction of the Homo neanderthalis.

The article focuses on synaesthesia which was considered as a human's brain power. It states that based from the study of Jamie Ward from the University of Sussex in Brighton, England and colleagues, higher aspects of the brain are unusual in synaesthesia. Moreover, Edward Hubbard from the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee claims that perceptual areas are involved in synaesthesia and synaesthetes caused the activation of colour which led to the quick processing of the brain.

The article reports on the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a new model that could aid HIV research. It states that the new model, which was developed by a team led by virologist Theodora Hatziioannou, could steer succeeding vaccine trials, drug development and basic research into the virus. Accordingly, there are two main varieties of SIV being used by laboratories which include one from sooty mangabeys and a hybrid virus called SHIV, containing a cocktail of HIV genes spliced into SIV.

The article discusses on Foxp2 genes which is responsible for human's linguistic abilities including speech and language. German researchers have identified that the difference between human's Foxp2 with animals is the alteration of proteins that it produces. Genevieve Konopka and Daniel Geschwind from the University of California, Los Angeles have studied on the genes and found that the genes control brain functions such as cognition, body movement and the development of some tissues.

The article reports on the research study conducted by Sidarta Ribeiro and André Pantoja of Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience which investigates the association between learning and dreaming in Natal, Brazil. It notes that research subjects are allowed to play the virtual game "Doom" before sleeping. It suggests that the subjects are replaying the game during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Moreover, Ribeiro cites that the study does not prove improvement.

The article offers insight on an investigation by neuroscientist Erich Jarvis on how forebrain neurons are guided normally to the hindbrain in a songbird. Jarvis team conducted a brain transplants on birds embryo that are two-days old to inquire song learning in the birds. The team observed that some of the finch neurons make a beeline for quail's hindbrain.

The article reports on the study by psychologist Joseph Newman which explores how psychopathic prisoners react when anticipating pain. In this study, prisoners were hooked to a device to measure how strong they would blink when presented with red letters which are followed by an electric shock. It was observed that psychopathic prisoners flinched upon seeing red letters. Newman explains that psychopaths seem fearless for they find it hard to pay attention on what is scary or not.

The article reports on simple drawing that would help in the detection of liars as examined by forensic psychologist Aldert Vrij from the University of Portsmouth in Great Britain. Virj states that liars do not have direct visual experience and may draw a setting different from someone telling the truth. Similar approach is applied by the Police Department in Denver, Colorado through the use of electronic white boards.

The article reports on the effect of brain implants on the brain's neural connections. It notes on the potential of brain implants to control robotic arms among paralyzed people. However, it states that the implants sever neural connections near electrodes. It also cites the experiment conducted by Ravi Bellamkonda's team in which the neurons near the implanted electrodes into the rats' brain lose their connections to other neurons.

The article features the research done by Wolfgang Enard and team on Foxp2, dubbed as the language gene offering clues to its importance, in Leipzig, Germany. They used the animal models as specimen to probe into the unique human trait. They found that mice with human Foxp2 develop more neurons readily and lastingly calmed by electrical stimulations. They think that the gene helps establish brain circuits and coordinate with various complex movements of body including lungs, tongue and lips.

The article discusses the significance of domestic breeds worldwide. It highlights the results of the studies which determine the advantages of breed domestication in giving many colours to horses' coats, for cows to produce milk and fight infection and to decrease the size of the sheep's horns. Arne Ludwig of Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany confirms the potential of domestic breeds as a sign of innovation.

The article discusses the experiment which shows that ribonucleic acid (RNA) can sustain its own replication. Biochemist Gerald Joyce at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California and colleague Tracey Lincoln studied RNA because most researchers think that this sister molecule to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) stored information about early life. It notes that both created their robozyme or RNA enzyme called R3C from scratch such that a single function can be performed.

The article reports on the genes of the Dutch men and women that were affected by environmental influences retain chemical changes which may put them at risk of diabetes and cancer. It is stated that the environmental influences such as food shortage and smoking can cause changes in the number of chemical "caps" called methyl groups that are added to DNA bases. Epidemiologist Lambert Lumey found that a lack of caps could crank up IGF2 expression which is enough to make a biological difference.

The article features two studies on genetic differences of Europeans associated with their geographical origins. Population geneticist John Novembre of University of California and his colleagues revealed that differences in the DNA of Europeans are entirely related to the place of birth of their immediate ancestors. Geneticist Manfred Kayser of the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands said that the genetic diversity in Europe is very low giving Europeans a uniform genetic patterns.

The article reports on the finding by biologist Hynek Burda and his team at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany that grazing cows tend to align north-south. The researchers, who studied 308 herds based on satellite photos from Google Earth, observed that the animals' orientation suggests that they can sense the Earth's magnetic fields.

The article elaborates on the research undertaken by Margaret Rubega and colleagues to explore shorebirds' unusual way of eating in Connecticut. They discovered that these birds have an unique way of eating wherein they use gravity-defying tricks to fill their stomachs with corepods, small crustaceans. They observed that these birds swim in circles to create a vortex that sweeps the copepods to the surface, then scissors their beaks open and shut to draw in food-filled beads of water.

The article reports on the study conducted by Anthony Chan, biologists at Yerkes National Primate Center, to develop potential treatment to Huntington's disease in Atlanta, Georgia. They used five rhesus monkeys which are genetically engineered to churn out the mutant protein that causes the disease. They inserted the Huntington's gene into the DNA of 130 macaque eggs, along with a gene wherein all the monkeys born expressed the green protein. Discussed are the details of the issue.

The article reports on the impact of Australian tongue orchids' scent on female wasps, based on the study conducted at Macquarie University in Sydney, New South Wales. Researcher Anne Gaskett stated that many insects are sexually deceived into liaisons with flowers but few go as far as Lissopimpla excelsa. Gaskett and his colleague revealed that nearly three quarters of male wasps ejaculated on the flowers in their first dupe.

The article discusses a research by geneticist Christopher Amos and colleagues from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center which emphasizes on the danger of tobacco on a smoker who possesses a genetic mutation. This mutation is linked to a dramatic increase in smokers' already high odds of developing lung cancer. The variant may not only sensitize cells to nicotine, but also make it harder for smokers to stop their habit.