ActionBioscience tag:www.actionbioscience.org,2009://1 2009-06-29T18:15:34Z Movable Type 3.36 The Decline of North American Freshwater Fishes tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2009://1.54047 2009-06-26T20:00:27Z 2009-06-29T18:15:34Z The fishes of North America’s inland waters, the most diverse of any temperate region, currently face an unprecedented conservation crisis.

  • About 40% are imperiled or presumed extinct, and the portion of imperiled fishes is increasing.
  • Threats to this fauna include habitat destruction, introduced species, altered hydrology, pollution, disease, over-exploitation, and other factors.
  • Extinctions and imperilment of fishes occur among diverse taxonomic groups, across regions, and in a variety of habitats.
]]> Stephen J. Walsh, Howard L. Jelks, and Noel M. Burkhead The fishes of North America’s inland waters, the most diverse of any temperate region, currently face an unprecedented conservation crisis.

  • About 40% are imperiled or presumed extinct, and the portion of imperiled fishes is increasing.
  • Threats to this fauna include habitat destruction, introduced species, altered hydrology, pollution, disease, over-exploitation, and other factors.
  • Extinctions and imperilment of fishes occur among diverse taxonomic groups, across regions, and in a variety of habitats.
]]> The Value of Healthy Estuaries tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2009://1.54040 2009-03-27T21:11:36Z 2009-04-21T02:37:35Z Healthy estuaries are critical to humans and wildlife. They:

  • provide food, supporting both commercial and recreational fisheries
  • treat waste and runoff, maintaining water quality
  • protect coastal areas from natural hazards
  • connect bodies of water for transportation and marine operations
  • nurture a balance of the food web upon which all life depends
]]> Robert R. Christian Healthy estuaries are critical to humans and wildlife. They:

  • provide food, supporting both commercial and recreational fisheries
  • treat waste and runoff, maintaining water quality
  • protect coastal areas from natural hazards
  • connect bodies of water for transportation and marine operations
  • nurture a balance of the food web upon which all life depends
]]> The Legacy of Charles Darwin tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2009://1.54023 2009-02-02T20:40:18Z 2009-04-13T18:01:29Z Darwin’s concept of evolution forever changed the way we understand how our natural world works. In this article, we learn about:

  • Darwin’s observations of nature that led to his ideas
  • Why evolution via natural selection is the basis of all of biology
  • How Darwin’s ideas affected our understanding of the sciences
  • How evolution continues to affect us today
]]> Tim M. Berra Darwin’s concept of evolution forever changed the way we understand how our natural world works. In this article, we learn about:

  • Darwin’s observations of nature that led to his ideas
  • Why evolution via natural selection is the basis of all of biology
  • How Darwin’s ideas affected our understanding of the sciences
  • How evolution continues to affect us today
]]> Airborne Disease Control tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2008://1.54016 2008-11-14T16:42:20Z 2009-03-30T17:11:49Z The air that you breathe indoors may be dangerous to your health. How can we make indoor environments safer?

  • Apply aerobiological engineering principles to buildings to control the bioaerosols in our indoor environments.
  • Retrofit old buildings or specifically design new buildings to control airborne microbes.
  • Develop regulatory standards for indoor environments.
  • Become educated about sources and transmission routes of airborne pathogens.
]]> Wladyslaw Jan Kowalski The air that you breathe indoors may be dangerous to your health. How can we make indoor environments safer?

  • Apply aerobiological engineering principles to buildings to control the bioaerosols in our indoor environments.
  • Retrofit old buildings or specifically design new buildings to control airborne microbes.
  • Develop regulatory standards for indoor environments.
  • Become educated about sources and transmission routes of airborne pathogens.
]]> Rethinking Fossil Fuels tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2008://1.54010 2008-09-05T02:59:27Z 2009-04-10T05:56:49Z Climate change and fossil fuel use are connected. It would serve the world well to:

  • Begin a moratorium on coal-fired power plants.
  • Explore and use renewable energy.
  • Insist on immediate action from world governments.
  • Penalize industries putting excess CO2 into the atmosphere.
]]> James Hansen Climate change and fossil fuel use are connected. It would serve the world well to:

  • Begin a moratorium on coal-fired power plants.
  • Explore and use renewable energy.
  • Insist on immediate action from world governments.
  • Penalize industries putting excess CO2 into the atmosphere.
]]> The Spread of Dengue Fever tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2008://1.54007 2008-08-08T20:35:20Z 2008-08-15T22:35:51Z Dengue fever is a serious disease, which is transmitted from a certain type of mosquito.

  • Dengue fever has reached pandemic status in most of the tropical countries.
  • Urbanization, lack of mosquito control, and modern transportation accelerate the spread of the virus.
  • Stored-water systems versus piped-water systems encourage mosquito breeding.
  • More air travel to tropical areas increases the potential for the spread of the disease.
]]> Duane J. Gubler Dengue fever is a serious disease, which is transmitted from a certain type of mosquito.

  • Dengue fever has reached pandemic status in most of the tropical countries.
  • Urbanization, lack of mosquito control, and modern transportation accelerate the spread of the virus.
  • Stored-water systems versus piped-water systems encourage mosquito breeding.
  • More air travel to tropical areas increases the potential for the spread of the disease.
]]> Teaching Anatomy & Physiology on the Virtual Highway tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2008://1.54004 2008-06-18T03:44:22Z 2009-04-05T20:06:19Z Virtual schools offer multiple advantages, including:

  • accessibility—you can literally “go to school” anywhere and retrieve information from almost limitless resources
  • flexible course offerings—virtual schools can offer a variety of courses that benefit the gifted and talented, as well as those that are educationally challenged
  • enhanced learning—students are introduced to new technology, which will enhance future endeavors
]]> Karen Smith Virtual schools offer multiple advantages, including:

  • accessibility—you can literally “go to school” anywhere and retrieve information from almost limitless resources
  • flexible course offerings—virtual schools can offer a variety of courses that benefit the gifted and talented, as well as those that are educationally challenged
  • enhanced learning—students are introduced to new technology, which will enhance future endeavors
]]> Polar Bears and Climate Change tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2008://1.54003 2008-05-07T20:33:27Z 2009-04-05T22:32:43Z A warming climate is altering sea ice conditions, which affects polar bears in many ways, including:

  • more difficulty in getting to and hunting prey
  • fewer den areas and lower cub survival
  • increased interactions between bears and humans
  • lower survival rate of the species in general
]]> Andrew E. Derocher A warming climate is altering sea ice conditions, which affects polar bears in many ways, including:

  • more difficulty in getting to and hunting prey
  • fewer den areas and lower cub survival
  • increased interactions between bears and humans
  • lower survival rate of the species in general
]]> The Global Decline of Mollusks tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2008://1.54002 2008-04-27T19:32:57Z 2008-07-31T00:05:33Z Mollusk species, such as snails and clams, are disappearing, but you may not know it since they do not typically stir up strong feelings. However, certain species

  • have commercial value as food and medical research
  • provide important nourishment and shelter (discarded shells) for other animal life
  • keep the water clean by recycling nutrients through their systems
]]> Christine E. Parent Mollusk species, such as snails and clams, are disappearing, but you may not know it since they do not typically stir up strong feelings. However, certain species

  • have commercial value as food and medical research
  • provide important nourishment and shelter (discarded shells) for other animal life
  • keep the water clean by recycling nutrients through their systems
]]> Scientific Literacy in the Classroom tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2008://1.54000 2008-03-18T16:43:06Z 2009-04-05T17:17:50Z Fostering scientific literacy empowers students to:

  • understand the basic concepts in the media and civic policy
  • improve inquiry and critical thinking skills
  • make connections about our interaction with the natural world
]]> Carol Brewer Fostering scientific literacy empowers students to:

  • understand the basic concepts in the media and civic policy
  • improve inquiry and critical thinking skills
  • make connections about our interaction with the natural world
]]> The Evolution of Emerging Viruses tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2008://1.53999 2008-03-18T16:04:17Z 2009-04-05T02:10:21Z Viruses will continue to be a big threat because human ecology has changed. Did you know?

  • RNA viruses evolve six times faster than human DNA.
  • Viruses are parasites. They cannot exist by themselves.
  • A virus is not picky about its host—as long as the host has the right cells for it to survive. That is why it can jump to humans from other species.
]]> Eddie Holmes Viruses will continue to be a big threat because human ecology has changed. Did you know?

  • RNA viruses evolve six times faster than human DNA.
  • Viruses are parasites. They cannot exist by themselves.
  • A virus is not picky about its host—as long as the host has the right cells for it to survive. That is why it can jump to humans from other species.
]]> Mitochondria and Aging tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2008://1.53997 2008-03-05T04:54:56Z 2008-09-25T01:27:45Z Aging has lately been linked to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage.

  • Mitochondrial DNA provides energy to the cells; when damaged, they do not provide the energy they need to help you function properly and you get sick.
  • Damaged mitochondrial DNA in genetic diseases is similar to damaged mitochondrial DNA seen in older humans, only the damage presents itself much sooner.
  • Humans are programmed to overeat—to “store up for winter,” but by overeating, mtDNA produces oxygen radicals that damage our bodies.
]]> Douglas C. Wallace Aging has lately been linked to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage.

  • Mitochondrial DNA provides energy to the cells; when damaged, they do not provide the energy they need to help you function properly and you get sick.
  • Damaged mitochondrial DNA in genetic diseases is similar to damaged mitochondrial DNA seen in older humans, only the damage presents itself much sooner.
  • Humans are programmed to overeat—to “store up for winter,” but by overeating, mtDNA produces oxygen radicals that damage our bodies.
]]> Pygmy Rabbits in Peril in the U.S.A. tag:staging.actionbioscience.org,2008://1.53995 2008-02-28T18:45:43Z 2008-07-31T00:07:43Z The decline of pygmy rabbits in the Columbia Basin in Washington State indicate trouble for groups of these animals elsewhere in the U.S. Using the ideas presented here, other organizations can

  • discover what types of diseases and predators afflict the species;
  • gather information about preserving habitat; and
  • learn how to initiate repopulation in threatened areas.
]]> Lisa Shipley The decline of pygmy rabbits in the Columbia Basin in Washington State indicate trouble for groups of these animals elsewhere in the U.S. Using the ideas presented here, other organizations can

  • discover what types of diseases and predators afflict the species;
  • gather information about preserving habitat; and
  • learn how to initiate repopulation in threatened areas.
]]> Genetic Testing to Predict Disease: Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) tag:dev.actionbioscience.com,2007://1.53969 2007-12-06T16:11:57Z 2009-06-16T18:48:56Z Genetic testing to predict disease can be helpful to individuals and some families but poses ethical, legal, and social questions. For example:

  • Do you know your privacy rights when it comes to genetic testing?
  • Does a doctor have a right to share your information with family?
  • Would you allow a child to have genetic testing?
  • Would you use genetic testing to choose the “right” embryo?
]]> Linda MacDonald Glenn Genetic testing to predict disease can be helpful to individuals and some families but poses ethical, legal, and social questions. For example:

  • Do you know your privacy rights when it comes to genetic testing?
  • Does a doctor have a right to share your information with family?
  • Would you allow a child to have genetic testing?
  • Would you use genetic testing to choose the “right” embryo?
]]> Talking Past Each Other: Genetic Testing and Indigenous Populations tag:dev.actionbioscience.com,2007://1.53968 2007-09-17T18:25:46Z 2009-04-02T18:45:31Z An ethical approach to genetic testing of indigenous populations requires:

  • protection from racial discrimination
  • preservation of human rights
  • prior informed consent of individuals
  • retention of a population’s cultural self-determination
]]> By Ikechi Mgbeoji An ethical approach to genetic testing of indigenous populations requires:

  • protection from racial discrimination
  • preservation of human rights
  • prior informed consent of individuals
  • retention of a population’s cultural self-determination
]]>