SUMMARY
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Science wRap is a weekly roundup of some of the top stories from the world of science, technology, and environment.
MANILA, Philippines – This week, Science wRap: The battle over genetically-modified rice, Curiosity celebrates one (earth) year on Mars, Henrietta Lacks, and electric buses.
Protest vs ‘Golden Rice’
The fight over genetically modified rice took a new twist this week. A field trial plot in Pili, Camarines Sur planted with “Golden Rice,” developed by scientists in a bid to address vitamin A deficiency in poor countries, was destroyed by anti-GMO activists last Thursday, August 8.
Activists led by the group Sikwal-GMO broke into a field inside the Department of Agriculture compound, where the rice plants were being grown. The protesters, numbering around 400, uprooted the plants.
They protest the ongoing trials, saying the genetically modified rice won’t solve malnutrition, and was a danger to humans and the environment. They also said the study is a ploy for multinational companies to strengthen their hold on the agriculture sector and squeeze out small farmers.
Scientists involved in the study denounced the activists’ actions, and vowed to continue with their work. The rice variety, genetically modified to be able to produce beta-carotene that can be converted into the vitamin by the human body, is being readied for safety evaluations when the incident occurred.
- Golden Rice field trial vandalized | Malnutrition fight not over, Golden Rice research continues (International Rice Research Institute)
- Farmers in Bicol uproot golden rice (Bulatlat)
- Activists Destroy ‘Golden Rice’ Field Trial (ScienceInsider, Science)
- GM rice approval ‘edging closer’ (BBC News)
- Farmers Rip Up Experimental Golden Rice Plants In The Philippines (Popular Science)
Curiosity’s 1st (Earth) year on Mars
The rover Curiosity celebrated its 1st anniversary on Mars Monday, August 5. NASA says Curiosity has sent back more than 190 gigabits of data and 70,000 images; collected and analyzed two rocks; and fired more than 75,000 lasers: All these during the course of its 1.6 kilometer drive.
NASA says it has met its primary goal: To see if Mars has evidence of ancient environments where life could thrive. Curiosity is now on its way to the base of Mars’ Mount Sharp. There, the rover is set to probe for more information on the planet’s past.
- Mars Science Laboratory | Mars Curiosity Landing: Relive the Excitement (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, CalTech/NASA)
- NASA celebrates Curiosity rover’s first year on Mars (CBS News)
- State of the Mission: Curiosity at Year 1 (Wired)
- A Year On Mars: What’s Curiosity Been Up To? (NPR)
- Curiosity’s Greatest Hits in Its One Year on Mars (Gizmodo)
- Webhits: Curiosity’s first year on Mars (NASA video)
Burgers grown in the lab
A hamburger made from lab-grown meat was unveiled by scientists Monday, August 5. The meat was grown from a living cow’s muscle cells, and researcher said the meat is safe and could be a potential replacement for normal meat. The aim, the scientists said, is for food security and to lessen the impact of livestock on the environment, particularly on the strain it gives on resources such as water and land.
Cultured Beef research website (Maastricht University)
Yum! World’s first lab-grown burger served in London (Rappler/AFP)
First lab-grown hamburger gets full marks for ‘mouth feel’ (The Guardian)
Will Your Next Burger Come From a Petri Dish? (National Geographic News)
Agreement on HeLa cells
For more than 6 decades, the cells of Henrietta Lacks have been used for numerous medical breakthroughs, from vaccines to cloning studies — but neither she nor her family were properly consulted. Neither was their permission sought. Now, the descendants of the African American farmer reached an agreement with the US National Institutes of Health to regulate the use of her cells’ genomic data.
The agreement meant that researchers must ask for permission from the NIH whenever the HeLa genomic data will be used for research, based on terms defined by a panel.
“For more than 60 years our family has been pulled into science without our consent and researchers had never stopped to talk to us… or to give us a voice in the conversation about HeLa cells, until now,” the family said in a statement.
- NIH director explains HeLa agreement (Nature)
- Science nod to family of unwitting medical heroine (Rappler/AFP)
- A Family Consents to a Medical Gift, 62 Years Later (The New York Times)
- NIH makes privacy agreement with Henrietta Lacks’ family (USA Today)
Other notable stories
Humanoid robot off to ISS The robot Kirobo is launched into space along with supplies for the International Space Station. The robot will soon be joined by astronaut Koichi Wakata later this year. (More on Rappler/AFP)
Dolphin memories Researchers have found out dolphins have the longest memory among non-human species, saying the mammals can recall whistles even after 20 years. (More on ABC News)
E-buses, e-roads South Korean scientists have started test runs of an electric bus that can be recharged wirelessly by special “electric roads.” (More on Rappler and Wired)
Promising malaria vaccine An experimental malaria vaccine, called the PfSPZ, has shown promise, with a recorded 100% protection in early trials. (More on CNN, Time, and Rappler/AFP)
Camel link to MERS virus A new study looks at camels as a potential source of the deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus. The study said dromedary camels have developed antibodies against the virus, a sign that they could have been once infected. (More on LiveScience)
New beetle species Two new beetle species are identified in Mindoro by researchers. The newly-identified species are said to have potential for water quality monitoring. (More on Rappler)
We end this week’s wRap with this image of a little girl playing with some of the 1,600 papier mache panda figures outside Berlin’s main train station Monday, August 5. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is the organization behind this exhibit, to highlight the species’ dwindling population.
– Rappler.com
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