The Wave of the DNA future

Scientists at Oxford are working on a cheap portable device that will allow doctors to conduct gene sequencing more easily. The device will allow doctor's to sequence genes at a patient's beside, wildlife biologists to sequence an animal's genes in the field, and food inspectors to identify pathogens.  The device is about the size of a USB drive and can be plugged straight in to a computer.  It is estimated to cost around
$900 which will allow researchers without the funds for more expensive devices access to this technology. Oxford plans to release this device as well as a slightly larger one later this year. "Both the tiny MinIon and the larger GridIon look likely to be the first sequencers to use nanopore sequencing, in which a strand of DNA is read as it is pulled through a microscopic hole, sort of like a noodle being slurped through rounded lips." (New York Times)  The small device can only be used once, but can sequence up to one billion bases.  It has worked well so far and if it continues to be a success the DNA sequencing process could be changed forever.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/18/health/oxford-nanopore-unveils-tiny-dna-sequencing-device.html?ref=science

TURTLE TURTLE!!!

Scientists recently discovered two loggerhead turtle feeding grounds that were previously unknown.  One is off the Southwest coast of Florida and the other is near the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula.  Not only did this discovery reveal where the turtles like to eat, but also how they spend their time at sea.  Researchers found the feeding grounds by intercepting seven female loggerheads and installing satellite tracking devices on them.  The researchers then followed the turtles and found that some of them went to Florida while the others went to the Yucatan Peninsula.  These findings give conservationists the opportunity to better help protect the turtles.  Scientists are taking steps to understand why the loggerheads prefer these areas so they can know more about the turtles' habits.http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/02/06/satellite_tracking_reveals_sea_turtle_feeding_hotspots.html