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Based on a comprehensive analysis of the scientific evidence, as required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), the FDA has determined that AquAdvantage Salmon meets the statutory requirements for safety and effectiveness under the FD&C Act. The salmon are safe to eat, the introduced DNA is safe for the fish itself, and the salmon meet the sponsor's claim about faster growth. Because the sponsor has met these requirements, the FDA must approve the application. The FDA has also analyzed the potential environmental impact that an approval of the AquAdvantage Salmon application would have on the quality of the human environment in the United States and has issued its final environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact.

Parkinson's is a result of the loss of cells in various parts of the brain, including one portion that produces the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is essential for being able to move in a coordinated way, so the loss of dopamine causes the tremors often associated with the condition. While the exact cause of Parkinson's is unknown, genetics and environment are contributing factors. Most cases occur in patients with no family history of Parkinson's disease, but there are 13 gene mutations that have been linked to either causing the disease or increasing one's risk of developing it. Certainly not everyone who carries these gene mutations develops Parkinson's, but identifying these genetic indicators is the beginning of developing more precise treatments.

Well organized teacher site- AP Biology Web site for Ms. Foglia's Regents Biology (10th grade Living Environment) course at Division Avenue High School, Levittown. It will be a busy year and I will use this Web site to help you to do the best you can. All paperwork, labs, and resources used or mentioned in class will be posted here.

Of two genetically identical mice, how can one be small and another fat? Research on epigenetic changes resulting from the environment can give us clues into obesity in mice--and humans.

4min video What exactly is the carbon cycle? Nathaniel Manning provides a basic look into the cyclical relationship of carbon, humans and the environment.

In a retrospective cohort study investigating the role of epigenetic control in the onset of allergic diseases, it was shown that mothers who suffered from allergic symptoms very early in pregnancy were more likely to have offspring with allergies. This was compared to mothers who did not suffer from allergies in early pregnancy, taking into account family history of allergies and total allergic response during pregnancy (10). These results indicate that gene-environment interactions during embryonic development may modify the epigenetic code in ways that may potentially lead to allergic disease.

In this audio slide show, Dr. Dana Dolinoy of Duke University explains the role that the epigenome, a sort of second genome, plays in regulating the expression of our genes. As Dolinoy notes, we can no longer say with certainty whether genetics or the environment have a greater impact on our health, because the two are inextricably linked through the epigenome.

Graham Williams at the University of Huddersfield, UK, has a different way - to look for modifications to the twins' DNA that have come about as a result of their lifestyles. Such epigenetic changes occur when a chemical group known as a methyl group attaches to a gene and modifies the way it is expressed. This happens as a body is influenced by a person's environment, lifestyle and disease.

Biologists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a genetically modified version of a common bacteria found in the gut that can sense the environment there and fight disease. And when this designer bacteria works, the proof is in the poop - glowing poop. (In this case, mouse poop.)

The backbone of New Tech High's unique learning environment is project-based learning (PBL). Instead of handing out daily assignments, teachers assign periodic projects that require critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication.

What is the recipe for life? If you were to build a cell from scratch, what ingredients would you need? And what kind of environment would you need to cook inanimate matter into a living cell? These are the questions that occupy biochemist Jack Szostak, as he imagines the dynamic world where life was born.

If you were limited to choosing only three crops to sustainably farm in an arid, inhospitable environment, what would they be and how would you decide? This interrupted case study places students in the role of a proposed self-sufficient Martian colony that requires an optimized profile of food crops. After students form small groups, they discuss the factors that affect sustainability of a food supply, determine criteria for selection of crops to grow, and rank crops using these criteria. Lists of criteria and of foodstuffs are provided, but the case can easily be transformed into a problem-based learning (PBL) case by having students research and generate their own lists. The case includes questions that walk students through the selection process and require them to explain why they chose their criteria and how those criteria apply to their chosen foods. The case is designed for undergraduate students at the introductory level in courses in astronomy/astrobiology, food science/nutrition, agricultural engineering, or any discipline where sustainability is a key theme.

The Biomimicry Education Network (BEN) is a global community of teachers who are integrating biomimicry into K-12 classrooms, university courses, and informal learning environments of all kinds. This website and blog support BEN members by providing curriculum and resource downloads, a platform to connect with colleagues, and news and information on the cutting edge of biomimicry thinking and education.  Whether you work with youth, university, or informal student groups, you'll find a host of resources on this site to help you bring biomimicry into your teaching practice.

The anole lizards of the Caribbean islands represent a group of about 150 closely related species, most of which evolved within the past 50 million years from a single colonizing species. Different processes, including geographic isolation, adaptation to different environments, and reproductive isolation, play a role in anole speciation. 

EPA is working with many other organizations to collect and communicate data about climate change. With help from these partners, EPA has compiled the third edition of this report, presenting 30 indicators to help readers understand observed long-term trends related to the causes and effects of climate change. In a manner accessible to all audiences, the report describes the significance of these trends and their possible consequences for people, the environment, and society.

Over a million people in the United States have some form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD. It can be caused by intestinal bacteria, environment or genetics. One thing is for sure, the lining of the intestines don't work correctly because the cells have been disturbed by one of these things. A common finding in Crohn's and IBD is that a molecule called TNF is elevated, and starts the inflammation process. Researchers still don't know what signals the TNF to go up, but maybe they can turn it off with another molecule.

While scientists study how nature works, engineers create new things, such as products, websites, environments, and experiences. Because engineers and scientists have different objectives, they follow different processes in their work. Scientists perform experiments using the scientific method; whereas, engineers follow the creativity-based engineering design process.

 Students must consider the role of rumen bacteria and how genetic modification may alter the potential of these bacteria. The case engages students in learning basic principles of bacterial genetics and biotechnology as they consider how microbes and microbial processes impact the environment. The case could also be used in an introductory genetics or biotechnology course.

Human-engineered microbes are workhorses of the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, churning out biofuels, drugs, and many other products. But they can cause big problems if they become contaminated by other microbes or viruses or escape into the environment. Now, a new type of microbe that can survive only on artificial nutrients promises better security against such mishaps. The strategy, described in two papers in this week's issue of Nature, might ultimately be used to control genetically engineered plants or other organisms released into the wild to create products or clean up pollution.

SciGuides are a collection of thematically aligned lesson plans, simulations, and web-based resources for teachers to use with their students centered on standards-aligned science concepts. Human modifications to communities of living organisms in an ecosystem can change the function and processes of that system. The flow of energy through an ecosystem depends upon the diversity of organisms within it; therefore, when this flow is altered, substantial biological and geological changes occur. It is important that our students not only realize that when a local ecosystem is destroyed or negatively affected by human transformations (building, agriculture, technology); the effect is eventually felt globally. We cannot ignore the fact that everything we do impacts our natural environment. The main question is, "How can we be better "keepers of the Earth"?