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Apr 3, 2010

Top 50 Websites for Healthcare

Sites in this category and its subcategories ordered by popularity. We didn’t receive any compensation from any of the listed sites.


1. www.nih.gov

US Government department in charge of medical research.


2. www.webmd.com/

A health resources for consumers, physicians, nurses, and educators. Includes news, chat forums, health quizzes and consumer product updates.

From the site: WebMD provides valuable health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information. You can trust that our content is timely and credible. ... The WebMD content staff blends award-winning expertise in medicine, journalism, health communication and content creation to bring you the best health information possible. Our esteemed colleagues at MedicineNet.com are frequent contributors to WebMD and comprise our Medical Editorial Board.


3. www.walgreens.com

Drug store chain. Features online buying facilities, career opportunities, company news, and investor information.

From the site: Walgreens Distribution Centers have developed a reputation for doing just that! We hire diverse, enthusiastic leaders who work well with their teams, have a passion for excellence and strive for even higher levels of growth, profitability, innovation and customer service.


4. www.focusonwomenshealth.com

Features news, clinical trial and articles.


5. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

A national resource for molecular biology information for the better understanding of molecular processes affecting human health and disease.


6. www.mayoclinic.com

Clinical experts provide current medical information and news on health topics.

From the site: Produced by a team of Web professionals and medical experts working side by side, MayoClinic.com gives users access to the experience and knowledge of the more than 3,400 physicians and scientists of Mayo Clinic.


7. health.yahoo.com

Medical dictionary, disease symptoms and treatments, resources for healthy living, and information on drugs and medicines.


8. www.drugs.com/

Drugs.com is the most popular, comprehensive and up-to-date source of drug information online. Providing free, accurate and independent advice on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines & natural products.

From the site: About Drugs.com Links on Google Co-op close ... Get Drugs.com trusted information when you Search on Google Drugs.com has been assisting to Google improve search results and categorize our content when you're on Google.com. To use this new feature, simply subscribe to Drugs.com on Google " Co-op " and you'll get more accurate and trusted results - plus you'll able to find what you are looking for much more easily.


9. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

Research affiliation: Association of Research Libraries.


10. www.mercola.com/

Great source of health articles, optimal wellness products, and free natural health newsletter of top medical news by Dr. Joseph Mercola

From the site: In 1997 I started my web site, Mercola.com, that is now the most visited natural health site in the world. By 2006 we had over 800,000 subscribers and over 5 million page views every month. I created this site with no outside investors or advertising.


11. www.medhelp.org/

Med Help provides patient medical information via our virtual medical center. Site includes: the largest patient medical library on the Net, Ask-The-Doctor Forums, medical news, and patient networking.

From the site: Founded in 1994 out of a shared need for better medical information and support, MedHelp is the pioneer in online health communities. The MedHelp site connects people with the leading medical experts and others who have similar experiences. Today, MedHelp empowers over 5.5 million people each month to take control over their health and find answers to their medical questions. MedHelp has over 14 years of accumulated information from doctors and other patients across hundreds of conditions.


12. www.medscape.com/

Features medical journal articles, images, case reports, medical news, free Medline, CME, and drug searching.

From the site: Medscape is a part of WebMD Health Professional Network that includes theHeart.org and eMedicine.com. Click here for investor information, corporate management and press releases related to WebMD. ... Medscape offers specialists, primary care physicians, and other health professionals the Web's most robust and integrated medical information and educational tools. After a simple, 1-time, free registration, Medscape automatically delivers you the specialty site that best fits your profile.


13. www.cvs.com

Online version of the retail chain. Prescriptions, health, personal care, and gift items available online. Also provides health news and information from WebMD.

From the site: CVS Caremark is the nation's premier integrated pharmacy services provider, combining one of the nation's leading pharmaceutical services companies with the country’s largest pharmacy chain. The company fills or manages more than one billion prescriptions per year, more than any other pharmacy services provider.


14. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/

United Kingdom and international news headlines. Contains video and audio webcasts, forums, and in-depth articles.


15. www.menshealth.com/

Provide's information and tips on fitness, health, career, relationships, nutrition, recipes, weight-loss and muscle building.

From the site: Cory is the principal at Richard H. Gettys Middle School, in Easley, South Carolina, so all of these kids are his responsibility. They're also his motivation for change. "I'm worried about my kids," says Cory. "Most of them don't seem to be engaged in health and fitness." Cory sees great potential for all his students, but he can't ignore a serious threat to their futures. And he accepts a measure of blame for that.


16. www.cdc.gov/

Mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. Includes guidelines, articles and resources for consumers and health professionals.

From the site: WISEWOMAN (W ell-I ntegrated S creening and E valuation for WOM en A cross the N ation) program is located at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, ... CDC's state–based National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) offers an established framework that provides the opportunity to target other chronic diseases among women, including heart disease, the leading cause of death among women. Women who are eligible for.


17. www.everydayhealth.com

Provides health information, resources, communities, tools and news for conditions, treatments, wellness, diet and nutrition.

From the site: The Everyday Health Editors editor@everydayhealth.com About Waterfront Media: Waterfront Media ( www.waterfrontmedia.com ) is the largest privately held online health company. With the Internet at the core of its publishing platform, Waterfront Media's network of sites connects America's best health experts with millions of people looking to improve their lives through personalized advice, unique interactive features, tools and online communities.


18. www.weightwatchers.com/

Weight Watcher's point system allows you to eat what you want and lose weight.

From the site: WeightWatchers.com Press see recent press releases press contacts advertising with Weight Watchers Learn about exciting advertising opportunities on WeightWatchers.com. read more affiliate program Earn money the easy way - join the WeightWatchers.com Affiliate program! Our program is FREE to join and easy to set up. read more corporate information Weight Watchers is a leading provider of weight-loss services. Learn more about our company. read more employment opportunities.


19. patents.uspto.gov/

United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) patent databases - includes AIDS patents.


20.www.kidshealth.org/

KidsHealth.org, created by the children s health and family experts of the Nemours Foundation, has 1000 s of jargon-free, up-to-date, and reliable features, movies, and illustrations on the health and emotional development of babies, children and adolescents.

From the site: KidsHealth is the largest and most-visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. Created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, the award-winning KidsHealth provides families with accurate, up-to-date, and jargon-free health information they can use. KidsHealth has been on the Web since 1995 — and has been accessed by about half a billion visitors.


21. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

A national resource for molecular biology information for the better understanding of molecular processes affecting human health and disease.


22. www.realage.com/

RealAge delivers diet and fitness tools, low fat recipes, health risk quizzes, nutrition and stress tips, and vitamin recommendations to help you stay true to a younger you.

From the site: Roizen, MD , is cofounder of RealAge and chairman of the RealAge Scientific Advisory Board. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College and Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. He performed his residency in internal medicine at Harvard's Beth Israel Hospital and completed a tour of duty in the Public Health Service at the National Institutes of Health in the laboratory of Irv Kopin and Nobel Prize winner Julius Axelrod.


23. www.emedicinehealth.com/

Information for consumers on the symptoms and treatment of nearly every type of disease and health condition, first aid procedures for accidents and injuries, and physical and the emotional well-being that contribute to general wellness.

From the site: In May 2003, eMedicine launched a new consumer health site, eMedicineHealth.com . Current medical information is available in 80 plus Centers to include: First Aid and Emergencies , ... Subsequent revisions of professional or consumer articles may be provided by internal eMedicineHealth copy editing staff, the physician author, or a physician or PharmD member of the editorial board associated with each article.


24. www.aolhealth.com/

Find advice, information about diseases and drugs, fitness tips, and news items.

From the site: In addition to the relationships it may have with content providers, AOL may also accept other advertising and promotions from third parties ("AOL Body Advertisers"). Such advertising and promotions (including without limitation banner, badge and contextual advertising) contain information relating to specific products and information on health-related topics that is produced by or at the direction of the AOL Body Advertiser (“Advertisements”).


25. www.who.int/

From the site: Introductory brochure on WHO [pdf 1.24Mb] WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.


26. www.nhs.uk

From the site: NHS Choices puts you in control of your healthcare. This website has been developed to help you make choices about your health, from lifestyle decisions about things like smoking, drinking and exercise, through to the practical aspects of finding and using NHS services when you need them. It draws together the knowledge and expertise of: the National Library for Health, NHS Direct, the Information Centre for Health and Social Care, the Healthcare Commission and many other organisations.


27. www.prevention.com/

Information about getting fit, losing weight, and living healthier lives from Prevention.com.

From the site: Prevention is the #1 healthy lifestyle magazine brand and the 10th largest magazine in the nation, with more than 11 million readers. The top online health magazine destination, Prevention.com has 1.6 million unique visitors each month. Prevention publishes branded books, special-interest publications, international editions, bookazines, and DVDs under the bestselling Prevention Fitness Systems as well as leads Team Prevention walking programs at marathons across the country.


28. www.rxlist.com/

Searchable cross index of US prescription products providing links to full prescribing information as well as patient education material.

From the site: RxList.com - Owned and Operated by WebMD and part of the WebMD network. RxList is an online medical resource dedicated to offering detailed and current pharmaceutical information on brand and generic drugs. Founded by pharmacists in 1995, RxList is the premier Internet Drug Index resource.


29. www.healthline.com/

Healthline is the first Internet search engine dedicated to consumer healthcare. Healthline’s unique HealthMaps® enable users to visually explore all of the information related to a disease, drug or condition without the need to repeatedly type new queries into the search box, and the site s Medically Guided Search tools make it easier for users to find comprehensive healthcare information from over 62,000 health and medicine websites.

From the site: Healthline Networks offers the easiest way for consumers to quickly and easily find consistently excellent health information on the Web. By utilizing its robust search and navigation platform, Healthline is focused on becoming the global leader in intelligent health information services, enabling consumers to make more confident, informed decisions about their health.


30. www.health.com

Monthly articles from the print magazine.

From the site: Health is America’s most-trusted health and wellness magazine, giving women the most credible, useful, and up-to-date information and inspiration on how to live a healthier, happier life. Its get-real perspective helps readers make sense of conflicting news, trends, and studies. Health covers well-being, fitness, nutrition, and beauty with intelligence and flair, showing that healthy living truly looks good on you.


31. www.stevepavlina.com

Free personal development and conscious living resources, with a focus on discovering your life purpose and summoning the courage to begin acting on it.

From the site: Steve Pavlina is widely recognized as one of the most successful personal development bloggers on the Internet, attracting more than two million monthly readers to his website, StevePavlina.com. He has written more than 700 articles and recorded many audio programs on a broad range of self-help topics, including productivity, relationships, and spirituality. Steve has been quoted as an expert by the New York Times , USA Today , U.S.


32. www.netdoctor.co.uk/

Extensive collection of health information for paients, provided by an independent commercial company with a team of medical editors.

From the site: NetDoctor.co.uk is committed to helping both parties in their quest. NetDoctor.co.uk is a collaboration between committed doctors, health care professionals, information specialists and patients who believe that medical practice should be based on quality-assessed information and, wherever possible, on the basis of the principles of evidence-based medicine. Over 250 of the UK's and Europe's leading doctors and health professionals write, edit and update the contents of NetDoctor.co.uk.


33. www.healthcentral.com

Timely, in-depth, trusted medical information, personalized tools and resources, and connections to a vast community of leading experts and patients for people seeking to manage and improve their health.

From the site: Content provided by HealthCentral.com and Euflexxa™ Understanding OA of the Knee provided by Euflexxa Causes of OA of the Knee provided by Euflexxa.


34. www.psychologytoday.com/

Featured columns on relationships, mental health education, and work related issues. Recent mental health news and archives. Includes a national therapist directory.

From the site: Our staff of writers, editors and programmers include individuals who have extensive expertise in the field of psychology, both from a clinical and an academic perspective. Many of our articles are written by, and rely upon information provided by, Doctors and Ph.D.'s who have dedicated their professional lives to the promotion of sound psychology for the benefit of the communities in which they live.


35. www.healthboards.com/

A moderated wide variety of health related message boards includes cancer, allergies, alternative health, mental health, cerebal palsy, disabilities, lupus, and others.

From the site: HealthBoards.com is a place where you can make those connections. HealthBoards provides a unique one-stop support group community offering over 150 message boards on various diseases, conditions, and health topics. The HealthBoards community is one of the largest and most dynamic on the Web, with over 400,000 registered members, and over 3 million messages posted.


36. www.fda.gov

The Consumer Protection Agency of the U.S. Government which monitors medical devices, foods, drugs, biologics, veterinary medicine, and toxicological research.

From the site: MedWatch -- FDA provides safety information on drugs and other FDA-regulated products, and allows for adverse event reporting. Recalls -- FDA posts significant product actions of the last 60 days. Inspections - FDA inspects processing plants and other agency-regulated facilities. ... FDA convenes public meetings with outside experts for advice on making key public health decisions. ... Does FDA control pesticides in foods? How can I participate in FDA's process for making its rules?


37. www.bmj.com/

Electronic version of the BMJ. Publish accessible information that will help doctors improve their practice and will influence the international debate on health. Access is free to all.


38. www.medicalnewstoday.com

One of the major online medical/health news journals. Updated hourly, with between 150 and 220 articles posted per day from the world s leading universities and research institutions. Medical News Today also offers free access to its news archive of over 100,000 articles.

From the site: More than 2 million unique visitors come to medicalnewstoday.com every month. Sister sites include www.medilexicon.com - the most popular medical abbreviation search facility on the Internet - and www.hospitalsworldwide.com - a searchable database of hospitals throughout the world. The 3 websites attract more than 3 million unique visitors every month.


39. www.emedtv.com/

A library of medical information including conditions and diseases, tests and procedures and drugs and supplements.

From the site: Use eMedTV's tools for health and fun including our BMI calculator, baby names builder, and more. ... The eMedTV Web site was developed and is owned by Clinaero, Inc. Clinaero is a privately held software and services company focused in two areas – clinical trials and health information. ... Through eMedTV, Clinaero is committed to providing accurate and credible health information to our users, both in written and multimedia format.


40.familydoctor.org/

Health information for the whole family from the American Academy of Family Physicians.

From the site: Gracias por visitar nuestro sitio familydoctor.org . ... Si tiene una emergencia médica y está en territorio estadounidense, por favor marque 911. familydoctor.org.


41. www.socialsecurity.gov/

Official site, with news, trends, budget, publications, and comparison with systems in more than 170 countries.

From the site: Service is available by telephone, mail, in person at an office, or electronically through the Internet at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/reach.htm . The toll–free number is 1–800–772–1213 . Service representatives are on duty to answer your calls between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., on business days. Recorded information and services are available 24 hours a day and on weekends. Spanish speaking representatives are available to speak with callers who prefer to do business with us in Spanish.


42.www.riteaid.com

Online refills, store locator, many specials and health care information. Rite Aid serves millions of customers each day in over 4,000 neighborhood locations that extend to 30 states on both the East and West Coasts and in the District of Columbia. Based in Camp Hill, PA.

From the site: If you have questions, ask your pharmacist or call 1-800-RITEAID.


43. www.makeupalley.com/

A hip beauty community and social network featuring interactive member generated content including beauty product reviews, messageboards, shopping diaries and much more.


44. www.24hourfitness.com/

Centers and health club locations worldwide, personal training, exercise classes.

From the site: Over the past 25 years, 24 Hour Fitness has built or opened more clubs in the United States than any other privately-owned fitness club chain. The company is widely credited with changing the industry landscape by introducing a variety of innovations, including extended hours and month-to-month memberships. In 2004, 24 Hour Fitness became the first official fitness center sponsor of the United States Olympic team. The sponsorship grants memberships to selected U.S.


45. www.wellness.com

Includes health resources, discussion and news.

From the site: Learn, Comment & Contribute on Wellness.com ... Wellness.com's mission is to help millions of people live healthier, happier lives. Wellness.com is the place to learn more about achieving health and happiness while meeting like-minded people, new friends, and experts who can enhance our lives. It is widely accepted that wellness (optimal balanced health & happiness) cannot be bought or acquired passively.


46.www.telegraph.co.uk/health/index.jhtml

International online news from the United Kingdom paper.

From the site: How to use telegraph.co.uk - FAQ ... General Information telegraph.co.uk telegraph.co.uk was created in November 1994, establishing the Telegraph as the first online daily UK newspaper in the UK. Extensive developments in recent months include the creation of Telegraph IQ , an interactive quiz, film site , music downloads and video streaming, a personal finance product comparison service, theatre, music event and gallery bookings.


47. pregnancy.about.com/

A week by week calendar, prenatal testing information, breastfeeding, labor, signs and symptoms.


48. www.apa.org/

Promotes research and represents the professional interests of psychologists in the United States. Includes information on publications and conferences, and a find-a-psychologist referral feature.

From the site: The APA Public Interest Directorate supports and promotes efforts to apply the science and profession of psychology to the advancement of human welfare. Public Interest issues are of central importance to the science and profession of psychology and critical to consumers of psychological services and the general public.


49. www.home-remedies-for-you.com/

Information on causes, symptoms and diet conditions for common ailments and diseases. Also provides information on health benefits from common ingredients like honey, garlic, aloe vera and other items.

From the site: Terms and Conditions for Usage of this Site www.home-remedies-for-you.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.


50.www.revolutionhealth.com/

Provides advice and guidance to help individuals manage their health care, with product comparisons, membership plans, and an online store.

From the site: RevolutionHealth.com: The cornerstone of Revolution Health is RevolutionHealth.com, a free, comprehensive health and medical information site, specifically designed with the Family's Chief Medical Officer — women and other caregivers — in mind.RevolutionHealth.com offers best-of-breed health information as well as more than 125 online tools aimed at helping individuals take control of their well-being.

Scientists describe 'secret of life' in 1953


Two Cambridge University scientists have published their answer to one of the most fundamental questions of biology - how do living things reproduce themselves?

X-ray photo taken by Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling
X-ray diffraction photos of DNA helped to solve the puzzle of reproduction
Courtesy: King's College London

In an article published today in Nature magazine, James D Watson and Francis Crick describe the structure of a chemical called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA.

DNA is the material that makes up genes which pass hereditary characteristics from one parent to another.

In short, it consists of a double helix of two strands coiled around each other. The strands are made up of complementary elements that fit together and when uncoiled can produce two copies of the original.

Momentous discovery

This special property for accurate self-replication allows DNA to duplicate the genes of an organism during the nuclear divisions for growth and the production of germ cells for the next generation.

They began their article with the modest statement: "We wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA). This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest."

On 28 February, Mr Crick walked into a Cambridge pub with Mr Watson to celebrate the fact that they had unravelled the structure of DNA, saying: "We have discovered the secret of life!"

The momentous discovery was the culmination of research by Medical Research Council scientists Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin in London, who produced X-ray diffraction photographs and other evidence.

Mar 31, 2010

Genes not to be patented: U.S. judge

A judge in U.S. Federal District Court in Manhattan ruled that two breast and ovarian cancer related genes were not to be patented since they are nature's products, reports said Wednesday.

Seven patents on the genes held by Myriad Genetics of Utah were not valid, the judge Robert W. Sweet declared.

Over the past two decades, academic researchers and private companies have claimed patents on more than 4,300 human genes.

With patents of BRCA1 and BRCA2, two genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer, Myriad allowed researchers to test anonymous specimens.

However, if individuals sought to know if they carried the mutations that raised risks for breast and ovarian cancer, Myriad insisted that only its labs test them, at a cost of 3,000 dollars, according to Dr. Harry Ostrer, director of molecular genetics at NYU Langone Medical Center.

In Canada, where the patent is not honored, the test is available for under 1,000 dollars, Judge Sweet noted.

In 2009, patients, doctors and an association of pathologists sued to challenge the Myriad patents.

Dr. Ostrer, a plaintiffs, said that patients needed more than the Myriad test to inform them of their risks, because it identifies only the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, but a number of other genes are also associated with a risk for cancer.

The case was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Patent Foundation at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Myriad defended itself by claiming the patents allowed its investors to make their money back. Moreover, it argued, by isolating the genes in the laboratory, it had created chemicals that did not exist in nature -- a critical test for patents.

Judge Sweet rejected that argument, deciding that a gene is a gene, whether it is inside a human cell or in a test tube.

(Agencies)

Gene linked to lung cancer risk in non-smokers

Genes test may guide dieting

Genes may be linked with preterm births: U.S. researchers

Gene map for malaria crop offers higher yield hope

Austrian scientists to curb obesity by using gene

Mar 27, 2010

DNA from Sebria may signal new species of human ancestor

BEIJING, March 27-- Scientists used a DNA-decoded method to investigate an ancient human who has been discovered in a cave in southern Siberia, according to British newspaper Daily Mail.

Living 6.8million years ago this is Sahelanthropus tchadensis. Parts of its jaw bone and teeth were found nine years ago in the Djurab desert, Chad, and from this scientists created this model head.(Photo Source:CRIOnline.com)

The mysterious human, who lived alongside our ancestors tens of thousands of years ago, earned a nickname “X-Woman”.

Through analysing DNA from a fossilized finger bone, researchers found it doesn't match modern humans or Neanderthals, two species that lived in that area around the same time - 30,000 to 50,000 years ago.

The Siberian species lineage may split off from the branch leading to moderns and Neanderthals a million years ago, the researchers calculated.

And they also said that it doesn't seem to match the history of human ancestors previously known from fossils.

Researchers presumed that the Siberian species may be brand new, although they cautioned that they're not ready to make that claim yet.

This paleoanthropological breakthrough may rewrite mankind's family tree.

(Agencies)


Mar 23, 2010

US Scientists Unlock Clues to Mystery of Butterfly Migration

Researchers find circadian clock in Monarch's antenna plays a major role in navigation

Photo: USFWS

Scientists believe antennas are critical to the navigation of the Monarch butterfly.

Related Articles

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Deep in the forests of Michoacán, several hours drive north of Mexico City, tourists watch millions of Monarch butterflies as they cling to fir trees, gather on bushes, or take off in flight.

The striking black and orange insects winter in these mountains every year, traveling up to 4,800 kilometers to get here, from as far away as Canada. They stay through the winter, then, in the spring, the females leave these fir tree forests and head as far north as Kansas, to lay their eggs on milkweed plants.

It's an odyssey that inspires Chip Taylor, director of the Monarch Watch program in Lawrence, Kansas, over 2,000 kilometers north of the butterflies' winter habitat.

Earl Richardson
Chip Taylor is director of the Monarch Watch program in Lawrence, Kansas.

"We see them usually between the 14th and 21st of April if they get this far north," he says, adding that many of them can barely fly after their journey. "A lot of those butterflies are so tattered and broken, that they're crawling from milkweed and milkweed to lay the eggs."

A journey guided by the senses

Just as remarkable as the distance they fly is how the butterflies navigate. After all, they don't have guides, or maps, or GPS equipment. Instead, they use sight, smell, touch and other senses to find their way. To study that, butterfly scientists track the insects' normal flight paths, then they confuse them and track their path again.

Click to Listen:


Taylor says his research teams used this method to discover that butterflies need accurate information about the earth's magnetic fields. "Ten seconds of exposure to the strong magnetic field was enough to totally disorient the butterflies. They could not maintain a course," he reports.

Sunlight matters, too, and by manipulating artificial sunlight, scientists can fool butterflies into traveling in the wrong direction.

At the University of Massachusetts, neuroscientist Steven Reppert studies the Monarch butterfly's migration with a sophisticated apparatus. It's a kind of flight simulator; essentially a large barrel. His research team connects a butterfly to a thin wire tether to track its normal flight path and then to track how that path changes once they've confused it.

Based on flight simulation studies, Reppert says that Monarchs use visual cues about the daylight sky to set their internal compass, as well as their brain's circadian clock, which regulates hormones and behavior. Reppert says researchers thought they had this control system mostly figured out. But then they took a closer look at the insects' antenna.

VOA - S. Schlender
These Monarch butterflies are wintering in the mountains several hours drive north of Mexico City, some traveling from as far away as Canada.

A multipurpose organ for navigation

"The antenna are really remarkable organs," Reppert says. "They're odor sensors. But they do a lot more than that. They can sense vibrations, they can act as ears, they can sense changes in barometric pressure, so there's a number of things that the antennae can do."

To study these abilities, Reppert's team decided to confuse the butterflies, at least a little, by removing their antenna. But this did more than eliminate their sense of smell and vibration. It totally befuddled their navigation.

Reppert says, "This finding was actually quite heretical to us. We did not know quite what to do with it at the time." So, they devised another experiment.

Dr. Thomas Barnes/USFWS
Removing the Monarchs' antenna not only eliminated their sense of smell and vibration, it also befuddled their navigation.

On the chance that smell mattered more than they had realized, the researchers painted butterflies' antenna to block their odor receptors. And just in case sunlight played a role, Reppert's team used clear paint on some butterflies' antenna and black paint on others. The clear paint allowed in daylight, and those butterflies navigated normally. The ones painted black could not.

Antenna data leads the way

This meant that the Monarch's antenna can detect light. But an even bigger surprise was up ahead. Scientists knew that the circadian clock in the insect's brain responds to light signals from the eyes. They had assumed that that system provided all the daylight data that the butterfly's navigation system needed.

But it turns out that the circadian clock signals produced in the butterfly's antenna are at least as crucial as the clock in its brain. The butterfly's bug-sized GPS needs that antenna data, so when winds and other surprises hit, the Monarch still flies in the right direction.

As for how all these pieces work together, Reppert says, the clues are tantalizing. "The antenna are talking to the brain and controlling the behavior in a very specific way. And we need to understand that."

Reppert's lab plans more experiments. He predicts they'll find that the ability of the Monarch's antenna to sense odors and magnetic waves may also help them set the course for the day. And he says the lessons learned will help us understand the role of circadian clocks in other animals, including people.

Jan 4, 2010

Biomedical Videos

Free Biology Videos and Movies


This lecture by Dr. Nadia Rosenthal discusses the importance of adult stem cells in the tissue maintenance, development and regeneration. Part 3 of 6. HHMI description: Mature organisms have stem cells of various sorts, called adult stem cells. Adult stem cells supply cells that compensate for the loss of cells from normal cell death and turnover, such as the ever-dying cells of our skin, our blood, and the lining of our gut. They are also an essential source of cells for healing and regeneration in response to injury. Some animals, such as sea stars, newts, and flatworms, are capable of dramatic feats of regeneration, producing replacement limbs, eyes, or most of a body. It is an evolutionary puzzle why mammals have more limited powers of regeneration. Researchers are interested in pinpointing where adult stem cells reside and in understanding how flexible adult stem cells are in their ability to produce divergent cells such as muscle and red blood cells. Understanding the sources and the rules for the differentiation of adult stem cells is essential for tapping their therapeutic potential. Since consenting adults can provide adult stem cells, some people think that adult stem cells may be a less controversial area of Research than embryonic stem cells.Date: 2008-09-03 23:50:28 - Added by: ebiotek
Animal Cloning
Animal cloning gone bad, waaaay bad Check out our website: www.KnGproduction.com
Date: 2008-09-03 23:58:32 - Added by: ebiotek

How to Clone a Sheep
If you\'ve ever wondered how to clone a sheep, this simple step-by-step demonstration is just what you\'ve been looking for. Ten simple steps is all it takes to go from egg cell to infant sheep clone. DO NOT ATTEMPT AT HOME.
Date: 2008-09-03 23:57:25 - Added by: ebiotek

Cloning
cloning video i made for class my junior year of high school
Date: 2008-09-03 23:56:41 - Added by: ebiotek

biology - nuclear transfer (clone creating)
Nuclear Transfer is a form of cloning. The steps involve removing the DNA from an oocyte and while(unfertilized egg), and injecting the nucleus which contains the DNA to be cloned. In rare instances, the newly constructed cell will divide normally, replicating the new DNA while remaining in a pluripotent state. If the cloned cells are placed in the uterus of a female mammal, a cloned organism develops to term in rare instances. This is how Dolly the Sheep and many other species were cloned. Alternatively, if cells are extracted from the cloned cells during very early embryonic stages (blastocyst or morula), embryonic stem cells can be created. These cells can be grown in laboratories indefinitely and can theoretically be made into any of the 200+ cell types in the mammalian body, and thus are an extraordinary tool for biologists as well as a therapeutic agent with the potential to treat currently untreatable medical conditions.
Date: 2008-09-03 23:55:55 - Added by: ebiotek

Stem Cells and Human Cloning
Dr Andrew Corbett presents the Stem Cell and Human Cloning Debate from an ethical perspective...
Date: 2008-09-03 23:55:27 - Added by: ebiotek

What's the difference between embyonic and adult stem cells?
A 10 minute discussion on the difference between embryonic and adult stem cells. Focus is on the use of mesenchymal stem cells.
Date: 2008-09-03 23:54:29 - Added by: ebiotek

Adult Stem Cells and Regeneration Part 3 of 6

Adult Stem Cells and Regeneration Part 2 of 6
This lecture by Dr. Nadia Rosenthal discusses the importance of adult stem cells in the tissue maintenance, development and regeneration. Part 2 of 6. HHMI description: Mature organisms have stem cells of various sorts, called adult stem cells. Adult stem cells supply cells that compensate for the loss of cells from normal cell death and turnover, such as the ever-dying cells of our skin, our blood, and the lining of our gut. They are also an essential source of cells for healing and regeneration in response to injury. Some animals, such as sea stars, newts, and flatworms, are capable of dramatic feats of regeneration, producing replacement limbs, eyes, or most of a body. It is an evolutionary puzzle why mammals have more limited powers of regeneration. Researchers are interested in pinpointing where adult stem cells reside and in understanding how flexible adult stem cells are in their ability to produce divergent cells such as muscle and red blood cells. Understanding the sources and the rules for the differentiation of adult stem cells is essential for tapping their therapeutic potential. Since consenting adults can provide adult stem cells, some people think that adult stem cells may be a less controversial area of research than embryonic stem cells.
Date: 2008-09-03 23:50:10 - Added by: ebiotek

Adult Stem Cells and Regeneration Part 1 of 6
This lecture by Dr. Nadia Rosenthal discusses the importance of adult stem cells in the tissue maintenance, development and regeneration. Part 1 of 6. HHMI description: Mature organisms have stem cells of various sorts, called adult stem cells. Adult stem cells supply cells that compensate for the loss of cells from normal cell death and turnover, such as the ever-dying cells of our skin, our blood, and the lining of our gut. They are also an essential source of cells for healing and regeneration in response to injury. Some animals, such as sea stars, newts, and flatworms, are capable of dramatic feats of regeneration, producing replacement limbs, eyes, or most of a body. It is an evolutionary puzzle why mammals have more limited powers of regeneration. Researchers are interested in pinpointing where adult stem cells reside and in understanding how flexible adult stem cells are in their ability to produce divergent cells such as muscle and red blood cells. Understanding the sources and the rules for the differentiation of adult stem cells is essential for tapping their therapeutic potential. Since consenting adults can provide adult stem cells, some people think that adult stem cells may be a less controversial area of research than embryonic stem cells.
Date: 2008-09-03 23:49:50 - Added by: ebiotek

Adult Stem Cells and Regeneration Part 6 of 6
This lecture by Dr. Nadia Rosenthal discusses the importance of adult stem cells in the tissue maintenance, development and regeneration. Part 6 of 6. HHMI description: Mature organisms have stem cells of various sorts, called adult stem cells. Adult stem cells supply cells that compensate for the loss of cells from normal cell death and turnover, such as the ever-dying cells of our skin, our blood, and the lining of our gut. They are also an essential source of cells for healing and regeneration in response to injury. Some animals, such as sea stars, newts, and flatworms, are capable of dramatic feats of regeneration, producing replacement limbs, eyes, or most of a body. It is an evolutionary puzzle why mammals have more limited powers of regeneration. Researchers are interested in pinpointing where adult stem cells reside and in understanding how flexible adult stem cells are in their ability to produce divergent cells such as muscle and red blood cells. Understanding the sources and the rules for the differentiation of adult stem cells is essential for tapping their therapeutic potential. Since consenting adults can provide adult stem cells, some people think that adult stem cells may be a less controversial area of research than embryonic stem cells.
Date: 2008-09-03 23:49:20 - Added by: ebiotek