ፍትህ ለሁሉም / Justice for All
Berhanu Anteneh Selection of parents for the generation of heterosis Heterosis refers to the superior phenotypes observed in hybrids relative to their inbred parents with respect to traits such as growth rate, reproductive success, and yield. Heterosis was discovered in maize about a century ago and has subsequently been found to occur in many crop species. The increase …
Inbreeding, or mating between two closely-related people, is a strong taboo across the world. There’s a good reason for this, of course. The potential for sexual abuse and lasting trauma is high, and the odds of inheriting rare genetic diseases go up exponentially among children who are the result of inbreeding. Read more
The study, reported in the journal Science, examined genetic information from the remains of anatomically modern humans who lived during the Upper Palaeolithic, a period when modern humans from Africa first colonised western Eurasia. The results suggest that people deliberately sought partners beyond their immediate family, and that they were probably connected to a wider network of …
Genes come in different varieties, called alleles. Somatic cells contain two alleles for every gene, with one allele provided by each parent of an organism. Often, it is impossible to determine which two alleles of a gene are present within an organism’s chromosomes based solely on the outward appearance of that organism. However, an allele that is hidden, …
Scientists first discovered chromosomes in the nineteenth century, when they were gazing at cells through light microscopes. But how did they figure out what chromosomes do? And how did they link chromosomes — and the specific genes within them — to the concept of inheritance? After a long period of observational studies through microscopes, several …
Genomic medicine is an emerging medical discipline that involves using genomic information about an individual as part of their clinical care (e.g. for diagnostic or therapeutic decision-making) and the health outcomes and policy implications of that clinical use. Already, genomic medicine is making an impact in the fields of oncology, pharmacology, rare and undiagnosed diseases, …
The decision of whether or not to utilize a particular strategic system of crossbreeding depends upon individual production goals. First must come the blinding realization that no one breed excels in all areas that lead to profitability. In order to take advantage of breed complementarity, breeds must be paired such that they excel in different …
According to the January 2012 USDA Cattle Inventory report, retained heifer numbers were up 1.4 percent. This increase indicates an attempt at cattle herd expansion. However, the cost of replacement females for a cow-calf operation is significant. Selecting replacement females is challenging, especially when you consider that decisions made now will impact your operation for …
As you approach a log blocking the trail, you notice something strange at the base of it. It looks almost like a snake…but not quite. What could it be? As you inch closer, you realize that it’s a long piece of snake skin! Read more
Snakes are unique among wildlife for many reasons, and one of those reasons is their ability to shed their skin in its entirety. We don’t see this from other animals, so why do snakes shed their skin whole? Put simply, snakes shed their skin because it doesn’t fit anymore or because it’s old or worn out. When …