Blog 13c: Mummy's that still have traces of blood

Researchers of this study have discovered the oldest blood known to modern science. They have used a mummy, they named Ötzi , whose body was frozen in a glacier for over 5,000 years. Blood was extracted from the wound that was presumed to cause his death. Using both an atomic force microscope and a raman spectroscopy method, red blood cells were positively identified. This in itself was a break through because scientists could not begin to imagine how long blood could survive, let alone what these cells looked like in the Chalcolithic period. According to their results using nanotechnology, they not only identified the blood from the wound, but also characterized it to look like the modern "doughnut shape" we know today. Using Ötzi's blood, scientists hope to estimate how long a trace of blood has been present at a crime scene.

Cool, huh?! What do y'all think about the break through?!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502141132.htm

Blog 13b: Tall DNA

In this article, 180 DNA variants that were implicated in normal height variation was tested with extremely tall subjects and normal height control subjects. When doing so, it was found that 90% of the variants had some effect on height in tall people and of this percentage, 40 % was significant. Long story short, they are using this DNA-based prediction technique in forensic molecular biology to estimate the height of a person based on these variants. If they are successful, they hope to apply this testing to possibly find perpetrators who do not have DNA profiles in authoritative systems.

What do y'all think about this? Will it work?!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131120103613.htm

Blog 13a: Spit and Aggression

Scientists of this study have recognized that aggression in young boys, ages 7 to 9, can be related to three types of hormones: testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and cortisol. Using saliva samples from this range of boys, they are able to detect or predict violent behavior. According to their results of all 17 boys, the levels in these hormones correlated to the severity and frequency of aggression. The researchers hope to one day use this type of testing to improve safety in schools by identifying boys that have the potential to be dangerous to peers and seeking the proper help for them.

My questions for this article is why did they only focus on males? What are the hormones that would signify aggression in young females?

What are your thoughts on this study and possible questions you all have?!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130326162157.htm