Wolves

I have always loved animals. When I was about 3 years old, I was fascinated with a beautiful collie that lived in my building. This dog did not like people, but I loved him. I distinctly remember one day running around him, hugging, petting and talking to him, and I remember hearing him growl (he was taller than me), but for some reason, he put up with the unwanted attention. I only remember being acquainted with him that one time – I think after that, my Mom and his owner colluded to keep me away from him.

 

Revolutionary Biology

Today through Friday (May 14 – 16), the New York Academy of Sciences is hosting a conference on Integrative Physiology. In our time, this is a revolutionary concept because scientific/medical researchers and western medical practitioners in the past century have become habituated to zeroing in on individual organs, tissues, cells and molecules. In turn, however, the results of the research pointed to multiple unknown functions of individual genes. The presenters at this conference are researchers on the forefront of beginning to understand these multiple roles. The keynote speaker, Leonard Guarente of MIT, discussed sirtuins and their roles in the biology of aging in various normal and diseased tissues.

It seems to me that just as we have ups and downs in life, there is a pattern of oscillation to ideas and theories. In the past century, biological research had focused consistently down toward the most primary molecular level, which can be visualized as a “contracting” of concentration, and it is now expanding to connect multiple molecular, cellular, and organ functions.

 

The Human Anemone Fish

Did you ever notice or have an encounter with someone and wonder how his/her partner could ever possibly stand them? There are many parallels to this in nature – one that came to my mind this evening involves anemone fish, who live among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones. Most mobile coral reef inhabitants seem to know better than to flirt with an anemone, but the anemone fish is miraculously immune to the anemone’s sting and poison. I don’t know if anyone has ever discovered what, if any, benefits the anemone gets from the fish, but the fish definitely benefits from the shelter provided by the anemone. Anyway, they’re beautiful. Feast your eyes on this photo taken by Shek Graham (Thank you, Shek. Beautiful work.).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shekgraham/242017094/