H. Pylori and the limits of science

Hey you! Yes, you. Welcome again to Genetics and Beyond (@genesandbeyond)! Today, new scientific facts that will make you think and maybe laugh. Or the other way around.

We will talk about the discovery of Helicobacter pylori, previously known as Campylobacter pylori, a gram-negative bacteria found in the stomach and related with several gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers and stomach cancer. The name comes from Helico (spiral or helix) bacter (bacteria) for its morphology, and pylori (from pylorus or valve) for its location.

Picture from http://www.medcomic.com/040614.html

The debacle of the Darwin-Wedgwood family

Much is known about Charles Darwin (1809-1882) and his fascinating studies, such as the Origin of the Species (1859) or The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871). But, what could you tell me about his family? Did you know that he had ten children? And did you know that he was married with his first cousin? Come with us to discover more about this prodigious man and the old and ugly habit of inbreeding.

Charles Darwin and Emma Wedgwood

The Nucleobases Etymology

Albrecht Kossel (left) and a thymus histological section (right)

Adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine are nucleobases used in forming nucleotides of the nucleic acids. The purine nucleobases (A and G) bind to the pirimidinic ones (C and T) via hidrogen bonds in the DNA. 

Albrecht Kossel (1953-1927), was a German biochemist who isolated and described the nucleobases and named them with the names we currently use.

Rh factor and Pregnancy

Welcome back to the curious and pragmatic side of the science presented by G&B! Today we want to discuss about something practical as well as essential: how important is our Immune System in relation to the pregnancy process?

Picture from askabiologist.asu.edu