Human Genome: Handle our original design

SCIENCEAn architect uses project plans to understand the relationships between structural variables of work and look for ways or alternatives to improve it. In the same way, a computer engineer goes to the source code of a program to modify and change those commands that cause inefficiencies and should be changed. Humans also has its own design, imperfect by nature admirably. One day, we decided our dissatisfaction with their outcome and, although the author will agree or not, we have to change our "piacere". To do this you have to know the plans, our source code, our human genome.The human genome is the DNA sequence contained in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus of every human cell.
Of the 23 pairs, 22 are autosomal chromosomes and sex-determining pair (two X chromosomes in females and one X and one Y in males). Haploid genome (ie, with a single representation of each pair) has a total length of approximately 3.2 billion base pairs of DNA containing the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes.nDe. The Human Genome Project produced a reference sequence of the human genome, used worldwide in biomedical sciences.
DNA sequence that forms the human genome contains encoded information necessary for expression, highly coordinated and adaptable to the environment, the human proteome, ie the set of human proteins. Proteins, and DNA are major effector biomolecules; possess structural features, enzymatic, metabolic, regulatory, signaling, organized in huge networks of functional interactions. Ultimately, the particular morphology based proteome and function of each cell. Furthermore, the structural and functional organization of the various cells formed every tissue and organ, and finally, the living organism as a whole. Thus, the human genome contains the basic information required for the physical development of a complete human being.
Genetic diseases can be caused by mutation of the DNA sequence, with involvement of the coding sequence (producing proteins incorrect) or regulatory sequences (by altering the expression level of a gene) or chromosomal abnormalities, numerical or structural. Altering the genome of germ cells of an individual is often transmitted to their offspring. Currently the number of known genetic diseases is approximately 4,000, with the most common cystic fibrosis.
The results of the Human Genome Project are of great importance for the identification of new genetic diseases and to develop new and improved systems for genetic diagnosis as well as for research into new treatments, including gene therapy.

The "Salar de Uyuni": The wealthy White Desert

NATURAL WONDERS

The world's largest salt flats remain an important economic resource. Formerly, the conservative properties of sodium chloride (aka table salt) led the first commercial farms. Currently, contain significant amounts of other minerals, previously considered negligible value, now become invaluable future strategic resources. The Salar de Uyuni, the Saudi Arabia of "white gold".

The Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt desert in the world, with an area of ​​12,000 km ². It is located about 3650 meters high in the southwestern region of Bolivia (Potosí Department) in the Altiplano of Bolivia, on the Andes.

The Salar de Uyuni is estimated to contain 10 billion tons of salt, of which 25,000 tons are extracted each year and has 140 million tons of lithium, according to official data of the State Mining Corporation of Bolivia (Comibol), becoming in one of the largest global reserves of this mineral. There are about 11 layers of salt, with thicknesses ranging from two to ten meters. The crust is found on the surface has a thickness of 10 meters.

The Salar de Uyuni is also one of the main tourist destinations in Bolivia and is visited by about 60,000 tourists every year. Among its attractions are:
- Breeding of three species of flamingos: the Chilean, James's and Andean.

- Cactus giants up to 10 m high on Fish Island. This island is the largest of all the islands situated in the center of the Salar of Uyuni.

- Mummies of 3,000 years old discovered in a cave at the edge of the Salar.

Paraguay War: The destruction of a rising nation

HISTORY
There was once organized a South American nation where corruption did not govern. A country that was not only a supplier of raw material for the old world, but had reached a certain degree of industrialization and development. Paraguay was a nation to imitate, however his kind neighbors and much further stakeholders held a different view and set your goal in your destruction. Not claim that Paraguay would not have looked, but certainly the Paraguay War was a devastating conflict and uneven, which largely determine the future of the Guarani people.
The War of Paraguay, called by the Paraguayans Great War was the military conflict in which the Triple Alliance (a coalition of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina) fought militarily against Paraguay.
The conflict erupted in late 1864, when Marshal Francisco Solano López, president of Paraguay, decided to come to the aid of the government by the Partido Blanco of Uruguay, in civil war against the Colorado Party, he supported militarily by Brazil. Lopez warned governments of Brazil and Argentina would consider any aggression to Uruguay as an attack balance Plata States. The Brazilian government defied the threat and consequently the Paraguayan government seized the Brazilian merchant ship "Marquis of Olinda" in the port of Asuncion and imprisoned the governor of the Brazilian province of Mato Grosso, who was on board.
The first stage of the war was to the successful invasion of Mato Grosso by Paraguayan forces in December 1864 where he took and sacked the city of Corumbá and took possession of the province and its diamond mines. Then Mitre order refused permission to send troops Paraguay Argentine territory. In response, Paraguayan troops occupied the city of Corrientes, in April 1865, which forced Argentina to enter the war, allied with Brazil.
The war funding was obtained through borrowing in British firms, who saw the conflict against Paraguay convenient. This was one of the few countries that had not fallen under his tutelage cheaper thanks to protectionism that had led to Paraguay to autonomous economic development trend and industrialist, in contrast to other South American states.

The rainbow: The white light fission

SCIENCE
There are few simple things that get the admiration of children and adults at the same time. Two simple creations of the universe, light and water collide to create one of the most sublime spectacles of our planet: the Rainbow. Revered for a century by its mysterious appearance, his explanation is simple laws of optics. However, fantasy and fables have fueled supernatural legends that give a mysticism that humans, despite the progress of science and technology, decide to treasure.
A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes the appearance of a spectrum of continuous light in the sky when the sun's rays pass through water droplets contained in the Earth's atmosphere. The shape is the sum of a multicolored arc with red on the outside and violet on the inside.
More than three centuries ago, Isaac Newton was able to show with the help of a prism the white light of the Sun contains red based colors turn to orange, violet, on the black, for the blue and indigo to violet until . This separation of light into the colors that shape decomposition is called white light. The Rainbow Complete Theory was proposed in initial form by Thomas Young and later elaborated in detail by Potter and Airy.
How is it produced? A ray of sunlight, which "make" a rainbow, changes its direction three times while moving through a drop of water first enters the drop, which causes it to refract light. Then moves toward the opposite end of the drop, and is reflected on the inner face thereof. Finally, again refracted as it exits the raindrop shaped scattered light. Color decomposition is possible because the refractive index of the water drop is slightly different for each wavelength for each color of the rainbow.

Silk: Oriental treasure

MATERIALS
At one point in its history, the man redefined the use of clothing. What once was just for shelter and protection, now transformed into an instrument display, a means of stimulating personal vanity. The smoothness of its texture, its strength and its variety of colors, silk became the queen of fabrics, title that modern technology has failed to unseat.
Silk is a natural fiber made up of proteins of animal origin. Although it is produced by several groups of insects, silkworms (before they complete their metamorphosis) are considered the best quality and are most commonly used in the industry.
The silk fabrics were produced for the first time in ancient China, and some evidence suggests that were made since circa 3000. C., although there is stronger evidence that silk was used widely by the year 1300. C. At first a woven silk was reserved exclusively for members of the Imperial China, both for their own use and to be given away. It quickly became a highly sought after luxury product for merchants because of its texture and brightness, as well as being a very accessible and convenient to carry. Therefore, this product came to have a strong demand, becoming a staple of pre-industrial international trade. Venetian and Florentine traders (in Italy) were responsible for its spread through Europe. 

It is a versatile material and is used in various fields:
- Clothing made from this fabric: shirts, pants, blouses, dresses, etc..
- The elegance of silk, its soft luster and beautiful fall makes it perfect for some applications furnished. It is used for upholstery, walls, window treatments (if blended with another fiber), rugs, bedding and wall hangings.
- Also used for making parachutes, bicycle tires and fill the quilts.
- Being one of the strongest fibers, early bulletproof vests were made from silk in the era of gunpowder to about World War I (curious).

Pancho Villa: Mexican popular Caudillo

HISTORY
Throughout history there have emerged transcendental characters, both real and fictional, that preserve the poor and destitute of the unfortunate actions of wealthy landowners. Like most populist leaders, and as a sort of Robin Hood modern Mexican, Pancho Villa, was simultaneously loved and hated by men and women of his country and the world. Without doubt, a worthy of a place in our general culture.José Doroteo Arango Arambula, better known by his nickname Pancho Villa, was one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution which military action was critical to the defeat of the regime of then President Victoriano Huerta. Originally from the state of Durango, was born on June 5, 1878 and was killed in an ambush in Hidalgo del Parral (Chihuahua) on July 20, 1923. During the revolution he was known as "The Centaur of the North".
Commander of the Northern Division, was leader of the northern state of Chihuahua (which would be governor), which, given its size, mineral wealth, and proximity to the United States of America, provided him with extensive resources. Although you are not accepted into the pantheon "of national heroes," but 20 years after his death, today his memory is honored by Mexicans, Americans and people around the world.
Villa and his followers, known as Pancho Villa, seized the lands of the farmers for distribution to peasants and soldiers. He took trains and, as several revolutionary generals, printed fiat money used to pay for his cause. Villa's dominance in northern Mexico was broken in 1915, through a series of defeats he suffered at Celaya and Agua Prieta at the hands of Álvaro Obregón and Plutarco Elías Calles.
Villa retired in 1920 and was given a large estate which he turned into a "military colony" for his former soldiers. In 1923 he decided to become involved in Mexican politics and as a result was assassinated, probably on the orders of Obregón.

Geysers: Mysterious expression of nature

NATURAL WONDERS

The nature in the geyser gives us another example of his inexhaustible creativity. With its captivating mystery reminds us that life on earth begins with the alacrity of its core. Unknown to many, fascinating and reserved, geysers, deserve their own promotional space.

The geyser is a type of hot spring that "erupts" periodically, ejecting a column of hot water and steam into the air. Its activity is caused by contact between surface water and rocks heated by magma located underground. The geothermally heated water returns to the surface by convection through porous and fractured rocks. The formation of geysers requires a favorable hydrogeology exists only in some parts of the planet, so it is a quite strange phenomenon. There are about 1,000 around the world, nearly half are located in Yellowstone National Park, United States

During the eruption process, the bottom temperature begins to rise geyser reaching boiling and steam bubbles ascend to the top of the duct. Crossing the geyser crater, some water overflows and splashes out, reducing the width of the column and the water pressure underneath. With this pressure relief, water is mixed with superheated steam, ebulliendo violently through the column. The resulting foam between steam and hot water is pushed out of the geyser.

The duration of eruptions and time between them vary by geyser, Strokkur in Iceland erupts few seconds every 14 minutes, while Grand Geyser in the United States does for about 10 minutes every 8 or 12 hours.

The Laser: The power to control the light

SCIENCEMost of the inventions arising from an unmet need of the human being. A solution that improves the quality of life and promotes human development. The laser, however, no. His invention, the mid-twentieth century, it was a solution waiting for a need, your own developer not undertake to find. However, would not wait. From medicine to military industry, lasers, versatile and efficient, has become ubiquitous in human life.
A laser (whose acronym stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation", ie Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is a device which uses a quantum mechanical effect, induced or stimulated emission, to generate a the beam size, shape and purity control.
In 1916, Albert Einstein laid the foundation for the development of lasers using the law of Max Planck radiation based on the concepts of spontaneous and induced emission of radiation. In 1953, Charles H. Townes and graduate students James P. Gordon built the first maser a device operating with the same physical principles, but the laser that produces a coherent beam of microwaves. Townes's maser was incapable of continuous work. The first laser is a ruby ​​and it worked first time in 1960. It was built by Theodore Maiman. The fact that their results were published with some delay in Nature, gave time to the implementation of other parallel developments. For this reason, Townes and Arthur Leonard Schawlow inventors are also considered laser, which patented in 1960.
Some of their modern uses:
- Medicine: Operations bloodless surgical treatments, aids wound healing, treatment of kidney stones, eye operations, dental operations.
- Industry: Cutting, guided manufacturing machinery and robots, accurate distance measurements by laser.
- Development in commercial: laser printers, CD, optical mice, barcode readers, laser pointers, thermometers, holograms, entertainment lighting applications.
- Defense: Guided ballistic missiles, alternative to radar, blinding enemy troops. In the case of the Tactical High Energy Laser is starting to use the laser as a destroyer of targets.
- Civil Engineering: Guided TBMs, different applications in topography and distance measurements at inaccessible places or conduct of a digital terrain model (DTM).
- Research: Spectroscopy, laser interferometry, LIDAR, distanciometry.
- Cosmetic and plastic surgery treatments: Acne Treatments, cellulite, stretch marks treatment, waxing.

The Industrial Revolution: The interchangeability of human labor

HISTORYOne day the steam began to move the world. XVIII Century. In a small loom English suburb, close to a hundred workers are preparing to start another long day of work. The task is hard, but at least the pay can support the family. But the landscape has changed , a huge and noisy iron beast flaunts its efficiency in view of the workers: The steam engine, the driving force of the industrial revolution. Society will never be the same again.
 The Industrial Revolution was a historical period between the second half of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in Britain and the rest of continental Europe then suffer the largest set of socio-economic, technological and cultural history of mankind since Neolithic times.The economy based on manual labor was replaced by one dominated by industry and manufacturing. The Revolution began with the mechanization of the textile industries and the development of processes of iron. Trade expansion was favored by improved transport routes and later by the birth of the railway. The most important innovations were the powerful steam machines associated with textile industry. These new machines favored huge increases in production capacity.So in the industrial revolution the amount of product increases and decreases the time in which these are carried out, giving way to mass production, because it simplifies complex tasks into several simple operations that can be performed without requiring any worker it is skilled labor, and thus lower production costs and increase the number of units produced under the same fixed cost.The Industrial Revolution produced substantial changes in various aspects such as:- Demographics: Transfer of population from the countryside to the city (rural exodus), international migration, sustained population growth, large differences between peoples, economic independence- Economic: Series production, development of capitalism, the emergence of big business (manufacturing system), unequal exchanges- Social: Birth of the proletariat, comes the "social question", child exploitation- Environmental: Deterioration of the environment and landscape degradation, overexploitation of the earth.

Curling: Sweeping can be fun

SPORTSMan always has managed to harness the wonders of nature to entertain. With ropes and carabiners challenges the verticality of high walls and cliffs. With an oval carbon fiber table mounted huge waves in the turbulent seas. That if large polished stones together with long brooms and devise a sport on ice, if it is to capitalize on the endless imagination of man. Curling undoubtedly first prize to human ingenuity.
Curling is a precision sport similar to bowling British, Chilean hopscotch, at River Plate or bocce balls Venezuelan native, practiced in an ice rink. Two teams of four players compete against each other by sliding granite stones August 20 kg each on a ice racer.
Once the launch, the other team members (sweepers) provided brushes accompany each stone to acting on the ice surface, facilitating its progress or change its direction, but still not touching the stone. After making all the throws, points are awarded based on the proximity of these stones to the target in the center marked down the hall. For example, the stone closest to the center of the target, has a point, if the following is from the same team, they have two, and so on until the following is the opposing team. By this rule, if a team has to finish the "end" to 0. In case no stones in the target is considered to 0-0. A normal game is played from 8-10 "ends" or sleeves. At the end of the match wins the highest scoring team in the event of a tie, we decided on a bonus manga. The team that wins a sleeve begins the following mandatory.
It is believed that the game of Curling was invented in late medieval Scotland. The first written references to the use of ice stones appear in the engravings of Paisley Abbey dating from February 1541 and it is known that it was a very popular outfit in Scotland between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The first World Curling Championship was exclusively for men and was called, "Scotch Cup". It was held in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1959 and was won by the Canadian team. Today it is practiced mainly in Canada (came from the hand of Scottish immigrants), the northern United States and northern Europe.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMhSbo4VeLQ&feature=related

The currents of "El Niño": Transforming the Earth's climate

SCIENCE
Ms Smith because protest in Santiago because Chile is flooded more than normal. In a fish store in the center of Lima, the price of certain species of fish is doubled. In Rosario Stock Exchange, in turn, triggers the future value of some cereal because this year it is estimated that the harvest will not meet expectations. Is it possible perhaps that these events are connected? Well, could be. The phenomenon "El Niño" rose water temperature in the American Pacific coasts and climate, overcome by so great alteration, succumbs to the chaos.
El Niño is a cyclical climate phenomenon erratically is a change in the movement patterns of ocean currents in the tropics causing consequently global havoc due to heavy rains, affecting mainly South America, both in the Atlantic coast and in the Pacific. The scientific name for the phenomenon El Niño Southern Oscillation (El Niño-Southern Oscillation, ENSO, for its acronym in English). Phenomenon is explained by the Earth's rotation movement.
During El Niño, the trade winds weaken or stop blowing, the sea temperature maximum shifts to the current system Chilean-Peruvian (perceptible increase in water temperature) which is relatively cool, and the minimum sea temperature moves to Southeast Asia. This causes increased air pressure in Southeast Asia and South America decreased. All this change occurs at an interval of six months, approximately from June to November, producing strong alterations in climate.
The consequences of this climatic phenomenon leads to random regions of South America:
- Losses fishing certain species and increased in others.
- Intense cloud formation generated in the intertropical convergence zone.
- Wet periods.
- Low atmospheric pressure.
- Agricultural losses.