Greenpeace recently accepted and applauded Unilever’s (a food and consumer good company) decision to end palm oil deforestation in Indonesia.  This change will greatly help the forests to grow in this sprawling island chain.

This is an Aerial View of the Vast Plantations (right side)

The company announced on Thursday that it would only use palm oil from fully traceable sources by the year 2015 in order to reduce the rapid destruction of Indonesia’s carbon-rich forests .  The multibillion-dollar company’s support of Greenpeace could put pressure on Indonesian authorities to place a ban on logging and the clear-cutting of forests to make way for plantations in general.

Indonesia is the world’s most prolific crude palm oil producer and the oil’s high prices caused the deforestation to increase at an alarming rate.  To boot, Indonesia is the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter (the U.S. and China are the first two).  This is another way how companies and environmental groups can work together to protect the planet.

An international research team has discovered a genetic mutation that causes a normally healty person’s blood sugar (up to 5 percent) to rise more than is natural.  This causes medical problems like heart disase and diabetes although the gene does not exactly link directly to the problems.

A Strand of DNA

The gene is called G6PC2 and when it is mutated, it prevents glucokinase, a protein enzyme, from regulating blood glucose levels.  Glucokinase signals to cells known as beta cells in the Pancreas which secretes insulin to keep blood glucose levels down by turning it into a storage carbohydrade: glycogen.  The team discovered this by comparing the genetic map of people with diabetes or otherwise high BGLs (blood glucose level) and those with a normal BGL.

The team also found five areas of human DNA that could account for up to 70 percent of the genetic mutations that cause type 2 diabetes (not the genetic disease type (that is type 1)).  The researchers hope to use this discovery to find new treatments for unnaturally high blood sugar.

Proteins (collagen) in the bones of a 68 million-year-old dinosaur prove that the Tyrannasaurus rex are directly related to birds.  This was the first time that soft tissue (necessary for genetic mapping) could be extracted from fossils.  In fact, the study shows that the T Rex is actually closer related to chickens and birds than alligators and other lizards. 

This is an Image of the New Dating Process which Uses Genetic Analysis

Researchers’ genetic analysis of the ancient preserved proteins in bones can be used to fill in all sorts of gaps in the evolutionary tree.  It does however, also prove that just comparing mechanical and physical animal structures is also a valid way of discerning animal lineages.  The researchers also reiterated the connection between ancient, extinct Mastadons and modern elephants by analyzing the DNA from Mastadon hair.

Scientists also have more accurately pinpointed the extinction of the dinosaurs thanks to this new molecular comparison.   Their improved process put the end of the Cretaceous (the last period of dinosaur dominance) around 65.95 million years ago (give or take 40,000 years).  Earlier estimates put that date at around 65.5 million years ago.  The older study had a 300,000-year margin for error.

The binturong or bearcat is neither a bear nor a cat.   The Binturong is a type of large civet or omnivorousus midsize mammal whose family include Mongoose and Meercat.  Binturongs are cat-sized animals native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand, Malasia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.  Binturongs are very endangered nocturnal animals.  They are distinguished by their long, fluffy tails and small, round ears.  They have a dull black or brown color. 

The Binturong in its Natural Habitat

The binturong is very in Southeast Asia as a result of the widespread habitat destruction.  Binturongs live almost solely in treetops (their sharp, curved claws make them expert climbers).  Poachers often hunt for the binturong as well because their body parts are used in traditional Chinese medicines.  The poor food situation in the region causes the local peoples to hunt the Binturong as well. 

On a side note, the Binturong smells strongly of popcorn, which is the scent it uses for territory markers.  It is also, strangely enough, the mascot of Binghamton University.  There are no Binturongs native to New York.

 

Marine biologists from New Zealand are now thawing out the largest dead squid ever found.  As of now, nobody has seen a living, fully-grown colossal squid, or Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat, which is very deep in the ocean.  Colossal squid are not to be confused with giant squid, as the former are much larger and found furthers south, in Antarctic waters.  The squid that was found weighs 1,089 pounds and is 26 feet long.  It was caught by fishermen and was frozen until science teams could thaw and observe it.    The scientists plan to learn more about the squid’s anatomy, diet (by removing the stomach), and reproductive cycles. 

A Collosal Squid Being Caught

The colossal squid are some of the least studies residents of the deep ocean waters.  It is projected that they can grow up to 46 feet long.  The problem to study them is reaching where they live.  Giant squid can dive down to 6,500 feet.  It is also a rather aggressive animal, which often gets into life-or-death fights with whales. 

The calamari rings from this specimen would be the size of tractor wheels.  Quite a feast, but the squid will be preserved in a museum located in Wellington, New Zealand.  The video feed can be found at http://www.r2.co.nz/20080427/rotate-1.asx