Mitochondrial Eve

Mitochondrial Eve refers to the common matrilineal ancestor from whom all living creatures are descended. Mitochondrial Eve is estimated to have lived around 200,000 years ago. Scientist believe that if they go back far enough, they will find one common mother. The deviation between the mitochondrial DNA among different people can help scientist estimate the time between now and the "original mother". Every 3,500 years mitochondrial DNA accrues one mutation. Mitochondrial Eve is the origin of different tribes whom developed their own specific traits according to the surroundings. Only females pass down their mitochondrial DNA.

                                                                              Italian 

                                                Hispanic 

                                                 Latina 

                                                                       Chinese

                                                 Scottish

                                                Eritrea 

                                          West African 

                                                 Indian 

Although, there are differences among different ethnic groups, there are some similarities which help prove that we are all connected through the "original mother".

Shedding Light on the Origin of Vertebrates

The creature above is an Amphioxus. The amphioxus is the best pre duplicative stand-in of the vertebrate genome. Amphioxus research is helping scientist understand the evolution of the nervous system. Who knows what scientist will discover next?

Polywater: A New Form of Water??

Polywater is a supposed polymeric form of water markedly different from ordinary water, claimed as a new discovery in the early 1970s. The claim was later retracted when its properties were found to be the result of impurities. A Russian scientist named Nikolai Fedyakin, performed experiments which involved sealing water in capillaries. He noticed that a second layer of water formed above the water that was supposed to be there and there was a layer of air between the two columns. Fedyakin also noticed that as the water below the second column decreased, the water in the second column increased. When Fedyakin examined the water he noticed that it had a higher viscosity than water it was more like a syrup. He also noticed that the second column of water had a higher boiling point and lower freezing point than water. When the U.S. Bureau of Standards observed the mystery substance they thought what everyone was thinking, "Could this be a new form of water?". Unfortunately, as the mystery substance was looked at closer, the "new form of water" was no more than tiny particles in ordinary water.