Biotrends.org Online Magazine. ©2005-2006 | All Rights Reserved.

Issue 1. November/December 2005

In Our Opinion:

• In Fact:Passion for Science- Editorial by Dr. Shadi Farhangrazi, Founder and Co-Editor
• Logically Speaking: Interconnectedness - Editorial by Dr. Gayle Knapp, Co-Editor

Science in Society:

• The H5N1 avian flu: Not just for the birds - Mike Sugarman

  Avian influenzas are a group of viruses that preferentially and primarily infect birds. One particular strain of avian flu, the H5N1 virus (this nomenclature is explained below), has been rapidly spreading among in Southeast Asia . H5N1 has killed millions of birds and forced the slaughter of millions more. Occasionally, some of these bird flu viruses manage to infect humans, which can lead to disease outbreaks and even pandemics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , H5N1 has infected 121 people thus far and killed 62 people worldwide . There are no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission, but that could change as the virus is continually evolving (how they do this is explained later). If this happens, the results could be a truly devastating global pandemic. Dr. David Nabarro of WHO estimates that "the range of [human] deaths could be anything between 5 and 150 million.".....

• From cloning animals to cloned human organs: The social and Economic benefits in light of ethical considerations -Shadi Farhangrazi

This past summer, audiences in movie theaters watched “The Island”, a fictional tale of a future world with cloned humans whose sole purpose was providing their organs for body parts. From the alarming and dramatic summer movies to the long debates on the floor of the US House of Representatives to the President threatening to veto a bill, we are in no doubt facing unprecedented times. As history has shown, scientific and technological developments will move forward (if not in the US in other countries) at high speed, leaving society in the dust, to deal with the aftermath.....

• Katrina—a personal journey -Shadi Farhangrazi

At Biotrends, we believe in discussing social issues with relevance to science. We have all felt the effects of Hurricane Katrina—if not directly then in empathy and frustration. We recognize this in this issue by: 1) an article on Coast 2050, a proposal for rebuilding the wetlands of the Gulf Coast and natural structural changes proposed before Hurricane Katrina, and 2) these personal notes and photographs from Houston and New Orleans . In addition, we are planning to devote an issue of Biotrends to the science of hurricanes and global warming in 2006.

 

Profiles:

Dr. Shadi Farhangrazi interviews Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO)

 

From the Street:

• Entrepreneurship: US Dependence on Foreign Minds -Chris Dornfeld

  A recent report by the Kauffman Foundation highlights the “substantially higher rates of entrepreneurship among immigrants as compared to U.S.-born individuals.” (1). This should come as no surprise if we think about what type of person would be willing to uproot and travel to a new country in pursuit of a better life. But what is interesting is how little attention is given to the recent contributions that foreign-born nationals make to the U.S. economy.....

• Does Pharmaceutical industry have the right prescription? - Shadi Farhangrazi

  Last week, Californians went to the polls and voted down two competing propositions: Propositions 78 and 79. It was not surprising that the two propositions received very little attention in major national news discussions; even, most Californians did not understand the details of the propositions or their long term implications if they had passed. Pharmaceutical companies spent close to $80 million according to some estimates to get proposition 78 passed. However, it was only presented in opposition to proposition 79 which was sponsored by a coalition of labor organizations and consumer advocacy groups who raised a little over $10 million for their campaign.....

 

Our Planet:

• "Support 2050"

For many years, different groups including politicians, engineers, environmentalists and people living on coastal lands of the Gulf Coast have talked about the potential impact a major hurricane could have. The Louisiana 's disappearing coastal wetlands, shrinking Mississippi River Delta and the weak system of levees which were supposed to protect New Orleans have been discussed for many years. Now we've seen the actual impact there of a hurricane that wasn't even as strong as the models used.