The Human Genome

The Genome Project took millions of dollars and almost a decade to uncover the secrets of the human genetic material known as the DNA. It was an exciting race between a private company and a set of public researchers. Each team trying to compete the gene sequencing before the other could.

This blueprint of a human being is now available at a far less cost of just about $5000. It is used to diagnose the presence of any genetic mutations which could cause diseases later in life. It is also used to see if specific strains of pathogens may be fought with specific drugs and medication.

While the world expected great things from the Genome Project, its full potential is yet to be exploited. Part of the reason for this is the sheer volume of data involved. There is so much to be studied and then made sense of. Not to mention put to practical use.

All this takes time and maybe you can look forward to an exciting career as a gene picker! Your science projects can reflect the bio diversity of the genetic world. You may even discover some hidden trait and cause a real difference to the treatment of a particular disease. Get cracking on that science project on the genome.

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Design your own Baby

Blue eyes? Curly hair? Dimpled Chin? What are the exact features that you want in your baby? I am not talking about a computer game to raise a virtual baby here. This is actual stuff.  Now thanks to DNA mapping you may be able to choose the exact type of child that is born.

Of course this is a bit in the future, but yes you can tell if the unborn child in the mother’s womb is suffering from any genetic disease. What do you credit this to? It would have to be to genetics. The study of genetics revolves around the traits that the chromosomes give you as a human being.

This is why some one has a nose as long as their father, or has brown hair like their mother. Even the blood group is genetically determined. Your genes can predict a lot about you. This information can come in handy when you are ill and need to be treated in a special way.

Some cancer tumors affect different people in different ways. So the medication has to be different for them as well. Research can help determine what kind of tumors should be treated in which manner to be effectively eliminated. There are enough on going science projects on the subject. Check them out if you are interested.

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Made to order medication

There has been considerable progress made after the human DNA blueprint was untangled in making medication.  Now that the genes and their mutations are known, making specific medication to target that mutation is easier. There are less clinical trials involved and the drugs take less time to devlop.

Scientists are now demystifying the genes that mutate to cause cancer. The science project is a large scale international one where each cancer will get mapped in 200 patients. Then the research will begin to see why the mutations occur on a molecular level.

Once the mechanism of the cancer cells is understood, it will be used to form medication that can prevent the mutation or at least halt it once it begins. Such made to order medication will be really useful for cancer patients who have a short time to live and no time for trial and error in their medicine choice.

It is such ongoing science projects that contribute to the better health care opportunities that we as patients receive today. Sitting in a lab and mapping genes may not seem very Earth shaking, but it is useful and productive work which can save lives.  A small idea can become a large project and that is how you can contribute as well. Try out more science projects here.

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How your genes affect you

The study of Genetics has taken a huge leap forward after the Genome Project. The massive and expensive Genome project was undertaken to map all the DNA present in the human body. A sort of DNA Map for the humans that would help understand the diseases and their causes better.

The first Blueprint of the Human DNA was prepared about a decade ago. The information has now been used successfully to predict and treat a number of genetic diseases. Scientists are fairly excited about this project as they feel there are a number of things more that can still be achieved.

The benefits of the Genome project have been under criticism by funding sources who feel that the expense has not yet been justified. Yet this path breaking science project is still in its infancy. There is a whole of lot information which has not been processed yet.

The sheer volume of information has made progress slow, yet there have been some startling findings that have come to light thanks to the intensive project. It is also possible to get your own DNA blueprint at a relatively low cost of about five thousand dollars today.

Compare that to the billions of dollars that the first DNA blueprint took to make, it is an achievement of great importance. People can get screened for genetic illnesses and have the medical treatment done as a preventive measure. Check out more ideas for interesting science projects here.

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Using a Science Fair Project Kit

Why does it make sense to use a science fair project kit? In most cases parents do not have either the time or the expertise to help high school kids with their science fair projects. So the only guidance that is coming in is from the science teacher at school. However no teacher has the time to ensure individual attention to all the students in the class.

So what does the student do then? He will research what he can in the school library and then get on to the internet.The data available is a great deal, but to be able to assimilate and use it, he will need help. Some times too much information can result in no action being taken. The student is literally drowning in information overload.

So what’s the solution to this problem? A Science Fair Project Kit. These kits are designed to help the student make a specific science fair project. It includes all the material that may be required to assemble the project, the instructions to make the project and the explanation of why and how it works. Ideal for a student looking for a quick project.

There is no need to think of the details which have all been worked out for you. All you do is choose what project you want to do. Then buy the science fair project kit and just build it. As easy as that. May be that’s why our science kits are so popular. Check them out if you are stuck for ideas.

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Gas and Air Science Experiment

While we may conduct the majority of the chemical experiments with liquids, even gases react with air. The only reason that experiments in school tend to focus on more on chemical science experiments in the liquid state is because it is easier to the the end product of the process.

So if gases were to react with air how would you be able to see it? Would it cause any visible effect? Or would it be experience in some other form. The answer would depend on the type of gas that is reacting with the air and other factors as well.

For instance some gas reactions can be positively dangerous. If you have methane gas and release it into  the air nothing might happen initially. Now in that vicinity if some one was to light a match the methane combined with the oxygen in the air would catch fire.

That’s why it is best to avoid uncontrollable experiments of gases reacting with air. However if you want to try out a relatively safe experiment try out this science project. In this you will try to freeze bubbles. You will need an adult to give you a hand through so be sure to ask for permission and help with conducting the experiment.

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Acids and Bases

Chemicals can play an important role in any science project that you undertake. If you add the wrong chemical you may ruin the experiment or even worse, blow up your lab. Although that is a worst case scenario and may never realy happen with you if you are very careful about the chemicals that you use.

In most school labs the potentially risky chemicals are usually provided in a majorly diluted form to avoid any major mishaps. However it is important to know all the properties of a chemical that you may be handling in a science experiment. You do not want to burn yourself by accident.

So we know some chemicals are acids and it can be rather dangerous to drop these on our skin. So treat them with a lot of respect. The stuff that neutralizes or reduces the effect of acids is called bases. These are also quite strong and potent on their own, so make sure you handle them with care as well.

How would you care to use a vegetable like a cabbage to learn more about the properties of Acids and Bases? Yes it may seen like an unlikely teacher, but it is a good one. Check out this experiment over here. It does not need you to pick up any special chemicals to perform. All the stuff should be readily available in your fridge and kitchen at home.

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States of Matter

Consider a science experiment based on the states of matter. The states of matter are solid, liquid and gas. That we all know, but how does water change into ice, its solid form? Or water vapor, its liquid form? This has to do with the number of molecules of water that are packed together in a limited area.

When the water is placed in a glass in the fridge it will make the molecules shrink into a compact area and turn into a denser form. This dense form is the solid state of ice. Similarly the opposite happens when the water is boiled on the hob or in an electric kettle.

The heat excites the water molecules and they tend to expand into all the available space. Thus turning into a gaseous form called water vapor. The states of matter are not always followed in the transformation process. For instance a substance like Camphor has no liquid state.

Camphor exists in a solid form, generally in a white or cream color. If you apply heat to camphor in the form of a burning match stick it does not melt like ice would. In fact it catches fire and evaporates into a gaseous form right away. This is called spontaneous combustion.

But what about Fire? Is it solid, liquid or gas? And try making this gluep and try to figure out if it is a liquid or a solid.

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The Principle behind the Science project

Think of a science fair exhibition and you can see a number of working models and some three dimensional models all lined up for the judges. However it is not the size of you model that will make it an award winner. When you make a science project you are putting some scientific principle to use.

You model is based on some basic facts which are irrefutable. These facts or scientific principles is what the judges hope to hear you explain when you present the model to them. If you do not know what makes your model work, it means that even though you have built it, your knowledge is incomplete.

If you are making a parachute to bring down some thing safely from the top floor of a building you need to understand a few principles including that of gravity. Other terms that you need to understand will include things like air resistance, drag, load, and surface area.

Take a look at the science project here if you are interested in making a parachute. This may help you understand better why a sky diver lands softly on the ground with the help of a parachute, while without one he would have  a hard fall. These are the facts that your judges as the science fair exhibition expect you to bring out along with th eworking model of a parachute.

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Alternate Energy Source powered Science project

Considering that the fossil fuels are running low there will be a number of science projects researching other alternatives. Some alternative energy sources being considered are wind energy and solar energy. Both of which are clean fuel options as compared to fossil fuels which pollute the environment as they produce energy.

So what can you do with these alternate energy sources in your science fair project? There are many ideas that you can use. How about building a turbine windmill to produce electric power? Or may be you can try making a hydrogen  fuel cell that can operate a toy car.

There is a whole lot of things to do once you have established a small power source using alternative energy sources. You can even use a cycle as a power source for a grinding machine. The electric circuits you build can be used to power lights as well.

There is nothing nicer than flashing light bulbs to prove that your science fair project is a star! They are a sure shot attention grabber. You can add an extra dimension to the project by including a small useful function in the electric circuit along with the flashing light bulbs.

Use this idea here to get an unusual science project kick started.  Or work on a fresh one for yourself. There is no limit to the project that you can make.

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