Image: USDA

Researcher have almost completely sequenced the genome for the domesticated turkey. According to researcher Rami Dalloul, "To date, more than 90 percent of the domesticated turkey genome has been sequenced and assembled." Among the genes that have been sequenced are the turkey sex chromosomes, Z and W. In these animals it is the female gamete that determines the sex of an individual. Female gametes can either contain a Z chromosome or a W chromosome. Male gametes contain only the Z chromosome. Females of these species are ZW and males are ZZ.

According to the researchers, thousands of previously unknown bird genes have been sequenced. Sequencing the turkey genome will assist poultry producers and scientists in producing healthier, more disease resistant birds. Understanding certain genetic variations that occur in these animals will help producers to develop favorable breeding strategies that can lead to leaner turkeys with more flavorful meat.

Learn more about this study:

• Turkey Genome Sequenced More Than 90 Percent Science Daily

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One of the best ways to prevent bacteria related illnesses and other infectious disease is to wash your hands with soap and water. However, washing your hands alone is not enough to prevent the spread of bacteria. You must also dry your hands thoroughly after washing to prevent the transfer of germs. This does not include wiping your hands on your clothes to dry them. Learning good hand-hygiene habits is essential to reducing the spread of bacteria.

A study conducted at the University of Bradford analyzed the different methods of hand drying in public settings and determined which was most effective at reducing germs. The researchers found that drying your hands with paper towels or using a hand dryer without rubbing your hands together were most effective at keeping bacteria counts low. Rubbing your hands together while drying them under a hand dryer offsets the benefits of hand washing by bringing bacteria within the skin to the surface. These bacteria, along with any that were not removed by washing, can then be transferred to other surfaces.

Learn more about this study:

• Is Hand Washing Enough to Stop the Spread of Disease Science Daily

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Did you know that a high-fat diet can alter brain cells? Researchers have discovered that a high-fat diet causes the overgrowth of support cells in the brain. These support cells insulate brain cells in such a way that they become unable to connect to other brain systems which regulate appetite and energy expenditure. As a result, the brain does not signal the rest of the body to discontinue eating or to burn energy.

Researcher Michael Cowley states, "Obese people are not necessarily lacking willpower. Their brains do not know how full or how much fat they have stored, so the brain does not tell the body to stop refuelling. Subsequently, their body's ability to lose weight is significantly reduced." Nerve cells in the brain form circuits that control appetite and energy expenditure very early on in life. Although a person may have a predisposition towards obesity, eating a high-fat diet makes it even more difficult for him or her to lose weight.

Learn more about this study:

• Brain Cells Determine Obesity Science Daily

One of the keys to being successful in biology is understanding the terminology. Difficult biology words and terms are easier to understand when you become familiar with the common prefixes and suffixes used in biology. These affixes, derived from Latin and Greek roots, form the basis for many difficult biology words.

For example, the word pericardium can be understood as follows: peri - cardium. Peri means around and cardio refers to the heart. The pericardium is the fluid filled sac that surrounds the heart. For more information on how to understand difficult biology words or terms see Biology Word Dissections and Biology Prefixes and Suffixes Quiz.