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Researchers Synchronize Blinking 'Genetic Clocks' – Genetically Engineered Bacteria That Keep Track of Time

January 25th, 2010

mrudula

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Researchers at UC San Diego who last year genetically engineered bacteria to keep track of time by turning on and off fluorescent proteins within their cells have taken another step toward the construction of a programmable genetic sensor. The scientists recently synchronized these bacterial “genetic clocks” to blink in unison and engineered the bacterial genes to alter their blinking rates when environmental conditions change.

Their latest achievement, detailed in a paper published in the January 21 issue of the journal Nature, is a crucial step in creating genetic sensors that might one day provide humans with advance information about temperature, poisons and other potential hazards in the environment by monitoring changes in the bacterium’s blinking rates.

“Programming living cells is one defining goal of the new field of synthetic biology,” said Jeff Hasty, associate professor of biology and bioengineering at UCSD who headed the research team with Lev Tsimring, associate director of UCSD’s BioCircuits Institute.

A career in engineering / manufacturing

January 25th, 2010

mrudula

Engineering and manufacturing are well represented in London, contrary to the impression that is sometimes given. Manufacturing alone represents 300,000 jobs or 8% of the capital’s total workforce. Many different types of manufacturing can be found in the capital, from food and drinks companies like Coca Cola in Enfield to vehicle production at Ford in Dagenham. In the London region, there are many more companies involved in manufacturing, taking advantage of more space, or more convenient access to transport links that in London itself.

However, such large scale traditional manufacturing is only one part of the story. London is also strong in high technology manufacturing like aerospace and computing, as well as precision engineering and pharmaceuticals. With its highly skilled workforce, much research and development is undertaken in London for products that are manufactured elsewhere, in other parts of the UK and overseas. While many large, global companies have a manufacturing presence in London, there are also smaller firms often producing high value, cutting edge products.

Careers advice

January 25th, 2010

Siril

Most colleges have a Careers Advisor who can work with you to identify a workable, realistic, career plan.

Careers advice is, first and foremost, about you . It’s about what you want, and what you’re good at. It’s also very practical. You might cover some – or all – of the following areas with your Careers Advisor:

. Your strengths and weaknesses
. Opportunities suitable for you
. Planning how to get work in a particular industry
. CV writing
. Work placements
. Summer jobs
. How to make contacts – and make the most of them

Career In Animation

January 25th, 2010

mrudula

Bright Career Opportunities In 3d Animation And Visual Effects:
There is an increase in demand for 3D Animation and Visual Effects professionals. The growth of the Entertainment and Gaming industry led to this demand. Animation and Visual Effects have been embraced by technical areas like automobile engineering, aerospace engineering, civil, pharmaceutical, medicine and architecture as well.

A career in Animation and Visual effects is for those who have a creative mind and a soaring imagination. Besides being creative, one needs a professional degree in 3D Animation and Visual Effects. Courses are available world wide to pursue masters in this.

Some of the disciplines in this profession are visual effects artist, texture artist, technical director, lighting artist, pre-visualisation artist, character animator and modeller. Whatever area one chooses to pursue, knowledge in traditional arts and animation skills on computer is the foundation. So, one begins with these courses.

National Area Careers and Workplace Examiners

January 24th, 2010

Siril

061211_obama_vlrg_3awidec Let’s pick up where our last column left off. When we last left Rocky and President Obama (an old cartoon reference for you over-50 types… remember Rocky & Bullwinkle?), we were talking about the power of critical incidents as learning opportunities. At issue was whether the President and his team have forgotten to “turn around and see if anyone’s following” – a common leadership mistake (especially if you feel you’ve been given a mandate for change).

Seems to me what the President needs to do more of is “explain the why.” Explaining the why is one of the leader’s most valuable tools in the citizen or employee engagement game. Explaining the why pulls people in, creates a common understanding of the situation or crisis, and helps everyone absorb how the change relates to them. Sometimes there’s no real need to explain the why – it’s either plainly obvious why we all need to pitch in (disaster in Haiti) or the call to action is logical and produces a “of course we’re with you” type of response (creating a set of core values for the company).