22 Comments

  1. Interesting study, but the title of the article is inaccurate. Over 4000 probes showed differential expression. Since each transcript (i.e. mRNA from a DNA sequence encoding a protein) is represented by an average of 22 probes, this puts the number of genes with altered expression at far less (I’d be happy to explain this further if anyone is confused, given the fact that the author clearly doesn’t understand microarrays). That’s a number still worth noting but it’s a far cry from 4000, which would represent almost one quarter of the rat genome (an unrealistically high number in my opinion).

    From the paper:
    “The expression of 4224 and 4447 transcript clusters (a group of probes corresponding to a known or putative gene) were found to be altered….The median number of probes per transcript is 22, usually distributed along the entire transcript sequence.”
    –Mesnage et al 2015 Environmental Health 2015, 14:70 doi:10.1186/s12940-015-0056-1

    1. Rebel Writer says:

      I stand by what I said. This is what the study states. . .”A large number of transcript clusters (>4000) were found to be altered in their level of expression in both the liver and kidneys of the Roundup treated group relative to controls and to a very high statistical significance. The alterations in gene expression profiles are typical of disturbances measured in cases of fibrosis, necrosis, phospholipidosis, mitochondrial membrane dysfunction and ischemia. Therefore our results confirm the ultra-low dose
      Roundup-induced increased incidence of hepatorenal pathologies suggested by observations at an anatomical, histological and biochemical level” This means very well that over 4000 genes and their expression – again as I stated could be altered, no matter what percentage of the entire genome this represents. To wit: http://www.sandia.gov/~ktpedre/copyrighted-papers/fgcs_geneclustering.pdf “However, different genes are multiply expressed at different levels in cells. The presence of this “random” redundancy within the EST databases requires
      a programmatic method to calculate the complement of genes they represent. These methods (termed clustering) utilize sequence-based comparisons to determine sets of strongly similar sequences (clusters). ” If one ‘cluster’ of genes is altered it means that cells throughout the body are also altered.

    2. Rebel Writer says:

      Incidentally, “In their Nature paper, the researchers reported that, at approximately
      2.75 billion base pairs, the rat genome is smaller than the human
      genome, which is 2.9 billion base pairs, and slightly larger than
      mouse genome, which is 2.6 billion base pairs.” 4000 is till way too many, but still a very small ‘percentage’ as you state it. http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2004/nhgri-31.htm

    3. brian buxton says:

      wrong sci nerd .. fist i do write coherently , while you may be a ” scientisyt ” i am a bonafide inventor ” capice ? and besides its happy hour – you should try it some time .. as to gmo s yes we need them we need a geneticly modified woman , one that does not get cranky with her period . does not get flabby , has a melodic voice , one that does not age badly … so never mind your frigen plants ..

      1. fist i do write coherently , while you may be a ” scientisyt “

        Hilarious

        1. brian buxton says:

          the really interesting thing abt trump is teh people who dont like him … who are they ?? polyannas , kale eaters . sky is falling cricis mongers , those as we shakespearians ay , they that canst say shyt without a mouthfull ” stuffed shirts , gass bags , holyier tha thou . etc .. as to trumps ” faith and biblical knowlege … he definatly knows why womankind was created … for man delyte .. not as a drone to rattyl pots and pans and chase mice with a broom

          also sci nerd … as you may or may not have suspected . i am usung a programagble keybord that has gone awry and i dont have teh disk anymore to reset teh frigen thing so the wil always be teh …get over it , and stop teh nit picking . , my patent atorrneys have given me permission to spell any damned way i want to ,, and … webster himself would agree ,

          1. I have no idea what your point is or if you even have one.

          2. brian buxton says:

            AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A SCIENTIST ??

          3. I have a PhD, have published peer-reviewed research and conduct research for a living. “Scientist” is generally what you call someone in that position.

          4. brian buxton says:

            A TYPICAL SCIENTEST [ POINTY HEADED ] ALWAY LOOKING FOR THE POINT ….

          5. Ooo! Look! All caps. Well…I’m convinced.

          6. brian buxton says:

            THIS WAY I SEE CLEARLY AT A GLANCE WHAT IS MINE AND …. TEH REST OF TEH POINTLESS FUMING … THE GREEKS , BEING ELEGENT [ NOT LLIKE TEH SAWED OF CHROME DOMERS OF TODAY ] WROTE IN CAPS

          7. brian buxton says:

            AS A SCIENTIST }SICNERD ] IM SURE YOU KNOW THAT GODZILLA WAS MADE STRONGER WHEN HE HIT TEH POWER LINES ,,

          8. brian buxton says:

            FOR YOUR OWN GOOD I SUGGEST YOU TRY TO AVOID FALLNG INTO CAPTAIN AHAB SYNDROME ..

          9. brian buxton says:

            HOPEFULLY IT [ CAPTAIN AHAB SYNDROME ] HAS NOT PROGRESSED TOO FAR YET … ASK YOR SELF ” DO YE SMELL LAND WHERE THERE BE NO LAND ?”

            IF SO SEE PROFESIONAL HELP EMEDIATLY

          10. brian buxton says:

            I WEN TO A GEEK FEST …. SAID TO WIFE … GEE THESE GREEKS DONT LOOK AT ALL LIKE TEH BRONZES IN TEH MUSEUM ??????

    4. brian buxton says:

      and firthr more ” scinerd ” thou protestif unnessarily , it is obvious to all except your sheltered self that i wyte in shaekprearian english . = duh !!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *