Category: Uncategorized

via Scientists Add Letters to DNA’s Alphabet, Raising Hope and Fear – NYTimes.com.

By ANDREW POLLACK MAY 7, 2014

Scientists reported Wednesday that they had taken a significant step toward altering the fundamental alphabet of life — creating an organism with an expanded artificial genetic code in its DNA.

The accomplishment might eventually lead to organisms that can make medicines or industrial products that cells with only the natural genetic code cannot.

The scientists behind the work at the Scripps Research Institute have already formed a company to try to use the technique to develop new antibiotics, vaccines and other products, though a lot more work needs to be done before this is practical.

The work also gives some support to the concept that life can exist elsewhere in the universe using genetics different from those on Earth.

“This is the first time that you have had a living…

Following on from our last post, Elly now goes on to talk about exactly what Ofsted inspectors will be looking for in terms of LGBT discriminatory behaviour and policies during inspection.

It is essential that governing bodies take note of the following guidelines to ensure that their school or academy is in the best possible position to meet and exceed expectations the next time that Ofsted undertakes an inspection.

When assessing primary schools, inspectors will be looking to see whether:

1. Pupils ever hear anyone use the word ‘gay’ when describing something or whether they have been told by teachers that using the word ‘gay’ to mean something is wrong, scary or unpleasant.
2. Pupils ever get picked on by other children for not behaving like a ‘typical girl’ or a ‘typical boy’.
3. Pupils have had any lessons about different families (single parent, living with grandparents, having step-parents, having two mums…

This week we have our first guest blog post by Elly Barnes, who was voted No. 1 in The Independent on Sunday’s Pink List 2011 for her commitment to people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered (LGBT) in education and awarded a ‘highly commended’ by the TES ‘Teacher of the Year’ 2012.

The LGBT movement has been a long and contested one, but a movement which, in recent years, has begun to gather pace across the country, with some profound changes made to the social and legislative frameworks, including those in the education sector. School governing bodies must now take steps to create an inclusive working and learning environment where the rights of LGBT persons, including both staff members and pupils, are promoted and protected at every level.

A major turning point was reached in 2003 when Section 28 was repealed. This ended the long running confusion within…

This topic comes round every now and then, usually when brought up by a politician. As ever, there are those who will argue on both sides, but as so often is the case, there is a confusion surrounding what is being argued about – probably not helped by a 140-character limit for those debating on Twitter. So here’s my two-penneth.

Firstly, there is a great lack of clarity at every level, from parents and classroom teachers, right through to Secretary of State: QTS is not training. QTS is not synonymous with PGCE. If there are arguments to be had, then we need to tackle these things separately.

Qualified Teacher Status is awarded to those who are deemed to meet a set of required standards. Over the past ten or so years, there has been a boom in the number of routes available to QTS, all with their proponents and detractors. But…

In the last few days I’ve found myself thinking about or talking about love several times. One comment made should be a post.

For all I’ve done and seen and experienced, I do not know how to reconcile my thoughts against what the world professes as the meaning of love. If you asked 100 people you will probably get 114 answers. To me, love is the stuff that happens when you’re keeping a commitment to another person.

The commitment does not have to be marriage and the other person does not have to be your lover or spouse. Certainly you can make such commitments without love so it is not the commitment that is love, but I think it might be described as the ransom and tribute given to the other party as promissory note or collateral. It is not this act or that act as many people describe ‘true…

(not satire – it’s the Tories!)

The nasty party isn’t all in the past I’m afraid.

Here are ten recent opinions from members of the modern Tory Party on rape victims, Down syndrome, Pakistani children, ‘foreign’ sounding names, AIDS victims, domestic violence, gay marriage, Asian and black people:

Tory Mayor must apologise over Down’s Syndrome remarks, committee says

Tory councillor: when rape is inevitable, lie back and enjoy it

Tory councillor apologises after using the phrase ‘n*gger in the wood pile’

Tory councillor John Cherry resigns after saying Pakistani children won’t value hard work

Tory councillor who left a message saying “with a bit of luck you’ll get Aids”

Tory councillor suspended after remarks about Pakistanis

Tory councillor compares town to ‘Indian’ reservation

Tory councillor attacks “foreign names”

Tory councillor accused of bad taste over domestic violence and gay joke

Tory councillor on gay marriage: “we may as well legalise marriage with animals”

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