The Daly Grind
~Our notes from our phone conference with Dr. Michael Daly~
"And he threw the receiver back onto the telephone as if dropping a poisonous spider." (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)
Hailey's Notes
1. Can you tell us about the reproduction of Deinococcus Radiodurans? How long does it take deinococcus radiodurans to asexually reproduce?
DR undergo cell division like any other bacteria and under nutrient growth
Every hour or so during lab conditions
In the environment, they might not be dividing at all because of lack of ideal conditions
Dormant most of the time
Dependent on the environment
Found everywhere – natural environment organism
Famous for – extreme resistance to drying
Can survive thousands of years w/out water
Turns into dust
Deinoccocci is plural
Many bacteria know for radiation resistance
Doesn’t make spores
They don’t need to
Efficient protection system
2. Are there any current beneficial properties of Deinococcus Radiodurans?
1956 – discovered by Arthur Amnisin
Used to preserve food
Cold war – nuclear war – used to help people exposed to radiation
People exposed to radiation – bombs,
People going to mars exposed to constant levels of radiation (lethal doses)
US produced about 46,000 atomic bombs any of the wastes that were generated were exposed directly into the ground into containers. They leaked and entered the environment for the past 40 years. Rivers carry this waste.
DR genetically engineered and can grow during chronic radiation. DR can precipitate. Turns waste into sand. Traps it where it is. When it rains it carries out all of these “ “
They have uncovered a component of radiation resistance these bacteria POTANT RADIAT PROTECTORS - they purify them and now they are looking at possibly transferring these protectors into human cells. Cialagan ????
Help people going under radiation therapy. The radiation kills all cells.
No way to send an astronaut – potential way
Power plants – radiation hazard to workers
People in hospitals or taking x-rays
Risk for damaging effect on cells causing cancer
No current uses.
They have genetically engineered for clean up. The volume of radioactive waste is immense left over from the cold war
Soil w/ Radions – cover 10000 football fields one yard deep
Ground water contaminated – keep Niagara falls flowing for 26 days
The general public isn’t aware.
The state holders haven’t gone along w/ the idea of genetically engineered for clean up. “RISK” putting them into the environment is keeping legislature from being passed.
3. What would be the problems associated with the loss of Deinococcus Radiodurans?
The chance of losing DR is impossible. No chance of losing it! 100 meters below ocean floor and arctic ice. In elephant species – dry air in Africa.
4. What are some of the recent scientific/medical research? – ANSWERED
HOW CAN WE PERSONALLY FIND DR IN OUR COMMUNTIY AROUND US?
In the last year, paper published in Nation academy of sciences USA – looked at DR Was in their stomach.
In stomach because it is “raining down on us” it could be on the food we eat which means it would grow in our stomach.
Everything in a desert environment becomes enriched w/ DR.
More chances of finding them in a dry climate
DR is only 20 years old. Before called Micrococcus radiodurans.
Relevantly little radiation on the earth.
Why is radiation dangerous?
Text books states it damages DNA.
It is radiation is dangerous b/c it damages protein (engine) to none resistant cells.
Caroline's Notes
Can you tell us about the reproduction of Deinococcus Radiodurans?
DCR undergoes cell division.
1. cell division/hour under lab conditions. Comparatively slow. Might not even divide in natural conditions. Very dependent on environment. You can find it everywhere. Able to survive chronic radiation. Does not make spores; don’t need them; don’t have to protect genomes.
2.Are there any current beneficial properties of Deinococcus Radiodurans?
Very important during the Cold War= threat of radiation. US produced 46, 000 bombs that were disposed directly into ground or into containers. These tanks have since leaked, and are hurting environment.
Now worried about terrorist attacks. Help people survive nuclear attacks.
Helps radiation poisoning in space flight, esp. in trip to Mars. Otherwise astronauts would die.
Cleaning nuclear power plants.
People who work at radiation facilities, people in radiation therapies.
Uncovered a very important component of radiation resistance: DCR contain potent radiant protectors, and these can be purified and used to help people.
NO CURRENT USES.
Public hasn’t gone along with idea to use genetically engineered bacteria to clean up radiation waste, so no legislation has allowed this to occur.
3.What would be the problems associated with the loss of Deinococcus Radiodurans?
We wouldn’t lose DCR.
It is raining down on us, so we could find it anywhere, including your stomach.
Easier to find when it rains in chronic dry climates.
***originally called micrococcus radiodurans.
***radiation is dangerous b/c it damages proteins; proteins are like machinery in cells and DNA is the information; radiation
DCR resistant to protein damage.
For more from Dr. Daly visit http://www.usuhs.mil/pat/deinococcus/index_20.htm
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