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SNMA member Chidi Akusobi's speech for the HMS National White Coat Die-In

SNMA member Chidi Akusobi's speech for the HMS National White Coat Die-In

December 31, 2014

Good Afternoon Everyone

My name is Chidi Akusobi and I am one of the student organizers for this event. We want to thank you all, faculty, students, and staff, for your attendance at this National White Coat Die-In. We are joining over 1500 students from 50 medical schools in a show of solidarity with demonstrators around the country protesting the non-indictment of police officers who killed Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Both were unarmed black men.

Some may ask, why is it important for us as future physicians and dentists to take a stand against these non-indictments?...

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Year born may determine obesity risk

Year born may determine obesity risk

December 29, 2014

Investigators working to unravel the impact of genetics versus environment on traits such as obesity may also need to consider a new factor: when individuals were born.

In the current issue of PNAS Early Edition a multi-institutional research team reports finding that the impact of a variant in the FTO gene that previous research has linked to obesity risk largely depends on birth year, with no correlation between gene variant and obesity in study participants born in earlier years and a far stronger correlation than previously...

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Colleges Reinvent Classes to Keep More Students in Science

December 26, 2014

DAVIS, Calif. — Hundreds of students fill the seats, but the lecture hall stays quiet enough for everyone to hear each cough and crumpling piece of paper. The instructor speaks from a podium for nearly the entire 80 minutes. Most students take notes. Some scan the Internet. A few doze.

In a nearby hall, an instructor, Catherine Uvarov, peppers students with questions and presses them to explain...

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Bacteria ‘factories’ churn out valuable chemicals

Bacteria ‘factories’ churn out valuable chemicals

December 24, 2014

A team of researchers led by Harvard geneticist George Church at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Harvard Medical School (HMS) has made big strides toward a future in which the predominant chemical factories of the world are colonies of genetically engineered bacteria.

In a new study, scientists at the Wyss Institute modified the genes of bacteria in a way that lets them program exactly...

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Holiday Schedule

December 24, 2014

Please be aware that Harvard is shutdown from 12 noon Wed 12/24/2014 until 9am Mon 1/5/2015.  HMDC staff will be monitoring services and providing best-effort response.  Other help services will be limited during the break.  Happy New Year!  HMDC and RCE Services.